Chris Owens, EditorKarrlita Fortna, Layout Designer

December 2016Volume 15, Issue 4

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

We are excited for PILR’s 20th Anniversary next month! We look forward to sharing it with you. We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving last month and Christmas is right on its tail. This year was a great turnout for Disability Mentoring Day in Hutchinson and Pratt; you can see pictures on the website from both events in our picture gallery.

Winter WonderlandIf you want to keep up with all the events and daily happenings at PILR you can like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, @PILRinfo. We regularly update our website www.pilr.org , including a new blog each week. What did you give thanks for in November? Check out our weekly blogs from last month to see what our staff appreciates! If you ever have an idea for a blog or an article of your own, please send it to Chris, cowens@pilr.org.

Now HiringPILR is currently looking to hire an Employment Specialist in our Pratt office.

You can find details at www.pilr.org/jobs

If you are interested in the position please send your resume to Chris at cowens@pilr.org

20 in 20January 15, 2017 is PILR’s 20th anniversary.

Currently we have one loyal donor who sends Prairie Independent Living Resource Center, Inc. a donation each and every month. She is so faithful in her giving. In our 20 th year it would be awesome to have twenty individuals donating monthly. It could be $5 or $20 or $40 or more. When you include PILR in your monthly spending, you make the center stronger and ensure annual events like Disability Mentoring Day, Job-A-thon. and Student Advocacy Classes continue. Donations will also help us keep our loan closet going as we have to rent the storage space to house equipment. Donations to the center are tax deductible.

Join our 20/20 club and send your tax deductible donations to:

PILR Development Department17 South Main St.

Hutchinson, KS 67501.

CALENDAR OF EVENTSDecember 2016

14th- Low Vision Support Group 1:30-3:00 Delos/Smith Sr. Center 23rd–26th- Merry Christmas! All PILR Offices are Closed

28th- Low Vision Support Group 1:30-3:00 Delos/Smith Sr. Center

January 20172nd- Happy New Year, All PILR Offices are Closed

11th- Low Vision Support Group 1:30-3:00 Delos Smith Sr. Center15th –Happy 20th Anniversary PILR!!!

16th – Martin Luther King Day, All PILR Offices are Closed 20th – PILR Open House, 1pm-4pm 17 S. Main St, Hutchinson

25th- Low Vision Support Group 1:30-3:00 Delos Smith Sr. Center

February 20178th-Low Vision Support Group 1:30-3:00 Delos Smith Sr. Center

14th-Happy Valentine’s Day 22nd-Low Vision Support Group 1:30-3:00 Delos Smith Sr. Center

Loan Closet ChangesAs of January 1st, 2017 PILR will be charging a nominal fee of $5 for most items we have in our Loan Closet. Power items such as power chairs and scooters will be $25 -$50 depending on the condition of the item. There will also be an additional $5 delivery fee if items are delivered locally.

If you have any questions, please contact your local PILR office.

LOAN CLOSETPILR has durable medical equipment available to loan to people. The equipment is loaned to individuals for a minimal application fee. All equipment is not available at all times; please contact our offices for equipment availability.

PILR also has limited personal hygiene items available.

DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

Thinking of getting rid of that medical equipment you no longer need? If so, please consider donating it to PILR. Our consumers need wheelchairs, walkers, rollators, shower seats, CCTVs, video magnifiers, and canes. If you have any of these items or others you would like to donate, please call 620-663-3989.

Your donation will be greatly appreciated!

WE WOULD APPRECIATE A HELPING HAND!

As a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization, PILR relies on generous donations in order to provide services for our consumers. Donations made to PILR go towards providing services like youth projects, assistance with purchasing equipment including wheelchairs, ramps, home modifications, and other assistive devices, just to name a few. As PILR looks to the future, we could use your help to help others. Making your tax deductible donation is easy! We have many options to accept donations and you can do any of the following:

Mail your donation or Bring it in to the Hutch office

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

PILR Development Department17 S. Main

Hutchinson , KS 67501

Thank you!!!

Support PILR through PayPal at www.pilr.org

Register with Good Search, Good Shop, or Good Dining.

You can also use Giving Assistant to donate to PILR!

