empower: abilities

27/07/2025

🌞 SAVE THE DATE: Day at the Lake! 🌊
Get ready for a day of accessible fun in the sun with empower: abilities!

🗓️ Saturday, October 4
📍 Fellows Lake | 4208 E. FR 66, Springfield, MO

Join us for an unforgettable day featuring:
🛶 Adaptive Kayaking
🚤 Accessible Pontoon & Sailboat Rides
🚣 Paddle Boats
🎨 Crafts & Contests
🎶 Music, Food & So Much More!

This FREE event is open to people with disabilities and their families. Let’s make waves, make memories, and celebrate inclusion—together. 💙

📌 Stay tuned for more details - registration will open soon!

26/07/2025

🚗 Get Wise in 45: Transportation & Safety 🚗

Safety = Independence!
Join us for our next Get Wise in 45 session to explore:

Transportation options available in your community

Safety tips and knowledge to help you keep the keys to your car longer

📅 When: August 12 and August 28
📍 Where: empower: abilities

Don’t miss this quick, 45-minute session designed to give you practical tools to stay mobile and independent!

25/07/2025

🌞 SAVE THE DATE: Day at the Lake! 🌊
Get ready for a day of accessible fun in the sun with empower: abilities!

🗓️ Saturday, October 4
📍 Fellows Lake | 4208 E. FR 66, Springfield, MO

Join us for an unforgettable day featuring:
🛶 Adaptive Kayaking
🚤 Accessible Pontoon & Sailboat Rides
🚣 Paddle Boats
🎨 Crafts & Contests
🎶 Music, Food & So Much More!

This FREE event is open to people with disabilities and their families. Let’s make waves, make memories, and celebrate inclusion—together. 💙

📌 Stay tuned for more details!

25/07/2025

✨ Advocacy at its Best! ✨

It’s been a power-packed week for empower: abilities CEO Shannon Porter and Director of Independent Living Services Angelica Fisher, who—alongside incredible delegates representing the disability community—have been working hard to make voices heard and create positive change.

Their trip to Washington, D.C. included impactful meetings with the offices of Senators Hawley and Schmidt, and Representative Burlison. This is true Advocacy in Action! 💪

We’re proud of their leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing independence, accessibility, and inclusion for all Missourians with disabilities.

25/07/2025

💻 Join Us for Stacie’s Social Hour – Today at 3 PM (CST) on Zoom!

Looking for a fun, welcoming space to connect with others? Stacie’s Social Hour is the perfect place to chat, share experiences, and enjoy engaging discussions! 🌟

Each week features fun conversations including:
🧩 Fun online games & icebreakers
🗣️ Hot topics in disability advocacy
💡 Tips for independent living & accessibility
😂 Lighthearted chats & laughter guaranteed!

This nationwide virtual group is open to any adult with any disability—join us from wherever you are every Friday at 3 pm CST! 🌍 Let’s connect, share, and have a great time together ... See you there!

🔗 Join the conversation:
https://zoom.us/j/93411783994?pwd=b2N1ZnRMYlpXOGlkbDhjcFgxTnN3Zz09

25/07/2025

📝 We Want to Hear From You!

Your voice matters! The Missouri Statewide Independent Living Council (MOSILC) is conducting a Needs Assessment Survey to better understand the challenges and priorities of people with disabilities across Missouri.

By sharing your feedback, you’ll help shape programs and services that promote independence, accessibility, and inclusion in our communities.

👉 Take the survey today: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MOSILCNeedsAssessment2025

Your input makes a difference—thank you for helping us build a stronger, more inclusive future!

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

25/07/2025

Need Help Getting a Photo ID?
We Can Help—And We Want to Hear From You.

At empower: abilities, we know how essential a state-issued photo ID is for daily life—whether it's for employment, housing, healthcare, or voting. We also understand the many barriers that can make getting an ID feel out of reach.
If you—or someone you know—have faced challenges in obtaining a photo ID, we want to help. Support is available for individuals of any age and any disability:
• Applying for out-of-state birth certificates
• Covering costs of state-issued IDs
• Navigating paperwork and license offices
• Advocating for individuals who’ve hit roadblocks

We’re also collecting stories to better understand and address the barriers people face. Your voice matters.

This assistance is available to individuals in the following counties:
Greene, Christian, Webster, Lawrence, Polk, Dallas, Stone, and Taney

📞 Call us today at 417-886-1188
🌐 Learn more at empowerabilities.org/news-and-events
📩 Or email us at info@empowerabilities.org

This program is funded through the Missouri ID Coalition.

24/07/2025

🌟 Take Control of Your Care! 🌟
Are you receiving Consumer Directed Services in your home but not happy with your current provider?
Switch to empower: abilities — the trusted disability experts serving Southwest Missouri. With our Consumer Directed Care program, you can choose who cares for you in your home — including loved ones, family, or friends!
We can help with:
👚 Dressing & Grooming
🛁 Bathing
♿ Mobility
🍽️ Meal Prep
🛒 Shopping & Errands
🧹 Housekeeping
But that’s not all!

Empower: abilities is also a Center for Independent Living and a not-for-profit organization, which means the reimbursement we receive goes back to support the services we provide in the communities across our 8-county catchment area.
We also offer:
✅ Free hearing screenings
✅ Durable medical equipment
✅ Home modifications (ramps, grab bars)
✅ Benefits & employment assistance
✅ Veterans-directed care
✅ Youth services
✅ Peer support
✅ Advocacy for your rights
…and more to help you live independently and confidently!
Ready to switch?

📞 Call us today at 417-886-1188 ext. 208
📧 Email: care@empowerabilities.org
🌐 Learn more: www.empowerabilities.org

Leading the way in Consumer Directed Services — Southwest Missouri’s first provider with 30+ years of trusted care.
Serving Christian, Dallas, Greene, Lawrence, Polk, Stone, Taney, and Webster counties.

24/07/2025

Today wrapped up another fun Get Wise in 45 session with participants making paper plate faces representation themselves and what makes them unique.
It was a great lesson in realizing we are all special in our own ways and nobody’s can tell your story other than yourself.

Next month: transportation options and safety that helps you keep your keys longer.

24/07/2025

Our Summer Youth Pre-Employment Program participants have been learning restauant skills and serving up some delicious meals for staff. Breakfast burritos, turkey wraps, grilled cheese, yogurt parfaits, and baked cookies just to name a few.

There's still a week to go - we can't wait to see the skills learned by this year's class. Special thanks to the Community Foundation of the Ozarks for YEP grant for funding the necessary supplies needed to offer this program.
Community Foundation of the Ozarks

23/07/2025

🎉 BINGO Time with Circle of Friends! 🎉

Beat the heat and join us TODAY at 1:30 PM at empower: abilities for Live & Thrive Circle of Friends BINGO!

Enjoy an afternoon of:
🎲 Fun games
🥤 Cool refreshments
🤝 Great company

Don’t miss out—let’s make it a winning day together with Social Club. fun!