Transition Council Resources A-M
October 18, 2006
For use by students, families, and school personnel in the transition process from school to adult life.
Websites may be accessed by clicking on the underlined link. Email addresses which are underlined will bring up a preaddressed memo form so you may email the person concerned.
Western Kansas Assistive Technology Access Site
The Western Kansas Assistive Technology Access Site is based in Oakley at the Assistive Technology Department of the Northwest Kansas Educational Service Center. The site collaborates with persons and agencies in the 34 counties of western Kansas. Persons interested in assistive technology for education, work, recreation, or daily living may contact the Oakley site to receive information and assistance. This program is supported by the Assistive Technology for Kansas Project which has established five regional access sites across Kansas to assist individuals with disabilities gain access to assistive technology. The five regional assistive technology access sites are located in Oakley (NKESC), Salina, Wichita, Lawrence, and Pittsburg/Parsons.
Each site is guided by a regional advisory board that represents the needs of local assistive technology users. At least 51% of the advisory board members must be persons with disabilities or family members.
Services available at the Access site include:
Information about assistive technology systems and devices. Staff can help choose an accessible computer and appropriate software, find a source for daily living aids, or identify equipment that could help an individual at his/her employment site.
Information about potential funding sources for assistive technology. Staff can provide information on Medicaid waivers, state and federal funding programs, low interest loan programs, charitable organizations and private foundations.
Advocacy services for accessing assistive technology. Staff can explain federal and state laws and regulations to determine eligibility to receive funding support for the assistive technology.
Referral to agencies providing technology services, therapy, and training, including wheelchair seating clinics, communication evaluations and basic computer skills.
Training and public awareness presentations on assistive technology, advocacy, and funding to informal groups, agencies and employers.
And access to the Interagency Equipment Loan System and other loan centers to borrow a device to try before it is purchased.
If assistive technology is something you or someone you know needs, contact the Assistive Technology Access Site nearest you by calling toll free:
1-800-KAN DO IT
1-800-526-3648 V/TDD
Western Kansas Assistive Technology Access Site
703 West Second Street
Oakley KS 67748
V/TDD: (785) 672-3125 Ext. 172 or 174
Fax: (785) 672-3175
Karin Rasmussen, Facilitator, Assistive Technology Consultant
Jeannie Sharp, Assistive Technology Specialist, AT/VR Enhancement Grant
Jodi Moellering, Assistive Technology Case Manager
Beverly Jordan, Information & Referral Manager
email: krasmussen@nkesc.org
Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas (DSNWK)
Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas, Inc., is a private non-for-profit organization serving infants through adults with disabilities are provided quality services including: adult education, employment services, community living, family support, and life planning for more than 30 years. Services are available through a network of community-based and outreach programs and interagency agreements with other service providers in the 18 counties of Northwest Kansas. Developmental Services serves more than 500 individuals with mild to severe disabilities in programs such as College of Living, Employment Services, and a variety of supervised and supported living alternatives as well as, Family Support Services including Home and Community Based Services, Mental Retardation /Developmental Disabilities Waiver, respite care, and advocacy. The Kid-Link program for early intervention is also offered.
Service Coordination for each person is specifically tailored to that person. Life Planning is an essential part of our Service Coordination Department and assures that service options are available which directly relate to the person's respective preferences, abilities, interests, and goals.
These service options are extended into living arrangements, DSNWK offers a variety of supervised and supported living alternatives. These arrangements allow for the most independence possible, and include apartments, teaching family and ICF/MR homes, supported home care and supported family living.
Our College for Living Program allows persons with disabilities the opportunity to plan and develop course work to meet their personal goals. The College for Living classes are offered in a semester program, similar to a university.
Employment Services helps all interested individuals gain employment within their community. Each person is given a job coach to help match an individual's skills and preferences with a prospective work environment. These arrangements are a boon to both the person served and their employer.
For young children, services are provided in-home to make the child more comfortable and responsive. Our Family support for Children and Youth department provides or arranges comprehensive home-based and community-based services to children while also providing support to the families.
Our success is ongoing, and our Quality Improvement continuously measures, addresses and improves the processes in which we are involved. Our commitment is to provide the best possible services and programs to every person served, and to help each individual become interdependent within their community.
Services to the 18 counties of Northwest Kansas include:
Kid-Link (birth to 3 years), Stockton (785) 425-6766
Reed Developmental Center, Hays (785) 625-2521
Kobler Developmental Center, Hill City (785) 674-2851
Prairie Developmental Center, Atwood (785) 626-3688
Frontier Developmental Center, Norton (785) 877-5154
Pioneer Developmental Center, Russell (785) 483-6686
Oakley Center (785) 672-3119
Wheatland Developmental Center, Colby (785) 462-3012
Supported Living - Supported Employment - College of Living
Colby (785) 462-3012
Oakley (785) 672-3119
Hoxie (785) 675-3933
MFP/Textile Manufacturing, Hays (785) 625-2018
Transportation, Hays (785) 628-1052
Community Living; Hays, Russell, Norton, Hill City, Victoria, Atwood, Ellis, Smith Center,
Downs, Phillipsburg, Hoxie, Morland, Osborne, Palco, Stockton, Colby and Oakley
Family Support Services (children and youth), Hays (785) 625-2521
Newsletters are available: Developments (quarterly) and Small Talk (quarterly)
For admissions information, please contact:
Funding Manager - Janet Pfanenstiel, Hays (785) 625-5678 or 1-800-637-2229
email: janet_pfanenstiel@netes1.dsnwk.org
Family Support Services - Jennifer Unger, Oberlin (785) 475-3680
email: jennifer_unger@netes1.dsnwk.org
website: http://www.dsnwk.org
Families Together, Inc.
