State/Local Issues Page

Legislation

The Community Attendant Worker Act (SB 566) This bill asks for a study to be conducted that will provide annual reports to the legislature detailing the amount of funding needed to properly compensate attendants for work and mileage as well as how to provide attendants access to quality, affordable health insurance. (Although SB 566 do not pass this session, SRS plans to include the study called for in the legislation as part of a study on systems capacity building funded through the Systems Transformation Grant)

News

Call for Nominations for the 2008 Michael Lechner Award, From the The Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns, July 31, 2008

You’re Invited to Give Wheelchair Sports a Try!, Topeka Parks & Recreation and Kansas Accessible Sports, Inc., July 31, 2008

Disability rights advocates push ADA changes, By Shaun Hittle - Special to the Lawrence Journal-World, July 27, 2008

TILRC Celebrations the ADA, July 26, 2008

City to offers fans for heat relief, From the Topeka Capital-Journal, July 25, 2008

SRS seeks input on mental health reform plan, By Dave Ranney, KHI News Service, July 24, 2008

Wyandotte County Commissioners vote to raise the minimum wage!,From Raise the Wage - a project of the Kansas Action Network, July 24, 2008

KHPA weighing changes to Medicaid program, By Dave Ranney, KHI News Service, July 22, 2008

Plan calls for 963 leaving institutions for community, By Dave Ranney, KHI News Service, July 18, 2008

After-hours local transit could cease, By Ann Marie Bush, The Topeka Capital-Journal, July 19, 2008

CFI Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Three Days of Public Events, From the Coalition For Independence, July 08, 2008

Medicare Cuts Force Topeka Clinic to Deny New Patients, From WIBW TV 13 News, July 01, 2008

KCDC Accepting Applications for Consideration for Appointment, From the Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns, July 01, 2008

The other shoe drops: Revenue less than projected, By Dave Ranney, KHI News Service, June 30, 2008

Topeka Transit's 2009 budget up $1.5 million, By Phil Anderson, The Topeka Capital-Journal, June 29, 2008

Transit covets federal funds, By Phil Anderson, The Topeka Capital-Journal, June 29, 2008

Disparities top concern at first-ever joint budget forum, By Dave Ranney, KHI News Service, June 26, 2008

Organizing and advocating for the disabled, By Ranpolph Heaster, The Kansas City Star, June 23, 2003

KHPA warms to nursing-home provider tax, By Dave Ranney, KHI News Service, June 19, 2008

Focus groups show Kansas willingness to adopt state-run insurance plan, By Mike Shields, KHI News Service, June 6, 2008

SRS: Dark clouds on state-budget horizon, By Dave Ranney, KHI News Service, June 05, 2008

Despite new law, SCHIP expansion looks doubtful for now, By Dave Ranney, KHI News Service, June 02, 2008

SRS seeks to help low-income Kansans meet nutritional needs, From SRS, May 27, 2008

KDoA, SRS planning joint HCBS summit, By Dave Ranney, KHI News Service, May 21, 2008

Effort to end disability waiting list falls short, By Dave Ranney, KHI News Service, May 15, 2008

KDoA, SRS to review FY 2009 budgets, From KHI News Service, May 14, 2008

E-mail scam uses phony IRS form, The Topeka Capital-Journal, May 14, 2008

Autism expansion smaller than hoped for, By Dave Ranney, KHI News Service, May 12, 2008

Topeka Transit increases fares, Story by Kendall Jones for KTKA Channel 49 TV, April 21, 2008

Advocacy Organizations and Informational Resources

AARP Kansas is dedicated to enhancing quality of life for all as we age. We lead positive social change and deliver value to members through information, advocacy and service.

The Assistive Technology for Kansans Project has established an Interagency Equipment Loan System that contains a variety of devices that people in Kansas can borrow on a trial basis, before they purchase equipment for themselves. The Kansas Equipment Exchange offers reconditioned durable medical equipment (DME), such as wheelchairs and lifts, availabe for Kansans who meet the guidlines. ATK also maintains an Equipment Bulletin Board where consumers may search for a broader range of items that they wish to buy or post items they have for sale.

The Kansas Audio-Reader Network is a reading and information service for blind, visually impaired, and print disabled individuals in Kansas and western Missouri. Services are offered free of charge to anyone in our listening area who is unable to read normal printed material.

The Big Tent Coalition is a coalition of social service providers in Kansas.

Community Supports and Services (CSS) manages a system of community based supports and services for persons with disabilities. Those supports and services, are delivered in partnerships with organized networks and funded through a variety of federal, state, local, and private sources. Community service providers reflect a variety of private not-for-profit and for-profit organizations as well as governmental entities.

Envision is a private, not-for-profit agency uniquely combining employment opportunities with rehabilitation services and public education. Our Mission To enhance the personal independence of individuals whose blindness or low vision, often accompanied by other disabilities, impacts their opportunities for employment, success, and integration into community life.

The Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation's Mission of Mercy program is an annual event that provides free dental care to all patients on a first come-first served basis after first receiving a health screen prior to a dental assessment.

Kansas Donated Dental Services is a project initiated by the National Foundation for Dentistry for the Handicapped and the Kansas Dental Association. Its purpose is to provide free, comprehensive care for people who are permanently disabled, elderly and medically compromised who are unable to afford dental care. The Kansas dentists volunteering for DDS donate services in their own offices. Dental laboratories contribute services.

Families Together is the Parent Training and Information center serving Kansas families who include a son/daughter with disabilities. We train and inform parents and professionals, help families obtain appropriate education and services for their children with disabilities, work to improve education results for all children, resolve problems between families and schools or other agencies and connect children with disabilities to community resources that address their needs.

