Pilr.org



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What a year!!! The default ringtone on my iPhone is the song “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly”; that pretty much says it for 2012. As I age I hate to see the years go by, but I’ve have to be honest with you; I am ready to say “good bye” to 2012.

It started out on a good note as PILR celebrated 15 years of serving Kansans with disabilities. The board and Staff hosted an open house to share the Center’s success with our community. Consumers and community members came by to wish PILR well. It was a “good” day!

This is the year we said good bye to some long time staff. It all started in March when Christi Ireland resigned after 14 years to move to the Kansas city area. In July Linda Adelhardt retired thinking she needed to spend time with her husband, son and granddaughter. Finally, in November we bid farewell to Nanette Unruh who took a position with a managed care organization. Good byes aren’t easy, but we wish each of these former employees well!

Centers have had to deal with state audits; this was the “ugly” part of the year. We are all working through these and hopefully will have resolution before year’s end.

The “bad” comes in to play as we lose revenue due to changes in the way the Home and Community Base Services (HCBS) are delivered. Loss of funds is never easy, but it also leads to opportunity. This means PILR has an opportunity to explore new programs and projects. Exploration can be a little scary and exciting. Be listening and reading to see what new services PILR will be offering in the year to come. In addition, if you believe in PILR and can make a tax deductible donation, we’d sure appreciate any help you can give us. Donations support our community events, youth projects and consumer fund.

A year isn’t complete without a little humor and believe me, PILR has it’s humorous moments. Hopefully Andy won’t mind my sharing this with you. I was working on a grant and racing a deadline. The spreadsheet with the budget wasn’t working—those silly formulas were all messed up, so I called Andy and asked for his expert assistance. He came back to my office and I gave him my chair. He wanted to write down the totals so he wouldn’t lose them. He reached into the cup on my desk, you know the cup that houses pens, letter openers etc., well he pulled out a pen and started to write with it but it didn’t write.; it was my stylus! He looked at it and then at me and said, “where’s the pen? Every desk has a pen!”. Then we both started laughing and I did find him a pen…I even left it in my cup for his future use!

We’ve celebrated a milestone, cried some tears as beloved staff moved on, struggled with funding cuts and are working through audit issues and the year still has a few days left. I don’t know what 2013 will bring, but I do know PILR is standing strong. PILR will be here to serve each and every one of you who requests our services and we will continue to advocate for equal rights for

people with disabilities.

The board of directors and Staff of Prairie Independent Living Resource center, Inc. wish all of you a happy and blessed holiday season!!!

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

By Chris Owens, Executive Director

December 2012

Volume 11, Issue 4

Chris Owens, Editor

Heather Jones, Design Layout

PRAIRIE INDEPENDENT LIVING RESOURCE CENTER, Inc.

The Voice Of PILR

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KUDOS go out this quarter to…

~Jennifer Owens and Joe Howell for their donation to PILR.

~The American Forum of Dodge City, Ks for their donation to PILR.

~Weinmann Farms of Dodge City for their donation to PILR.

~Kelly Miller thanks Roger, Cindy and Erica for the extra help they gave helping her learn about the ILS side of PILR.

~Mary Clarkin for her great PILR Standing Strong article in the Hutchinson News.

~All those who donated to PILR at the Alternative Christmas Market.

~Heather Jones for her donation of a Christmas tree and decorations for the Accessibili-Tree.

~Staff members that helped decorate the Accessibili-Tree. It looks great!

In future issues we welcome all consumers and community members to send in nominations for KUDOS. If you have a person you want to nominate for a KUDOS - contact Cindy Daniels at PILR 620-663-3989.

Give till it hurts????

By Cindy Daniels

Growing up I have always heard that when it comes to donating, you should “Give till it hurts.” For some reason that saying never set well with me. I for one never want to do anything “until it hurts.” Instead I think when we are thinking about donating, we should change that saying to “Give until it feels good.” Let me give you an example…

This past month we found out about a family that had 2 young boys that didn’t have the clothing or items needed to start school. Can you imagine what that would feel like for these young boys? Everyone should have nice clothes to start school, as well as having the supplies needed. We put out the word on Face book asking for help and were overwhelmed with the response we received. We had several phone calls as well as having staff members pull out their wallets to help buy items. Within a couple of days we were able to take clothing and school supplies to this family. Every time a donation of clothing or cash came into the Center, we cheered at the generosity of people who were giving to help this family-a family that they had never met. Talk about giving until it feels good!!

