An informative newsletter with SAIL news and resources for an accessible Upper Peninsula disability community.
Individual Success Story
A veteran working part - time was served through the WIPA program and one of our CWIC's at SAIL. The veteran was an Emergency Tech Responder who completed their Trial Work Period. They went through a "Cessation and Grace period" and is now working full time and was promoted to Lieutenant! They are in their Extended Period of Eligibility and are doing quite well, even without their cash disability benefits. What a true success story of how working alongside a CWIC can help enhance employment opportunities for a local veteran.
Program Highlight
The goal of the Social Security Ticket to Work and Work Incentive Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program is to enable beneficiaries with disabilities to receive accurate information, and use that information to make a successful transition to work. The WIPA project at SAIL has two Community Work Incentives Coordinators (CWIC's) who will:
provide in-depth counseling about benefits and the effect of work on those benefits;
conduct outreach efforts to beneficiaries of SSI and SSDI (and their families) who are potentially eligible to participate in federal or state Work Incentives programs; and
work in cooperation with federal, state and private agencies and nonprofit organizations that serve SSI and SSDI beneficiaries with disabilities.
Jeremy started at SAIL in 2019 as a Native American Services Advocate to assist with providing independent living services to tribal communities throughout the Upper Peninsula. Over the past year, he has also completed and is certified as a CWIC (Certified Work Incentive Counselor). Jeremy completed his training through Virginia Commonwealth University and now assists individuals living with a disability who have SSI/SSDI (Supplemental Security Income/Social Security Disability Insurance) to gain or maintain employment through our benefits analysis program called WIPA (Work Incentive Planning Assistance). He has brought a wealth of knowledge in regards to supporting individuals with resources and options for employment. When asked about his role at SAIL, Jeremy stated, "I work at SAIL because it gives me a unique voice to help an often overlooked population of people who typically face many struggles in everyday life.” Jeremy can be reached by calling 906-936-0903 or by email at [email protected].
Thank you to Honor Credit Union for their long term support of SAIL programs and the One in Five Annual Appeal. Recently, Honor Credit Union chose the SAIL U.P. Vets SERVED program as a beneficiary of their Goals for Good program. For each goal scored by NMU Men's Hockey team during their games against Alabama Huntsville in February, Honor donated $100. NMU scored 9 goals so that was a total of $900!
The Marquette Playgrounds for All committee and the City of Marquette have a dream to build an all inclusive Kids Cove 2 playground made of child friendly materials at the Mattson Lower Harbor park in Marquette. A playground which will work for the widest spectrum of users and meets concepts of Universal Design (UD). The playground will be built so it will be simple to use, understandable and safe for all users. Donations encouraged and accepted on the Kids Cove website.
Click below to learn more about our Veterans and SPAR program!
