"I am SOOOO EXCITED to be at Independence Inc.!!!!  Hi my name is JoAnne Fluke.  I am the new Independent Living Specialist primarily for Franklin County.  But I will also be helping our other Independent Living Specialists when they get too stretched.  I am sure that never happens around here at Independence Inc. :)

So I told you am I SOOOO EXCITED but now let me tell you why.  I have a little secret...I have wanted to be a part of the Independence Inc. team ever since I was crowned Ms. Wheelchair Kansas 2005 because of how well they impact the Disability Community.

I was born with a birth defect called Caudal Regression.  This mean that my legs are webbed at the knee, my spine stops at my waist and I have no feeling from my waist down.  But like many of you with challenges that has not stopped me to live life to its fullest!  I went to Baker University.  I was a Youth Director for ten years at the First Christian Church in Ottawa, KS.  I have been on two mission trips to Ghana, Africa to encourage and motivate the Disability Community there.  But the thing I am most passionate about is DANCE!  I am the Executive Director of Groovability.  Groovability is a non-profit organization that provides the opportunity to dance to all with an emphasis towards people with physical disabilities.  We do this through Ballroom and Zumba.  Not going to lie I think it is a lot of fun but I am a little bias.  But it never seems to fail I will tear up when I see someone with a disability realize they can truly dance!

I am looking forward to seeing what the future brings at Independence Inc. because like dance I tear up when I see people realize they can be even more independent.  So I hope I will need to carry a couple tissues with me. :)"