RCIL to make changes in organization; Nonprofit serving disabled not renewing lease at Fort Scott office

The Resource Center for Independent Living Inc. is making a change concerning its operations in Fort Scott.

After careful consideration, the organization, which provides programs and services for people with disabilities, has chosen not to renew the lease on its office, currently located in the Fort Scott Professional Building, 710 W. Eighth St., Suite 206. The change takes effect Aug. 1.

The office, which opened in 2007, is one of the organization's many satellite offices across eastern Kansas.

Headquartered in Osage City, the organization will continue to be a provider to individuals in the Fort Scott area who are being served through Kansas Medicaid Waiver services, a news release said.

RCIL Communications Specialist Karli Davis said the change will save money and allow the agency to "focus more on consumers than spending money on a lease we don't need."

"We thought it was in our best interest to move to more of a home office and do everything we currently offer, we just won't have the physical location," Davis said. "And the Iola office is really close. It seemed like a good decision."

Davis said RCIL Targeted Case Manager Angie Cummings will continue to provide the services consumers have received from the organization in the past and will now work from her home office.

"Our consumers will still be served in the same way they were served before," Davis said. "Services won't change."

Cummings can be reached by calling (785) 217-8642.

Davis said the organization has made similar changes with its office locations in the past.

"We've done this before in Burlington," she said. "As things change, we move offices around."

The organization provides a variety of services for individuals with disabilities and their families, including advocacy, information and referral, Davis said.

For the convenience of consumers and personal care attendants, PCA timesheets may be faxed to the RCIL home office in Osage City at (785) 528-3665, or dropped off at the Iola office, 726 W. Patterson Ave.

Anyone who needs more information about the office changes may contact the RCIL home office at (800) 580-7245 or Davis at 528-3105.

The nonprofit organization is committed to working with individuals, families and communities to promote independent living and individual choice to people with disabilities.

RCIL has many locations in cities across eastern Kansas. Its current programs include the five core services of all Centers for Independent Living in Kansas, which are Information and Referral Service; Advocacy; Independent Living Skills Training; Peer Support Services; and Deinstitutionalization, the release said. In addition, RCIL also provides home and community-based services through various Medicaid waiver programs.