Chris Owens, EditorHeather Jones, Design Layout

September 2012Volume 11, Issue 3

PRAIRIE INDEPENDENT LIVING RESOURCE CENTER, Inc.The Voice Of PILR

When people with disabilities have access to our communities and our homes we can truly have inclusive communities. Over the past 15 ½ years this has been our mission; we aren’t there yet, but our Accessibility Initiative Awards and Friend of PILR Award winners are helping us get closer to achieving our goal. Awards were presented at PILR’s annual ADA March & Rally Celebration on July 23, 2012. This year’s Accessibility Initiative Award went to two organizations…and the winners are the Hutchinson Community foundation and the city of Hutchinson planning and development department for their efforts with complete streets. PILR is proud to be a participant in the complete Streets project. It was so awesome to participate in these meetings where accessibility wasn’t a “special” topic; it was just part of the conversation; part of the plan…Complete Streets. I even love the name! According to the city of Hutchinson Planning Department “Complete Streets are streets that are designed and operated to enable safe access for everyone, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and public transportation users of all ages and abilities. They are intended to provide alternative transportation choices to citizens that may prefer not to drive a vehicle or do not have the ability to drive a vehicle.” Furthermore, According to Janet Hamilton of the Hutchinson Community Foundation told us the Foundation has awarded the City of Hutchinson Planning & Development Department a grant in the amount of $60,000 from funding provided by the Kansas Health Foundation. This award is intended to strategically modify the built environment and culture of Hutchinson to increase and encourage healthy and active lifestyles among area residents through healthy community design practices. Specifically, the grant funds a Sidewalk and ADA Ramp Asset Survey to determine the existence and condition of sidewalks and ramps throughout the city. The resultant database will be beneficial for future built environment

CELEBRATING ACCESS By Chris Owens, Executive Director

Starting this issue PILR will be recognizing people who have made a difference.

KUDOS go out this quarter to…~PILR staff and board members who donated their time, baked goods, and fruit for our Third Thursday fundraising bake sale. We raised $187.15 to help consumers get items needed to remain independent in their homes.

~Tropical Shores for playing in front of PILR on Third Thursday and donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of their CD’s to PILR.

~Our Facebook friends that donated to help a family in need buy school supplies and clothing.

~All the wonderful people that brought in donations in the form of equipment and supplies.

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.

planning and enable city staff to identify where it is feasible to widen existing sidewalks for trail connection. Remaining grant funds will enable the City of Hutchinson Planning & Development Department to host National Complete Streets Coalition Workshops to enable key stakeholders to understand the design features of streets that provide accessibility to all forms of transportation – cyclist, pedestrian, vehicle and mass transit. The grant funding from the Kansas Health Foundation supports the following outcomes: The City of Hutchinson is known as a place where people live long, active and healthy lives. The City of Hutchinson is known as a healthy, active community where people want to live. The City of Hutchinson will redefine healthy living as the cultural norm.” The built environment of Hutchinson fosters healthy lifestyles. PILR is proud to award these 2 organizations with the 2012 accessibility Initiative Award! The 2012 Friend of PILR Award went to Paul Yoder and the Hands of Christ Ministries. They were featured in our June 2012 Newsletter. Using our Home Depot grant gift card, they were able to purchase items and volunteered their time to build 5 ramps, repair a deteriorating one and redo two porches. Their work also helps us closer to our goal of inclusion; eight people now have access in and out of their homes. What a wonderful way for these volunteers to give back to their community and what a wonderful thing for folks to have access to their community. It is our hope we can continue this collaboration with Home Depot, Paul and the Hands of Christ Ministries. We are very proud to award the Friend of PILR award to this faith based organization. Congratulations to all our award winners!!! It’s people and organizations like this who really are dedicated to the full inclusion of people with disabilities into the community. Thank you!!!