Please make your tax-deductible donation payable to Prairie Independent Living Resource Center, Inc. and send to:

Name:________________________________

Address:______________________________

Telephone:_____________________________

Development Office

PILR

17 S. Main

Hutchinson, KS 67501

You can also support PILR through:

PayPal at

Or

Register with Good Search, Good Shop, or Good Dining

Thank you!!!

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

December 2012

20th Third Thursday @ PILR. Come see the Acessibili-Tree and enjoy some hot chocolate

24th-25th Holiday…PILR is closed

31st New Years Eve…PILR is closed

January 2013

1st New Years Day…PILR is closed

15th PILR’s 16th Birthday

21st Martin Luther King Jr…PILR is closed

PILR’S NEW FACE

SHANNON PHILLIPS

I am very excited to be a part of the PILR community. My responsibilities with PILR include processing DSW payroll and billing. I have worked in the long term care industry for the last four and a half years and look forward to this new journey.

I live in Moundridge with my wonderful husband Tyson. I have three children, Broc, 19, recently graduated from Universal Technical Institute in Houston, TX. Blake is 18 and will be beginning classes at Wichita Area Technical Institute in January. Brooke is 16 and is a junior at Clearwater High School. I also have a 15 year old stepson, Trey, who is a freshman at Moundridge High School.

I am currently a student at Newman University in Wichita. I will graduate this time next year with my degree in Business Studies. I cannot wait to have that accomplishment under my belt. When I am not studying, Tyson and I enjoy building Koi ponds. This is a rewarding experience to take a blank slate and create a soothing water feature. We also enjoy traveling and hope to be able to visit Tennessee again in the near future.

FROM THE DODGE CITY OFFICE

The Dodge City office took part in the Disability Mentoring Day on 10/18/12. There were 55 participants in the program this year. Some of them participated in job shadowing during the month of October so they could learn about various places of employment. Arrowhead West hosted us. There were booths from different agencies in the community. Consumers and staff members of Arrowhead provided a luncheon of: Tacos, fruit salad and cookies. Kerrie Bacon presented the Dodge City Disability Mentoring Day committee the 2012 Michael Lechner Advocacy award.

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Do you have unused health equipment that could be useful to someone else?? If so, give us a call at PILR (Prairie Independent Living Resource Center, Inc.). Our consumers need wheelchairs, walkers, rollator walkers, shower seats, CCTVs, video magnifiers, and canes. If you have any of those items you’d like to donate, give me a call at 620-663-3989 or 888-715-6818 ext. 230. We’ll be glad to come pick items up or, you may drop them off at 17 S Main, Hutchinson. Your donation will be greatly appreciated!

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“Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic.” - Dave Barry

How does your child learn? In what ways does he or she learn new material best? What type of learning style does your child favor?

Rory Stern, PsyD, therapist and ADHD coach who specializes in working with ADHD students and their families, explains that there are three major types of learning styles (although these are by no means the only learning styles).

• Visual

• Auditory

• Kinesthetic

Why Are These Different Styles Important?

Determining learning style can make a big difference in a student’s school success. The trick is getting a handle on what learning style or combination of learning styles work best for which student.

“A simple way to understand these different learning styles is to consider what senses the student relies on most when learning,” notes Dr. Stern. Once parents and teachers understand the way a student learns, teaching methods can be better geared to maximize the learning experience.

Visual Learners

Visual learners learn visually, by seeing, explains Dr. Stern. “In school, the student will do best from seeing examples and having an opportunity to watch.” These students respond well to colorful pictures and illustrations of the learning material, written lessons on the board or overhead projector, outlines, diagrams, charts, maps and educational videos – all things they can see to absorb the information. They also tend to cue in well to a teacher’s facial expressions.

