[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6250739,"mediaKeyId","3198707-3aa39811a08560686ef08bbebee83cd4","parentId",3198707,"title","Salina accessibility committee reports: WCAG timeline, fair‑housing recap, new community resources and surveys","audioSeconds",809,"startMs",990000,"endMs",1799000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3198707-3aa39811a08560686ef08bbebee83cd4&start=990&end=1799","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3198707-3aa39811a08560686ef08bbebee83cd4/thumbnail_990000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6250739/Kansas/Salina-accessibility-committee-reports-WCAG-timeline-fairhousing-recap-new-community-resources-and-surveys","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250739-cc8dc1aed7d9b869d25a270a3d620dd5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770487610&Signature=YHMIErWlYORIaKI2ocnXoFCOtuzOf7W6758xqn3EGWouWlcWRVWqxfPjRADNUQL1rNL5fVvQpcUsL15CmgxI3o4-WcJFh1IuLbG46AwFe7lHHJfXbO-y5s0vj6Dk0UNkJMstEbirkXhspJ06-0S-rEPazwKl~jxZNRZRcg5PEf-S~2SMAvmgtxK2jtBugQxIPc2RNgfOLLZei-3csblAJ7rzwfmLABpNansPF5WRur4XNNG7PzoQEOiry8MKcSAg3KgL7XSc6iOUu69hGCzJbMcDK~syGmhZ4hDxgHK8z5vzDMkJBTMFbNVTeXSW4qJAbZXsvq9w-l9VVwc7c7T5Rg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Salina, KS","date","2025-05-01T20:44:01Z","article","Committee liaisons and staff provided multiple updates at the Salina Accessibility Advisory Committee meeting, including a web accessibility implementation timeline, plans for an accessibility seminar in October, community resource openings, and several outreach opportunities.

Why it matters: The items cover accessibility in digital services, public events and local programs that affect residents with disabilities and community service providers.

Web accessibility and transition plan: The committee discussed ongoing work to implement WCAG (web content accessibility guidelines) for Title II entities. A liaison reported that the deadline for entities of the city’s size (under 50,000 population) was stated in the meeting as 04/26/2027 and that the committee will need testing assistance from liaisons once site updates reach a testable stage. The committee said meetings are scheduled through the summer to develop a clearer timeline.

Training and seminars: The committee reviewed the recent fair‑housing seminar, which staff said drew about 37 attendees and featured speakers from DVAC and Kansas disability‑rights specialists. Members praised OCCK’s training facility as an accessible venue and said they hope to hold the accessibility seminar there in October; committee members discussed a half‑day format to keep the event free and accessible. Suggested seminar topics included therapy and support animals and sensory‑sensitivity programming.

Community resource updates: Staff reported several local developments: Salina Grace will offer showers and limited laundry service starting June 1; a new Resilience Clubhouse opened at 1111 South Street for members with severe and persistent mental illness (the model is member‑driven and includes local staff support); and the Saline County Food Action Community Team is conducting a county food assessment (see eatwellsalinecounty.com) and has produced a one‑page food resource guide.

Surveys and outreach: The committee shared a link to a KU national survey on health and disability for adults with disabilities (staff said it targets adults 18 and older) and announced the Saline County food assessment survey open through May 15 with paper copies available in Room 101 of the Saline County Building.

Volunteer and nonprofit highlights: Members noted that the ramp‑building volunteer group (referred to in the meeting as Ambucks) recently completed its 700th ramp and said the organization may be invited to present to the committee.

No formal committee votes were taken on these updates; members used the session to plan outreach and future testing and events.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Salina City Accessibility Advisory Board - May 1, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Committee liaisons reported progress on website accessibility (WCAG), plans for an October accessibility seminar at OCCK, a fair‑housing seminar recap and new community resources including the Resilience Clubhouse at 1111 South Street.","taxTitle","Salina, Saline County, Kansas","taxId",55343,"location","Kansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6250744,"City highlights two home‑rehab grants for a block in North Salina; landlords and homeowners eligible under income rules",178,2150000,2328000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3198707-3aa39811a08560686ef08bbebee83cd4&start=2150&end=2328","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3198707-3aa39811a08560686ef08bbebee83cd4/thumbnail_2150000.jpg","/articles/6250744/Kansas/City-highlights-two-homerehab-grants-for-a-block-in-North-Salina-landlords-and-homeowners-eligible-under-income-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250744-ad127bd053d6900b7424e3eda6500e72/orig.mp4?Expires=1770487610&Signature=Q4h7jIBqFef-2GPJSyXrh-QtRDsAj7NGivPf1VhdAf8-eWokUruKU-MAE407VyG6FldX7-vVwfci0hu2X1sygLSoxug03B3~-gCWTYT3sF~wsX~Z64IHLgnXr7jck8-NpbbgdCHwGoWbNf~3RnEQ7kKDfSSrRJqEwwU9EBpezGUHq7EEMN0AfpbDtJl06bTyNi3EcsUZwN3MrU73eCrenMn4vGVolVKoGBvl3jK6QFwjbL7CsIEDLgilvZlR-QF3W0auWy1-JhPb~MhOfURAa7gmWVGDj4kaX0-x80yOXbuFbIRx3saQqIB4GRJ33OGpLrCScup8xxpcOZ5SsPoMNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff told the Salina Accessibility Advisory Committee that two home‑repair grants are available for a defined area of North Salina and invited residents who meet income qualifications to apply.