CALENDAR OF EVENTSSeptember 2012

14th Kansas Coalition Against Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Celebrates 30 years of service at 634 SW Harrison, Topeka, KS 4:00PM-6:00PM

October 20122nd Dinner & Jazz hosted by PILR and the Sexual Assault/Domestic

Violence Center at Avenue A Park, Hutchinson, KS 5:00PM-8:00PM

8th PILR Job Club, 17 S Main, Hutchinson, KS 3:00PM-4:00PM12th Zumbathon T-shirt Cutting Party hosted by the Sexual

Assault/Domestic Violence Center at Mi Tierra, 700 E 4th, Hutchinson, KS 6:00PM

13th Zumbathon hosted by the Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Center at Sun Yi’s Academy, 1301 E 4th, Hutchinson, KS 9:00AM

16th Disability Mentoring Day, Pratt, KS17th Disability Mentoring Day, Hutchinson, KS 18th Kansas Coalition Against Sexual/Domestic Violence luncheon

12:00PM…details to be announced18th Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Center Candle Light Vigil,

Grasshopper Park, Hutchinson, KS 8:00PMNovember 2012

1st Flu Clinic hosted by PILR, 17 S Main, Hutchinson, KS 9:00AM-12:00PM

11th Veteran’s Day…PILR is closed22nd-23rdThanksgiving Holiday…PILR is closed

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 OfficePILR

17 S. MainHutchinson, KS 67501

You can also support PILR through: PayPal at www.pilr.org

Or

Register with Good Search, Good Shop, or Good Dining

Thank you!!!

AUTHENTICAREIt has been seven months since the State of Kansas implemented the mandated Electronic Verification System – known as the Call In System for time sheets.

As a whole it has been running smooth. Just to keep in mind the state requirements.

All consumers of the HCBS-PD or HCBS-FE Waiver have to comply with the regulations.

1) Consumers must let their workers use their personal phone to clock in and out of the Authenticare System.

2) All workers must clock in & out via phone when starting a shift and finishing a shift.

3) When a phone is not available, it must be noted on the time sheet as to the day it was not available and the reason. If it is a long term situation then PILR must be notified.

4) When the consumers phone number changes, the call in system does not work for your worker. In this case immediately contact PILR and we will input the new phone number into Authenticare System and the service will be available within the same day.

5) PILR is still requiring all workers to fill out paper time sheets. The paper time sheets must match exactly to the time in and out of Authenticare. If you have questions on how this works give us a call.

6) Paper Time Sheets are still required under the same turn in schedule and the same signatures and initial requirements as before.

7) Requirements are that the time shows up in Authenticare AND on the paper time sheet to be paid for that time.

REMEMBER IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS – CALL (620)663-3989

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!

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AMONG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IS HIGH: DON’T LOOSE HOPE.

By Sarah J. McLaughlin, Employment Specialist The Employment First Initiative Act (House Bill No. 2336), was signed into law July 1, 2011. In Section 1: (b) “It is hereby declared to be the policy of the state of Kansas that competitive and integrated employment shall be considered its first option when serving persons with disabilities who are of working age to obtain employment” (found at http://employment1st.org). This law simply means that if you are a person with a disability of working age and work with DCF, you will be given the choice to choose work and qualify for help to find work. The national average of unemployment among those with disabilities is nearly doubled compared to the non-disabled population (15% as compared to 8.7% in 2011 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics), confirming that finding employment seems to be more difficult for people with disabilities than the non-disabled population. It is true that there are individuals who can’t work or who do not want to work. But what about those who do? With all the steps it takes to find and keep a job, one thing needs to be constant during job searching: HOPE! Finding a job is a process and finding a job that is a good fit for you can take some time and patience. A positive “can-do” attitude is not something you can be trained in, it has to come from within. There are many barriers/ challenges that can make finding employment difficult: transportation, medication compliance, medication management, job availability, work schedule, stigma of having an “obvious” disability, excuses and fighting the misconception that living with a disability automatically means a person has no job skills or isn’t trainable. However….The advantages of working are many: income, self-confidence, independence, something to do, ability to make new friends and learn new skills. PILR offers many services to our consumers with the goal to help an individual live as independently as a he or she wants. PILR works with VR (Vocational Rehabilitation) to assist individuals develop a resume, sample applications, gain interviewing skills, and offer support while at the job. If you feel you are job ready and want to work, please contact VR at 620-663-5731.

PILR is proud to bring back JOB CLUB. Job Club is held twice a month on the first and third Mondays of each month at the PILR office. We will start October 8 from 3-4pm. This is a great opportunity for you to meet others who are on the job hunt and network. Topics discussed will be job leads, interviewing skills, application process, conflict resolution, stress management, time management, and there will always be time for questions.

