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Ahead of the Times
Volume 20, Number 12
September, 2000

COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION UPDATE
by Rob Tabor
For many seemingly interminable months, Ahead of the Times, the Lawrence Journal World, and other local media have been reporting on delay after delay in the selection of bus fleet and management contract vendors for the incoming city fixed route and complementary paratransit system. Finally, after months of bidding, bid protests and appeals, more bidding and more protests, the suspense is half way over. 
At the July 25 meeting of the City Public Transit Advisory Committee (PTAC), Karin Rexroad, Public Transit Administrator, announced that purchase orders have been issued for 12 buses manufactured by El Dorado National Company. It will be several months, however, before buses are rolling on city streets, as they have yet to be manufactured according the specifications called for in the city's Request For Proposal (RFP). The next step in the process is for RFPs for bus inspection. On August 15 Rexroad reported that she will pay a visit to the main ElDorado National Co. manufacturing facility in California to discuss various details with company representatives. Fabric selection and painting on the bus fleet are among the details to be considered.
City staff has also announced that MV Transportation has been selected to manage the fixed route and paratransit service. A protest petition which Lawrence Bus Company filed with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) after the second round of bidding has been denied by FTA regional office in Kansas City. However, Lawrence Bus Company has appealed its protest petition to the FTA National Office in Washington, D.C. This means the selection of MV Transportation by the City Commission is subject to FTA's ruling. 
Also at its July meeting, the PTAC began discussing the eight proposed routes for the fixed route system. The discussion brought to the fore several modifications now under consideration. Possible changes include a stop at the Lawrence area SRS office at 19th and Delaware; having the routes run on a 30 minute and hour frequency instead of a 40 minute frequency with a transfer from down town as originally proposed; providing service to Cottonwood on 31st Street; and reviewing options for a terminus in the industrial area of Route 3. Copies of the route report and the currently proposed routes can be obtained by calling the city transit office at 832-3465.
Also under consideration by PTAC at its August meeting is a draft policy on how the city should conduct public hearings whenever proposed changes are made in fares, routes, or scheduling. If you would like a copy of the proposed public hearings policy draft, you may contact Karin or Mary at the Lawrence City Public Transit Office at 832-3465.

HOME HEALTH CARE FORUM 
The Interagency Network on Aging will hold its annual public forum on Wednesday, September 27, 8:30 a.m. - Noon at the Community Health Building, 200 Maine in Lawrence. The forum will address the issue of Home Health Care in Kansas.
According to the Kansas Home Care Association, Kansas has lost 31% of certified home care providers as a result of the Balanced Budget Act, October 1997. The majority of these losses have been in rural areas of the state. Preliminary data from the Health Care Finance Administration shows that during the years 1997-99, Kansas had a 63% decrease in the total number of home health claims and a 52% decrease in average payment per home care patient. Congress has scheduled additional cuts for 2001.
Home care includes a broad range of medical care and support services provided in the home. Services range from simple assistance in daily activities to high-tech medical procedures. Home care is increasingly popular as an alternative to hospital and nursing home stays since it is cost effective and allows people to stay in their home. The range of services available through home care agencies include skilled nursing, therapy services, dietitians, social work, infusion therapy and homemaker services.
At the forum Theresa Schwartz, representative of the Kansas Home Care Association will address the effect of federal and state legislation on home care in Kansas and explain current issues. Connie Hubbell, Secretary of the Kansas Department on Aging will comment on state legislative and regulatory issues regarding home services and their availability in Kansas, and Ken Grotewiel, Director of Consumer Assistance for the Kansas Insurance Commission will explain the role of long term care insurance in paying for home services. Following their presentations all speakers will field questions from the audience.
This forum is free and open to the public. No registration is required. For more information contact Wynona Floyd at the Lawrence, Douglas County Health Department, 843-3060 or Gayle Sigurdson at Babcock Place, 832-1692.

