3710 Main Street IN THIS ISSUE: Kansas City, MO 64111 816-561-0304 2 CDS Update thewholeperson.org 3 Volunteering with TWP 4 2019/20 TWP Annual Report 5 Deaf Services Training TWP CONNECTS 6 Peer Support Groups SPRING 2021 NEWSLETTER ISSUE 21 7 Qualifying for SSDI 8 Contact Information Connecting people with disabilities to the resources they need 2021/2022 Expressions Art Exhibition The Show Must Go On! Gallery Schedule his year marks the 11th Annual Expressions Art Exhibition showcasing March, April, May artists with disabilities and celebrating their abilities and unique talents. Rochester Brewing and Roasting Co. TExpressions strives to promote artists with disabilities by featuring their June, July work in professionally organized art exhibitions and offering them innovative The Thornhill Gallery educational and networking workshops that connect them to the broad regional August, September, October creative community. Kansas City, Kansas Public Library South Branch The 2021 Expressions opening reception will be held March 5, from 11:00 am - November, December 2021; 7:00 pm at Rochester Brewing & Roasting Company, 2129 Washington Street, January, February 2022 Kansas City, Missouri. All current CDC Guidelines regarding the pandemic will Kansas City Kansas Community College be followed. The opening will feature both live and virtual events, and an online March 2022 gallery will be launched after March 5th. Kansas City Artists’ Coalition The exhibition will remain on display at multiple metro area venues through March 2022. Learn more at www.thewholeperson.org/expressions. Expressions 2021 Artists Stone Addams | Jasmine Ali Omar Al-Shams | Wendalyn Baxter Sherri Buerky | Courtney Coy Alex Fraser | Leslie Norman Hubble Elise Huther | Dell Inskeep Kim Raine Johnson | Carleigh Lavoy April Marie Mai | Taj Moses Kassidee Quaranta | Lynndanna Stematz Sara Unrein The 2021 Expressions Committee Poppy Di Candeloro (Co- Chairperson) Madison Wellman (Co- Chairperson) John Campbell | CJ Charbonneau Meghan Dohogne | Allie Donnell Kathryne Brontë Grimm | Lea Klepees Fiscal year 2021/2022 support from: Linda Link | Mitch Chalk Terri Goddard | Anthony Trakas CDS Update MISSION Greetings from the TWP Consumer The Whole Person connects Directed Services (CDS) Department! We hope this newsletter finds you healthy, people with disabilities to happy, and warm. the resources they need by Let’s start off with a little information supporting independent choice about what the CDS department is and and advocating for positive how we help TWP consumers. The CDS program can assist Missourians who change in the community. have active Medicaid and a physical disability with activities of daily life such as cooking, cleaning, dressing, bathing, VISION and transportation for essential needs. The Whole Person envisions Once approved for the program, the con- sumer will hire someone of their choosing a fully accessible community (usually a non-spouse family member or where opportunities and a friend) to assist them. The Personal Care managers helped with consumer notifi- Attendant (PCA) is paid using Medicaid cation of the program and coordinated choices are not limited by funds. TWP provides payroll services for pick-up or delivery. disability. the PCA and case management such as advocacy for the consumer. TWP case As we move forward into the new year, managers will check in with the consum- we are optimistic that some software er by phone at least once per month and changes to the system that PCAs use BOARD OF perform at least one face-to-face home to clock in and out from their shifts DIRECTORS visit per year. with the consumers will streamline the payroll process, while at the same Carla Oppenheimer, President The past year has been both challeng- time ensuring that the consumer stays ing and rewarding for the CDS depart- Marcia Klostermann, in compliance with federal Electronic ment. COVID-19 has curtailed one of our Visit Verification (EVV) requirements. Vice President most important objectives for our con- The new system will enable clock ins Mike McCord, Secretary sumers – to continue to thrive and par- and outs to be entered from any smart- ticipate in their communities. Isolation Chris Albright, Treasurer phone with the system app. The app can be one of the biggest obstacles that will use GPS to ensure that clock ins and Anthony Cangelosi someone with a disability can face, and outs are happening from the consum- CJ Charbonneau the ongoing pandemic has necessitated er’s home. even more isolation. TWP’s CDS case Don Harkins managers have done their best to offer It has been said that hope springs Ash Jain suggestions and resources to their con- eternal, and we here at the CDS DaRon McGee sumers such as TWP’s “Getting Social” Department certainly hope for a return events that are held on the first Friday Michael Nava to normalcy. We look forward to being of the month from 1-3 pm. One of the able to see our consumers on a regular Darrin Sherman most rewarding programs for our case basis again, and assisting in their quests Patricia Stillwell managers was the food box