FLU CLINIC NOVEMBER 1, 2012

9:00AM-12:00PM

As we move into fall we also move into flu season. That’s the not so fun part of cooler days, wearing long sleeved shirts, eating those hot soups and carving pumpkins. Prairie Independent Living Resource Center,Inc. will be hosting a ‘Flu Shot Clinic’ at our office, 17 S. Main, Hutchinson on November 1, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The public is invited. Insurance can be billed and cash will be accepted. If you have any questions, please call the Reno County Health Department at (620) 694-2900. We hope to see you on November 1, 2012. In the mean time; stay healthy!

October 17, 2012 PILR along with local educators, community businesses, Kansas Rehabilitation Services, and other local officials will again be participating in Disability Mentoring Day. Held the third Wednesday in October, DMD matches students and job seekers with disabilities with mentors in a career area of interest to them for a day of job shadowing and learning about a possible future career. Originally called National Disability Mentoring Day, this program was started at the Whitehouse in 1999 as a way to help facilitate employment for people with disabilities. Since it began at the Whitehouse, DMD has grown to include programs in all 50 states and several foreign countries. Locally, this will be the 11th year that disability Mentoring day will be held here in Hutchinson. It has grown from 19students and job seekers, in the first year, to about 120 last year and we expect more mentees this year. We have had verygood support from local businesses including several who have been mentors every year. For me, this might be one of the most fun and rewarding events that PILR does every year. I know how hard it is, as aperson with a disability, to find someone who will give you a chance at a job, and I know that students who have participatedin this program have learned that they could actually work. Over the years, there are two students that I think about every time DMD comes around. The first is a young lady whojust knew she wanted to own a restaurant after she graduated from school. We placed her in a restaurant and she got toexperience everything that comes with that kind of work. After her day of job shadowing she was offered a job at which timeshe thanked the manager and then turned it down as she had figured out that the restaurant business was not a career optionfor her. That was important for her because it gave her the rest of her high school years to figure out what she wanted to doafter graduation. The second kid I think of was a kid that I met at a grocery store one evening as I was checking out. Hecalled me by name and acted like we had known each other for years, yet I had no clue who he was. Still we talked anyway.When I picked up my groceries to leave he told me he wanted to thank me because had he not participated in DMD, hewouldn’t have that job. While that made me feel good that his life had been changed because of DMD, it also made merealize how important it is that we keep this event happening in our local area. To those businesses and agencies who have mentored a student I want to thank you for your previous involvement andask for your support again this year. For those who haven’t ever participated in Disability Mentoring Day I want to inviteyou to make this your first year. If you are interested in being a mentor give me a call at 663-3989 and we will match youwith a student or job seeker for that day. If you would like more information about the program you can call me or go toeither http://www.pilr.org or http://kcdcinfo.com. As for students and job seekers, we are taking applications for their participation as well. Applications are available, onthe PILR website. The deadline to submit an application is September 14, at 5:00 PM for medical or law enforcementprofessions, and September 21st at 5:00PM for everything else. If you are unable to be a mentor, but would like to help inanother way we are always looking for assistance on the steering committee, additional funding to support the costs of theprogram, or door prizes. Now the fun begins! In less than a month and a half, we will have numerous mentees and mentors matched in an equalnumber of careers. Hopefully, one of those mentees or mentors will be you.

DISABILITY MENTORING DAY By Roger Frischenmeyer, ILS

My name is Mary Ann Golding. I currently have HCBS/PD waiver services. I was on the waiting list for services for many years. While I was waiting for services I could not clean my own house or take a bath on my own. I am diabetic and due to the fact that I could not cook for myself, I was not eating what I should. My blood sugars were sky high. I felt like my life was in danger. Now that I have services, I have a CNA who comes to my home daily. She assists me with all of my daily needs. This has made a huge difference in my life. I wouldn’t trade Cecelia for the world. I really appreciate all of the help from everyone at Prairie Independent Living Resource Center, Inc. Without Roger I would not have my scooter that allows me to leave my house. My case manager, Kelly was very supportive though all the steps involved with getting off the waiting list and getting my services going. I wouldn’t trade her for the world either. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t know what to do. She is legally blind and PILR even provides a driver for her to come visit with me about my services. Kelly also set up home delivered meals that have bought my blood sugars back to normal and I have even lost some weight. She also got me personal emergency response service through Home Buddy. This makes me feel much safer when I am home alone. I feel better than I ever have felt. I am more independent and feel like I have more control over my own life. Thank you PILR for everything you do!

