ATK Announces New PartnerSara Sack, Assistive Technology for Kansans Director, announced recently that the Northeast AT Access Site has a new partner in Topeka! The Topeka Independent Living Resource Center (TILRC) is the new home for all ATK services in the Northeast area. The toll-free number is the same, 800-526-3648. When you call, you can still ask for and talk to AT Specialists: Sarah Lewerence (photo left) or Mikel McCary (photo right), however, if you want to drop by please use the new address: 501 Southwest Jackson St., Topeka, Kansas.

Shout Out’s go to Stuart Jones, TAP and KEE Coordinator and Sheila Simmons, ATK Coordinator, for making it happen, which does not come close to describing the amount of planning and work the move entailed. Exciting times ahead!

Matilda! Another Theatre Lawrence Success

In the month of December ATK staff, customers, friends, and family attended one or another of the Theatre Lawrence performance dates for the play, Matilda! The Musical. By all accounts it was a brilliant success and a good time was had by all. Play-goers were warmly greeted by ATK’s cadre of Ambassadors and treated to a glimpse into what makes ATK such a successful program, in fact, in many cases, with life-changing services and results.

Sara Sack, ATK Director, said “As with previous years, many significant donations of lightly used durable medical equipment have been received as a result of connections made through Theatre Lawrence. One delightful couple worked with ATK staff before the performance to simplify their cell phone screens and magnify the icon images so their phone screens were easier to see and to navigate. Later in the week they contacted ATK with a donation of two scooters and a wheelchair. Another theatre goer donated several pieces of quality equipment and was pleased to “find a good home for them.”

The thank you card has already arrived from Theatre Lawrence with their “Please come back next year” request.

ATK Receives New Grant Award

Assistive Technology for Kansans received a one-year grant award, Accessible Recreation: Playing Electronic Games Independently to Increase Health and Social Connection funded by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. The project will examine the social, health,

Continued on page 2.In this issue…

1-2…ATK’s partners with TILRC; Another Theatre Lawrence Success; ATK’s New “Gaming” Grant; Women Managing the Farm Conference

2…Just the Stats

3… Welcome New Staff: Hannah Jones & Joni Breidenthal4… Staff News: Excel Training

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4-5… Publications, Presentations, & Trainings

ATK, New Grant, continued from page 1. recreation, and educational benefits to video and computer gaming and identify adapted peripherals that will provide access to the gaming controls to people with disabilities.

Sara Sack, ATK Director, reports “The research on the positive results of gaming is quite interesting. Gaming has been used in conjunction with chemotherapy protocols and burn therapy for years, but health applications now include pain management, anxiety/stress reduction (including having young children play games before going under anesthesia to reduce anxiety and amount of medication needed and to speed recovery), and increased physical and/or mental exercise. The social benefits of gaming with family and friends and the positive impact of mastering new skill levels need further study. 

ATK will identify accessible electronic gaming controllers, including eye gaze technology, and accessible consoles and make those available so that the effects of gaming for persons with disabilities can be better understood. Assistive Technology for Kansans (ATK), the Assistive Technology Act Program for the state, has worked with 65 individuals who have spinal cord injury, 38 individuals who experienced a stroke that resulted in hemiparesis, 42 individuals who have traumatic brain injury, 27 individuals who have cerebral palsy, and 51 individuals who have progressive neurological disease in the past 12 months alone. We will be reaching out to these individuals and others who have

motoric challenges to let them know about this opportunity.”

Women Managing the Farm

The Women Managing the Farm Conference was held on February 13-14 in Manhattan, KS. Since 2005, this event has been bringing together women farmers, rural business leaders and landowners. Assistive Technology for Kansans is a strong supporter of this conference and was at the conference with an exhibit table including a variety of technology and knowledgeable AT Specialists to answer questions and to demonstrate devices. Attendees were invited to get their hands on technology! Additionally, KS AgrAbility Specialists Lesa Clubine and Karin Rasmussen, along with Sheila Simmons, ATK Coordinator, presented two sessions: Assistive Technology for Arthritis and Mobile Health and Diabetes.

