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E-Newsletter

June 2022

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Creating Accessible and

Inclusive Communities


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UPCOMING EVENTS

Click here to view upcoming events.

TEXT-ONLY VERSION

Click here for a text-only

version of this newsletter.

A day to celebrate the A D A July 27  auburn city park 4 to 7 pm
virtual peer group events
group of peers

PEER GROUP EVENTS


Peer Group events are being held both

in-person and virtually. A complete list of all peer group events can be found at www.dnmm.org/virtualpeer.


Click here to view the peer group event calendar.

ADA CELEBRATION SCHEDULED FOR JULY 27

a day to celebrate ADA.png

Disability Network of Mid-Michigan and Personal Assistance Options invite you to join them for community picnic celebrating the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

WHEN: Wednesday, July 27, from 4:00 - 7:00pm

WHERE: Auburn City Park, 435 S. Auburn Rd, Auburn

 

WHAT: Live Music, Food Trucks, Fun and Games, Kayaking, and Fishing. 

SPECIAL GUESTS: Lou E. Loon and Sammy Spirit!

 

We'll also have partner tables with organizations from throughout the area providing valuable resources and information.

As you walk around the park, you'll notice several informative displays detailing the history of the ADA and the effect its passage has had on our communities.





CLICK HERE FOR MORE!
banner image of black wheelchair user at community picnic, the signing of the ADA in july 1990, and a young adult kayaking

JUNE IS PTSD AWARENESS MONTH

PTSD Awareness Month with a green ribbon

When you have PTSD, it’s hard to feel safe. The traumatic event – natural disaster, combat, sexual assault, accident - can take hold, and you find you can’t stop thinking about it. Maybe you have nightmares and trouble sleeping. Maybe you feel on edge and unsettled or don’t find pleasure in things you used to enjoy. Maybe you feel it’s just easier to be alone. Feelings like these are common after going through a trauma. For most people, they pass in a few weeks or months, but for others they are long lasting.

hands grasping each other in support

PTSD symptoms fall into four categories: reliving or re-experiencing the event, avoiding things or places that remind you of the event, negative changes in beliefs and feelings, and hyperarousal or being on guard. For someone to be diagnosed with PTSD, they need to have symptoms in all four categories.


PTSD symptoms can happen at any age, and they come and go. Only a mental health care provider can diagnose you with PTSD. And, knowing if you have PTSD is the first step to getting effective treatment. So, it is important to talk with a doctor if you think you have symptoms. There are effective treatments even if you have been living with symptoms for years.


Keep in mind that you’re not alone. And, there are treatments that will help you feel better and take back control of your life. Be the advocate – take that first step for yourself.


You can click here to learn more about PTSD symptoms at the National Center for PTSD. The PTSD Coach app and PTSD Coach Online can also help you learn about PTSD symptoms and practice skills to manage those symptoms. You can even track your PTSD symptoms in the app. The PTSD Treatment Decision Aid is another online tool that can help you decide which treatment is best for you. Other useful resources are the Understanding PTSD and PTSD Treatment booklet, and the National Center for PTSD’s whiteboard videos.


As always, please know Disability Network of Mid-Michigan is here for you. Even if you just need someone to talk to, do not hesitate to give us a call. 989-835-4041.


pictogram of PTSD coping strategies including exercise, journaling, listening to music, and yoga

DNMM CELEBRATES LGBTQ+ PRIDE MONTH

disability logo over lgbtq+ rainbow flag

June is National Pride Month. We celebrate this month because Pride promotes dignity, equal rights, self-affirmation and helps to increase society's awareness of issues that the community may face. The disability community and the LGBTQ+ community share visions of inclusion, they are both mirrors of one another, and they are intertwined.

wheelchair user with rainbow flag and sign reading make pride accessible

"Pride Month Too Often Overlooks LGBTQ Members With Disabilities"


Article by Sarah Kim of Forbes Magazine.


During a time when diversity and inclusion are the main pillars of Pride, people with disabilities are still left out in the discussion and celebration of sexual and gender diversity. Just last year, the historic Stonewall Inn bar denied entrance to a blind queer person because they didn’t provide paperwork for their service dog — a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which states no paperwork is needed for the entrance of a service animal.


That is only one of many examples of how Pride remains mostly inaccessible to the disabled, deaf or hard-of-hearing, blind and people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Accessibility issues are present in gay bars, parties, big parades, as well as protests and rallies.


Please click here to read the rest of the article.



HOMEBOUND COVID-19 VACCINATION AND SUPPORT PROGRAM

black woman smiling after receiving vaccine

If you are a person with a disability or medical condition that prevents you from going to a COVID-19 vaccine clinic, you can receive the vaccination and boosters in your own home.


WHAT CAN DNMM DO FOR YOU?

Disability Network of Mid-Michigan staff can:

  • Coordinate/Schedule In-Home Vaccinations
  • Arrange for or provide transportation to vaccine clinics
  • Provide support by accompanying you to appointments


This program is FREE of charge.