Mary Ann Golding

Here I am again being asked to comment about why it is important for advocates to advocate. It doesn’t matter what kind of advocate you are (meaning the type, not whether you are a good one or a bad one), but just that you are one! We will always need advocates, people to support those at risk…at risk of being ignored, at risk of being beaten, at risk of being targets just because of who they are. We will always need advocates, people to support those who are willing to say I have had enough, I have the right to exist, I have the right to be heard, and I have the right to question your right to harm me. PILR and SA/DVC began a journey together many years ago, before I became the ED of SA/DVC almost nine years ago. Dinner and Jazz is an example of this collaboration as we join forces in October to increase awareness about our mutual interests. The collaboration was ‘kicked up a notch” (excuse the violence reference) three years ago when funding for the JustAsk project was received. These two organizations met every month for two years to discuss, educate, and plan. This collaboration came to fruition:

1) Because we know anyone can be victim

2) Because we know victims often feel alone and vulnerable

3) Because we know women are victims more often than men

4) Because we know persons with disabilities are 10 times more likely to be victims of violence than the general population

5) Because we know how hard it is to fight an opponent that is a system

6) Because we know human rights are violated daily by other humans.

7) Because we know this violation happens just because people know they can.

8) Because we know it’s not right.

9) Because we know it’s not fair

10) And the top ten reason is because we know we can make a difference in someone’s life if we work together and support each other.

That is why each year you have to listen to me talk at this event and at the Civil Rights Rally plus see me marching down Main Street in 105 degree weather with a smile on my face. I am not smiling because I enjoy the heat or marching for that matter. I am smiling because I know I am not alone in this endeavor and I know my actions will make someone else’s life better because we took a stand……we met or are meeting the challenge. As Neal Armstrong said:

“I think we're going to the moon because it's in the nature of the human being to face challenges. It's by the

nature of his deep inner soul... we're required to do these things just as salmon swim upstream”. ~Neil Armstrong~

Although Mr. Armstrong’s journey was to the moon and he was talking about space travel, something people believed would never happen…our journey is just as daunting, dangerous, and unbelievable ….Human rights for everyone. We are tenacious, like salmon swimming upstream; we have a purpose, a goal. And to quote another favorite person of mine, Eleanor Roosevelt:

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent” ~Eleanor Roosevelt~

We will not be considered inferior. We can be strong alone, but we can be stronger together. Even if we are dehydrated from the journey!!!

ADA RALLY COMMENTS By Candace Anderson Dixon, Executive Director Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence

“One's philosophy is not best expressed in

words; it is expressed in the choices one makes...

and the choices we make are ultimately our

responsibility.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt~

Attending the National ADA Symposium provided PILR with an opportunity to obtain information from the U.S. Departments of Justice, Education, the EEOC, U.S. Access Board, and the International Code Council. It is important to recognize the positive impacts of the ADA not just on persons with disabilities, their family members and caregivers, but on society as a whole. It has encouraged us to look at people for their abilities, rather than their disabilities. It has helped us see the many contributions persons with disabilities make to our community every day. The law has paved the way for persons with disabilities to perform everyday tasks such as going to the grocery store, doctor's appointments, and meeting friends, or holding a job. To celebrate and promote the many benefits of the ADA, we would like to review the three areas covered within the Titles of the American Disabilities Act and discuss some changes that we uncovered while attending the ADA Symposium in Indianapolis. The following are a sampling of common questions and answers from the U.S. Department of Justice Americans with Disabilities Act Home Page:Employment:Q. What employers are covered by title I of the ADA, and when is the coverage effective?A. The title I employment provisions apply to private employers, State and local governments, employment agencies, and labor unions. Employers with 25 or more employees were covered as of July 26, 1992. Employers with 15 or more employees were covered two years later, beginning July 26, 1994.Q. What practices and activities are covered by the employment nondiscrimination requirements?A. The ADA prohibits discrimination in all employment practices, including job application procedures, hiring, firing, advancement, compensation, training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. It applies to recruitment, advertising, tenure, layoff, leave, fringe benefits, and all other employment-related activities.Q. Who is protected from employment discrimination?A. Employment discrimination is prohibited against "qualified individuals with disabilities." This includes applicants for employment and employees. An individual is considered to have a "disability" if s/he has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment. Persons discriminated against because they have a known association or relationships with an individual with a disability also are protected.State and Local Governments:Q. Does the ADA apply to State and local governments?A. Title II of the ADA prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities in all programs, activities, and services of public entities. It applies to all State and local governments, their departments and agencies, and any other instrumentalities or special purpose districts of State or local governments. It clarifies the requirements of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 for public transportation systems that receive Federal financial assistance, and extends coverage to all public entities that provide public transportation, whether or not they receive Federal financial assistance. It establishes detailed standards for the operation of public transit systems, including commuter and intercity rail (AMTRAK).Q. When do the requirements for State and local governments become effective?A. In general, they became effective on January 26, 1992.Q. How does title II affect participation in a State or local government's programs, activities, and services?A. A state or local government must eliminate any eligibility criteria for participation in programs, activities, and services that screen out or tend to screen out persons with disabilities, unless it can establish that the requirements are necessary for the provision of the service, program, or activity. The State or local government may, however, adopt legitimate safety requirements necessary for safe operation if they are based on real risks, not on stereotypes or generalizations about individuals with disabilities. Finally, a public entity must reasonably modify its policies, practices, or procedures to avoid discrimination. If the public entity can demonstrate that a particular modification would fundamentally alter the nature of its service, program, or activity, it is not required to make that modification.Q. Does title II cover a public entity's employment policies and practices?A. Yes. Title II prohibits all public entities, regardless of the size of their work force, from discriminating in employment against qualified individuals with disabilities. In addition to title II's employment coverage, title I of the ADA and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibit employment discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities by certain public entitiesQ. What changes must a public entity make to its existing facilities to make them accessible?A. A public entity must ensure that individuals with disabilities are not excluded from services, programs, and activities because existing buildings are inaccessible. A State or local government's programs, when viewed in their entirety, must be readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. This standard, known as "program accessibility," applies to facilities of a public entity that existed on January 26, 1992. Public entities do not necessarily have to make each of their existing facilities accessible. They may provide program accessibility by a number of methods including alteration of existing facilities, acquisition or construction of additional facilities, relocation of a service or program to an accessible facility, or provision of services at alternate accessible sites.