Register your Amazon account with us on Amazon Smile!

Register with Dillon’s Community Rewards

Visit www.pilr.org/donate for more information

As a non-profit organization, we receive some funding from Kansas Rehabilitation Services (KRS). However, we also get donations from members of the community, just like you. We can help you set up monthly or annual donations. If

you don’t want to make a commitment you can also just give when you have a little extra. Anything that you could give would be greatly appreciated.

When All You Want to Do Is Get HomeBy Roger Frischenmeyer

I have learned over the years that you never know when you are going to find an adventure. Recently, I found one just walking home. It all started innocently enough. I had worked late and my nephew was supposed to pick me up. However, he didn’t show and after waiting about 15 minutes and trying to call several times, I decided it was a nice night so I would just walk home.

It all started well enough, I left the building, headed north and crossed Sherman Street just fine. But then the adventure started. For some reason, I cannot cross First Street to save my soul. So somehow, not only did I not cross it straight, but I ended up on the wrong side of Main Street. Yeah I am still trying to figure that out. It was at this point that a woman driving by told me I shouldn’t be out this late by myself. My response to her was probably not as nice as it could have been but basically I told her to worry about herself and I would worry about me.

So after figuring out that I was not where I needed to be, by using PILR’s Trekker GPS unit, I again headed on my way home. For about 4 blocks all went well, but then I hear this person running up behind me. When he gets next to me he says “are you out here looking for treasure too?” Of course, I wasn’t and so I explained to him I was just walking home, but he thought he should hang with me for a while so we talked about the treasure he was looking for and I think he was playing Pokémon go. But finally our chance encounter was over as I had to turn to go to my house. At this point I had a block to go so I thought nothing else could happen.

Of course I was wrong. About two houses from mine, a person ask me if I was ok and told me he was walking me home because it was the right thing to do. So, until I turned up my driveway, he followed me just to make sure I got their ok. It has always surprised me a little the reactions I get when I am walking alone. Some people think nothing of it and at most say hi as we pass. Some people are sure that I shouldn’t be out there alone and freak out every time they see me. Some people treat me just as they would anyone else who is out walking. Yet whichever people I run into, I never know what kind of an adventure it is going to start.

SHICK Program TrainingEarlier this year, Linda Adelhardt and Chelsey Rose, from our Pratt office, attended training provided by Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansans (SHICK) and Southwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging (SWKAA).This SHICK program training allows Linda and Chelsey to provide impartial advice on how to make informed choices regarding Medicare Plans. 

15 YEARS and CountingBy Lowell Schrag

Well it’s been 15 years since I walked into the old PILR office at 915 S. Main in Hutchinson. Can you believe it? While, many people have come and gone, there are still a few of us that have been here most of that time. I haven’t ran everybody off, although, I do run employees over with my wheelchair every once in a while. Right, Heather?

Twenty on the 20th

By Chris Owens, Executive Director

How can 20 years fly by so fast? On January 15, 2017 Prairie Independent Living Resource Center, Inc. will officially be 20 years old. I remember the first day well…six of us met in Topeka at Topeka Independent Living Resource Center (TILRC) where we underwent 3 days of intensive training. Then we returned home to open the doors for the first time. Our first office was at 915 South Main in Hutchinson. We had no furniture, no computers, no phones and no consumers. What we had was a passion to assist people with disabilities achieve their goals and to be successful in the community of their choice.

It wasn’t an easy time, some staff were gone within a matter of weeks and in the first two years we had 2 different directors. At times I wondered if the center would survive all the ups and downs of starting a new business. However, slowly but surely, PILR grew into a stable productive organization. Now we have offices in Pratt, Dodge City, and Hutchinson. We’ve gone from no consumers in January 15, 1997 to over 600 in Fiscal Year 2016. PILR has a dedicated Board of Directors and Staff. We participate in many areas of the community and assist individuals with disabilities to live, work and play in the community of their choice.

