Beyond Barriers

11/13/2025

Check it out! Independent Living Specialist and Older Blind Program Coordinator Mignon Luckey attended the Garden City Low Vision Health Fair with Driver/Scribe Don Tedford!

"We drove 9 people from Dodge City to Garden City for the event, where they received free eye examinations and will then received free glasses within 30 days." 😊👓

Sunflower Health Plan mascot "Sunny" made an appearance as well!

Photo 1: Driver/Scribe Don Tedford, wearing a plaid shirt and yellow jacket, stands next to a mascot of a sun, which features a large sun-shaped headpiece, and "Sunflower Health" on its shirt.
Photo 2: Independent Living Specialist
and Older Blind Program Coordinator Mignon Luckey, wearing a black Beyond Barriers t-shirt over a blue long-sleeve shirt, stands next to a mascot of a sun, which features a large sun-shaped headpiece, and "Sunflower Health" on its shirt.

11/11/2025

Thank you, Veterans! 🇺🇸 🫡

On this Veterans Day, we want to take the opportunity not only to show our appreciation, but to let you know that Beyond Barriers is here for you, too.

31% of all veterans have at least one disability, which is nearly double the rate for the general adult population.

Disabilities aren’t “one size fits all.” Whether it’s visible, or invisible to everyone but you—we serve people with ALL disabilities, free of charge.

At Beyond Barriers, we help you live as independently as possible through training, education, advocacy and support. Break through the red tape of disability resources and accessibility challenges.

Learn more: https://www.beyondbarriersks.com/

11/09/2025

🤔 What is an Employment Specialist, and how can they help you? 

👋 We have just the person to answer that question! Meet Anthony Frischenmeyer, Employment Specialist at Beyond Barriers! 

Anthony works with the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program, designed to help people with disabilities find and keep meaningful employment. Here’s how he supports clients:

✅ Identifying strengths and career goals
✅ Building resumes
✅ Applying for jobs
✅ Preparing for and practicing interviews
✅ Job tryouts and community-based work assessments (at no cost to employers)

“If you’re a person with a disability, you qualify for VR services. The more effort you put in, the more success you’ll find—and I’ll be right there with you every step of the way.” – AnthonyAt Beyond Barriers, we help individuals with disabilities live more independently in our community by providing support, education, advocacy—and all of our services are free of charge.

👉 Want to learn more? Visit https://www.beyondbarriersks.com/

11/03/2025

💡Those who are blind or low vision can benefit from any of our Independent Living or Employment Services, as well as resources we offer specifically for those with vision needs. 

Some examples of common Assistive Technology (AT) solutions for vision loss and blindness include:

📖 Reading – video magnifiers, screen magnification software, screen reader software, CCTVs, DAISY books and readers
🖊 Writing – 20/20 pens, CCTVs, Braillers
🥘 Cooking – hot shot pot, splatter guards, talking microwave
💉Personal Care – talking blood pressure cuff, talking scales, talking glucose meter
🛅 Travel – Mobile GEO, Trekker Breeze, BrailleNote GPS
🗒 Organization – BrailleNote, Pac Mate, Voice Sense
🎲 Recreation – textured dominoes, Braille bingo cards, beep balls, partner scopes

Learn more about these services and more at https://www.beyondbarriersks.com/vision-resources or call 888.715.6818

📸 Image is of a man smiling and holding his guide cane in both hands. Text on image says: Blind/Low Visions Services Offered: Independent Living Services, Older Individual Who Are Blind, Peer Support Groups, Assistive Technology, and more!

10/27/2025

October 29th is World Stroke Day! Did you know that you can help prevent strokes? Choosing healthy foods and drinks, keeping a healthy weight, and getting regular physical activity can all help reduce your risk of stroke.
On World Stroke Day, let’s take steps to prevent strokes. ❤️ https://bit.ly/3MykCx5

¡El 29 de octubre es el Día Mundial del Ictus! ¿Sabías que puedes ayudar a prevenir los accidentes cerebrovasculares? Elegir alimentos y bebidas saludables, mantener un peso saludable y realizar actividad física con regularidad pueden ayudar a reducir el riesgo de sufrir un accidente cerebrovascular.
En el Día Mundial del Ictus, tomemos medidas para prevenirlo. ❤️

Prevent stroke by making healthy living choices and managing your health conditions

10/27/2025

Meet Joe Gonzales! 🌟

Joe is a Service Coordinator in our Pratt office and an essential part of the Beyond Barriers team. He recently coordinated the Disability Mentoring Day in Pratt!

In his role, Joe provides advocacy services, helping consumers communicate with businesses, landlords, and government agencies—and making sure they understand what’s being asked or required. He also offers peer counseling, providing a supportive, nonjudgmental space for individuals to talk through challenges in their lives. Sometimes, just being there to listen makes all the difference.

Joe’s favorite part of the job?💛

“One of the most rewarding moments is when a new consumer walks through the door and says they were referred by someone we’ve helped before. It’s a great feeling to know that our support made a difference and inspired someone to share their positive experience.”