NATIONAL ADA SYMPOSIUM

Billy Thompson (left) and Andy Reichart (right) attending the National ADA Symposium in Indianapolis, Indiana on May 30-June1, 2012.

Public Accommodations:Q. What are public accommodations?A. A public accommodation is a private entity that owns, operates, leases, or leases to, a place of public accommodation. Places of public accommodation include a wide range of entities, such as restaurants, hotels, theaters, doctors' offices, pharmacies, retail stores, museums, libraries, parks, private schools, and day care centers. Private clubs and religious organizations are exempt from the ADA's title III requirements for public accommodations.Q. Will the ADA have any effect on the eligibility criteria used by public accommodations to determine who may receive services?A. Yes. If a criterion screens out or tends to screen out individuals with disabilities, it may only be used if necessary for the provision of the services. For instance, it would be a violation for a retail store to have a rule excluding all deaf persons from entering the premises, or for a movie theater to exclude all individuals with cerebral palsy. More subtle forms of discrimination are also prohibited. For example, requiring presentation of a driver's license as the sole acceptable means of identification for purposes of paying by check could constitute discrimination against individuals with vision impairments. This would be true if such individuals are ineligible to receive licenses and the use of an alternative means of identification is feasible.Q. What kinds of auxiliary aids and services are required by the ADA to ensure effective communication with individuals with hearing or vision impairments?A. Appropriate auxiliary aids and services may include services and devices such as qualified interpreters, assistive listening devices, note takers, and written materials for individuals with hearing impairments; and qualified readers, taped texts, and Brailled or large print materials for individuals with vision impairments.Q. What are examples of the types of modifications that would be readily achievable in most cases?A. Examples include the simple ramping of a few steps, the installation of grab bars where only routine reinforcement of the wall is required, the lowering of telephones, and similar modest adjustments.Q. What does the ADA require in new construction?A. The ADA requires that all new construction of places of public accommodation, as well as of "commercial facilities" such as office buildings, be accessible. Elevators are generally not required in facilities under three stories or with fewer than 3,000 square feet per floor, unless the building is a shopping center or mall; the professional office of a health care provider; a terminal, depot, or other public transit station; or an airport passenger terminal.A brief description of other changes to the non-discriminatory requirements set forth in the new regulations follows:

Mobility Devices: Under the new regulations, wheelchairs must be permitted in all areas open to pedestrian use.  Business owners also must permit the use of other power devices (e.g., Segways), unless the owner can demonstrate that the use of such devices would fundamentally alter the business’s programs, services and activities, or would create a safety hazard.