Come celebrate with us! We will be holding an open house on January 20, 2017 to celebrate our anniversary. Festivities will be from 1:00pm to 4:00pm, including a ribbon cutting with the Chamber of Commerce at 1:30pm. There will be refreshments and even some speakers and music. I’ve heard a rumor Roger will be singing! We will be announcing our 2016 Friend of PILR award winner and even have some door prizes. It’s going to be fun and festive! We want to share it with you, our friends, supporters and community. Happy Anniversary PILR!!!

DMD Student Experiences

Some of the students wanted to share their DMD Experiences; it is nice to see one of the many ways that PILR helps people with disabilities in the community.

Chase Phillips: “I went to the South Hutchinson police department. I learned how to clock cars to see how fast they were going. I liked DMD, because I got to learn a lot of cool stuff that cops get to do. I also got to meet the Chief of Police.”

Rick Sack: “I learned how to be prepared for my job. You need to do a good job and take your time. I liked how a lot of people were having fun and being happy. I enjoyed it a lot. I think you should keep doing this every year. Everybody did a super fantastic job. It was my first time going. Thank you for letting me go. I loved it a lot.”

Joe Sack: “I went to the 8th grade Hutchinson Middle School. I was taken to the art room. I got to unload

15 YEARS and CountingBy Lowell Schrag

Well it’s been 15 years since I walked into the old PILR office at 915 S. Main in Hutchinson. Can you believe it? While, many people have come and gone, there are still a few of us that have been here most of that time. I haven’t ran everybody off, although, I do run employees over with my wheelchair every once in a while. Right, Heather?

New Faces at PILRHeather Dean is our new Business Account Manager, located in our Hutchinson Office. She covers Harvey, McPherson, Reno, Rice, Barton, Kingman, Harper, Stafford, Pratt, Barber, Comanche, Clark, Kiowa, Edwards, Ford, Hodgeman, and Ness Counties. “I am excited to be a part of the new EDK program, and to join the PILR team. I bring many years working with consumers as an advocate, educator, and job placement specialist. I received my BA-Sociology in 2005 from UNF. I enjoy living a simple, rural life with my dogs, horses, my husband and the children we share our home with.” Adam Fortna is our new Employment Specialist at the Hutchinson office. He works to help people with disabilities find and maintain competitive employment. “In my free time, I enjoy playing board games and volunteering in my church. My hope is that I can help others help themselves and have a bit of fun in the process.” Debbie Goertz is PILR’s new Accounting Coordinator, “I am excited to be a part of a great group of people, making a difference in so many lives.” She graduated from Hutchinson High School and is a lifetime Hutchinson resident. Debbie is married to Joe; they have 8 children, 18 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren. In her spare time, Debbie enjoys spending time with family.

HOLIDAY THANKSBy Chris Owens, Executive Director

A couple of weeks ago Roger asked me that quarterly dreaded question, “Hey Chris, when are newsletter articles due?” I dread the question only because sometimes it’s tough to come up with a topic for my article. I’m writing this a few days before Thanksgiving and I decided to build on our blog theme of saying “thank you”.

For me, I’m thankful for parents who taught me to believe in myself and to be whatever I want to be. I’m thankful for Dan, our children and grandchildren. They are all the light of my life. I’m thankful for my job and the people I’ve met because of it. I could go on and on as my life is very blessed, however, I realize PILR has a lot to be thankful for as well.

PILR says a huge thank you to all the volunteers who’ve helped us throughout the year. Volunteers make the Staff’s lives so much easier. They answer our phones and greet walk-ins in the Hutchinson office when we have staff meetings. They put together our Delta Dental kits so we can hand them out to the community. They do our mass mailings such as this newsletter or our consumer satisfaction surveys. They help with Disability Mentoring Day and so much more.

Thank you to our community employers who mentor our Disability mentoring Day students. Without you, the day couldn’t happen. Pratt and Hutch DMD placed 250 students for job exploration. Thank you Mentors!!! Thank you all!!!

PILR is thankful for donors and corporate sponsors who help fund the center and our youth projects. There are many individuals who sent in $25, $50 and some $100 to help fund DMD. Numerous corporate sponsors also helped make DMD and Job Athon happen this year in Pratt and Hutch. Look for the list of in this newsletter. Thank you all; without financial support these events wouldn’t happen!

