On this episode of "Resource Central," Joe Reinecker and Andy Rausch talk to Mary Reynolds, the Director of Independent Living and Quality Assurance at SKIL. She talks about the new Grassroots Advocates for Independent Living group, which seeks to advocate for, and also teach disabled individuals how to advocate for themselves.

How will the Trump tax plan affect you?
On this episode of "Resource Central," host Joe Reinecker talks to Lou Ann Kibbee about the impending Republican tax plan and how it would affect SKIL and its customers. Kibbee is the Systems Advocacy Manager at SKIL.

The Southwest ADA Center is carrying out research into the use of service animals and other assistance animals by people with disabilities in public settings. As part of this research, we are asking people, age 18 and up, who use these animals across the country to fill in the attached survey.

This is a final push for public feedback as we are closing the survey on December 15^th, 2017.

The information gathered from it will help us 1) understand what access issues people are having with their animals; and 2) to develop and improve the information, support, and guidance needed for the community to improve access for users of assistance animals. These findings will also improve the trainings and technical assistance that the Southwest ADA Center can provide to the public on this topic.

Whether you use a service animal or other type of assistance animal, we would like to hear from you. After the first question which confirms your eligibility for this survey, you can skip any question you prefer not to answer. The questionnaire will take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete.

On this week's episode of "Resource Central," host Joe Reinecker asks Cinda Davis, a Pittsburg SKIL customer, "What has SKIL done for you?" Davis suffered a head injury as the result of an automobile accident, and also has rheumatoid arthritis and epileptic seizures. She has been a SKIL customer for the past three years. Here she talks about how SKIL's assistance has been beneficial in allowing her to lead a fulfilling life.

A HUGE THANKS to the following for making SKIL Resource Center’s Annual Meeting / Christmas Party a BIG success:

• Assistive Technology of Kansas – ATK
• ACE Hardware
• Carvin Wilson
• Casey’s
• Corporate Plan Management
• Golden Plains Credit Union
• Grand Rental Station
• Grant County Bank
• Labette Bank
• Newkirk Dennis & Buckles
• Pure Life
• Radiant Electric
• Thomas H. Sewell CPA, LLC
• United Healthcare
• Upscale Country
• VFW
• Wall Funeral Home
• PHS Students
• Mom’s Best Catering
• Duke Mason
• Scott Cooper
• Katrina Ball
• Marcus Burgess

We are very proud of our Award winning recipients:

“Planned Giving” Award - Carvin Wilson
“Youth” Award - James Davis
“Proving by Doing” Award - Tammy King
“Believe & Achieve” Award - Safe House Crisis Center of Pittsburg
“Spirit of Independence” Award - Frankie Jarrett
“Advocacy “ Award - Gayla Westhoff
“Above & Beyond” Award - Robert Milligan
“Inspiring a Generation” Award - First Christian Church (of Fredonia) Thrift Store
“Voice of the People” Award” - Brad Brooks
“Admiration & Appreciation” Award - Vicki Thompson

We want to thank everyone who brought non-perishable food items
to the Annual Meeting that will help supply our local food pantries