Front Page
PRAIRIE INDEPENDENT LIVING RESOURCE CENTER
The Voice Of PILR
Chris Owens, Editor
Heather Jones, Design Layout
September 2009
Volume 8, Issue 3
JOURNEYING
By Chris Owens, Executive Director
Perhaps it would be a little over dramatic to say my life passed before me this morning while I was sitting in the dentist chair. However, it did give me time to reflect about the month of August. I began the month by traveling down some old and nearly forgotten roads, took some time to survey my current surroundings, and even took some glimpses into the near future. All in all, it was a rather productive month.
The month began when Dan and I attended the 125th anniversary celebration for the Pretty Prairie Mennonite Church. I got to talk with a lot of people from my youth. Some were my parent’s friends and neighbors, others were former classmates of mine, and some were relatives. Many of these individuals I haven’t seen since Mom and Dad died 20 years ago. There was a lot of reminiscing, story telling, good food, and some of the most beautiful music I’ve heard in years.
As I participated in these events, parts of my life really did flash before me. I remembered my family’s belief in my ability to be whatever I set my mind to; I remembered the encouragement of some of my teachers; I remembered lots of good times with my close friends; and I remembered the hurtful taunts and laughter of some of my classmates. Here is where I began to learn to believe in myself, and where I first learned about prejudice and discrimination.
The next week, Anne Marie Hughey facilitated PILR’s three year strategic planning session. Once again, I was given the privilege to look down the road PILR has just traveled. This was a reminder of the goals we’d accomplished as well as the goals for our future. In addition, there were goals we hadn’t completed. Staff and Board evaluated those as well. We left the planning session with a commitment to PILR’s future, knowing there is a lot of work down the road for PILR Staff, Board, Consumers and our community.
The following week I was back on the road heading to the eleventh Kansas Disability Caucus. We cheered successes along the way. For example, Kansas Youth Empowerment Academy working hard to get passage of a law making it a requirement for Kansas schools to teach disability heritage. We cheered as nationally known speakers told us across the country Kansas Advocates are well respected for the work we do. They look to us for leadership in getting things done. It certainly made us proud to be a part of the Kansas Disability Advocacy Community.
Looking ahead, we acknowledge the next couple of years will be a rocky road to travel. The state of Kansas has no money, however, Kansans with disabilities continue to need services. In fact, as baby boomers age, there are more and more of us with disabilities. The way I see this, the more of us there are, the louder our voice and our opportunity to change the world becomes even greater.
Our past travels have rarely been smooth, but we have changed our communities. Just stop to look around at curb cuts, Braille signage, and closed captioning of TV programs. Right there in the middle of the intersection, let’s do a happy dance to celebrate our accomplishments. Then get back in the car, because there are some hairpin curves ahead of us before we can rest. See that sign ahead? Community Choice Act must be passed! Stop the car, meet with Senator Brownback and don’t leave until he signs on. Be sure to talk to your state legislators about ending waiting lists and ensuring funding for core services for Centers for Independent Living. It’s a long road, so grab a soft drink, fasten your seat belt and prepare to advocate for basic civil and human rights. Can we travel these roads and change our communities? Yes we can!
Let the Music Begin
By Stephanie Sanford
Tuesday October 6, 2009 will mark the 8th Annual Dinner & Jazz event in Hutchinson, co-hosted by PILR and the Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Center (SA/DVC) in collaboration with Daryl Batchelor and HCC Jazz Combos. Each year the audience is treated to an evening of outstanding musical talent, a free meal and a chance to gather and support a mutual effort – addressing violence against people with disabilities and supporting survivors with disabilities as they reclaim their lives. Join us October 6 at Avenue A Park from 5p-7pm as we celebrate our partnership and renew our commitment to anti-violence.