program for independence! through which nearly 300 consumers Madison Zalopany and 200 PCAs were given recipes and Jim Johnson, CDS Manager ingredients for multiple meals. CDS case www.thewholeperson.org/CDS TWP Programs and Services • Independent Living Services • Kansas Resident Services • Consumer Directed Services • Transition Services • Employment Services • The Whole Family Project An accessible PDF, screen reader • Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services • Blindness Low Vision Experience compatible file, is available in the • Individual and Systems Advocacy • Youth and Adult Services newsletter archive on our website. • Telecommunications Access Program • Adaptive Sports • Benefits Enrollment Center • Legal Services 2 We Get By With a Little Help From Our Friends In the early months of 2020, Kat and said Carly Kraft, external communications Andrew Collett, owners of With Love manager at Farmers Insurance. “The Salon in the Crossroads, contacted The Farmers team is honored to help Whole Person about featuring us as the donate a vehicle to The Whole Person, philanthropic partner of an annual ‘color’ an organization focused on making a conference that was to be held in Kansas positive impact in our local community.” City, Missouri in July 2020. “We were so excited about this unique fundraising The NABC Recycled Rides® program event and to have the opportunity to brings together collision repairers, talk with stylists from all over the country Gary Montoya, General Manager (Shawnee insurers, and others in the collision about ways they could make their salons Mission Ford), Jason (TWP), Teri (TWP), Matt industry in an effort to make a difference Peterson, Collision Manager (Shawnee Mission and give refurbished vehicles to more accessible to their customers,” said Ford) and Terri (TWP) in front of the car donated Terri Goddard, Resource Development to The Whole Person by Farmers Insurance®. individuals and service organizations Manager at The Whole Person. “And then that would benefit from reliable COVID-19 hit.” transportation. Since the NABC Recycled body shop Shawnee Mission Ford to Rides® program began in 2007, they have Kat and her team quickly pivoted; they “restore the vehicle and help provide donated more than 2,500 vehicles valued continued with their conference and reliable transportation to the deserving at a total of more than $36 million. did everything virtually. TWP offered service organization” as part of the several video presentations on People National Auto Body Council (NABC) First Language and Disability Etiquette. Recycled Rides® program. Shawnee Conference attendees were invited to Mission Ford technicians donated donate to The Whole Person and in their time and skills for the restoration. November, Kat and Andrew presented us Jason Crump, husband of The Whole with a check for $750. Thank you for this Person’s Employment Services Manager, unique opportunity. Katie Crump, works for Farmers and recommended us for this program. Farmers Insurance® donated a newly refurbished vehicle to The Whole “Farmers Insurance is dedicated to Person during a special ceremony on serving others and building stronger Wednesday, November 11 in Shawnee, communities where our employees, Kat and Andrew Collett visit Kelly, Jason and Terri Kansas. Farmers® worked with local auto customers and agents live and work,” at TWP to deliver a check from their fundraiser. others, especially those with disabilities Night of Independence Gala 2021 and Deaf individuals. Make plans now to be whisked away by As a Kansas City native with deep ties Logan moved to Kansas City in 2019 the ambience of the romantic streets on both sides of the state line, Jennifer is from Quincy, Illinois after spending four of Paris on Friday, September 24 at the driven to pursue meaningful inclusion and years in the Finger Lakes region of New Abbott Event Space. The 5th Annual justice for individuals of all ability levels York. Logan is Project Manager at RCC Night of Independence Awards Gala will in our community. She has volunteered Framing. He received his Bachelor’s present An Evening in Paris. The 2021 with organizations that create opportu- degree in Construction Management Gala and planning committee will be nities for individuals with disabilities for from Western Illinois University. In his free led by Jennifer Salva and Logan Weed, over a decade in the Kansas City area. time, Logan enjoys playing guitar, collect- a dynamic duo who joined the Gala Jennifer also serves on the Board of Editors ing records, volunteering, and spending committee last year and helped make of the Kansas Bar Association Journal, time with his cat, Nico. the 2020 Gatsby Gala a success despite as Communications Director for the J.L. shifting to an entirely virtual event due to Weigand Notre Dame Legal Education 2021 Committee members are Jordan COVID-19. Trust, and she volunteers with several Ward, John Miller, Chris Albright, Jessica legal education organizations to provide Barranco, Bruce Kay, Blake Kullman, Hilary Jennifer Salva is an attorney at mentorship to lawyers-in-training.