RSA-227 for FY-2025: Submission #41

State name Kansas

Report through date 09/30/2025

General Information

Designated Agency Identification

Name Disability Rights Center of Kansas

Address 214 SW 6th Ave

Address Line 2 Suite 100

City Topeka

State KS

Zip Code 66603

E-mail Address rocky@drckansas.org

Website Address https://www.drckansas.org

Phone 785-273-9661

TTY 877-776-1541

Toll-free Phone 877-776-1541

Toll-free TTY 877-776-1541

Fax 785-273-9414

Operating Agency (if different from Designated Agency)

Name

Address

Address Line 2

City

Zip Code

State

E-mail Address

Website Address

Phone

TTY

Toll-free Phone

Toll-free TTY

Fax

Additional Information

Name of CAP Director/Coordinator Rocky Nichols

Person to contact regarding report Rocky Nichols

Contact Person Phone 785-273-9661

Contact Person E-mail Address rocky@drckansas.org

Part I. Non-case Services

A. Information and Referral Services (I&R)

1. Information regarding the vocational rehabilitation (VR) program 1

2. Information regarding independent living programs 0

3. Information regarding American Indian VR Service projects 1

4. Information regarding Title I of the ADA 0

5. Other information provided 4

6. Information regarding CAP 6

7. Total I&R services provided (Lines A1 through A6) 12

B. Training Activities

1. Number of training sessions presented to community groups and public agencies. 261

2. Number of individuals who attended these training sessions. 7239

3. Describe training presented by the staff. Include the following information: DRC trained 7,239 individuals in FFY 2025 through the presentation or sharing of information at 261 events explaining DRC’s legal advocacy services and the Client Assistance Program, both of which assist individuals with disabilities who are facing employment barriers. These trainings aim to educate individuals with disabilities who receive or seek services under the Rehabilitation Act about the services that the DRC provides and to ensure that individuals with disabilities throughout Kansas know how to contact the DRC with concerns. Those who attended these outreach events included persons with disabilities, family members, service providers, advocates, and Kansas Rehabilitation Services (KRS) employees. Some presentation sites included Independent Living Centers, Consumer Run Organizations, Community Development Disability Organizations, Community Mental Health Centers, stakeholder groups, disability coalitions, self-advocacy groups, and provider agencies serving individuals with a broad range of disabilities who are CAP-eligible.

C. Agency Outreach

Describe the agency's outreach efforts to previously un-served or underserved individuals including minority communities. DRC engages in ongoing outreach efforts to increase awareness of our services to underserved Kansas populations. Throughout FFY 2025, DRC continued its outreach activities with Native American groups, veterans, seniors, and many other communities. As just one example, DRC staff presented to the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation’s Vocational Rehabilitation team to increase awareness of the CAP and how it supports individuals navigating VR services. The discussion focused on client rights, CAP’s role in resolving barriers to employment, and collaboration opportunities to strengthen advocacy for tribal members with disabilities. This outreach helped build trust and expand access to CAP services among Native people in rural northeast Kansas. DRC is planning to continue to increase efforts like these in FFY 2026.

D. Information Disseminated To The Public By Your Agency

1. Agency Staff Interviewed or Featured on Radio and TV 19

2. Articles about CAP Featured in Newspaper/Magazine/Journals 86

3. PSAs/Videos Aired about the CAP Agency 43

4. Publications/Booklets/Brochures Disseminated by the Agency 59

5. Number of Times CAP Exhibited at Conferences, Community Fairs, etc. 8

6. Other 0

Please explain below N/A

E. Information Disseminated About Your Agency By External Media Coverage

Describe the various sources and information disseminated about your agency by an external source. DRC staff appeared on or was quoted in 19 TV or radio reports, including Kansas Public Radio, WIBW, KAKE-TV, KSNW-TV, and KWCH-TV.

DRC was interviewed or quoted over 86 times in newspapers, magazines, and journals throughout the year, including major publications like the Associated Press, Yahoo! News, US News & World Report, The Kansas City Beacon, the Kansas City Star, the Kansas Reflector, the Wichita Eagle, and the Topeka Capital-Journal.