The Gallaudet University Regional Center at Johnson County Community College offers extension courses, training workshops and technical assistance to address the educational, transition, and professional development needs from birth through adulthood of deaf and hard of hearing people, their families and professionals who work with them.

The Kansas Assistive Technology Co- operative (KATCO) provides Kansans with disabilities and their families access to financial resources for acquiring assistive technology. Families on fixed incomes, or who have credit problems related to disabilities, may qualify for loans. KATCO offers assistance with a combination of education, savings and low interest borrowing.

The Kansas Association of Centers for Independent Living (KACIL), represents 12 Centers for Independent Living (CILs). Centers provide services to people with disabilities of all ages. Centers for Independent Living also provide assistance to businesses and all other entities in the community to assist them in offering services to people with disabilities. We advocate at a state and national level for the rights of all people with disabilities to live in the communities of their choice.

The Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas Inc. advances the interest of CMHCs and the individuals they serve. The primary goal of CMHCs is to provide quality care, treatment and rehabilitation to individuals with mental health problems in the least restrictive environment. The CMHCs provide services to all those needing it, regardless of economic level, age or type of illness.

The Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved (KAMU) is the state Primary Care Association (PCA) and is charged with providing training, technical assistance to, and advocacy on behalf of, federally-funded Community Health Centers in Kansas. KAMU's Mission is to promote access to high quality, culturally sensitive, comprehensive, cost effective primary health care services for the medially underserved in the state, regardless of ability to pay

The Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing advocates for and facilitates equal access to quality, coordinated and comprehensive services that enhance the quality of life for Kansans who are deaf and hard of hearing.

The Kansas Department on Aging uses public and private resources to improve the security, dignity and independence of Kansas seniors, their families, seniors’ caregivers and all Kansans living in adult care homes.

The Kansas Attorney General's Office, promoting human dignity through justice with compassion and professional excellence.

The Kansas State School for the Blind (KSSB) empowers students with the knowledge, attitudes, and skills to assume responsible roles in society and to lead fulfilling lives. KSSB strives to establish partnerships with parents, school districts, and community resources to promote access to a high quality education for all Kansas students with visual impairments, regardless of where they attend school.

The Kansas School for the Deaf provides a barrier-free communication environment which fosters early, fluent communication and on-going fluent communication as a means of broadening horizons and maximizing possibilities.

Kansas Youth Empowerment Academy (KYEA) promotes and supports the development of youth with disabilities so they become empowered as community leaders through education, mentoring, and peer support.

Keys for Networking, Inc. is a non-profit, 501©3 organization providing information, support, and training to families in Kansas whose children who have educational, emotional, and/or behavioral problems.

Official website for the Governor of Kansas.

The Kansas Housing Resources Corporation mission is to enhance Kansas communities with housing opportunities. This goal is achieved through using a variety of strategies and approaches, including increasing homeownership opportunities, leveraging the construction of more affordable rental housing, preserving existing housing through rehabilitation, promoting energy efficiency improvements for owner-occupied and rental housing, providing affordable housing through rent assistance to low-income families and senior citizens, and creating housing opportunities for previously underserved persons and communities.

The Kansas Human Rights Commission investigates complaints alleging discrimination and conducts public education programs designed to prevent discrimination.

The Kansas Health Policy Authority is responsible for coordinating a statewide health policy agenda that incorporates effective purchasing and administration with health promotion strategies. The Authority is responsible for compiling and distributing uniform health care data in order to provide health care consumers, payers, providers and policy makers with information regarding trends in the use and cost of health care for improved decision making.

Kansas.gov is the official website for the State of Kansas

The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS), partnering to connect Kansans with supports and services to improve lives, protect children and promote adult self-sufficiency.

Kansas Action Network, Inc. or KAN, is a broad based coalition for workers' rights, social justice and economic fairness seeking a common ground in the pursuit of a just society. We call upon our common values in order to educate, organize and mobilize on issues that will improve the working and living conditions for all men, women, and children in Kansas.

The Self Advocate Coalition of Kansas or SACK, is the statewide self-advocate group. SACK is made up of over 20 member local self-advocate groups from all over Kansas. What is a self-advocate group? A self-advocate group is a civic organization for adults with developmental disabilities. The purpose of self-advocate groups is to provide leadership experience, community involvement opportunities and to support the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in the community.

Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas (SHICK) is a free program offering Kansans an opportunity to talk with trained, community volunteers and get answers to questions about Medicare and other insurance issues.

The Statewide Independent Living Council of Kansas

The Kansas Talking Book Service provides free home delivery of library resources designed to meet the cultural and recreational needs of Kansas citizens unable to use standard print because of a visual or physical impairment.

The Kansas Youth Leadership Forum is a motivational five day forum in which a group of about 30-40 high school juniors and seniors, with various disabilities, come together to learn about leadership, advocacy, and goal setting. Through various small and large sessions, delegates are able to interact with, and learn from each other and successful adults with disabilities. Small sessions give delegates the opportunity to share experiences and explore personal leadership and career plans. Large sessions involve speakers in the community who address everything from resources to assistive technology, from disability history to adaptive recreation.

The Kansas Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program is designed to assess, plan, develop and provide VR services to eligible individuals with disabilities, consistent with their strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests and informed choice. By providing services in this way, the VR program enables individuals with disabilities to prepare for and engage in gainful employment.

Publications

Legislative Procedure in Kansas, Kansas Legislative Research Department, November 2006