Note taking (depending on the student’s age) is helpful for visual learners. “We want to make sure that this student is taking good notes, and reviewing good notes,” says Dr. Stern. “If your son or daughter does not take good notes, then we need to make sure that he or she has a study buddy or partner who is willing to share their notes.” Talk with your child’s teacher about helping you coordinate this.

Auditory Learners

“These students learn and retain information when they have an opportunity to hear it,” says Dr. Stern. Auditory learners cue in to voice tone, speed, volume and inflection, as well as body language and learn best by hearing class lectures and participating and listening to class discussions.

“One of the best strategies for these students is to allow them to record classroom lectures,” notes Dr. Stern. “By recording a lecture or classroom instruction (depending on the child’s age), the pressure is off of your child scrambling to take notes to keep up. Anyone who tries to keep up at a pace that doesn’t match his or her own, sacrifices really understanding the material.” Another added benefit to recording classroom instruction? The student can replay any material he or she was not able to grasp fully and move along with learning at his or her own pace. In addition to using a tape recorder, auditory learners benefit from reading text out loud and presenting learned material orally. They may want to rephrase and repeat back new material to help reinforce learning. Some enjoy music in the background when studying.

Kinesthetic Learners

“These students are often the ones labeled as ADHD,” says Dr. Stern. “Why? A kinesthetic learner is very active and will appear to be fidgety and sometimes highly active.”

These students love to be wholly physically absorbed in the learning activity, actively exploring and moving around. They may have trouble sitting for long periods of time, becoming bored and distracted when they are not “doing.” Hands-on, tactile teaching approaches in which a student is allowed movement work best for kinesthetic learners. Science labs and experiments, involved unit studies, field trips, crafts, skits, model building – all help a kinesthetic learner absorb new information. During the times when these students need to be seated, it is helpful for them to sit up front in a classroom where there is a lot of activity going on as the teacher teaches. This way it is easier to stay engaged in the learning process.

Dr. Stern explains that it is sometimes helpful for a kinesthetic learner to hold something in his or her hands to fidget with while doing work – silly putty, a Koosh ball, holding the book while reading (rather than setting it on the desk) - anything tactile works well. Many kinesthetic learners benefit from being permitted to work standing up, though the rest of the class may be seated.

Teaching to a student’s strengths and favored learning style or combination of learning styles is always more productive than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Curtis is a student who has demonstrated extraordinary talents in several creative arts and wood working and crafts areas. He has built his first guitar from scratch and has learned how to play it within a year. A friend of his brought over an electric key board and Curtis has been able to learn how to play by ear within a week. Curtis is also busy crafting his first violin. His plans are to put the instrument physically together and then learn to play it to his satisfaction.

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Curtis is also an example of a young adult who simply learns differently from most others in our general

population. He has been diagnosed with ADHD which offers many challenges in his learning process.

Curtis is completing his senior year at one of our local high schools and is looking forward to attending college and seeking employment after graduation.

Curtis is participating in the SCKSEC Community Based Training classes offered to high school students who would like to learn about and experience different career fields by being placed in various local job sites and working with area professionals in exchange for academic credit hours.

While at KMMM Radio CBT site in Pratt, KS Curtis wrote, produced and recorded several local commercials and community service announcements. Operating sound boards and various pieces of editing equipment involved Curtis learning to maneuver them by visually memorizing sequences and patterns as they were being demonstrated to him. Curtis also relied on visually memorizing where needed daily items were kept and their intended use. He would then be able to recall how to utilize them.

Curtis will tell you that he prefers and adapts to “hands-on learning” methods. He does best by actually participating in the learning experience. Curtis was also placed at Home Lumber, Inc for a worksite. There, he was able to learn how to lift heavy items properly physically and with use of equipment by actually being shown and having tasks modeled with him participating in the process itself.

Now Curtis will be spending time with PILR staff and will learn about our agency’s mission statement and role in several local communities. Our intent is to offer him the opportunity to see community and individual goals in action. We ourselves have different learning styles and approaches in offering help to others within our diverse community. Whether assisting someone with affordable housing options, permanent and meaningful employment, accommodations and technology options or different forms of advocacy, he will hopefully begin to understand ways to identify needs and achieve goals on many different levels.

