News and Community

 

 

four people, 3 of which are wheelchair users, in a large foyer leading to city offices

Stay informed! Here’s what’s happening within our center and our communities…

 

► Jerry White Primary Care Clinic for Uninured Jefferson County Residents

The Jerry White Clinic is taking place Monday, August 29, 2022 at the Jefferson County Health Department

  • 1212 Walnut St. Oskaloosa, KS
  • call 785-403-0025 for appointment
  • Walk-ins welcome as time allows
  • appointments begin at 1:00
  • Must be a Jefferson County resident and be uninsured
  • Cost is a sliding scale from $0 – $15 depending upon income
  • See flyer for complete information

► US Department of Transportation webinar: “Public Meeting on Air Travel by Persons who use Wheelchairs”

round blue logo of the US department of transportation placed over an image of a commercial aircraft in flight above the clouds with an orange glow around it and the words Public Meeting on Air Travel by Persons who use WheelchairsPublic Meeting on Air Travel by Persons Who Use Wheelchairs
March 24, 2022, 10:15 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (ET)
Registration required (free)
Contact: Chris Miller at [email protected]

Public is welcome to join in the conversation! This is a great opportunity to hear from persons who use wheelchairs on the barriers they face during air travel and to from airline representatives on the challenges they face in providing accessible air transportation proposed actions to overcome these challenges. Information gathered will be used to “advance safe accommodations for air travelers with disabilities using wheelchairs.”
Visit https://bit.ly/3Im3Pc2 to learn more about this opportunity and how to request public comments or document submission.

 

 

► Looking for employment? Make plans to attend the StepUp Job Fair March 23 in Lawrence

Make plans to attend the Lawrence Job Fair by Step Up Job Fairs + Jobs.Lawrence.com Wednesday, March 23 from 11-1:30 at the East Lawrence Recreation Center, 1245 E. 15th St. and meet with employers who are ready to hire! Are you a person with a disability and need assistance or have questions about how to prepare for a job interview, create a resume or request a reasonable accommodation? Independence, Inc. can help! Contact us today!

 

► Kansas Disability Caucus 2022! The date is set and registration will be opening soon.

Save the Date for the #KansasDisabilityCaucus 2022! Make plans now to attend this In-Person event, August 10-12 at Hotel Topeka at City Center and join other disability advocates to unite in advocacy, identify areas of needed change and share experiences. Registration materials coming soon!

 

► REVup! It’s National Disability Voter Registration Week!

National Disability Voter Registration Week - Disability Rights MarylandEvery year, the REV UP Campaign coordinates National Disability Voter Registration Week (NDVRW) to increase the political power of people with disabilities by sharing resources and getting folks registered to vote. This year, NDVRW is September 13-20, 2021. In the last election, an estimated 38 million people with disabilities were eligible to vote, and we invite national, state, and local organizations to participate in NDVRW in order to continue to raise the disability voice and civic participation across the country in 2021 and beyond!

Find Information, resources and ways to get involved HERE

 

outline of state of Kansas with with red, yellow and blue butterfly icons filling the shape; blue fist with a butterfly on the fingers in a circle in the middle of the state

Self Advocate Coalition of Kansas celebration of the 31st Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

Join the Celebration, Get your FREE COVID Vaccination, enjoy FREE food, games and more!

Saturday, July 24, Holcom Park, Lawrence

Already vaccinated? Bring your complete vaccine card and get a prize!

See Event Information Flyer for complete details 

 

 

 

► FREE Sitting Pretty Event: Rebekah Taussig in conversation with Hannah Soyer

Join us for this online book discussion as part of the Paper Plains Literary Festival!

Wednesday, April 21, 7:00 PM

See event information and registration HERE

 

 

 

 

 

►Quick Reference Desktop Guide to Disability Rights Laws! [01/02/21]

blue background with text: Guide to Disability Rights Laws and Contact information in the United StatesFabulous new resource!

A quick reference guide to all United States Disability Rights Laws was just published by the Rocky Mountain ADA Center and includes summaries, websites and contact information for all disability rights laws. a fabulous resource right at your fingertips!

 

View/Download the Guide

Access the Guide on the Web

 

 

►Free-to-All WellHealth COVID Testing Site!

Douglas County panel members on a zoom meetingEveryone is welcome and encouraged to get tested! [01/28/20]

A new WellHealth COVID testing site is opening up February 2 in Lawrence at the South Iowa Street Walmart. No insurance, no ID and no symptoms or exposure are required. You don’t even need an appointment! Walk-ups are welcome!

For more information, read the Journal-World article here

 

 

 

►ADA 30: Nothing About Us Without Us – A Celebration with Judith Heumann [10/20/20]

A young Judy Heumann speaks at a microphone outside. She wears octagonal glasses and a button on her jacket that reads “sign 504.” There is a mix of typed and drawn text on top of the image that reads “1970’s Disability Revolution, Judith Heumann,” on the left and “Oct 28-29” and the KU signature on the right. Independence, Inc. is participating in the ADA 30 – #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs – A Celebration with Judith Heumann event October 28-29!  The legendary #JudithHeumann will celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month with #KU October 28-29 with a series of virtual events and Independence, Inc. is a sponsor! We are proud to help make this event happen. You don’t want to miss this extraordinary event! Learn more and register for free at https://accessibility.ku.edu/judith-heumann-2020

 

 

 

►Share your Experience: Journey of a Person with a Disability [10/02/20]

A 2020 cross-Federal Government team is working to capture stories and experiences of people that have navigated public disability services in an effort to better understand how customers during a life experience navigate across multiple Federal agencies and even levels of government.  You can participate in this 2020 Federal Customer Experience Journey Mapping Project by filling out a survey sharing your experiences with government service agencies. Access the survey here: https://touchpoints.app.cloud.gov/touchpoints/35913603/submit Deadline to submit is October 14th.

 

►2020 Legislative Forum on Senior Issues hosted by Douglas County Coalition on Aging (DCCA) and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) [10/02/20]

 

 

 

 

►Register to Vote! The Disability Vote Matters, YOUR Vote Matters!