For those requesting an in-home vaccination, a nurse and a medical professional will administer the vaccine and assist with scheduling the second dose and a booster where needed.


SCHEDULE YOUR VACCINATION TODAY!

989-835-4041 ext. 237

SUMMER S.T.A.G.E.S RETURNS ON JUNE 14

Summer STAGES Camp logo features the sun shining over the word summer

Summer vacation is just a few days away and that means the STAGES Summer Program is back! 


Camp Summer STAGES provides various activities throughout the summer focusing on three areas: social skills building, employment, and recreation.

young man in kayak by midland's tridge

Social Skills: Hangouts, Team Building, Loons Games, and Virtual Activities


Employment: Job Readiness, Workshops, Job Tours, and Career Exploration


Recreation: Bike Rides, Kayaking, Nature Walks, Swimming and Fishing 


It's going to be another fun-filled summer!

 

Register Today by calling 989-835-4041.

group of ten young people at loons game with lou e loon and rall e camel
word cloud featuring different aspects of cultures and people

ACCESS CULTURE


As part of our on-going Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion efforts, DNMM has been drafting an internal newsletter focused on cultures. Topics range from spotlights on cultural traditions to highlighting contributions to American culture by underrepresented minorities. 


We've decided to offer our subscribers the opportunity to read our "Access Culture" newsletter in the hope it will spark conversations and encourage deeper understanding of the peoples and cultures of the world. 

Click Here To Read "Access Culture"

PLANNING FOR AN EMERGENCY

mother and daughter going over emergency plan

Are you prepared to handle an emergency situation? Do you have a plan?


After the devastating floods in May of 2020, many Michigan residents faced the difficult challenge of trying to put the pieces of their lives back together. Many found themselves in the position of not having a plan for dealing with such an emergency. 


DNMM is excited to once again offer MY3P (My Personal Protection Plan) - an emergency preparedness series that will help you Make a Plan, Build a Kit, and

Be Informed.


June session dates and topics are:

  • Part One - June 2 - 1:00-3:00pm
  • Creating My Action Plans and Support Network
  • Part Two - June 8 1:00-3:00pm
  • Creating My Go Kit and Evacuation Plan
  • AND "Assistive Technology For Your Go Kit
  • Part Three - June 16 1:00-3:00pm
  • Advanced Care Directives
  • Personal Safety

No sessions in July.

August session dates and topics are:

  • Part One - August 4 - 1:00-3:00pm
  • Creating My Action Plans and Support Network
  • Part Two - August 10 1:00-3:00pm
  • Creating My Go Kit and Evacuation Plan
  • AND "Assistive Technology For Your Go Kit
  • Part Three - August 18 1:00-3:00pm
  • Advanced Care Directives
  • Personal Safety


All sessions are FREE of charge and will be conducted virtually on Zoom. Participants will be given flash drives with all the essential resources to customize their plan.


Class size is limited.

Click Here to Register
my 3 p  personal protection plan logo with green checkmark

ACCESSIBLE SERVICES AT DOW DIAMOND

picture of a Sensory Kit Tote Bag available at Dow Diamond

Disability Network Mid-Michigan is proud to once again be the official sponsor of Accessible Services at Dow Diamond. We applaud the Loons organization and the facility staff for working to make Dow Diamond an accessible place where everyone can Dive In! 


PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ACCESSIBLE SERVICES

AT DOW DIAMOND

proud sponsor of accessible services at dow diamond show two people watching baseball one is a wheelchair user

WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER YOUR MEDICARE/MEDICAID QUESTIONS

case worker talking to couple about low income subsidy

Do you need extra help paying for your Medicare Part D prescription plan?

 

Call us to see if you are eligible for the Low Income Subsidy for Medicare Prescription Drug coverage. We can help you with screening questions and do the application over the phone in as little as 15 minutes!

older black man using wheelchair looking concerned

Do you need help paying your Medicare premiums? Call us today to see if you qualify for the Medicare Savings Program. Our certified MMAP Specialists can assist you with checking your eligibility and doing the application over the phone.

blue marker writing the word prevention

Did you know there are many preventative health and screening services included with your Medicare coverage?

 

Some of the things you may be eligible for include:

Screening:

  • Diabetes
  • Depression
  • Lung cancer
  • Prostate cancer

Testing and services:

  • Nutrition Therapy
  • Glaucoma
  • Mammograms
  • Tobacco use cessation counseling

These are just some of the many services you could access. Call today for more information and a full list of preventative health benefits!

 

CALL US TODAY! WE'RE HERE FOR YOU!

989-835-4041

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.

people of various ethnicities and abilities

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 which 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.


Please click here to contact us.

Disability symbols for blind, deaf, cognitive, and physical disabilities
map of michigan with service area counties selected: alcona, arenac, bay, clare, gladwin, gratiot, iosco, isabella, midland, ogemaw, roscommon, and saginaw

DISABILITY NETWORK OF MID-MICHIGAN

989-835-4041 | www.dnmm.org

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