I find myself in a unique position to really step back and look at both our cause for celebration and the need to reaffirm our dedication. As Board President of SA/DVC I witness first-hand the organizational commitment to access for survivors with disabilities through policy development and implemented on a daily basis through the advocacy and services SA/DVC provides. As an advocate at PILR and frequent presenter, I also know that far too much violence still exists. Without exception, every time I have spoken about people with disabilities and violence at least one person (usually more) either discloses or seeks me out afterwards. I always wonder how many still don’t feel safe.
PILR and SA/DVC long ago recognized the potential of working together to better serve survivors with disabilities. Indeed, it is the only way to respectfully support survivors with disabilities and their families as they navigate their way to a safer life. We hope you’ll join us for Dinner & Jazz October 6 from 5p-7p, Avenue A Park in Hutchinson…enjoy the HCC Jazz groups…and help us celebrate our continued commitment to ending violence together.
Page 2
ARTS RESOURCES
Have you ever auditioned for a part in a play? Drawn or painted a picture?
Written a story?
Played a musical instrument?
Organized a puppet show?
If you are artistically curious and would like to find out what local resources are available to you, call PILR at 620 663-3989 and ask for John.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
10/6/2009 Dinner & Jazz 5PM-7PM, Avenue A Park
10/21/2009 Disability Mentoring Day
10/27/09 Parent Support Group @ 6:30PM, Hutchinson Public Library
11/11/2009 PILR is closed – Veteran’s Day
11/26-27/2009 PILR is closed – Thanksgiving Holiday
12/24-25/2009 PILR is closed – Christmas Holiday
Trauma Survivors Support Group 12P-2P at the Pratt Office every first and second Tuesday of the month
Inclusion AdvocacyGroup 1P-3P at the Hutchinson Public Library every third Wednesday of the month
We will be discussing local, state, and national issues concerning people with disabilities.
September 16th
October 14th
November 18th
December 16th
Adult Job Club, at PILR, 17 South Main/Hutchinson second and third Tuesday of the month: 2-4pm
September 8th & 15th
October 13th & 20th
November 10th & 17th
December 8th & 15th
High School Job Club, at PILR, 17 South Main /Hutchinson fourth Tuesday of the month: 4-5pm
September 22nd
October 27th
Novemebr 24th
December 22nd
Job Club 1:00PM at First Christian Church, 123 N Ninnescah St/Pratt every third Thursday of the month located at, Pratt, Kansas
September 17th
October 15th
November 19th
December 17th
Prairie Independent Living Resource Center
Parent Support Group Presents
Randy Lind
Male Involvement Network of Reno County
“The 7 Secrets of Effective Fathers,” October 27, 2009, 6:30 PM at the Hutchinson Public Library, 901 N. Main, 2nd Floor Auditorium.
For more information, call Erica Wilson at Prairie Independent Living Resource Center 620-663-3989; or contact: Dan Owens at: .
The Parent Support Group is funded by the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services U.S., Department of Education; the Male Involvement Network is funded through the Hutchinson Community Foundation
Thank You!
This is a special thank you to all of the businesses and individuals who have given donations to support the mission of Prairie Independent Living Resource Center.
FUNDRAISING NOW IN PROGRESS!
Prairie Independent Living Resource Center is now accepting donations from individuals and businesses in our community who wish to support the mission of our center. We are currently in the process of planning many upcoming events. In addition to donations, you may include PILR in your will or estate planning.
If you would like to make a tax -deductible donation, please clip out the coupon and mail it to us. You may personally deliver it as well. Thanks for your support!
Name:______
Address:______
City:______State:_____Zip Code:______
Area code and telephone:______
Tax Deductible Donation: (check one)
___$25.00 ___$50.00 ___$100 ___$200
Other amount: $______
_____I would like to include Prairie Independent Living Resource Center in my will or estate. Please contact me at:
(Phone number):______.