FALL COMPUTER CLASSES
Learn to take control of your computer by signing up for one or both of the Independence, Inc. fall Computer Learning Center (CLC) classes. Since there are a limited number of computers available, please sign up on September 11, 12 and 13 only. If more than ten people sign up for a class, a drawing will be held to determine who will be able to attend the class. The classes, lasting for eight weeks, will begin on September 26 and end on November 17. 
Introduction to Computers will be taught Tuesday - Friday, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Word Processing Using Microsoft Word will be taught Tuesday - Friday, 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. A prerequisite for the word processing class is attendance completion of an Introduction to Computers class or a demonstrated ability to manage your data.
If you have questions contact the Computer Learning Center at 785/841-0333 in order to expand your technical horizons.

OTHER COMPUTER LEARNING CENTER NEWS
A big THANK YOU is in order for current CLC staff members Mark Creamer, Jim Spitzer and Jerry Vogel who have developed and continue to maintain an excellent website. CLC personnel recently received a call from a young woman in Savannah, Georgia who is one year away from college graduation and one day wishes to be a computer teacher. She was seeking information on the use of computers by people with disabilities and was able to find out about the CLC because of the website. According to this woman, the website at Independence, Inc. was the best one she found. Our website www. independenceinc.org continues to grow and change. Have you paid us a visit lately?
The CLC would also like to thank Patrick Tyrell for his volunteer services at Independence, Inc. which ended August 3. Because of Patrick's efforts, along with staff member Darryl Prothe, ten computers were refurbished and/or repaired and given to Independence, Inc. consumers. We wish you all the best Patrick - job well done!
The CLC Coordinator needs an electric typewriter. If you have one in usable condition, and would like to donate it to Independence, Inc., please call Bernard Droste at 785/841-0333.

The Center will be closed Monday, September 4th for Labor Day.
 No Transportation Available

COOKING CLUB: BACKYARD BBQ II
We all agreed that the last barbecue was so much fun that we have to do it again! We will meet Monday, September 25, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. in the park at 19th and Haskell (next to the fire station). In the event of rain, we will meet at Independence, Inc. Bring a drink and a side dish or dessert and we'll provide the hotdogs. If you plan to attend call Angie or Ranita at 841-0333.

LET'S MAKE SOME NOISE
Get out your pickle buckets, cans and bongos and get ready for the third go around of the new Beginners Drum Circle. The Music Appreciation Group (Not Especially Talented) is hosting a drum circle on Friday, September 29, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. at the Independence, Inc. Everyone is welcome, especially the musically challenged. Come learn all the basic techniques you need to become the next Ringo Starr, or drummer for Wayne Newton! The group will practice Afro-Latin rhythms and rock and roll beats. 
We'll provide the instruments and a talented drum instructor. Please feel free to bring any other percussion instruments you might have. For more information contact Ranita at 841-0333. Remember to arrange your own transportation.

HOUSING NEWS
This month the First Time Homebuyer's Group is merging with the Peer Support Group and Human Diversity Task Force for a presentation about co-housing. On Tuesday, September 12, 11 a.m. at Independence, Inc. we'll have the chance to hear from Marjorie Wholey of the Lawrence Co-Housing group which is developing a co-housing community in Lawrence. 
There are more than 50 occupied co-housing communities in North America, which are self-managed by community members. As a group, they plan their housing using consensus decision making, a model that carries through to community self-management. Co-housing communities usually include a mix of singles, couples, families with children, and elders. Housing units are clustered, linked by pedestrian walkways that connect with a common house. Communities usually choose to share several evening meals in this building. Parking is located on the periphery. Housing units are individually owned, by condominium or similar arrangement.
The Home Of Your Own (HOYO) Advisory Council is scheduled for Tuesday, September 19, 1:30 p.m. at Independence Inc. 
If you would like more information about HOYO, call Kelly Nightengale at 841-0333.

AMPUTATION SUPPORT GROUP
A new support group is now forming for people who have an amputation. For more information contact Evelyn at 841-7768.

ICC FUNDRAISER
A restaurant tour in downtown Lawrence will be held Sunday, September 10 to benefit the Douglas Count Infant-Toddler Coordinating Council (ICC). Around the Block for Kids will feature selections from Teller's, Milton's, Shalor's, and Paradise Cafe. Seating times will be 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. ICC is a non-profit organization providing special services to children birth to three years of age with physical or developmental disabilities. For information about tickets or donations, call the ICC office at 832-5089, ext. 216.