PILR says thank you to Kansas Rehabilitation Services for awarding PILR one of their End-Dependence Kansas contracts. It expands our employment services as we work to help Kansans with disabilities enter and maintain competitive integrated employment.

PILR says thank you to the Hutchinson Community Foundation for awarding PILR a Fund for Hutchinson Grant. Board and staff are very excited! We are going to spend 2017 discovering our next venture that will help us pay operating and advocacy costs. The plan is to make us less dependent on grants and more self-sufficient. It’s going to be a lot of work but PILR’s future is worth it.

PILR is thankful for all of you who let us be a part of your lives as you strive to live independently. Helping you achieve your goals makes our lives so much richer.

I want to close by saying thank you to the Board and Staff of the center. Each of you has given so much of yourself throughout the year. Your dedication and hard work has helped to build PILR into a strong organization that is dedicated to the full inclusion of people with disabilities. Thank you all!!!

DMD Student Experiences

Some of the students wanted to share their DMD Experiences; it is nice to see one of the many ways that PILR helps people with disabilities in the community.

Chase Phillips: “I went to the South Hutchinson police department. I learned how to clock cars to see how fast they were going. I liked DMD, because I got to learn a lot of cool stuff that cops get to do. I also got to meet the Chief of Police.”

Rick Sack: “I learned how to be prepared for my job. You need to do a good job and take your time. I liked how a lot of people were having fun and being happy. I enjoyed it a lot. I think you should keep doing this every year. Everybody did a super fantastic job. It was my first time going. Thank you for letting me go. I loved it a lot.”

Joe Sack: “I went to the 8th grade Hutchinson Middle School. I was taken to the art room. I got to unload

Fund for HutchinsonBy Karrlita Fortna

The Hutchinson Community Foundation does several grants throughout each year. This year, PILR applied for their Fund for Hutchinson Grant and we were awarded the majority of what we requested. November 17th, staff from PILR attended the reporting guidelines meeting and the award ceremony. It was wonderful to see all the organizations that would benefit from this fund.

Obviously, we were most excited about one of the recipients in particular. Our grant request was to help fund our Social Enterprise Project; the additional funds provided by the Foundation will allow us to hire a consultant to guide us through this process in the first year. A Social Enterprise is a way to allow Prairie Independent Living Resource Center, Inc. to be more self-sufficient and ensure that we will always be here to help People with Disabilities live more independently.

Sadly, a reality that we face as a nonprofit, especially one that relies on multiple government funded grants, is the possibility that our funding will be cut. Many grants that we are fortunate enough to be awarded do not always cover the administrative costs to run the organization or advocacy costs.

We are delighted at how passionate our staff and our board members are to our consumers and the mission statement: The purpose of Prairie Independent Living Resource Center, Inc. (PILR) is to achieve the full inclusion and acceptance of people with disabilities through education and advocacy. PILR is a Non-Profit organization.

We appreciate everyone who supports us in each and every way throughout the year.

Power to Read 7The Talking Book machines have changed over the years.

During the Great Depression in 1935 a plan was developed for blind adults who could not afford to buy their own Talking Book machines. President Roosevelt set aside $211,500 to create 5,000 talking book machines, so that those who blind and/or visually impaired could use the talking books that were provided by the Library of Congress.

There were two types of machines that were constructed. They were an electric machine and a spring driven machine that had to be cranked by hand. These machines were the property of the Library of Congress. Persons who were blind or visually impaired could borrow them from their closest library where they could obtain talking book services.

From 1935-1942 improvements were made to the motor, pick up arm, and amplifier. After June 30 th, 1942 no further improvements were made to the machines for the duration of World War II. Since the regular home record players were unable to play the slower speed talking books, these talking book machines were in constant use. Because of the continued use, these machines had to be repaired. Funds were appropriated for the AFB to provide the repairs up until the end of World War II.

The AFB resumed manufacturing talking books after the war. The Library of congress had ordered 550 newer models of talking book machines in 1946. In 1947 the Library of Congress paid for 3,500 talking book machines that were manufactured commercially.

For more information about Talking Books, Please contact Hillary and her staff at 1-800-362-0699.

