History of
Beyond Barriers
We began operation on January 15, 1997 as “The Hutch Center,” part of the Topeka Independent Living Resource Center (TILRC). We became a separate entity June 16, 1998 and were named Prairie Independent Living Resource Center, Inc. or (PILR). In 1997, there were 6 full-time and 1 part-time staff.
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Over the years, the staff has increased, and we now have three offices (Pratt, Dodge City and Hutchinson), and serve consumers across 15 counties: Harvey, McPherson, Reno, Pratt, Kingman, Harper, Barber, Kiowa, Clark, Stafford, Edwards, Ness, Hodgeman, Comanche, and Ford.
In 2000 the center established a fee-for-service contract with Kansas Rehabilitation Services (KRS) to provide services such as Braille literacy, computer training, and independent living skills training to individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
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Because we are aware of the barriers to integrated competitive employment faced by job seekers with disabilities, a payment for performance contract was established in 2003 with KRS to provide highly individualized job development, placement, and follow-up services.
Today, we celebrate our 25th anniversary with a new name, Beyond Barriers, but we provide the same incredible, life-changing services we have for the past quarter century.
Beyond Barriers is proud to celebrate 25 years of service and advocacy, and to continue to play a vital role in the network of Independent Living Services in Kansas.