DRC has 43 video flyers about the rights of people with disabilities on our website, which had 100,786 hits.

DRC has 59 agency publications, brochures, and fact sheets on several disability topics.

DRC had exhibit booths at 8 events in FFY 2025.

Part II. Individual Case Services

A. Individuals served

1. Individuals who are still being served as of October 1 (carryover from prior year) 10

2. Additional individuals who were served during the year 32

3. Total individuals served (Lines A1+A2) 42

4. Individuals (from Line A3) who had multiple case files opened/closed this year. 1

5. Individual still being served as of September 30 (Carryover to next year. This total may not exceed Line A3.) 10

B. Problem areas

1. Individual requests information 1

2. Communication problems between individual and VR counselor 19

3. Conflict about VR services to be provided 11

4. Related to VR application/eligibility process 6

5. Related to assignment to order of selection priority category 0

6. Related to IPE development/implementation 6

7. Related to independent living services 0

8. Other Rehabilitation Act-related problems 0

C. Intervention Strategies for closed cases

1. Short Term Technical Assistance 13

2. Investigation/Monitoring 0

3. Negotiation 3

4. Mediation and other methods of Alternative Dispute Resolution 1

5. Administrative / Informal Review 14

6. Formal appeal / Fair Hearing 0

7. Legal remedy / Litigation 1

8. Total 32

D. Reasons for closing individuals' case files

1. All issues resolved in individual's favor 13

2. Some issues resolved in individual's favor 8

3. CAP determines VR agency position/decision was appropriate for the individual 1

4. Individual's case lacks legal merit 1

5. Individual chose alternative representation 0

6. Individual withdrew complaint 3

7. Issue not resolved in clients favor 0

8. CAP services not needed due to individual's death, relocation, etc. 0

9. Individual not responsive/cooperative with CAP 5

10. CAP unable to take case due to lack of resources 1

11. Conflict of interest 0

12. Other 0

(Please explain below) N/A

E. Results achieved for individuals

1. Controlling law/policy explained to individual 4

2. Application for services completed 3

3. Eligibility determination expedited 0

4. Individual participated in evaluation 0

5. IPE developed/implemented/Services Provided 4

6. Communication re-established between individual and other party 14

7. Individual assigned to new counselor/office 4

8. Alternative resources identified for individual 3

9. ADA/504/EEO/OCR complaint made 0

10. Other 0

(Please explain below) N/A

Part III. Program Data

A. Age

1. Up to 18 3

2. 19 - 24 3

3. 25 - 40 20

4. 41 - 64 15

5. 65 and over 1

6. Total (Sum of Lines A1 through A5. Total must equal Part II, Line A3.) 42

B. Gender

1. Females 22

2. Males 20

3. Nonbinary or Another Gender 0

4. Unknown 0

5. Total (Lines B1+B2+B3+B4. Total must equal Part II Line A3.) 42

C. Race/ethnicity of Individuals Served

1. Hispanic/Latino of any race 4

2. American Indian or Alaskan Native 1

3. Asian 0

4. Black or African American 7

5. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0

6. White 22

7. Two or more races 1

8. Race/ethnicity unknown 7

D. Primary disabling condition of individuals served

1. Acquired Brain Injury 0

2. ADD/ADHD 1

3. AIDS/HIV 0

4. Amputations or Absence of Extremities 0

5. Arthritis or Rheumatism 2

6. Anxiety Disorder 1

7. Autism Spectrum Disorder 7

8. Autoimmune or Immune Deficiencies 0

10. Other visual impairments 2

11. Cancer 0

12. Cerebral Palsy 5

13. Deafness 0

14. Hard of Hearing/Hearing Impaired 1

16. Diabetes 1

17. Digestive disorders 0

18. Epilepsy 0

19. Heart and other circulatory conditions 0

20. Intellectual Disability 1

21. Mental illness 13

22. Multiple Sclerosis 0

23. Muscular Dystrophy 1

24. Muscular/Skeletal Impairment 3

25. Neurological Disorders/Impairment 1

26. Orthopedic impairments 2

27. Personality Disorders 0

28. Respiratory Disorders/Impairment 0

29. Skin Conditions 0

30. Specific learning disabilities (SLD) 0

31. Speech Impairments 0

32. Spina Bifida 0

33. Substance abuse 0

34. Other disability 1

35. Total (Sum of Lines D1through D34. Total must equal Part II, Line A3.) 42

E. Types of Individuals Served

1. Applicant of VR 22