Please mail/deliver to: Prairie Independent Living Resource Center
17 S. Main
Hutchinson, KS 67501
Attn: Chris Owens
Page 3
Summing Up The 11th Kansas Disability Caucus
By Roger Frischenmeyer and John Eberly
Arriving at the 11th Kansas Disability Caucus in Topeka on August 12, one became immediately overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of people engaged in registration activities. Getting a nametag and signing in for the Caucus meant running a gauntlet of greetings from familiar faces and quick introductions to new ones. The excitement and energy was palpable everywhere. Soon, over six hundred participants gathered for the Welcome by Shannon Jones, Executive Director of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Kansas, and her introduction of the keynote speaker, Andy Imparato, Executive Director of the American Association of People with Disabilities. Andy talked about the opportunities and challenges we have over the next few years regarding passage of the community choice act, and other legislation. He also made sure that we realized how Kansas is on the forefront of disability issues. Next we were treated to three personal stories of accepting disabilities while finding success in various fields of employment. These were all inspiring testimonies that supported the overall theme of the Caucus, “Yes We Can Work.” Caucus sessions followed with the state of Kansas divided up into three areas symbolized by red, white, and blue from north to south. Each session attempted to identify general and specific concerns relative to each region. At dinner, PILR’s own Stephanie Sanford, who would delight everyone throughout the Caucus as Mistress of Ceremonies, introduced keynote speaker Rollin Shelton, a psychiatric survivor who discussed what they are doing in Oregon to support people with mental illness.
The evening proceeded with a lively few hours of karaoke featuring Roger Frischenmeyer singing about his “Friends In Low Places,” while Dan Owens and Earl Williams, -angelically costumed in tablecloths- offered their comic rendition of “Jackie and Diane.” Other offerings, needless to say, paled by comparison, with the exception of the very, very nice vocal stylings of Julia Ferguson, and Wendy Monroe.
August 13th began with concurrent sessions featuring various presenters. Anne Marie Hughey, Legislative Advocate for the Southeast Kansas Independent Living Resource Center, fresh from speaking at the recent ADA March and Rally in Hutchinson and also facilitating PILR’s three-year strategic planning, presented a workshop on Independent Living History and Philosophy. Other concurrent sessions included a Working Healthy workshop with Nancy Scott; information on employment provisions under the ADA Amendment Act by Catherine Johnson of the Disability Rights Center; and Julia Fonseca and Carrie Greenwood from the Kansas Youth Empowerment Academy presenting information about the benefits of work. After a short break, sessions continued with Stephanie Sanford presenting “Yes, You Deserve To Be Safe”, and Rollin Shelton and panel on the “Benefits of Peer Support.”
At lunch, Shannon Jones, Anne Marie Hughey, Jennifer Schwartz, and Andy Imparato discussed updates on disability issues at the state and national level. The overwhelming message for those in attendance was that the next few years are going to be really tough and we as advocates are going to have to make sure that those we elect hear our voices. Caucus sessions followed where each region tried to pull together the concerns from the first session into a form that could be presented to the larger group. After a mid-afternoon break, a panel convened to present and answer questions from all of the Caucus participants. Featured in this session were Jean Hall from Kansas University speaking on the big picture of Working Healthy in Kansas; Mike Donnelly, Kansas Rehabilitation Services, describing the difficulties and challenges in youth transition; and Carolee Miner, CEO at OCCK, talking about Employment First.
An Awards Banquet followed dinner that evening, featuring recognition of Personal Care Attendants, and a keynote speech by Bruce Darling on the Community Choice Act.
After dinner, people decompressed, either calling it an early evening, finding friends to relax and discuss the Caucus events with, or a combination of both.
August 14th began as a scramble to vacate and check out of rooms and get to the general session which included the Caucus Report Out, in which each region reported on the consensus of their respective groups. The Caucus was closed by Christine Pechstein, professional job coach and current PILR Board member, with a motivational program titled “Move Into Action.” Caucus attendees bid each other farewell, gathered a box lunch, and found rides home aglow with the collective empowerment of the occasion.