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Peer Group Events
Peer groups provide an organized environment for people to encourage, advocate and educate one another. Peer Group events are being held both in-person and virtually.
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We Can’t Thank You Enough
Give Local Midland was a success! We really appreciate your support, and everyone at Disability Network Mid-Michigan would like to thank you for supporting us. We are so grateful to everyone who gave – each gift will allow us to continue creating accessible and inclusive communities where everyone can live, work and play! Thank you to all who took part in his day with us!
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Save the Date:
ADA Celebration Picnic is July 17th
The annual Americans with Disabilities Act Celebration Picnic will be held on July 17th at Haithco Park in Saginaw. Mark your calendar and join us in celebrating this important civil rights law with live music, food, games and accessible recreation!
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LGBTQ+ Pride Month
June is Pride Month in the United States, a time to celebrate how far we’ve come in advancing the rights of LGBTQ+ people and also to reinvigorate our efforts to continue the fight for equality and against discrimination and hatred.
The disability community and the LGBTQ+ community share visions of inclusion and are intertwined. Research shows that LGBTQ+ people are more likely than the general population to have a disability. People who live at the intersection of disability and LGBTQ+ face heightened discrimination and stigmatization, and it’s important for people supporting them to understand this complex dynamic.
Join Disability Network Mid-Michigan in celebrating Pride Month and advocating for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. Listen to this podcast episode of LGBTQ&A for an interview with Maria Town, President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities.
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Accessible Restroom Grant Available!
The Midland Area Community Foundation (MACF) has awarded a $20,000 grant to Disability Network Mid-Michigan (DNMM) from the Access to Recreation Endowment Fund. The grant is available for purchasing and installing equipment that increases accessibility and ensures equitable restroom access at recreation venues in Midland County. Enhancements include things like a changing table, Hoyer lift, trapeze, toilet safety rails, or the addition of grab bars.
“Disability Network of Mid-Michigan is committed to increasing accessibility and inclusion throughout Midland County,” said Kelly PeLong, Executive Director of DNMM. “Many venues cannot be accessed or enjoyed by individuals and/or families if truly accessible restrooms are not available. This grant is a start to increasing the number of restrooms that are available to any user.”
This grant addresses a primary focus area of the Midland Area Community Foundation: enriching our community. DNMM will serve as fiduciary for processing payments for the purchase, acquisition and/or installation of equipment that provides access to restroom usage by a wide variety of users at prominent recreation venues.
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Legislative Day
Disability Network Mid-Michigan staff joined with staff of 14 other CILs in the state for Capitol Day in Lansing on May 8th. We visited 8 of our legislators to share stories of success throughout our 12 counties, discuss our most recent annual report, and offer ourselves as a disability resource for their constituents who might need our support. We even stopped by the House to see our legislators in action on the House floor.
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Autistic Pride Day is June 18th
Autistic Pride Day is a time to reflect, celebrate, and promote acceptance of individuals on the autism spectrum. By showing your support, sharing stories, and educating ourselves, we can all contribute to a world that values and celebrates neurodiversity.
Disability Network Mid-Michigan is committed to supporting people with autism and creating a society that embraces every person’s unique strength and contribution. If you are looking for ways to connect or need help, contact us at 989-835-4041 or info@dnmm.org.
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Caring for MI Family Tax Credit
Included in Governor Whitmer's sixth executive budget recommendation is a proposed Caring for MI Family Tax Credit. This new tax credit could save thousands of Michigan families up to $5,000 on their taxes, allowing them to write off eligible expenses like counseling, transportation, nursing, or respite services. It would allow the caregivers to save money and help them provide for their parents, children with long-term needs, or an aging or sick relative.
“We can help more seniors age in place at home in dignity, instead of a costly or long-term option. We can support parents of children with long-term care needs by saving them money. We know the burden of caregiving falls disproportionately on women, especially women of color. While the caregiving work they do is often invisible, it is invaluable,” Whitmer said.
Governor Whitmer is asking Michiganders to fill out this survey and tell her office what the Caring for MI Family Tax Credit would mean to you and your family.
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June is PTSD Awareness Month
There are currently about 12 million people in the United States with PTSD.
Even though PTSD treatments work, most people who have PTSD don't get the help they need. June is PTSD Awareness Month. Help us spread the word that effective PTSD treatments are available. Everyone with PTSD—whether they are Veterans or civilian survivors of sexual assault, serious accidents, natural disasters, or other traumatic events—needs to know that treatments really do work and can lead to a better quality of life.
Take this PTSD self-screen to learn if your feelings and behaviors are related to PTSD.
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Celebrate Juneteenth
Juneteenth is celebrated annually on June 19th to commemorate the ending of slavery. Participate in one of these local events!
Midland
A free Juneteenth Block Party on June 16 from 2 – 5pm at Creative 360, located at 5501 Jefferson Avenue with family-friendly activities, food, and entertainment.
Saginaw
Freedom Parade on June 15 from 10:30 – 11:30am. Route starts at the Saginaw Zoo, travels along Washington Avenue, and ends at the Old Farmers Market at Thompson Street.
Saginaw
A free Freedom Festival on June 15 from Noon – 5pm at Morley Plaza with food and entertainment.
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25th Anniversary of the Olmstead Decision
June 22nd marks the 25th anniversary of a pivotal moment in disability rights history. On that day in 1999, the Supreme Court decided Olmstead v L.C., which found that the unjustified segregation of people with disabilities into institutions was discriminatory.
Olmstead recognized that Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act protect the right of people with disabilities to receive services in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs.
“…The Supreme Court affirmed that people with disabilities have a right to live and receive services where they live. The landmark ruling has enabled millions of Americans to have greater independence, autonomy, and opportunities to participate fully in their communities.” said U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.
The decision was also an important one in women’s history, because at its center was a trio of powerful women, two of whom were people with mental health and developmental disabilities. Read their stories at this U.S Department of Labor Blog.
If you need assistance to maintain or increase your independence or want help transitioning from a nursing facility back into the community, we can help! Contact us at info@dnmm.org or 989-835-4041.
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Statement of Inclusion
Inclusion is a universal human right for all people, regardless of race, age, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or any other discernible quality. To be inclusive is to promote a sense of belonging, respect, and value for who you are as a person. It is about equal access and opportunities for everyone. Inclusion is an integral part of our Independent Living philosophy and of our agency's vision of accessible and inclusive communities.
DNMM offices have been, and continue to be, places of solace, understanding, and information for all. We are committed to promoting and protecting diversity and inclusion, within our offices, among our community partners, and throughout the 15 Centers for Independent Living in Michigan.
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Accessibility Statement
DNMM advocates for the removal of barriers to independence and full inclusion of people with disabilities throughout the Mid-Michigan area. DNMM pledges to ensure accessibility. Each year, DNMM conducts a review of its own architectural, environmental, attitudinal, employment, communication, transportation, and other barriers that may exist that prohibit full access to our services.
If you have any issues of concern regarding the accessibility of DNMM services and facilities, we encourage you to share that information with us.
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Disability Network Mid-Michigan
989-835-4041 | dnmm.org
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