Families Together, Inc., is the statewide Parent Training and Information Center. Information and resources are available to assist parents and their sons or daughters with disabilities. Families Together, Inc.
1518 Taylor Plaza
Garden City, KS 67846
(620) 276-6364 or 1-888-820-6364 for Parents and Education Advocates
email: gardencity@familiestogetherinc.org
website: http://www.familiestogetherinc.org
Golden West Community Services
Provides supports and services for persons with developmental disabilities in Goodland
Meripat Bowman, Administrator, (785) 899-2322 Ext. 110
Kansas Legal Services
Provides legal services for income eligible clients
M. Joseph Kuhn / Kerry Terhune, Hays (785) 625-4514
Health Wave
A primary and preventive health benefit program for children through age 18 who meet eligibility requirements.
Contact local SRS office.
High Plains Mental Health Center
Available to prevent, diagnose, and treat psychological problems.
Hays, (785) 628-2871
Colby (785) 462-6774
Goodland (785) 899-5991
Norton (785) 877-6141
Job Corps
Provides vocational, academic, and social skills training for disadvantages youth age 16 through 24 who are out of school and out of work
Norma Meier, Dodge City 1-800-503-0903
Kansas Advocacy & Protective Services, Inc. (KAPS)
KAPS is a federally mandated system that provides protection of the rights of individuals with disabilities through legally based advocacy. Protection and Advocacy Agencies (P & As) were established to address a public outcry about abuse, neglect and lack of programming in institutions for individuals with disabilities. Congress has created distinct statutory programs to address the needs of the disability community. The Protection and Advocacy for Individuals With Developmental Disabilities (PAD) Program was created as part of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 1975 (DD Act). KAPS is required by the DD Act to pursue legal, administrative and other appropriate remedies to protect the rights of individuals with developmental disabilities under applicable federal and state laws.
The Administration for Children, Youth and Families, Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) administers the PAD program.
The Protection and Advocacy for Individuals With Mental Illness (PAM) Program was established by the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals With Mental Illness Act in 1986. KAPS is required to protect the rights of individuals with mental illness and to investigate reports of abuse and neglect in facilities that care for or treat individuals with mental illness.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services (CMS) administers the PAM program.
The Protection and Advocacy for Individual Rights (PAIR) Program was established by the 1992 Amendments to the Rehabilitation Act. The KAPS PAIR program is required to advocate for the legal and human rights of individuals with disabilities.
Although PAIR is funded at a lower level than PAD and PAM, it represents an important component of a comprehensive system to advocate for the rights of all individuals with disabilities.
The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Rehabilitation Services Administration (SRA) administers the PAIR program.
The Protection and Advocacy for Assistive Technology (PAAT) Program was created in 1994 when the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals With Disabilities Act (Tech Act) was expanded to include funding for P & As to help "individuals with disabilities and their family members, guardians, advocates, and authorized representatives in accessing technology devices and assistive technology services" through legal representation and self advocacy training.
Under the Tech Act the Assistive Technology for Kansas Project coordinates activities to help access funding for assistive technology devices and services for individuals with disabilities.
The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) administers the PAAT program.
The Client Assistance Program (CAP) was established by the 1984 Amendments to the Rehabilitation Act. The Kansas CAP is administered by Kansas Rehabilitation Services, an agency of the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (2914 S.W. Plass Court, Suite B, Topeka, KS 66611-1925, telephone (785) 266-8193 or 1-800-432-2326).
CAP services include assistance in pursuing administrative, legal and other appropriate remedies to ensure the protection of individuals receiving or seeking vocational services under the Rehabilitation Act.
Rehabilitation Services Administration administers the CAP program.
KAPS' Activities include:
investigating, negotiating or mediating solutions to the problems of KAPS' clients;
providing legal counsel and litigation services to eligible individuals and groups whose problems meet the established priorities for services;
providing information and technical assistance to individuals, attorneys, governmental agencies, service providers and other advocacy organizations;
providing education and training about rights issues to service providers and their staffs, other advocacy organizations, consumer groups and the community; and
interacting with elected and appointed government officials to share information that will help them in making legislative and administrative changes that benefit individuals with disabilities.
For further information, please contact James L. Germer
James L. Germer
Kansas Advocacy & Protective Service
3745 S. W. Wanamaker Rd
Topeka, KS 66610
(785) 273-9661
email: Jim@ksadv.org
website: http://ksadv.org/
Kansas Department of Human Resources Job Service
The following is a list of services available to the employee through the Colby Workforce Center. A staff member may review these services during a visit to our office. If you would like additional information concerning the available services, please do not hesitate to contact the personnel listed below. Job Referrals are available when you are qualified for jobs listed with the Office.
