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AHEAD OF THE TIMES
VOLUME 21, NUMBER 8 
MAY, 2001

FORUM FOR INSURANCE CONSUMERS
An Ability Awareness Public Forum on the topic of "Fighting to Win With Your Insurance Company," will be held Wednesday, May 9, 7 - 9 p.m. in the Independence, Inc. Conference Room. A panel of insurance consumers and educators will lead the discussion. Consumers will discuss their personal triumphs and frustrations in advocating for the personal health care rights. The forum will be an opportunity for panelists and audience members to share information about resources and strategies for filing complaints and appeals with private insurance and public health care assistance programs. If you would like more information, call Susan or Ranita at 841-0333.

The Center will be closed Monday, May 28 for Memorial Day. 
No transportation available.

AWARD NOMINEES WANTED
The Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation of Kansas is accepting applications for the Peter John Loux Award. This unrestricted $1,000 award is an annual recognition award to a Kansas resident who has demonstrated exceptional desire and dedication in overcoming the difficulties of a physical or neurological disability. Any Kansas resident 18 years of age or older having a physical or neurological disability may apply on their own behalf or be nominated by another person. Application deadline is January 1. For more information contact CPRF Development Division, P.O. Box 8217, Wichita, KS 67208 or info@cprf.org

THERE IS A CHILD WHO NEEDS YOU
We would like to encourage any interested adult to consider volunteering for the Youth Friends program. A YouthFriend is an adult volunteer who works with a child through the public schools. As a volunteer, you may choose from a variety of duties. You might tutor a child, guide a class project, eat lunch with a child once a week, serve as a role model or an advocate for a child, read to a child, or just chat. 
YouthFriends is currently taking applications for volunteers for the program. When applying for the program, you have the option to express interest in working with a child with a disability, and your experience with disability issues as a skill you wish to bring to the work. 
Potential volunteers are screened, and are asked to attend a brief orientation. Those accepted for the program are asked to work at least one hour per week for at least four weeks. Independence, Inc. is available for advocacy within the program, and will assist with any accessibility accommodations. 
Contact YouthFriends at 842-5006 or Susan Mikesic at 841-0333 for more information. To have an application mailed to you, or for assistance in filling out an application, call Susan.

PAIN MANAGEMENT CLASSES
The Coping with Pain Classes held at Independence, Inc. have a new meeting time. Classes are now held every Friday, 1 - 2:30 p.m. in the Conference Room. For more information call 841-7108, 2 - 6 p.m. and leave a message.

DRUM CIRCLE
The Drum Circle will not meet in May. Mark your calendars for the next session on June 29. 

EPILEPSY RESEARCH BENEFIT
The Pilot Club of Lawrence and First Watch are holding 'Breakfast for a Cause" on Monday, May 7, 6:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at 2540 Iowa Street. First Watch will provide free omelettes as a fundraiser for the Alliance for Epilepsy Research. They encourage that you donate the normal cost of the omelette to the Alliance to help fight epilepsy. No coupons or discounts will be accepted.

COOKING CLUB
Cooking Club is cooking up might good stuff this month. Nancy O'Connor from the Community Mercantile will be our special guest chef on Monday, May 7, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. at Independence, Inc. Nancy will show the group how to prepare meals that are delicious, nutritious, and easy on the wallet. Reserve your seat at the table by calling Ranita at 841-0333 by noon, May 7.

PEER SUPPORT GROUP
Consumers start your engines or your power chairs! It's time for the Fifth Annual Art Tougeau Art Car Parade. The parade consists of anything on wheels - motorized or not - that are creatively, and sometimes strangely, decorated. If you are interested in watching the parade together, meet at the South Park gazebo on Saturday, May 5 at noon. The parade should last about an hour. If you have any questions, call Ranita at 841-0333. Please remember that you are responsible for your own transportation.

LEARNING DISABILITIES GROUP
A support group for people with learning disabilities will be held Wednesday, May 9 and 23, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. at Independence, Inc.

SO LONG ANGIE
Angie Reinking, Independent Living Skills Trainer/Outreach Specialist for the last two years has resigned from Independence, Inc. She has joined Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA) and will be the Coordinator of the Developmental Disabilities Resource Center. She would like to thank the staff, consumers, and volunteers who have taught her much during her time at Independence, Inc. So long Angie, best of luck!

ILS TRAINER/OUTREACH SPECIALIST to provide support & instruction to individuals with disabilities to live independently in the community, assist with agency outreach efforts, & provide independent living skills training, advocacy, and information and referral to rural consumers. Requires high school diploma or equivalent, experience working with persons with disabilities in supportive environment & as team member, demonstrated verbal/written skills, familiarity with range of life skills & demonstrated ability to teach others to acquire/improve such skills, creative problem solving skills, experience completing tasks in an accurate & timely manner, interpersonal skills to conduct public relations, ability to work flexible hours if necessary. Prefer qualified person with a disability, bachelor's or advanced degree in related field, experience developing, implementing, documenting individualized training plans, experience developing training curricula/materials & work in the independent living field, familiarity with resources/services in Lawrence & surrounding area, valid drivers license, experience with computers. Complete job description available Submit cover letter and resume by noon May 4 to: Tammie Torneden, Independence, Inc. 2001 Haskell, Lawrence, KS 66046. 