Curtis remains open to learning new approaches on the path of self-realization and remains busy cultivating his many talents that will undoubtedly assist and entertain others.

He demonstrates much courage in recognizing his disability, becoming comfortable with his own learning styles and advocating for them and daring to step up to the plate and take a full swing at every curve ball that comes his way.

LEARNING IS NOT A SPECTATOR SPORT

By Billy Thompson, Pratt PILR Office

THERE IS NOWHERE TO GO BUT UP

By Roger Frischenmeyer, ILS

Over the past year centers for independent living have struggled, both in the perception by some of the work we do, and in finding ways to continue to fund the services we provide. While it is true, that some centers have closed, that doesn’t mean that centers don’t do important work in their communities. We further have had to really adjust the extra programs we have as we will no longer be receiving money for doing case management for the physical disability waiver. So for those of us who work at centers, this year has been rougher than any year we have ever seen. Our money is gone, our reputation is tarnished and to be truthful, there are days now when I am not sure I really want to come to work. Yet I do come to work because I know the good work that those of us on the front lines at centers for independent living do. I also know that there are people who need the services we provide and no matter the perceptions of some, that won’t change.

If there is a consolation from losing the HCBS money, it is that now we can go back to being pure centers for independent living, focused completely on consumer control and not having to compromise that at times to guarantee health and safety of those we work with. People with disabilities just like their nondisabled counterparts should have the right to be in control of their life and we can focus much more on that now that we can return completely to promoting consumer control of their lives.

So as 2012 ends and 2013 begins we at PILR are being challenged unlike at any time in our history. With these challenges though come opportunities. We have the opportunity to provide purely independent living services truly promoting nothing about us without us and that to me is a great thing.

So to those customers and community members who have supported us during the last challenging year I say thank you. I hope that you have all that you wish for this holiday season. Though there have been a lot of people who have heard about the waiver services leaving PILR, that doesn’t mean we are closing. We are still here and will continue to be here if you need us throughout the New Year.

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PILR STANDING STRONG

(reprinted with permission from the Hutchinson News)

Author(s): Mary Clarkin;The Hutchinson News;mclarkin@;    Date: November 26, 2012 

NICKERSON - Ruth Schellhamer's knees bear surgical scars, and the metal in her legs sets off security buzzers

at stores. But the Nickerson resident is able to live on her own despite impaired mobility. "If I need something, I call them," said Melissa Schellhamer, chief caregiver for her mother. The "them" is Prairie Independent Living Resource Center, 17 S. Main St. Prairie Independent Living is a connecting link for Schellhamer's care.

For example, about a year ago, the agency utilized several different revenue sources for the purchase of a motorized scooter. Then, a Home Depot grant enabled the acquisition of supplies to build an outdoor ramp at Schellhamer's mobile home. Hands of Christ Ministry constructed the ramp. "A majority of our consumers do not have any extra funds," said Cindy Daniels, independent living specialist with Prairie Independent Living.

Without the chair and ramp, Schellhamer would be a virtual prisoner in her home, Daniels said.

Financial aid enables the younger Schellhamer to be paid for some of the help she provides her mother, with Prairie Independent Living handling the payroll paperwork.

When the state's Medicaid-management program KanCare is implemented in January, Prairie Independent Living will no longer provide targeted case management for people on physical disability waivers, such as Schellhamer. While KanCare will reduce staff and functions at Prairie Independent Living, the changes won't be dramatic, according to Chris Owens, executive director of Prairie Independent Living.

In a brochure describing the services provided by the organization, "Targeted Case Management" is a single line, and Owens points out that it was not one of the agency's "core services." Some people have the misconception that independent living centers will close under KanCare, Owens said. Prairie Independent Living will not be developing care programs for customers, "but we can still work with those customers on anything else," she said. "We're here. We're absolutely here to stay," Owens said.

For KanCare, the state will contract with three insurance providers. The companies are offering jobs to independent living center staff, and Owens said one Prairie Independent Living staffer has accepted a job.