Want to connect with Joe or learn more about our services?
Call 620-508-6568 or reach out online: https://www.beyondbarriersks.com/contact

📸 Image is of Joe Gonzales, a man with salt and pepper hair, beard and goatee, wearing glasses and a gray shirt. Next to him is a quote that reads, "It's rewarding moments is when a new consumer walks through the door and says they were referred by someone we’ve helped before. It’s a great feeling to know that our support made a difference and inspired someone to share their positive experience." Below him is a black bar with the Beyond Barriers logo on top.

10/17/2025

Thank you The Hutchinson Tribune for a great recap of this wonderful annual event! 🤩

By Brendan Ulmer Hutchinson Tribune Staff HUTCHINSON—Gino DeHerrera is a student at Buhler High School with dreams of storytelling through independent animation. “One of my lifelong dreams is to ma…

10/16/2025

Thank you KSN TV for covering this wonderful event! It was a great day of mentorship and connection. 😍

A group in Hutchinson says it was “breaking down stigmas” on Wednesday by exposing students with disabilities to career opportunities on National Disability Mentorship Day.

10/15/2025

Hip hip hooray! 🎉 It’s Disability Mentoring Day in Hutch! The American Legion Lysle Rishel Post No 68 Is FULL of students and mentors ready for a great day!

10/14/2025

Thank you, Hutch Post, for having us on to talk about Disability Mentoring Day! Listen to the interview with Employment Specialist Anthony Frishchenmeyer here: https://hutchpost.com/posts/0c8db10d-efd0-4d27-af5a-ff2e989c2cc1

Learn more about Disability Mentoring Day here: https://www.beyondbarriersks.com/dmd

Image is a screenshot from the Hutch Post website, headline reading "BW Morning Show interview: Anthony Frischenmeyer, Disability Mentoring Day." Time stamp is Oct 14, 2025 8:34 AM. Anthony, a man with short dark hair, a beard and goatee, is pictured, smiling at the camera, wearing glasses and a black Beyond Barriers t-shirt.

10/13/2025

Great news! 🎉 Employment Specialist Anthony Frischenmeyer recently spoke on behalf of Beyond Barriers at the Hutchinson City Council meeting, accepting a proclamation declaring October as Disability Employment Awareness Month! ​
​
"Beyond Barriers helps employers realize that not only can they hire people with disabilities, they should. It's an untapped group of people who may not have ever been given a chance for employment. And they may become your best employee."​

✨ At Beyond Barriers, we believe that disabilities aren’t “one size fits all.” Whether it’s how you were born, something that happened later in life, or even one that’s invisible to everyone but you—we serve people with ALL disabilities, free of charge. ​
​
🔗 Learn more: https://www.beyondbarriersks.com/​

Image 1: A man wearing glasses and a gray cardigan over a checkered shirt, with brown hair, a beard and goatee, speaks at the Hutchinson City Council meeting.
Image 2: The certificate from the City of Hutchinson, declaring October as Disability Employment Awareness Month!

Text on certificate:

CITY OF HUTCHINSON, KS
PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS Hutchinson joins the nation in recognizing Disability Employment Awareness Month in October, a time to lift the many contributions by people with disabilities - visible and not visible - to our workplaces, economy, and communities; and

WHEREAS people with disabilities come from diverse racial, ethnic, educational, social, religious, and economic backgrounds, and are valued members of society who strive to enjoy an everyday life; and

WHEREAS people with disabilities and their families are working for inclusion, equality, recognition, and appreciation of their skills, views, abilities, and contributions, like all Hutchinson residents; and

WHEREAS the ratio of individuals with developmental disabilities enrolled for services engaging in competitive integrated employment has peaked through the increased provisions of training, resources, services, and supports that allow more individuals to pursue their desire for employment; and

WHEREAS recognizing the intersectional nature of disability and addressing systemic barriers will strengthen our society, as business and community leaders have called for a diverse and capable workforce to further advance the economy of the city;

NOW, THEREFORE, I Stacy Goss, Mayor of the City of Hutchinson, Kansas, do hereby proclaim October 2025, as "DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH" in Hutchinson, Kansas and encourage all citizens to join this observance

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have here unto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City of Hutchinson, Kansas, to be affixed this 7th day of October, 2025, Stacy Goss, Mayor

ATTEST: Mary L. Rogers, City Clerk

10/10/2025

Trends come and go, but one thing remains the same—people love free swag! ​🆓 Especially teenagers, like these Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) participants who enjoyed their free hats, or their "drip" as they called it, from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center. ​

Does your business have items for our DMD goody bags? ​
🧢 Hats​
👕 Shirts​
🖊️ Pens​
🥤 Cups​
🗒️ Notepads, etc. ​

Disability Mentoring Day in Hutch is coming up SOON ⌛ so we need items by end of day Monday, October 13. Drop them off anytime at 115 E 4th Ave. Or contact Cindy Daniels at Cindy Daniels – 620-663-3989 or cdaniels@beyondbarriersks.com. ​
​
Learn more about Disability Mentoring Day here: https://www.beyondbarriersks.com/dmd​

📸 Photo of 4 teenagers sitting at a table wearing Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center hats at the 2024 Disability Mentoring Day.