OCCK HistoryMore Than 50 Years of Community, Access and Independence

1970

• We were founded when a small group of Kansas parents came together to create local services for their children, who had no options at the time. We opened on April 1, 1970, in the former Schilling Officers’ Club as a six-county project focused on training and employment for people with disabilities, serving 29 people in our first year.

1971

• We began early work and service partnerships through subcontract jobs, including recycling scrap paper for Tony’s Pizza, making sound deadeners for Beech Aircraft and rebuilding drink crates for Coca-Cola. This was also the first year we received tax support through a contract with Saline County. A total of 41 people were served.

1974

• We expanded services into Cloud County for adults and preschool-aged children, serving 107 people.

1976

• We expanded services to Beloit for adults and to preschool-aged children in Belleville, Salina, Abilene and Herington, serving 215 people.

1980

• We started Independent Living services and launched our first supported employment site in a nursing home kitchen, serving 237 people.

1981

• We signed interagency agreements with Special Education Cooperatives in Salina and Concordia to provide preschool services, serving 264 people.

1982

• We began construction on HUD apartments in Salina, Beloit, Concordia and Abilene, expanding community living options across North Central Kansas.

1984

• We partnered with Sparkle Car Wash to provide employment experience for people with disabilities.

1987

• We started Assistive Technology services to connect people with tools and equipment that support greater independence.

1989

• We supported Tony’s Pizza in hiring its first employees through OCCK’s supported employment services.

1990

• OCCK transportation services became Post Rock Area Transit, driving more than 341,000 miles with a fleet of 21 vehicles.

1991

• After Kansas launched the Home and Community Based Services waiver, we became a provider for people with brain injuries.

1994

• We expanded services with a 10,000-square-foot addition at the Schilling location.

1995

• We hosted the 1995 Employment Expo, where more than 750 people attended and U.S. Senator Nancy Kassebaum served as the keynote speaker.

1997

• We celebrated 10 years of connecting people with community employment opportunities at Love Box in Salina and M-C Industries in Belleville.

1998

• KDHE asked us to provide Infant-Toddler services in Cloud and Republic counties.

2000

• The City of Salina received the 2000 President’s Award from InterHab after being nominated by OCCK, and we served 863 people that year.

2002

• We founded the Access Foundation of Kansas with a mission to support nonprofit organizations across North Central Kansas.

2003

• We began construction on a new transportation building, the Beloit regional office and a community living townhome in Concordia.

2004

• We opened our transportation facility at 340 N. Santa Fe in Salina.

2006

• We opened the Abilene triplexes, expanding community living options in Dickinson County.

2007

• We began operating the Sinclair Station at West Crawford and Phillips Streets in Salina.

2008

• We launched Salina CityGo, in partnership with the City of Salina and the Kansas Department of Transportation. Starting off with 3 bus routes, and over 125 bus stops.

2009

• People receiving OCCK services helped operate the recycling center in Abilene, while the Mitchell County Recycling Center reached its eighth year of operation.

2010

• We recognized the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act with a community march from Magnolia to Jerry Ivey Park, in Salina.

2011

• Shelia Nelson-Stout was selected as our next president and CEO after 30 years with OCCK.

2013

• We started ChoreFree to provide household and personal chore services.

2014

• We launched In My Home, a home health program serving people across North Central Kansas.

2016

• We were awarded a five-year contract by Kansas Rehabilitation Services for End-Dependence Kansas.

2017

• We launched the 81 Connection, a fixed-route bus service between Belleville and Salina.

2018

• We partnered with the KU Alzheimer’s Disease Center to provide in-home support and training for caregivers.

2019

• We began operating the City of Abilene public transportation program, starting GoAbilene, a fixed-route bus system.

2020

• We celebrated 50 years of service and established the More Than You Think Scholarship to support students with disabilities in North Central Kansas.

2021

• We received a three-year grant from the Administration on Community Living to develop and expand dementia-related services.
• We expanded transportation services into Concordia.

2022

We continued expanding access to services, information and transportation across North Central Kansas.

• We received a Kansas Transition Council Mini-Grant from the Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities to support the development of a youth transition council in Saline County.
• We developed an app for CityGo and 81 Connection routes, giving riders another way to plan trips and access route information.
• We celebrated the completion of our transportation building addition with a ribbon cutting and grant announcement ceremony attended by Kansas Governor Laura Kelly.

2023

We continued investing in students, transportation access and community connections.

• Seven students from Salina, Cawker City, Abilene and Burr Oak were named 2023 More Than You Think Scholarship recipients.
• We expanded youth transportation options through summer ride passes for CityGo and GoAbilene riders ages 7–18.

2024

We expanded training, advocacy and community leadership opportunities.

• We received the Make Your Mark Nonprofit Award from the Greater Salina Community Foundation as part of the Foundation’s 25th anniversary recognition.
• We used Kansas Department of Commerce DRAW funding to support a regional training facility in Concordia, strengthening training opportunities for caregiving, transportation and services for people with disabilities.
• People receiving OCCK services continued building self-advocacy and leadership skills through state and local advocacy opportunities, including Kansas Leadership Center training, Self Advocate Coalition of Kansas meetings, the SPEAK UP Conference and the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities Change Agents Program.

2025

We continued expanding access to assistive technology, public education, advocacy and transportation.

• We added mobile Assistive Technology units through a KDADS-supported initiative, bringing tools, device testing, equipment loan options and practical guidance directly to people in their homes and communities across North Central Kansas.
• We partnered with the Disability Rights Center of Kansas for The Power of Advocacy, a free three-part series focused on disability rights, Medicaid, appeals, assistive technology access and person-centered advocacy.
• OCCK Transportation received the Innovation Award from the Kansas Public Transit Association for service improvements including OCCK On-Demand, CityGo route updates, workforce transportation partnerships and transportation technology upgrades.