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Waldo, Kansas City
Registration is now open!
www.baconfestkc.com
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October 1, 2011 8 a.m. Meadowmere Park Grandview, MO Run or walk in support of The Rehabilitation Institute. Encourage your friends, family and co-workers to join in our efforts to pave the way for improving opportunities and outcomes for children and adults with disabilities. CLICK HERE to learn more and to register! Volunteers needed to make this event a success. Contact Tara Mulford for volunteer opportunities. |
The Rehabilitation Institute's Facebook Page is Growing! Keep up-to-date on happenings at The Institute and support our page.
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Building Brighter Futures for Children and Adults with Disabilities.
Medical Rehabilitation Employment Services Sheltered Workshops
Main Location 3011 Baltimore Ave Kansas City, MO 64108 St. Joseph Employment Office 210 N. 7th Street St. Joseph, MO 64501 Warrensburg Employment Office 1034 S. Maguire, Ste C Warrensburg, MO 64093 |
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Employment leads to reaching goal
of living independently
 Individuals with disabilities face many challenges when it comes to their independence. Going to school, gaining employment and getting around their home and community are daily struggles for many. The Rehabilitation Institute strives to help these individuals, like Sara, reach their goals towards independent living. With assistance from our Employment Services Program, Sara, an individual with Down Syndrome, is living life the way she and her mom had envisioned. In 2007 Terri Henson, Job Retention Specialist, worked with Sara to build her resume and look for employment. By the end of the year, she was hired into Project RISE at Children's Mercy Hospital, a program that creates employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. With guidance from hospital staff and Job Coaching through The Institute, Sara was able to learn and understand her job duties. Sara has been working as a concierge at the hospital for nearly 3.5 years where she works 32 hours a week delivering flowers and cards to patients, walking visitors to their destination and ensuring that visitors and patient families have the resources they need, such as informational brochures, snacks and water, while visiting and caring for loved ones. Sara's favorite part of her job is delivering mail to the children. "It makes the kids happy and makes them feel at home. I don't want them to be scared about their health," explains Sara.
Sara's mom has always been her biggest advocate for her independence and once Sara was comfortable with her new employment position, they were able to move her into an independent living situation. Sara is now paying her own rent and bills, doing her own laundry, and cooking and cleaning for herself. She enjoys cooking steak, shopping and baking with her mom on the weekends. At The Rehabilitation Institute, we are thrilled to have helped Sara reach her goals of gaining employment and living independently!
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Candidate of the Month
Ann Thurston  Ann has been working with Evan Parris, Employer Development Specialist at The Rehabilitation Institute, since February 2011. Evan has assisted Ann in revising her resume and searching for employment by suggesting job leads and connecting her with job fairs and work clubs. Ann comes in every other week to work on the computers in our Job Club Room. In doing so, she is able to connect with potential employers, as well as ask questions and collaborate with others. Ann is seeking a position in a medical office setting. She is currently studying to take the medical billing and coding exam and has graduated with her degree in Insurance Coding and Billing. Additionally, Ann is skilled in data management, record keeping, medical terminology, and Microsoft Office. She has multiple years of experience working in conjunction with the medical field through her positions in social work. She describes herself as an excellent communicator, well-organized, and task-oriented. She has the energy and ability to accomplish the projects and tasks assigned to her. If you would like more information on Ann or would like to set up an interview with her, please contact Evan Parris at evan.parris@rehabkc.org.
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Staff Spotlight
Kate Rustan  Kate is new at The Rehabilitation Institute, but she has been working in the Employment Services field for nearly 15 years. She joined our team in April 2011 as an Employer Development Specialist. Kate finds joy working with our program participants, explaining, "It is the success that I am able to see that makes it so rewarding. A person's job is a huge part of life, including those with disabilities." She helps individuals find gainful employment so they can accomplish their personal goals, such as to pay for housing or buy gifts for their loved ones. Kate recognizes the struggles that the unemployed are facing due to the economy, but as far as she is concerned individuals with disabilities are facing many of the same barriers in the job market as others. "I don't see the difference anymore--they have the same struggles we would face," says Kate. When not working hard, Kate enjoys reading Science Fiction and spending time with her two grandchildren. Thank you for all you do to help individuals with disabilities succeed in the work place.
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Issue 2: Perceptions of Disability and Employment
 
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