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This Community Connections email list will stop sending messages after December 24, 2022. To continue receiving email updates about The HCBS Settings Final Rule and notifications about Final Rule Stakeholder Calls and other trainings and meetings, you will need to sign up to receive emails from the KDADS email list by clicking Sign Up below.

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Kansas Community Connections
503 S Kansas Ave
Topeka, KS 66603-3404

Job Vacancy Announcements

Blue Cross/Blue Shield has posted new job vacancy announcements on their website. Please feel free to share.  

Ms. Wheelchair Kansas and Little Miss Wheelchair Kansas Seeking Contestants for 2023 

It's that time again! Ms. Wheelchair Kansas, Inc. (MWKS) is currently searching for women of achievement, who are wheelchair mobile, to serve as contestants in the 18th Annual Ms. Wheelchair Kansas event. Contestants can be nominated by a person or group or can choose to participate in the program. Organizations and companies are being encouraged to nominate women who are passionate, dynamic, articulate, and who have a message to share throughout the state.

MWKS is also seeking nominations for the Little Miss Wheelchair Kansas program that celebrates young spirited girls, ages 5-12, who are wheelchair mobile.

The 2023 event will take place on March 17-19 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Lawrence. Pre-nominations for Ms. Wheelchair Kansas must be sent in by December 23, 2022. MWKS contestant application packets must be postmarked by January 7, 2023.

This program is NOT a beauty contest, but rather a competition to select the most articulate, accomplished delegate to serve as a role model and spokesperson for people with disabilities in Kansas.

If you know of a woman who would be a fantastic representative and role model in our state, or if you yourself would like to participate as a contestant, then please fill out the nomination form or contestant application today!

A new Little Miss Wheelchair Kansas will also be selected this year from a pool of contestants. This program recognizes young girls, ages 5-12, who are wheelchair mobile, dynamic, spirited, positive, and who have something to say to the people in our state. The chosen Little Miss works alongside Ms. Wheelchair Kansas to empower and educate people of all ages and serves as a role model to her peers. Little Miss Wheelchair contestants must be nominated with permission from the contestant's parent/guardian. Nominations are due by January 7, 2023. Nomination forms and more information can be found at http://www.mswheelchairkansas.org/become-a-miss-contestant.

Feel free to forward this information onto eligible women and young girls, as well as send it out to any of your list serves.

See the attached press release for more information. Also, please visit our website completely redesigned website at www.mswheelchairkansas.org for a MWKS application, MWKS and Little Miss nomination forms, and an in depth look at our programs. You can also stay up-to-date on the latest news by Liking our Facebook pages at www.facebook.com/mswheelchairkansas and www.facebook.com/littlemisswheelchairkansas.

As always, we thank you for your support!

Carrie Greenwood
Ms. Wheelchair Kansas President/CEO and State Coordinator
Ms. Wheelchair America Treasurer
Ms. Wheelchair Kansas 2004
[email protected]
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters when compared to what lies within us."

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is hosting a public comment period regarding the Kansas Highly Infectious Disease and Pandemic Plan to help prepare for the next highly infectious disease outbreak or pandemic. KDHE, in cooperation with local and state partners, has developed strategies to reduce highly infectious disease or pandemic-related morbidity, mortality, and social disruption in the state. The plan includes a combination of the former Kansas Ebola Preparedness and Response Plan, Kansas Pandemic Influenza Plan, and other pandemic response planning strategies. The plan will be available for review and public comment from December 9, 2022 to January 9, 2023.

https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=494

Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) News Brief
Driving Change | Creating Opportunity

December 9, 2022

JAN 2023 Accommodation and Compliance Webcast Series: Registration Now Open

The Job Accommodation Network Webcast Series is a monthly virtual training series presented by JAN staff and guest speakers. Webcasts include practical guidance and information about navigating the accommodation process, applying and leveraging the Title I employment provisions of the ADA, and job accommodation situations and solutions. JAN webcasts are available at no cost to anyone who would like to attend. The 2023 series offers a variety of ADA and accommodation topics, including:
• Accommodation Solutions for Neurodivergent Workers
• Accommodation Solutions: Substance Use Disorder
• Assistive Technology Update: What’s New in 2023
• What You Should Know About the Impact of Long COVID in the Workplace
• What to Do When Performance and Conduct Factor into the Accommodation Equation
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The 2023 series begins on Thursday, January 12, 2023, at 2:00 PM ET. Don’t miss the opportunity to attend this free JAN training!
• Register Today

Make Sure Your Holiday Events are Accessible - Employment Assistance and Resource Network (EARN) Accessible Events Checklist

Learn what to do before, during and after meetings and other workplace events so that they will be accessible for all attendees. This Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion checklist outlines steps to take to ensure the accessibility of online or in-person meetings or events. Make sure your office holiday parties & other events are accessible for everyone!
• Access the Accessible Events Checklist

Reminder: New and Improved ADA.GOV Website

The U.S. Department of Justice recently launched a new and improved version of its Americans with Disabilities Act website, ada.gov. The updated version of the website is designed to serve the public more effectively and help expand access for people with disabilities. The website works well with mobile devices, includes easy-to-use navigation tools, and is written in plain language. More information is available here. To find out more about the ADA, visit ada.gov or call the Justice Department's toll-free ADA information line at 1-800-514-0301 (voice) or 1-833-610-1264 (TDD).
• Visit the updated website

Become a NEON Core State – Application Available

ODEP’s National Expansion of Employment Opportunities Network has released a solicitation for States and State Government Agencies to apply through a competitive application process to improve employment outcomes within their statewide systems that serve individuals with disabilities. States selected as NEON Core States will be offered intensive policy consulting, capacity building support, and ongoing mentoring to support the strategic aims of their efforts to increase competitive integrated employment for individuals with disabilities in their state.
• View the application here

Now Available: Mental Health within Native Communities Webinar Recording

To celebrate Native American Heritage Month, ODEP, along with the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Native Americans and Strengthening Tribal Colleges and Universities and the Department of Education, hosted “Mental Health within Native Communities: A Story of Resilience, Recovery, and Employment” in November. The dialogue focuses on employment opportunities for American Indians and Alaska Native individuals with mental health conditions. Attendees heard the perspective from Native people who have navigated mental health conditions and/or substance use disorder while also seeking employment. The webinar recording is now available.
• View the recording here

In Case You Missed It: JAN Employers' Practical Guide - Reasonable Accommodation During the Hiring Process

ODEP’s Job Accommodation Network recently released a new guide titled “Employers' Practical Guide: Reasonable Accommodation During the Hiring Process” that summarizes some of the most frequent situations employers face when handling accommodation requests from applicants and candidates with disabilities. Using the steps in JAN’s sample interactive process, this publication includes ideas and resources for providing accommodations quickly during the hiring process.
• Read the Practical Guide

U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Disability Employment Policy
DRIVING CHANGE • CREATING OPPORTUNITY

View this newsletter on our website

• MWKS Searching for-- Press Release '23.pdf