Service Animals: Under the new regulations a business cannot assess a surcharge for using a “service animal,” even if a fee is required from other persons with pets.  The new regulations limit the kind of animal which may be a “service animal” to dogs, but expand the types of tasks which might bring a dog into the category of a “service animal.”  A dog may be a “service animal” if it is trained to deal with psychiatric issues, such as reminding its handler to take medicine, providing safety checks or room searches (for individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder), and/or stopping its handler from harming himself.  Other animals and dogs which provide mere emotional support, are not “service animals.”  The new regulations do permit the use of trained miniature horses as alternatives to dogs, subject to certain limitations, but to allow flexibility in situations where using a horse would not be appropriate, miniature horses are not included in the definition of “service animal.”

Reservations for Places of Lodging: Under the new regulations, places of lodging must: (1) allow individuals with disabilities to make reservations for accessible guest rooms during the same hours and in the same manner as other guests; and (2) identify and describe accessible features in the hotels and guest rooms in enough detail to permit individuals with disabilities to assess whether such lodging meets their needs.  Furthermore, places of lodging must ensure that reserved accessible guest rooms are actually available for those disabled guests upon their arrival.

Communication: The new regulations include guidance on compliance with the provisions relating to effective communication with disabled guests.  Specifically, the new regulations allow for the use of video remote interpreting services as an auxiliary aid, but only to the extent the business operator complies with specified performance standards.

Ticketing: The new regulations provide guidance on the sale of tickets for accessible seating, the sale of season tickets, the hold and release of accessible seating to non-disabled individuals, ticket pricing, prevention of the fraudulent purchase of accessible seating and the ability to purchase multiple contiguous tickets when buying accessible seating.

http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/ADAregs2010.htm

ADA requirements may change as regulations are modified to improve access or to provide more detailed guidance for entities covered by the ADA. When new requirements are proposed, a formal procedure is used which calls for public comment and agency review before the requirement is finalized. Changes in existing requirements or new requirements are first issued as a proposed rule and published in the Federal Register. Public comments, which are received by mail and over the Internet, are reviewed by the Department before a proposed Final Rule is published. When the Final Rule is published, new requirements are established as detailed in the Final Rule. For information on any new or proposed Department of Justice ADA regulations contact the ADA Information Line.

T h e B o a r d O f D i r e c t o r s

F r a n c e s G a r c i a - P r e s i d e n t D a v e M u l l i n s

S t e p h a n i e G u t h r i e - V i c e P r e s i d e n t C a r l o t a P o n d s

C a r r e l l e n L e w i s - T r e a s u r e r N a t h a l i e

PILR StaffChris Owens, Executive DirectorErica Rivera, Independent Living Specialist CoordinatorCindy Daniels, Independent Living SpecialistRoger Frischenmeyer, Independent Living SpecialistElizabeth “Libby” Doxon, Orientation & Mobility Outreach SpecialistAndy Reichart, Home and Community Based Services CoordinatorHeather Jones, Independent Living Counselor/Targeted Case ManagerKelly Miller, Independent Living Counselor/Targeted Case ManagerNannette Unruh, Independent Living Counselor/Targeted Case ManagerDarla Hogan, HCBS Billing/PCA PayrollLoretta Shultz Payroll SpecialistDan Owens, Employment SpecialistSarah McLaughlin, Employment SpecialistTammy Fuhr, Administrative AssistantLowell Schrag, ReceptionistLeslie Hiebert, SecretaryBilly Thompson, Independent Living Specialist-PrattDarwin Pike, Independent Living Specialist – Pratt

Prairie Independent Living Resource Center, Inc.17 South Main

Hutchinson, Kansas 67501PHONE:

(620) 663-39891-888-715-6818

TDD:(620) 663-9920

FAX:(620) 663-4711

E-MAIL: Website: info@pilr.org pilr.org

PILR - PRATT103 West 2nd

Pratt, Kansas 67124PHONE:

(620) 672-96001-888-715-6818

TDD:(620) 663-9920

PILR – Dodge City2601 Central #LL19

Dodge City, KS 67801PHONE:

(620) 371-76901-888-715-6818

TDD:(620) 663-9920

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.

PRAIRIE INDEPENDENT LIVING RESOURCE CENTER, INC17 SOUTH MAINHUTCHINSON, KANSAS 67501

D E D I C A T E D T O T H E F U L L I N C L U S I O N O F P E O P L E W I T H D I S A B I L I T I E S