Ladeska Makings
Director of Adult Services/COO
You have heard us talk about the Sunflower Difference.  Responsibility in all we do is at the heart of that difference. At Sunflower we believe that our responsibility is not only to the people we serve but to every Kansan with a Developmental Disability.  Because of this belief we are very active in state legislative advocacy and participate in events that focus on the plight of the nearly 4500 Kansans waiting for supports to begin their lives as independent, productive members of their communities.  We take our responsibility as stewards of your tax dollars seriously by working towards systems that reduce overspending, maximize individual potential, and decreased reliance on tax supported benefits.  In the past few months our CEO has increased his participation to these ends with other industry leaders as our staff and many of those we support have participated in a number of ways to bring attention to the issues facing Kansans with disabilities and their families.

As a non-profit provider we keep the needs of the people we work for and their staff first and foremost in all our endeavors by using available dollars to continue to build services that support growth and independence as well as maintaining staff wage increases and a quality benefit package.  Congregate day settings and group homes may be a more profitable way to provide services but do not assist people with disabilities in living the kind of lives the rest of us take for granted.  The right to work and earn real wages with opportunities to develop the skills for jobs in the community decreases dependence on benefits and builds regular lives.  Choosing where and with whom to live in homes that would be available to anyone of us is a choice we all should have instead of being required to live in agency owned properties with groups of unrelated adults.  Every day and in all endeavors Sunflower practices our belief in continuing to support real lives—not congregate living and activities.