Counties Served:Independent Living K-Loan Older BlindBarber CountyClarke CountyComanche CountyEdwards CountyFord CountyHarper CountyHarvey CountyHodgeman CountyKingman CountyKiowa CountyMcPherson CountyNess CountyPratt CountyReno CountyStafford County

Barber, Butler, Chase, Clark, Comanche, Cowley, Edwards, Finney, Ford, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Hamilton, Harper, Harvey, Haskell, Hodgeman, Kearny, Kingman, Kiowa, Lyon, Marion, McPherson, Meade, Morton, Pawnee, Pratt, Reno, Rice, Scott, Sedgwick, Seward, Stafford, Stanton, Stevens, Sumner, Wichita

Hutchinson Office: Barber, Barton, Cloud, Comanche, Edwards, Ellsworth, Harper, Harvey, Jewel, Kingman, Kiowa, Lincoln, McPherson, Mitchell, Osborne, Ottawa, Pawnee, Pratt, Reno, Republic, Rice, Rush, Russell, Saline, Smith, Stafford.

Dodge City Office:Cheyenne, Clark, Decatur, Ellis, Finney, Ford, Gove, Graham, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Hamilton, Haskell, Hodgeman, Kearny, Lane, Logan, Meade, Morton, Ness, Norton, Phillips, Rawlins, Rooks, Scott, Seward, Sheridan, Sherman, Stanton, Stevens, Thomas, Trego, Wallace, Wichita.

PILR Staff~Hutchinson~

Chris Owens, Executive DirectorDebbie Goertz, Accounting Coordinator

Karrlita Fortna, Administrative Assistant/HRErica Rivera, Independent Living Services Coordinator

Tammy Fuhr, Independent Living Specialist/OBRoger Frischenmeyer, Independent Living Specialist

Heather Jones, Independent Living Specialist/CounselorMegan Hayse, Independent Living Specialist

~Pratt~Tasha Konrade, Service Coordinator

Chelsey Rose, Independent Living SpecialistToni Dome, Employment Specialist

Linda Adelhardt, Information & Referral Specialist

Andy Reichart, Assistant DirectorHeather Dean, Business Account Manager

Dan Owens, Employment SpecialistCindy Daniels, Employment SpecialistAdam Fortna, Employment Specialist

Lowell Schrag, ReceptionistSharon Engelland, Receptionist

~Dodge City~Tasha Konrade, Service Coordinator

Mignon Luckey, Independent Living SpecialistToni Dome, Employment Specialist

Alma Ramirez, Information & Referral Specialist

Congratulations to our PILR Stars of the MonthSeptember Star Employee of the Month: Chris Owens is our Executive Director. Chris is always hard at work to make sure all the cogs are turning right here at PILR. We really appreciate everything that you do. Thank you, Chris!October Star Employee of the Month: Cindy Daniels is an Employment Specialist in our Hutchinson Office. She was busy helping to plan DMD 2016, by contacting employers and directing volunteers. Thank you, Cindy!November Star Employee of the Month: Karrlita Fortna is an Administrative Assistant in the Hutchinson Office. She was hard at work on a Hutchinson Community Foundation’s Fund for Hutchinson Grant and we are grateful to get funding from that grant for our Social Enterprise Project. Thank You, Karrlita!

PILR’s Stars of the Month

B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r sC a r l o t a P o n d s - P r e s i d e n t

C a m m i e R u m b a c k - V i c e P r e s i d e n tB e t t y P i n k s t o n - T r e a s u r e r

D a v i d H e r r e nF r a n c e s G a r c i a

B o n n i e L o y dB i l l y T h o m p s o nD a v i d M u l l i n s

Prairie Independent Living Resource Center, Inc.17 South Main St,

Hutchinson, Kansas 67501PHONE:

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

FAX:(620) 663-4711

VIDEO PHONE:(620) 860-0140

PILR - Pratt103 West 2nd,

Pratt, Kansas 67124PHONE:

(620) 672-9600

PILR – Dodge City207 West Spruce St,

Dodge City, KS 67801PHONE:

(620) 371-7690E-MAIL: Website: info@pilr.org www.pilr.org

Letters to the editor are welcome. Please send to Chris Owens at:cowens@pilr.org

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 appreciated.

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