2. Individual eligible for VR services currently on a wait list 0

3. Individual eligible for VR services not currently on a wait list 19

4. Applicant or individual eligible for Independent Living 0

5. Transition student/High school student 1

6. All other applicants or individuals eligible for other programs or projects funded unther Rehabilitation Act 1

Part IV. Systemic Activities and Litigation

A. Non-Litigation Systemic Activities

1. Number of non-litigation systemic activities not involving individual representation that resulted in the change of one or more policy or practice of an agency. 1

2. Describe the systemic activities conducted by CAP during the fiscal year and its impact on other agency's policies or practices. This fiscal year, one of the most significant accomplishments supported by the CAP program was DRC’s targeted outreach to Centers for Independent Living (CILs), Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) offices, and other community-based organizations serving CAP-eligible individuals. Through these efforts, DRC advanced CAP priorities by increasing awareness of rights, protections, and legally based advocacy services among both consumers and the professionals who support them.

A key example of this work was DRC’s presentations to more than 85 VR counselors statewide, including staff from the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Vocational Rehabilitation program. These sessions emphasized when and how clients should be referred to DRC for support with employment and VR-related issues and provided counselors with clear guidance on the rights and entitlements of individuals receiving or applying for services under the Rehabilitation Act. This ongoing engagement strengthened relationships between the CAP and VR offices and deepened counselors’ understanding of the CAP’s role in resolving barriers to VR services.

Most importantly, this targeted outreach resulted in a change in practice within the partner agencies. VR counselors and CIL staff reported an improved understanding of DRC’s services and demonstrated more referrals to the CAP. Their enhanced knowledge has made the referral process more deliberate and supportive, ensuring that individuals with disabilities are connected to advocacy resources at the right point in their service journey. By focusing education efforts on agencies that routinely serve CAP-eligible individuals, DRC improved how these organizations guide clients toward assistance that protects their rights and promotes successful engagement in employment-related services.

B. Litigation

a. Number of cases requiring litigation involving individual representation filed during fiscal year. 0

b. Number of on-going cases pending at start of fiscal year (carryover from prior fiscal year). 0

c. Number of cases resolved through litigation during fiscal year. 0

2. Describe the agency's on-going and completed systemic litigation activities involving individual representation. DRC staff has no on-going systemic non-class action lawsuits.

Part V. Agency Information

A. Designated Agency

1. Agency Type (select only one option): External-Protection and Advocacy agency

2. Name of designate agency: Disability Rights Center of Kansas

3. Is the designated agency contracting CAP services? No

4. If yes, name of contracting agency: N/A

B. Staff Employed

1. Provide a description of all CAP positions Type of position FTE % yr filled Person-years
Executive Director 1 100% 1
Deputy Director - Administrative Division 1 100% 1
Deputy Director - Legal Division 1 100% 1
Director of Policy & Outreach 1 100% 1
Case Attorneys 4 100% 4
Case Advocates 4.5 100% 4.5
Office Assistant 1 100% 1
Communications & Outreach Director 1 100% 1

Explanation of Duties for all Positions:

Executive Director - Overall leader and director of the agency. Administrative head of the agency. Employs staff (hires/fires). Ensures accountability, effectiveness and efficiency of agency’s programs and services.

Deputy Director - Administrative Division - Responsible for accounting, bookkeeping, accounts receivable & payable, grants management & compliance, payroll, human resources, etc.

Deputy Director - Legal Division - Responsible for legal work product of the agency. Supervises the staff attorneys and advocates. Carries an active caseload. Prosecutes cases.