WOW - ONLINE RATING SERVICE OF ACCESSIBLE RESTAURANTS
Wired On Wheels (WOW) is a new online survey to help you plan your travels, at least in terms of where to have your meals. Simply type www.wiredonwheels.org in your web browser or type key word WOW if you subscribed to America On Line. The Wired On Wheels web site contains a survey form which will allow you to identify eating establishments which you have experienced and to rate them from "No Access" to "WOW"! The survey even asks if the restaurant has braille and large print menus. The creators of this valuable rating service hope to expand their accessibility rating system to include other public accommodations such as hotels, but for now they believe restaurants are a good place to begin. The creators of Wired On Wheels invite us all to spread the word about the web site to everyone we know. For promotional materials about WOW contact Rob Tabor at 841-0333 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday .

LEADERSHIP AWARDS
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), national host organization of the Spirit of ADA Relay, has announced the Paul Hearne Leadership Awards. Up to 12 people with disabilities who are emerging as leaders in their respective fields will each receive $10,000 to help them continue their progress as leaders. They will also be matched with national disability leaders who will serve as mentors. U.S. residents with any type of disability are eligible to apply. For details, visit http://www.aapd-dc.org/docs/2000awards.html

SEPTEMBER TELECONFERENCES

• Accessible Rural Transportation, September 6, 1-2:30 p.m. 
• Diversifying Consumer Representation in Independent Living Involving People with Cognitive Disabilities, September 7, 3-4 p.m.
• Advocacy: Unite in Power, September 13, 2-4 p.m.
• Youth Focus: Planning for Transition, September 14, 2-3:30 p.m.

Teleconferences will be held at Independence, Inc. and are open to the community. If you would like to attend, please call 841-0333 two days before the conference so that we can copy the needed number of handouts.

WANTED: Electric box or oscillating fans that are broken, or that you no longer want. Any brand and size acceptable. If necessary, unwanted fans can be picked up. Contact Michael at 785/840-9861, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Saturday.

JOIN THE ADVOCACY FOR CLOSED CAPTIONING OF CHANNEL 6 NEWS
The Lawrence Self Help for Hard of Hearing People (SHHH), has initiated an advocacy campaign requesting that Sunflower Cablevision add closed captioning to the Channel 6 evening news broadcasts. Please join Lawrence SHHH and Independence, Inc. and write or call Sunflower Cablevision requesting that they add closed captioning to Channel 6 news at 6 and 10 p.m.
The Americans with Disabilities Act's Title IV only requires telecommunication relay services and closed captioning of all federally funded TV public service announcements. So it will take a community-wide effort to persuade Sunflower Cablevision to provide closed captioning for Channel 6 news broadcasts. 
Here are a few facts you can include in your request to Sunflower Cablevision, along with your own personal comments:
Providing closed captioning for Sunflower Cablevision's Channel 6 news at 6 and 10 p.m. would give people who are deaf or hard of hearing the same opportunity as everyone to receive local televised news every day. 
Currently four stations in Topeka and six in Kansas City offer closed captioning for their news broadcasts. Most if not all Lawrence residents who are deaf or hard of hearing prefer their local community's televised news.
Adding closed captioning to its news broadcasts would increase Sunflower Cablevision's audience. With closed captioning, approximately 9,585 more people in Douglas County would have access to the local news on Channel 6. The Kansas Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing says that 10% of the population is either deaf or hard of hearing. With a Douglas County population of 95,849, there are approximately 9,585 people in the county who are either deaf or hard of hearing.
The addition of this service would be consistent with the Community Spirit Award recently given to Sunflower Cablevision.
Please write or call today and request that Sunflower Cablevision add closed captioning to the Channel 6 news at 6 and 10 p.m.: 

Sunflower Cablevision Customer Service, 721 Wakarusa Dr., Lawrence, KS 66049
785/841-2100

NCI OFFERS TV CHECKLIST
The National Captioning Institute has a checklist available describing the caption features of 13 different brands of television sets so consumers can easily make educated purchasing decisions. For a free copy of the checklist, contact NCI-TV Brochure, 1900 Gallows Road, Suite 3,000, Vienna, VA 22182.