Kelly Miller, a targeted case manager for Prairie Independent Living, will see her job end, but she said she hopes to stay with Prairie Independent Living in some other capacity.

Daniels won't be affected by KanCare, and her current mission on behalf of Schellhamer will continue.

"We do not have all the funding yet for her lift chair, but we're working on it," Daniels said.

"Ruth can't get rid of me that easily," Daniels said, teasing Schellhamer.

SEE YOU ALL LATER

By Nanette Unruh

Our journey through life leads us in surprises all the time. Late summer I had a major detour, case management was moved to the managed care companies effective January 1, 2013. This would leave me without a job and no insurance. Which way to go? Do I apply for my dream job at Hobby Lobby and live without insurance or look other places that could provide insurance. I went down the path of insurance due to some of my health problems and enjoying living. I applied at several places and landed a job with Amerigroup being a Long Term Support Services Coordinator. Much the same job as I had at PILR. I loved working at PILR and my consumers. My journey there was interesting and never the same which I enjoy. The road didn't always lead like I thought and yes I was lost on the road some where most of the time but I did make it to all my appointments. I learned so much from my consumers and staff. Did you know people eat goat meat and like it? You can have a broken body and still have a great attitude. One of the greatest joys is setting someone free from living in a facility that they don't want to live in. Personal choice is for everyone no matter what your disability. And that sometimes the best lessons are from the consequences from those choices. Now I will have to live and advocate the independent living philosophy and consumer choice. I will be putting into practice what we have preached all these years. Now it will be harder when I am not surrounded by others that may not think the same way I do. As I travel down the road hopefully I will see some of you all again. If I look lost please give me directions left and right only I still don't know my directions.

DEDICATED TO THE FULL INCLUSION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Prairie Independent Living Resource Center, Inc

17 South Main

Hutchinson, Kansas 67501

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The Board Of Directors

Frances Garcia-President Dave Mullins

Stephanie Guthrie-Vice President Carlota Ponds

Carrellen Lewis-Treasurer Nathalie Schlatter

David Sieg

Nathalie Schlatter

Prairie Independent Living Resource Center, Inc.

17 South Main

Hutchinson, Kansas 67501

Phone:

(620) 663-3989

1-888-715-6818

TDD:

(620) 663-9920

Fax:

(620) 663-4711

E-Mail: Website:

info@

PILR - Pratt

103 West 2nd

Pratt, Kansas 67124

Phone:

(620) 672-9600

1-888-715-6818

TDD:

(620) 663-9920

PILR – Dodge City

2601 Central #LL19

Dodge City, KS 67801

Phone:

(620) 371-7690

1-888-715-6818

TDD:

(620) 663-9920

PILR Staff

Chris Owens, Executive Director

Erica Rivera, Independent Living Specialist Coordinator

Cindy Daniels, Independent Living Specialist

Roger Frischenmeyer, Independent Living Specialist

Elizabeth “Libby” Doxon, Orientation & Mobility Outreach Specialist

Andy Reichart, Home and Community Based Services Coordinator

Heather Jones, Independent Living Counselor/Targeted Case Manager

Kelly Miller, Independent Living Counselor/Targeted Case Manager

Darla Hogan, HCBS Billing/PCA Payroll

Loretta Shultz Payroll Specialist

Shannon Phillips, Payroll Specialist

Dan Owens, Employment Specialist

Sarah McLaughlin, Employment Specialist

Tammy Fuhr, Administrative Assistant

Lowell Schrag, Receptionist

Leslie Hiebert, Secretary

Billy Thompson, Independent Living Specialist-Pratt

Phillip Robinson, Employment Specialist/Receptionist - Pratt

Mary Jane Sandoval, Information & Referral Specialist – Dodge City

Mignon Luckey, Independent Living Specialist – Dodge City

Letters to the editor are welcome. Please mail to Chris Owens at:

PILR, 17 South Main, Hutchinson, Kansas 67501

The editor reserves the right to edit or omit letters. Views stated in this column are not necessarily the views of PILR. PILR receives funding from Rehabilitation Services Administration, U.S. Department of Education, grants, contracts, and fees for services. Private donations are welcomed. PILR is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Service Provider.

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