Why it matters: The grants aim to preserve affordable, safe housing in a targeted neighborhood by funding repairs so homes remain habitable and stay in the housing stock.

At the meeting, staff described the target area as the block bounded by Broadway, South Street, State and Ninth — a portion of Census Tract 3. They said two separate grants fund the program; both generally serve low‑to‑moderate income households but have different income thresholds determined by their funders and by HUD income limits that change annually.

Staff said both owner‑occupied properties and rental properties may receive assistance, but the two grants are structured differently: one grant is aimed at owner‑occupied homes; the other can help rental properties when a low‑income tenant lives there. For rental properties, staff said the program requires application information from both the landlord and the tenant and that landlords must contribute funds toward the work. Owner‑occupants, staff said, may qualify for assistance without an owner match under program rules.

Work covered by the grants includes exterior repairs (siding, porches, windows, doors, roofs), some foundation repair when appropriate, limited interior work, and accessibility modifications to make homes habitable and code‑compliant. Staff emphasized the program’s goal is to keep homes safe and in the market rather than to perform large discretionary renovations.

Staff asked people who live or rent inside the defined block and believe they may qualify to contact the city to apply. Specific income thresholds and application details were not listed in the meeting record; staff said income calculations are tied to HUD figures and vary by funder.

No formal vote was taken; the committee used the update to encourage outreach to eligible residents.","Committee members said two home rehabilitation grants are available for a defined North Salina area (portion of Census Tract 3). Owner‑occupied households and some landlord properties may qualify; income limits and funder rules differ and landlords must provide matching contributions.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6250749,"Independent Connection outlines free independent‑living services, opens Concordia office",818,140000,958000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3198707-3aa39811a08560686ef08bbebee83cd4&start=140&end=958","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3198707-3aa39811a08560686ef08bbebee83cd4/thumbnail_140000.jpg","/articles/6250749/Kansas/Independent-Connection-outlines-free-independentliving-services-opens-Concordia-office","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250749-bceac3e3702588e194b4e7ae435cd785/orig.mp4?Expires=1770487610&Signature=DzExK2RqLrE---O6NpOjatcwzxsINmnra~RC6DYT3Vu5HARC2rRr9F9cC9WeRZ3MdquVBJ0hSma1c82C7COD~9jH78bQ5vZfyouiKgSZW0pBRk~Ab4TY77tMaZTpaHSWbb7b7YdwWtopkNjMG1LZJH2Ari2Cndakf7lD7sutiPTT-e6A2GXq0ESW7o~kL2ORyj7Y84suvAwNJM9Ut5S5oUmw7vSiC8W-o5gOoOH1f9bF7CdshWD5Wz82edJW0hd91X4iK7oBDQM3gj8BfaCZ-loiNGP8kVCh-P12xZ01IqP6QrqUpPXSB0riSaBeDn4GqJ5vqfMiKq-L8Z-u4KUtZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Alyssa Boyles, community engagement coordinator for Independent Connection, told the Salina Accessibility Advisory Committee that the nonprofit provides six core independent‑living services across nine North‑Central Kansas counties and opened a Concordia office in March 2025.

Why it matters: Independent Connection’s outreach and no‑cost services expand local access to supports that help people with disabilities live independently and participate in community life.

At the May meeting, Boyles described the organization as “a center for independent living, also known as a SIL,” and said Independent Connection is a private nonprofit that is consumer controlled, community based, cross‑disability, and nonresidential. She said the group expects to have 14 staff once fully staffed and that at least 51% of its staff and board are people with disabilities.

Boyles summarized the organization’s six core services: advocacy; information and referrals; peer support; independent living skills training; youth transition services; and help returning home from institutions or hospitals. She said the services are offered to people of any age and are free to individual consumers. On youth transition work, she said the program serves roughly ages 10 to 24.

Boyles also described additional supports the group offers, including referrals for employment services and assistive technology, help finding accessible housing, and community education presentations. She said Independent Connection recently began a partnership with the YMCA for a health and wellness peer group and runs a “living well with a disability” peer program.

The group charges one fee‑for‑service: an accessibility review for businesses or partners seeking an assessment to prepare for ADA compliance. Boyles said the review is the organization’s only paid service.

She announced community activities: a poster contest (third year) with submission details on the organization’s website, and an ADA anniversary celebration set for July 25 at the Smoky Hill Museum where contest winners will be displayed and prizes awarded.

During a short question‑and‑answer period, Boyles confirmed the group does not maintain assistive equipment in‑house but refers people to local partners (for example, Solution Outreach Center) that provide assistive technology. She also said the group is hiring and plans further school outreach through its youth transition network.

The committee did not take formal action on the presentation; members thanked Boyles and encouraged staff to consider future educational presentations from Independent Connection.","Independent Connection told the Salina Accessibility Advisory Committee it now serves nine North‑Central Kansas counties, opened a Concordia office in March 2025, and provides six core, no‑cost services for people with disabilities, plus community trainings and a paid accessibility review service.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Salina accessibility committee reports: WCAG timeline, fair‑housing recap, new community resources and surveys

City highlights two home‑rehab grants for a block in North Salina; landlords and homeowners eligible under income rules

Independent Connection outlines free independent‑living services, opens Concordia office