PEER COUNSELOR TRAINING OPPORTUNITY
Independence, Inc. will be offering a training this fall for anyone interested in becoming a Volunteer Peer Counselor. A Volunteer Peer Counselor is a person with a disability who serves as a source of support and role modeling for another person with a disability.
The four to six hour training will prepare you to serve as a Volunteer Peer Counselor, plus you will meet other people, learn some skills, gain useful knowledge and have some fun. The focus of this training will be on Advocacy. Various staff members will talk about advocacy issues in the area of Housing, Education, Transportation, Public Accommodations and Employment. The training will also include Independent Living History and Philosophy, Disability Sensitivity and Listening Skills.
If you are interested, fill out the following application on the next page, and return it to: Susan Mikesic, Independence, Inc., 2001 Haskell Ave., Lawrence, Kansas 66046. Call 841-0333 or toll-free 1-888-824-7277 for more information.

APPLICATION FOR VOLUNTEER PEER COUNSELOR
This written interview will be used to help us get to know you and to make the best possible match of peer counselor with consumers or projects.
Please contact the center if interested 785-841-0333.

ARE YOU BORED AND BROKE?
TRY THESE FREE OR LOW-COST LOCAL EVENTS
Spring has finally arrived and there are plenty of outdoor (and indoor) activities that are free to attend around town.  Let us know if you attend any of them! If you have questions please call Susan or Elise at Independence, Inc., 841-0333.

Brown Bag Classics
Join the Music & Dance Department at the Kansas University Union for free performances, just bring your lunch! Wednesday, May 2, 12:30 p.m.

38th Annual Antique Auto Swap Meet
Trade or sell antique autos or antique parts. This event is sponsored by the Lawrence Region Antique Automobile Club of America and will take place at the Douglas County Fairgrounds at 21st & Harper. Time: Saturday, May 5, 6:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Sunday, May 6, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Art Tougeau
It's time for the Fifth Annual Art Car Parade! Cars and other wheeled vehicles of various shapes, ages, and engine sizes are given new identities by their owners, ranging from clever to comical to just plain nuts. The parade will take place in Downtown Lawrence/North Lawrence at Noon on Saturday, May 5. There is no charge for this event and you can call 841-4598 for details.

40th Annual Art in the Park
Area artists display and sell their works outdoors in the beautiful setting of South Park located at 11th and Massachusetts. There will be live music and food in addition to great works of art. Art in the Park will be from Saturday, May 6, 12 - 5 p.m. Call 865-5483 for details.

University of Kansas Commencement
Memorial Stadium, 11th & Mississippi on the KU Campus, Sunday, May 20, 2 p.m. Come see graduating students walk down the hill!

Flea Market
Monthly outdoor flea market and antique sale at the I-70 Business Center located at 1035 N. 3rd. Sunday, May 27, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Call 842-8773 for details.

TOASTMASTERS
Are you nervous about speaking in front of large crowds? Would you rather climb Mount Everest than give a public presentation? Would you like to overcome your fears of public speaking? Here's a suggestion . . . Toastmasters! Toastmasters gives you the change to practice your public speaking skills in a peer-supportive environment. If you would like to find out more about the group, you are invited to observe one of our meetings with no pressure to participate. The Roger Harsh Toastmasters group of Independence, Inc. meets the first and third Friday of each month, 12 - 1 p.m. in the large conference room at Independence, Inc. Please feel free to bring your lunch and a friend. Meetings this month will be held Friday, May 4 and Friday, May 18. If you have any questions contact Susan or Ranita at 841-0333.

LOAN BANK NEWS
The Loan Bank is running low on consumable supplies! If you or someone you know would like to donate supplies such as adult diapers, gloves, or bed pads, please send them our way or call 841-0333 for more information. We are always in need of consumable items.
If you have any items checked out from the Durable Medical Equipment Loan Bank, please make sure that they are not overdue. Please call 841-0333 for an extension on your loan, or return the items as soon as possible. Keep in mind that we have lots of people in need of this equipment and try our best to have equipment available to them. If you need help finding or purchasing an item, please call an Assistive Technology Specialist (Jeff or Karen) to discuss funding options.

Calendar of events for the month (May)

Wednesday 5/2

• Executive Committee, 7 a.m. at Ramada Inn

Friday 5/4

• Toastmasters, Noon at Center
• Pain and Relaxation, 1 p.m. at Center
• Access Task Force, 4 p.m. at Center
• Recovery Support Group, 7:30 p.m. at Public Library

Saturday 5/5

• Peer Support Group, Noon at South Park Gazebo

Monday 5/7

• Cooking Club, 4:30 p.m. at Center

Wednesday 5/9

• Learning Disabilities Group, 5:30 p.m. at Center
• Ability Awareness Presentation, 7 p.m. at Center
• DAV Meeting, 7 p.m., United Way Building

Thursday 5/10

• Cancer Support Group, 7 p.m. at LMH

Friday 5/11

• Pain and Relaxation, 1 p.m. at Center
• Recovery Support Group, 7:30 p.m. at Public Library

Tuesday 5/15

• Douglas County Head Injury Group, 7 p.m. at LMH

Thursday 5/17

• Board Meeting, 5:30 p.m. at Center

Friday 5/18

• Toastmasters, Noon at Center
• Pain and Relaxation, 1 p.m. at Center
• Recovery Support Group, 7:30 p.m. at Public Library

Monday 5/21

• SHHH, 1 p.m. at Babcock Place, 1700 Massachusetts

Tuesday 5/22

• Douglas County Access to Health Care Task Force presentation, 11 a.m. at Center

Wednesday 5/23

• Learning Disabilities Group, 5:30 p.m. at Center

Thursday 5/24

• Cancer Support Group, 7 p.m. at LMH

Friday 5/25

• Pain and Relaxation, 1 p.m. at Center
• Recovery Support Group, 7:30 p.m. at Public Library

Monday 5/28

• MEMORIAL DAY CENTER CLOSED