Southeast Kansas Independent Living Center knows that change begins with you. It is imperative that everyone participate in changing the world to allow people with disabilities the opportunity to have experiences that others take for granted. This means a world where you live in the home and community of your choice with the opportunity to work and raise a family. All of us should always be alert to the civil and human rights of people with disabilities. Advocacy takes many forms, from voting for a political candidate to dissecting a complex piece of federal legislation. It can be as easy as calling your legislator in Topeka or as difficult as traveling to Washington D.C. for marches or rallies.

 What is essential is that you get involved in reshaping public impressions and governmental policies that affect the civil and human rights of people with disabilities. SKIL eagerly advocates with you on issues that affect you directly. Education, Social and Rehabilitation Services, the Social Security Administration and various other public entities all know us well. We invite and encourage you to get involved in the advocacy efforts of your choice. SKIL maintains a grassroots organization that meets monthly in all nine local offices. These meetings are informative and allow us to identify issues that affect all of us, so that we may set priorities and facilitate change. We participate in meetings with the Kansas and federal legislatures and their committees. We promote voter education. We encourage participation in letter campaigns, phone trees, rallies and visits with elected officials.The Americans with Disabilities Act is perhaps the best piece of civil rights legislation ever written. However, without advocacy and the participation of individuals in education, enforcement and effective policy change, ADA is only words on paper. Your help is needed.