The Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City:
Opening Doors and Serving More

On July 24, 2006, the Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City will be opening doors at a second location, 7301 W 133rd Street, Suite 102, Overland Park, KS 66213. The new location, the Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City South, will provide day treatment and outpatient services to adults who have experienced strokes, traumatic brain injuries and neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis.

The need for rehabilitation services increases everyday. As the oldest non-profit provider of specialty rehabilitation services in Kansas City, we want to be accessible to all who need our services.

The new location will provide intense therapy services including physical, occupational and speech therapy as well as psychological services in individual and group sessions. Driving Evaluation and Training will also be offered on site.

"It is important for the south community to know that we will be offering the same well-known services at the new location. In doing this, we hope to make our services more accessible to people all over the city and be more readily able to meet increased need," said Community Integration Program Supervisor Sara Baker.

Mary Sue Ruhlman, a physical therapist for the past ten years, will serve as the Community Integration Rehabilitation Coordinator. She will be accompanied by a speech therapist, physical therapist and occupational therapist. A registered nurse will be on staff to make sure that all medical needs are being met.

For the past sixty years the Rehabilitation Institute, with the help of the community, has worked hard to Build Brighter Futures for persons with disabilities. With the opening of our new location, we plan to continue to build on that tradition.

We will be hosting an Open House on August 10, 2006. If you are interested in attending, please click here to download the invitation.

Directions to the South Location
The new clinic is located in southern Johnson County at 7301 W. 133rd Street, Suite 102. It can be accessed off of 135th street and Riley. Riley is located between Metcalf (East) and 69 Highway (West). Turn north on Riley and take the first drive into the building complex. Follow the drive down the slight slope. Our suite is located on the back or North Side of the Building and has its own private entrance.

For specific directions from where you are click here. Map of 7301 W 133rd St
Overland Park, KS 66213-4750, US

Christmas came early this year for the workshop clients of the Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City.

The annual Client Holiday Party for two RI Industries workshops was held Friday, December 16, 2005. Donations the Rehabilitation Institute Auxiliary and friends provided refreshments and personalized gifts for the 114 clients in attendance.

Event co-chairs, Ruthelle Abercrombie and Dana Chatlin, made every effort to ensure that each client received a gift from their wish list. The Rehabilitation Institute Auxiliary then held a wrapping party to individually wrap each present. RI Industries client Mike Ward could not contain his elation at discovering that he had received two kung fu movies from Santa, proudly showing them to anyone who passed by.

The Client Holiday Party is an important tradition at the Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City. It means so much to the clients of RI Industries, many of whom do not have families of their own. The annual party creates new holiday memories and an added sense of family for those who spend their days in the workshops.

The Shawnee Mission North High School Choir, led by Patrice Sollenberger, performed Christmas carols for both workshops. The choir came ready to perform in formal Christmas gowns and tuxedos. The students seemed just as excited to be performing for the clients, as the clients were to be watching and listening.

During the second performance, Patrice encouraged the clients to sing along to the refrain of “Jingle Bells.” The joy in their eyes and voices held the spirit of the season.

Mike Seidel, National Seating & Mobility, played a very popular Santa, personally delivering each gift. After wishing the clients a very merry Christmas, Santa visited the Institute’s pediatric and adolescent patients, wishing them a happy holiday as well. As the kids crowded around Santa, his booming ‘ho ho ho’ echoed throughout the building. Each child received a giant holiday teddy bear or a 2006 Peanuts calendar.

Thanks to the efforts of the Rehabilitation Institute Auxiliary and staff, it was a happy holiday season indeed.