Director of Policy & Outreach - Responsible for performance of work directly relating to the management policies or general business operations of DRC or its customers.

Case Attorneys - Provide legal representation.

Case Advocates - Provide advocacy representation and case advocacy.

Office Assistant - Answers phones, does office and administrative tasks, etc.

Communications & Outreach Director - Manages the tasks associated with outreach, communications/public relations, marketing/publications, and certain administrative office functions of the agency. Supervises the Office Assistant.

Part VI. Case Examples

Case Examples

Provide some examples of some interesting cases during the past fiscal year. 1. IB is 44 years old and has diagnoses of adrenal insufficiency, endometriosis, and fibromyalgia. While living in Arizona in 2023, she received Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services, which provided financial assistance for undergraduate tuition and fees through Arizona State University’s online program. She received a Pell grant, which she applied to the tuition/fees, as required by VR, because it is a comparable benefit that must be applied to first before VR pays anything. IB also received a $2,000 OSHER scholarship which is awarded to students who are re-entering college after a significant absence, who have a financial need, and are in good standing academically. Arizona VR determined the OSHER scholarship is merit-based and not a comparable benefit like the Pell grant. As a result, IB was able to use it for her living expenses instead of on tuition. IB later moved to Kansas, while she was still enrolled at ASU, and applied for Kansas VR services for tuition assistance for the summer and the following school year. Unlike Arizona VR, Kansas VR incorrectly asserted that the OSHER scholarship was not merit-based and required IB to use the entire $2,000 for tuition and costs before it paid the remainder.

A DRC attorney represented IB in an appeal of Kansas VR’s decision to the Office of Administrative Hearings. Shortly before the hearing date, DRC successfully negotiated a settlement in which Kansas VR agreed to reimburse IB the full $2,000 scholarship amount. This resolution provided IB with financial relief and reinforced the importance of consistent application of VR funding rules across state programs. Thanks to the Kansas CAP, IB was able to continue on her path to employment through the pursuit of higher education.

2. HB is a 38-year-old who has ADHD and learning disabilities. She sought assistance from DRC while working with VR to prepare for future employment. She requested advice on how to obtain reasonable accommodations to address challenges with organization and time management due to her disabilities. A DRC advocate and attorney provided guidance on requesting workplace accommodations and worked with VR to ensure her employment plan included appropriate strategies and supports tailored to her needs. Through the Kansas’ CAP assistance, HB gained the tools and confidence to advocate for accommodations and to work effectively with VR towards achieving her employment goals.

3. CM is a 42-year-old with a hearing impairment, a history of 12 traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), schizophrenia, and autism. CM contacted DRC for assistance after experiencing significant delays from VR in approving his request for hearing aids, even though VR had already paid for his hearing assessment that indicated he needed hearing aids. A DRC advocate intervened and communicated directly with VR to address the delay. As a result of the Kansas CAP advocacy efforts, VR approved the hearing aids, allowing CM to improve his ability to communicate effectively and move forward toward his employment goals.

Certification

Reports are to be submitted to RSA within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report. Please be reminded that you can enter data directly into the RSA website via the internet. Information on transmittal of the form is found on pages 19 and 20 of the reporting instructions.

Name and Title of Authorized Certifying Official

I agree to submit this form by electronic means. By signing this form electronically, I certify under penalty of perjury that my answers are correct and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that an electronic signature has the same legal meaning and can be enforced in the same way as a written signature.

Full Legal Name of Signer: Rocky Nichols

Certifying Official Title Executive Director

By checking this box and typing my full legal name above, I am electronically signing this form. Yes

Date Certified (mm/dd/yyyy) 2025-12-29

OMB Notice

OMB Control Number: 1820-0528, approved for use through 07/31/2023

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 16 hours per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. The obligation to respond to this collection is required to obtain or retain a benefit (Section 13 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended). Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 20202-4537 or email ICDocketMgr@ed.gov and reference the OMB Control Number 1820-0528. Note: Please do not return the completed form to this address.

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