Classes & Activities
Join Group & Individual Activities for Free at ILRC!
Let’s learn, socialize, and get creative together! ILRC offers a variety of free classes and activities throughout each week and month. If you are in need of special accommodations to participate in our classes, please call ILRC one week in advance at (316) 942-6300.
We are unable to provide transportation, but ILRC is accessible by public buses and paratransit service. Wichita Transit West Route #14 #14 W Douglas / Meridian / S High School / Pawnee Plaza has a pickup and drop off location at ILRC. Please see the Wichita transit schedule for more information.
Note: Please call us at (316) 942-6300 prior to attending a class for the first time to discuss our services and program guidelines with an ILRC Consumer Advocate.
For those living outside the City of Wichita, the Sedgwick County Transit is available for low cost transportation to ILRC. Call and ask us about it!
Budgeting Class
Need help balancing your checkbook, figuring out a budget, or just want to know how you can save for a special item? Call an advocate at (316) 942-6300 to set up a time to create a personal budget.
Computer Training
In today’s digital age, you can feel left out if you don’t know how to use computers or digital devices. We invite you to use our computer lab at your leisure or schedule a time with an IL Services advocate. Improve your basic computer skills such as keyboarding, Internet browsing, and Microsoft Office.
An advocate can help you set up your smart phone, arrange your voice mail, set up email, and help you access them. Contact an advocate to assist you with these tasks.
Cooking Class
We welcome everyone to get cookin’ with us! This class is for anyone with little to no cooking experience. You will learn a number of things in Cooking Class like how to fix new or familiar recipes, proper food kitchen safety, and food safety.
You’ll also learn healthy eating habits and substitutions that can be made to live a healthier lifestyle without giving up great taste. We’ll also teach you meal planning, budgeting, portion control, how to follow recipes, and how to work with others in the kitchen.
Sewing Class
Sewing Classes are offered weekly. You can learn your way around a sewing machine, how to cut fabric, or install a zipper. Call us at (316) 942-6300 to get started!
Arts & Crafts Class
Learn how to draw, paint, make plaster figurines, or even how to create a puppet stage. Join ILRC’s weekly Arts & Crafts Class and get creative alone or work together creating fun projects!
Fitness Class
Sometimes you don’t even have to get up to get moving! ILRC offers Fitness Class, a fun exercise program for individuals with all types of disabilities, both permanent and temporary. Fitness Class is about having fun and exercising with others through music and movement, meditation, and breathing exercises. This class is customized to your ability, including how to exercise from a sitting position with chair exercises.
ILRC Group Activities
Peer Support
ILRC offers the opportunity for people with disabilities to meet and gain support from others in similar circumstances as well as socializing with their peers. People with all types of disabilities can come together to discuss their lives, their joys, their worries and be a positive support for one another. Peer support is offered in groups or individually and is based upon an individual’s needs.
Parent 2 Parent Peer Support:
ILRC offers a chance for Parents of individuals with disabilities to get together and discuss their difficulties and solutions for working with their family or care recipients with disabilities.
Parent 2 Parent Support is available in English and Spanish so that everyone is able to participate and understand.
Advocacy
ILRC provides group training on improving advocacy skills and offers many opportunities to advocate for your needs through letter-writing campaigns. ILRC holds monthly advocacy meetings and stays current on legislative issues that impact people with disabilities.
ILRC advocates for laws and protections for people with disabilities in our State and across the Nation and we encourage consumers to get involved with politics and with advocacy to protect the rights of people with disabilities. ILRC holds legislative forums and has frequent contact with local and state leaders on issues relating to disabilities.
WDRA
Wichita Disability Rights Advocates (WDRA) is an advocacy group of citizens with or without disabilities who take action to promote equal access for individuals with disabilities to all services, programs, activities, resources, and facilities in society whether public or private. They serve as an Advisory team for Independent Living Resource Center’s Board of Directors.
WDRA meets at ILRC the 1st Thursday of the month from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm in the ILRC activity room. WDRA focus on civil rights issues for persons with disabilities in our community.
WDRA raises funds to pay for outings in the community such as day trips to museums and other fun adventures. It also hosts educational meetings where members learn about community resources and member focused educational topics.