DISABILITY PROGRAMS WEB SITE
As part of the 10th Anniversary celebrations, President Clinton announced a new web site for information resources on U.S. Federal programs and services for individuals with disabilities and their families. http://disabilities.gov

FOR SALE: 1993 Ford Club wagon, vinyl interior, dual air,V-8, automatic transmission, 73,500 miles. Asking $8100. Call 843-4119.

STATEWIDE ACCESSIBILITY MODIFICATIONS PROGRAM 
On July 3 the Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing (KDCH), Housing Development Division established the Kansas Accessibility Modifications Program (KAMP). This program is the result of a two year advocacy effort led by the Kansas Disability Rights Action Coalition for Housing to create a statewide housing program for accessibility modifications. We are happy to report that KAMP is up and running as a two-year demonstration program to assist low income renters and homeowners with disabilities pay for needed accessibility modifications in their housing.
The amount of grant assistance through KAMP is up to $5,000 for homeowners and $2,500 for renters. All housing units modified through KAMP must be the applicants' primary residence. Examples of accessibility modifications possible through KAMP:

• Building entrance ramps.
• Widening doorways.
• Installing visual signals for doorbells and smoke detectors.
• Installing ramps for raised thresholds at entrances.
• Installing grab bars in bathrooms.
• Installing lever handles on doors or faucets.
• Installing accessible sinks with clear knee space.
• Installing hand-held shower units and/or roll-in showers.

A maximum of four modifications are possible through KAMP. For example: an entrance ramp, widening the bathroom door, installing an accessible height toilet, installing grab bars by the toilet and tub. You decide what you need. 

Assistance we can provide:

1. Help with the KAMP application process. 
2. Identifying and prioritizing needed modifications.
3. Finding qualified contractors to perform the needed modifications and obtaining two written estimates.
4. Reviewing plans with you and the contractor to ensure modifications will be fully accessible.
5. Identifying other funding resources that may be available.

Please contact us if you have a need for accessibility modifications in your housing! We will send you a KAMP application and more information. Contact Jeff Kuykendall, Bob Mikesic, Kelly Nightengale or Jennifer Schwartz at Independence, Inc. 785/841-0333; 1-888-824-7277 (Consumer Hot Line), 785/841-1046 (TDD) or email: bobm@independenceinc.org 

TOASTMASTERS GROUP FORMING
Does the thought of speaking in front of an audience make you want to: (a) faint, (b) fall over, (c) vomit, (d) break out in a cold sweat, or (e) head for the hills? If you answered yes to any of the above, then Toastmasters is probably for you!
If you'd rather (a) jump off a speeding bus, (b) climb Mount Everest, or (c) eat a bowl of worms than speak in public, then, again, Toastmasters is probably for you!
The fear of speaking in public is a very common phobia. Yet, the ability to speak in public can open doors to many career and social opportunities. Toastmasters is a national organization that teaches the basic skills of public speaking in an informal, friendly environment. Participation in Toastmasters is widely recognized and a great resume-booster. 
We hope to begin holding Toastmasters meetings twice per month this fall at Independence, Inc., providing opportunities for participants to practice speaking on a variety of assigned topics. The program is structured so all group members give each other feedback following the guidelines of the Toastmasters curriculum.
All community members are invited to become involved. If you are interested in participating, please join us for a planning meeting on September 15, 12 - 1 p.m. at Independence, Inc. For more information, contact Susan, Ranita or Rob at 841-0333. Don't let those cold sweats stop you from getting involved in the fun.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES TRAIL NON-DISABLED IN KEY LIFE AREAS
On July 19 The National Organization on Disability (N.O.D.) released the 2000 N.O.D./Harris Survey of Americans with Disabilities. The survey reveals persistent gaps in levels of participation between people with disabilities and other Americans in employment, income, education, socializing, religious and political participation, and access to healthcare and transportation. While those with disabilities continue to lag generally, the survey also shows encouraging progress in some areas, especially among younger people with disabilities and among those with less severe disabilities. These latest findings define and quantify the gaps that affect the 54 million Americans with disabilities and provide a benchmark for future progress. 
Harris Poll Chairman Humphrey Taylor, who directed surveys on the participation of people with disabilities in American life in 1986, 1994, and 1998 - highlighted the following gaps:
Only 32% of people with disabilities of working age (18-64) work full or part-time compared to 81% of the non-disabled population, a gap of 49%. More than two-thirds of those not employed say they would prefer to be working.
However, among those who say they are able to work despite their disability, fully 56% are working, and the 25% gap (81% versus 56%) has narrowed steadily from 1994 when only 47% of this group were working.
People with disabilities are almost three times as likely as people without disabilities to live in households with total incomes of $15,000 or less (29% compared to 10%).
People with disabilities are less likely to be registered to vote than people without disabilities (62% versus 78%).
People with disabilities are almost three times as likely as people without disabilities to say that is a problem (30% compared to 10%).
"Closing these gaps is a challenge for all Americans, not just those of us with disabilities," said N.O.D. President Alan A. Reich. "We take heart from the many hopeful signs in this Harris survey, indicating the success of the ADA. Among young people with and without disabilities, age 18-29, the employment gap is only 25% and narrowing. Large numbers of people with disabilities reported that conditions had improved for them during the past four years. This reflects intensive efforts by the disability community, employers, and community leaders, as well as advances in technology, and greater accessibility. 
For more information, contact N.O.D. at 202/293-5960; TDD: 202/293-5968; or visit www.nod.org

