PARSONS, Kan.—The head of the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) visited the SKIL Resource Center on Monday, Oct. 8, kicking off a statewide get-acquainted tour of Kansas independent living centers.

DCF Secretary Gina Meier-Hummel and part of her administrative staff met with SKIL President/CEO Shari Coatney, SKIL staff and customers at the Parsons independent living center, touring SKIL’s facilities and learning about SKIL’s programs and services.

“Secretary Hummel’s leadership team met with our leadership team to talk about how we can enhance our relationship and better serve people in Southeast Kansas going forward,” Coatney said.

Hummel and her team toured all Parsons SKIL facilities, including the independent living center’s downtown headquarters, assistive technology site, K-LOAN and Independent Strides.

“I’m really excited about the opportunity to build a partnership with DCF, and that Secretary Hummel and her team are truly interested in collaborating with SKIL and other Kansas independent living centers,” said Coatney. “It was so nice to see the Secretary and her administration taking an interest in our customers and the programs that we provide.”

SKIL is a multi-faceted independent living center that helps people with disabilities or those whose environments are disabling. Headquartered in Parsons, it has branch offices in Chanute, Columbus, Fredonia, Independence, Pittsburg and Sedan.

The Kansas Department for Children and Families is a state agency that offers Kansans a variety of programs to enhance people’s lives. The agency has service center offices in Topeka and throughout Kansas. Gina Meier-Hummel was appointed to her position with DCF in November of 2017.

Voting in Kansas is easier than ever. With advance voting, any registered voter can vote by mail or in person before election day.

• Advance voting application http://kssos.org/forms/elections/AV1.pdf  (Español) http://kssos.org/forms/elections/Spanish/AV1%20(Spanish).pdf
• Or contact your county election officer to request an application for an advance voting ballot. http://kssos.org/elections/elections_registration_ceo.asp
• Complete the application and return it to your county election officer.
• You can have your ballot mailed to you starting 20 days before the election.
• You may vote in person in the county election office starting the Tuesday before election day, or up to 20 days before the election, depending on the county.
• All ballots must be post-marked on or before Election Day and received no later than three days after the election.
• Any mailed advance ballot may be hand-delivered to the county election office or any polling place within the county by close of polls on Election Day.
• Sick, disabled or Non-English Proficient voters may receive assistance in applying for and casting advance voting ballots.

Important 2018 Election Advance Voting Dates

October

• Tuesday, October 16 - Last day to register to vote before the general election.

• Wednesday, October 17 - First day advance ballots are mailed. In person advance voting may begin.

• Tuesday, October 30 - Deadline for voters to apply for advance voting ballots to be mailed for general election.

November

• Monday, November 5 - Noon deadline to cast advance voting ballots in person in office of county election office.

• Tuesday, November 6 (General Election Day) - Mailed advance voting ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received in the county election office no later than the third day following the election. Advance ballots may be hand-delivered to the county election office or to any polling place within the county by close of polls.

Are you ready to engage in voting rights advocacy for the disability community? The American Association of People with Disabilities’ REV UP (Register, Educate, Vote! Use Your Power) Campaign, in partnership with Disability Organizing Network, is hosting a series of free webinars on election accessibility this fall.

On September 21 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern, AAPD and DOnetwork will be hosting Access Barriers to Voter Education Materials. “The webinar will explore how political campaigns, hosts of candidate forums, and election officials can make their materials and information more accessible to people with disabilities. Webinar presenters include the National Council on Independent Living and the Center for Disability Empowerment.” You can register for this webinar at the DOnetwork website. 

Stay tuned as other webinars and events are posted, including the next webinar in the series, which will be held in mid-October.