In the photos, above left, Sheila Simmons, ATK coordinator and above right, Karin Rasmussen Western AT Access Site Specialists, during their presentations.

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Just the STATS

FY 2020 Funding: The Life Span Institute at Parsons reports that in FY 2020, the University of Kansas/State of Kansas investment of $1 returns $8.85 in grants and contracts with the total funding for KU Life Span Institute at Parsons at $3,768,626 in State/Federal Grants/Contracts.

SEKRS Welcomes Hannah

Hannah Jones, B.A.Administrative Assistant

Hannah joined the Southeast Kansas Respite Services (SEKRS) team recently. She spent the first 10 years of her life in Texas, then her family moved to the Ottawa,

Kansas area. She attended Southwestern Assemblies of God University, a private Christian university and seminary in Waxahachie, Texas and earned her BA in Church Ministries. After graduation, she served as a youth pastor at First Assembly in Ottawa and as a caregiver to her youngest sister. Her parents moved to Parsons 5 years ago, and she joined them to continue providing care services for her sister for almost a year until she passed away. 

After working at Commercial Bank as a teller and eventually as a loan processor, she took some time for herself, and then answered the advertisement of an available position as Administration Assistant with SEKRS. Hannah said, “Working for SEKRS with Diane has been an adventure so far. I love assisting Diane, and the others in my office are also really great people. There’s a great pace here, and everyone sincerely cares about the people we’re helping. Having been on the other side of caregiving, I know how important it is to the families that need our support. I couldn’t ask for a better place to be involved and challenged to grow.”

She notes that she continues to be involved in church—this time as a worship leader—and with her family, who mostly live in this area. She enjoys being creative, making music, camping,

cooking, games, and hanging out with her weird cat. Sorry “Cat”, it’s what she said! Welcome Hannah!

KCCTO-KITS Welcomes Joni

Joni Breidenthal, M.Ed. Technical Assistance Specialist (Trainer)

Joni comes to KCCTO-KITS with an extensive, rich and varied background in working with children, families and early childhood professionals and programs.  She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, University of Kansas and her Master’s Degree in Education; Curriculum & Instruction, Lesley University.

For the past seven years, Joni was an instructional coach in an urban school district serving preschool students (and their families) enrolled in Head Start, State Pre-K, as well as children who qualified for special education services. She provided ongoing training, coaching and support to early childhood professionals and district staff.

She also worked with child care providers participating in both a statewide infant-toddler project and a quality rating system program. Prior to working with child care providers in Kansas, Joni was a Parent Educator with the Shawnee Mission Parents as Teachers program serving children birth to age three and their families. 

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Her career began as a Head Start Training and Resource Coordinator for the Resource Access Project (RAP), supporting staff and programs to best meet the needs and abilities of children with disabilities and their families in Region VII (Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa). In addition, Joni was the

Head Start Education Specialist for Region VII. She provided training and technical assistance addressing the education and parent involvement components of Head Start. 

Joni lives in Leawood, Kansas with her husband, Ted. They have four children and two Old English Sheep Dogs. Welcome Joni!

Staff News

Life Span Institute at Parsons staff and friends have been participating in Excel software training provided by Tennille Fincham, Microsoft Certified Trainer from KU IT in Lawrence via Zoom to the Parsons site. We’ve learned some new skills, remembered some things we knew, and equally important, gained a broader understanding of the scope of the time-saving actions Excel provides. Overheard at the last Excel workshop: “I think we’ve all learned something at

every workshop—even the Basic Excel Workshop!  It’s nice to build upon your skills.” New and improved skills build confidence and self-esteem for all, and then we eat lunch! A win-win here!

PUBLICATIONS, PRESENTATIONS & TRAININGS 

Hargitt, C. (2019, November). Building relationships using responsive strategies. Community training presented at Manhattan, KS.

Hargitt, C. (2019, December). Emotional literacy. Community training presented at Manhattan, KS.Hargitt, C. (2019, October). Supporting infant & toddler temperaments. Community based

training presented at Manhattan, KS.Hargitt, C. (2019, October). Proactive interaction techniques and teaching strategies to enhance

routines & schedules. Presentation provided at Hope Lutheran Early Learning Center, Manhattan, KS.