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
The Seventh Annual Assistive Technology Conference: Into the Future has teamed with The Heartland Seating and Mobility Conference to offer an opportunity for information and skills training in the area of assistive technology. Topical themes include: Aging, Assistive Technology, Assessment, Augmentative Communication, Computer Access, Early Intervention, Education, Employment, Funding, Internet, Legal, Positioning, Recreation, Rural Issues, Seating, and Sensory Adaptations. The conferences will be held concurrently September 18 - 20 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel and the Kansas ExpoCentre in Topeka. This annual conference will include more than 100 break-out sessions, 50 vendors, and a hands-on Learning Lab. Pre-conference workshops include half- and full-day sessions. For more information, registration brochures and cost call 785/272-4060. To arrange transportation to the conference, call Patty Holt at Independence, Inc., 841-0333 by September 7.

START YOUR OWN BUSINESS
Are you interested in going into business for yourself? If so, join us Tuesday, September 5 at 11 a.m. for a presentation by John Daigh from RCIL, the Resource Center for Independent Living satellite office in Ottawa. John will describe how their center helps people develop business plans for home-based businesses. For more information, call Susan Mikesic at 841-0333.

FOR SALE: Adult Everest & Jennings Marathon LE power chair burgundy upholstery, with foot rest and battery charger. Can use water or gel cell batteries. Comes with two fairly new water filled batteries. Call 841-9108.

HAVE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE?
If Americans with disabilities vote at the same rate as people without disabilities there would be at least five million additional votes cast November 7, 2000. A major reason for the failure of most Americans with disabilities to vote is that 14 million voting-age Americans with disabilities are not registered to vote. 
While the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) makes voter registration available at motor vehicle and public assistance agencies, many persons with disabilities are not being reached. For this reason, Section 7a of the NVRA requires all public and private agencies serving people with disabilities to offer voter registration. 
Some agencies, but by no means all, that are covered under this law include: Vocational Rehabilitation; Special Education; Commissions for the Deaf and the Blind; Paratransit Providers; Independent Living Centers; disability specific service providers such as ARCs, MS Society, Epilepsy Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy Associations, etc. Independence, Inc. is also a voter registration site. 
You can either register at the Center or request a voter registration card be sent to you through the mail. If you have never registered to vote, moved or changed your name since the last time you registered, the last day to register for this year's election is October 23. 
In order to make sure that people with disabilities have a voice in government, they must prove that they have voting power. Your vote does count! Register today.

SATURDAY SIBS OF DOUGLAS COUNTY
Saturday Sibs is a program just for brothers and sisters ages 7-12 of children with disabilities. Participants meet other siblings of children with disabilities and have the opportunity to make new friends and talk about their lives with others who really know what it's like to have a sibling with a disability. The workshops, which are sponsored by the ARC of Douglas County, include monthly activities of museum visits, theater, and a trip to the pumpkin patch. For more information call the ARC at 749-0121.