Internet Access is a self-service job search system which gives complete access to local, state, and interstate jobs listed with American's Job Bank and Kansas Job Bank. Our staff is ready to assist you in becoming familiar with ways to easily access job openings.
Workforce Investment Act (WIA) is a federally funded program that provides financial assistance for training or retraining. Our Office will refer individuals for possible enrollment in a job training activity if eligibility guidelines are met.
Assessment Services are available to help discover career interests, aptitudes, educational level and work values. Specific assessments include proficiency tests for typing, spelling, 10-key, etc.
Job Counseling assists in making vocational choices for those having difficulty deciding which career is right for them.
Resume & Interview Preparation books and tapes are available to check out from our resource library. Our staff may also provide tips on how to prepare, package, and present resumes and hints on answering questions at interviews.
Veterans' Services are provided for local veterans with an emphasis on disabled veterans. Additional services may be available to veterans depending on whether the veteran is disabled or had active duty during a particular period of time.
Colby Workforce Center
485 North Chick, PO Drawer 50
Colby, KS 67701
Mgr. Linda Groff, Colby Workforce Center (785) 462-6862
email: lgroff@hr.state.ks.us
Hoyt Kersinger, Hays (785) 625-5654
Terry Young, Great Bend Workforce Center
email: twyoung@hr.state.ks.us
Other websites to checkout: Kansas Job Bank, Available jobs in the State of Kansas
http://www.kansasjoblink.com
America's Job Bank, Available jobs in the United States
http://www.ajb.dni.us
Kansas Guardianship Program
Provides assistance with guardianship and conservatorship. Potential clients under 18 must call KAPS.
Del Jacobsen, Manhattan (785) 587-8555 or 1-800-672-0086 or fax (785) 587-9626
3248 Kimball Ave, Manhatten, KS 66503
Kansas Rehabilitation Services (Voc. Rehab.) KRS Blind Services
Assists people with vision impairments through counseling, rehabilitation and employment training, and other services. Referral can be made at any age.
Counselor: Randi Grubbs, Hays (785) 628-1066 Ext 273
KRS General Rehabilitation Services
Assists people with disabilities who are seniors in high school or 18 years and older with reaching their employment objectives.
General Counselors: Judy Dankenbring, Goodland, (785) 899-5661
Elaine Graham, Norton (785) 877-5173
KRS Transition Services
Assists secondary students with disabilities age 16 and older in transitioning from school to adult services.
Transition Counselor, George Victor, Colby (785) 462-6760
KETCH / Projects With Industry
KETCH Job Placement Services include assessment, employment preparation, development of an individualized placement plan, trial work periods, selected job development, post employment follow-up, and job modification for individuals and older adults with disabilities. For further information, please contact:
Rosemary Wickham, 3004 Broadway, Hays, KS 67601 (785) 628-1066, Ext 280
email: rwickham@ketch.org
Charlene Rietcheck, 485 N Chickamanga Ave, Colby, KS 67701 (785) 462-2424
email: crietcheck@ketch.org
website: http://ketch.org/frmain.htm
Living Independently in Northwest Kansas (LINK)
The mission of LINK, Inc. is to promote and support the civil rights and independence of people with disabilities and act in a manner that empowers them to achieve equality in all aspects in life. Services include: information and referral, skills training, disability support groups, and deaf services. LINK, Inc., is a private not-for-profit organization serving both children and adults whom have physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. LINK has been in existence for 22 years serving 22 counties in the Northwest Kansas area. The program is uniquely consumer driven. At every level the people who wish to use the services are involved in the management of the program. Most of LINK's staff have personal experiences with a disability, and provide services to consumers from the perspective of that experience. We build the services on the individual's ability to choose and achieve a desired lifestyle. The program is based in the home and community of the individual, and generally serves people who are and want to be living independently and need occasional support or help to become more independent. LINK places a heavy emphasis on establishing linkages with existing resources, stimulating the community to provide equal opportunities, an accessible environment, and needed support services.
LINK services include:
Information and Referral
Skills Training
Disability Support Groups
Peer Support
Advocacy
Counseling Services for Home and Community Based Services - Physical Disabilities Waiver
Deaf Services
LINK offices are based in Hays, Hill City, Colby, Great Bend, and Osborne.
For further information, please contact:
Bonnie Werth
LINK, Inc.
2401 East 13th Street
Hays, KS 67601
(785) 625-6942
email: bonniew@eaglecom.net
Scott Carver
Colby LINK, Inc. Office
135 West 6th
Colby, KS 67701
(785) 462-7600 or 1-800-736-9416
Cheryl Keller
Hill City LINK, Inc. Office
113 South 4th #C
Hill City, KS 67642
(785) 674-5774
Make A Difference Information Network
An information service for children and adults with disabilities, their families and their service providers
1-800-3332-6262
Medicaid
Medical insurance with eligibility based on income and disability
Contact your local county SRS office
