News and Community

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

► 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 Christopher.miller1@dot.gov

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

image of 4 people of various genders and races in different work settings and uniforms standing and smiling at the camera and text below that says 'LAWRENCE JOBFAIR PRESENTED BY STEPUPJOBFAIRS.COM Sponsored by: TRUITY Voted Best of awrence 10 Years Running CREDIT UNION Wednesday, March 23 11 AM 1:30 PM East Lawrence Recreation Center 1245 E 15th St Lawrence, KS 66046 Meet with dozens of local employers with hundreds of available job openings! They're ready to hire now! SCHEDULE: 11 AM NOON: Presentation how step up and get hired 11:30 AM 1:30 PM: Meet with emp loyers and apply JOB SEEKERS: Visit our website for more information StepUpJobFairs.com EMPLOYERS: Sign up for booth contacting Peter Steimle at psteimle@stepupjobfairs.com' 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.

Caucus 2022 logo on the left side of the card… it is the focal point of the card and says "Together We Rise. United in Action." Full description of the logo below: Two hands clasped together in the air. One has brown skin and the other has tan skin. "Together We Rise" is written along the wrist and hand of one person in a bold curved font (the letters are tan with black shadow). "United in Action" is written along the inner wrist of the other hand in the same bold font (the letters are brown with tan shadow). There is a box around the hands with brown skinny outline. The background is a sunrise coming up from the bottom with rays of light coming out from the sun that go from yellow to orange. Save the Date! < in all caps at the bottom of the card in a large font, the words are orange with a dark brown outline > Kansas Disability Caucus 2022 August 10-12, 2022 Hotel Topeka at City Center Join us as we gather in-person to build our knowledge, share experiences and areas of needed change, and unite in advocacy for Kansans with disabilities! Registration materials coming soon! < black font with light yellow circle behind it >

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!