Holmes, S. (2019, October). Academic and play-based: Building cognitive skills through play. Training presented at Commanche County Hospital, Coldwater, KS.

Holmes, S. (2019, October). Academic & play-based learning. Training presented at Leavenworth, KS.

Holmes, S. (2019, December). Academic & play-based learning. Training presented at Lawrence, KS.

Holmes, S. (2019, October). Behavior and guidance. Training presented at Loving Hands Children’s Center, Pratt, KS.

Holmes, S. (2019, November). Building relationships using responsive communication strategies. Training presented at Perry, KS.

Holmes, S. (2019, November). Proactive environmental supports. Training presented at Olathe, KS.

Holmes, S. (2019, October). Don’t say don’t. Training presented att Olathe, KS.Holmes, S. (2019, November). Don’t say don’t. Training presented at Overland Park, KS.Holmes, S. (2019, November). Proactive environmental supports. Training presented at

Leavenworth, KS.4The Insider ~ January 2020

Holmes, S. (2019, November). Proactive environmental supports. Training presented at Leawood, KS.

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Holmes, S. (2019, October). Proactive environmental supports. Training presented at Mission, KS.

Holmes, S. (2019, October). Proactive interaction techniques and teaching strategies. Presentation provided at Mission, KS.

Holmes, S. (2019, October). Proactive interaction techniques and teaching strategies. Presentation provided at Olathe, KS.

Holmes, S. (2019, October). STEM for babies and toddlers. Presentation provided at Mission, KS.Keller, S. (2019, October). ASQ-3. Training presented at St. Catherine Hospital, Garden City, KS.Keller, S. (2019, October). ASQ-SE:2. Training presented at St. Catherine Hospital, Garden City, KS.PUBLICATIONS, PRESENTATIONS & TRAININGS 

Keller, S. (2019, November). Marketing your program for family child care. Training presented at Super Saturday.

Keller, S., & Newton, J. (2019, November). Help! My horse is in the wastepaper basket. Training presented at Grace Community Church, Great Bend, KS.

Lindeman, D., Wallin, T., & Kemp, P. (2019, October).  Supporting leadership skills for local early intervention program coordinators. Poster presented at the Division for Early Childhood 35th Annual International Conference on Young Children with Special Needs and Their Families, Dallas, TX.

Newton, J. (2019, November). Academic and play-based: It’s not either/or. Child Care Provider/Center Training presented at Great Bend, KS.

Newton, J. (2019, November). Academic and play-based: It’s not either/or. Training presented to Harper County Child Care Providers, Anthony, KS.

Newton, J. (2019, October). Mindfulness: A resiliency practice. Training presented at Marion County Child Care Providers, Marion, KS.

Newton, J. (2019, October). Mindfulness: A resiliency practice. Training presented to Harper County Child Care Providers, Anthony, KS.

Nippert, A. (2019, October). Emotional literacy. Training presented at Belleville, KS.Nippert, A. (2019, November). Process & art creation. Training presented at Clay Center, KS.Nippert, A. (2019, November). An introduction to the ASQ-3. Training presented at Phillipsburg,

KS.Nippert, A. (2019, December). An introduction to the ASQ:SE. Training presented at Phillsburg,

KS.Nippert, A. (2019, November). Academic and play-based: Building cognitive skills through

play. Training presented at Belleville, KS.Pitts, R. C., Hughes, C. E., & Williams, D. C. (in press). Transitions from rich-to-lean schedules

increase attack in a laboratory model of social aggression in pigeons: II. Fixed-interval schedules. Mexican Journal of Behavior Analysis.

Williams, D. C, Hayashi, Y., Brewer, A., Saunders, K. J., Fowler, S., & Pitts, R. (in press). Transitions from rich-to-lean schedules increase attack in a laboratory model of social aggression in pigeons: I. Fixed-ratio schedules. Mexican Journal of Behavior Analysis

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The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression and genetic information in the University’s programs and activities.  The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access, IOA@ku.edu, 1246 W. Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS, 66045, (785) 864-6414, 711 TTY.

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