August 2023

August Awareness Days

7 - Purple Heart day - honor and remember the brave current and former service members who were wounded or killed in action while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

12 - International Youth day

13 - International Left-handers day - Still a lefty? Have any examples of harder than usual tasks just for being left handed?

18 - Never Give Up day

21 - Senior Citizen day

Awareness month of:

Spinal Muscular Atrophy



We had a fun July as we wrapped up the MI Internship Prep program with five Jackson area students and held a booth at the Lenawee County Fair. We are now gearing up for the fall by preparing to host the Secretary of State as a Mobile Office in Jackson, return to area classrooms with our Pre - Employment and Transition Services, continue working through our list of ramp builds, and hold The Inclusion Event inside the American 1 Event Center on November 1st.

UPDATE - Date Change

Secretary of State Mobile Office

NEW DATE - AUGUST 30

Location - disAbility Connections office

409 Linden Ave,

Jackson, MI 49203

Schedule an appointment with us to come take care of your Secretary of State needs. We will have their staff on site to perform all their services to you, EXCEPT testing for new driver's.

Appointments are available to be made 11-3. Call 517-782-6054 to set yours now.

Ramps for Residents

After taking July off to avoid the heat, we are back to working on our list of ramp builds for the year. We only have a couple more that we can do because of limited funding. For any that weren't chosen this year, the application process will open in January for builds next year.

Thank you to the Rotarians that have assisted with all the builds! It is because of volunteers like them that we are able to provide this service at all. If you would like to be a volunteer to assist with providing these impactful moments, contact Danie at 517-998-3081. No experience needed!!

Ramp It Up 2023

As mentioned above, funding is what truly limits the number of ramps we can build for community members. EVERY year we have more applicants with needs for a ramp than we can build.

That's where Ramp It Up comes in. Every dollar raised through the fundraising campaign will go into providing further accessibility modifications for more community members our initial funding couldn't reach this year.

Learn more about the Ramp It Up campaign through videos and some examples of how we make our ramps for people through the link below. With your support by donations, crowdfunding through your social media ands email, or simply sharing the program and how it will be used, we will surpass the $3,200 we raised and used last year to help even more people remain within their homes and parts of their community.

The Inclusion Event

Save the date for The Inclusion Event - Adaptive Sports for All. On November 1st, we will be coming together inside the American 1 Event Center 6-8PM to have a good time and hear from the amazing Dr. Okanlami "Dr. O".

It is free. All ages and abilities are welcome. There will be door prizes, finger foods, silent auction, cash bar, adaptive sport equipment to see, touch, and use. Bring your family, friends, co-workers and TRY IT! Paralympics are next year and this is an opportunity to experience the games before you see them on TV.

Oluwaferanmi Okanlami MD, MS

Director - Student Accessibility and Accommodation Services Services for Students with Disabilities Testing Accommodation Centers Adaptive Sports & Fitness Division of Student Life @ University of Michigan

Assistant Professor

Family Medicine/Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation/Urology Associate Director, Health Policy and Economics Path of Excellence Michigan Medicine Adjunct Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA He/Him/His