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Newsletter | February 2024

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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.

Peer Group Calendar

Making Travel More Accessible


There are countless stories of how things can go wrong while traveling with a disability, from lost or damaged wheelchairs to inaccessibility at hotels or on public transportation. But in this month's Beyond Barriers (a monthly column in Conde Nast Traveller magazine dedicated to sharing the latest news and developments to help travelers with disabilities feel safe, secure and inspired to travel the world), columnist Sophie Morgan writes about a transformation taking place in accessible travel and features 14 people who have defied stereotypes and used their determination, creative thinking and advocacy to make the world more accessible and inclusive. Here are the highlights:


Maayan Ziv - Founder, AccessNow

Wheelchair user Maayan Ziv, an unstoppable activist named one of Canada's Most Powerful Women, has been a trailblazer for inclusive travel for decades.


Alvaro Silberstein - Founder & CEO, Wheel The World

Dedicated traveler and wheelchair user Alvaro Silberstein co-founded Wheel The World, an online marketplace for people with disabilities to plan and book accessible trips.


Fred Maahs - Founder, Maahs Travels

Fred Maahs Jr, the visionary behind Maahs Travels, has earned widespread recognition for his unwavering dedication to enhancing accessibility for individuals with disabilities.


Suzanne Edwards - Head of Hosting Accessibility Standards, Airbnb

Suzanne is the driving force behind the visionary Adapted category, with over a thousand accessible listings worldwide.


Michele Urwin - Founder, All Wheels Up

Faced with the complexities of wheelchair travel, Michele embarked on a mission to have wheelchairs crash-tested for commercial flights.


Richard Thompson - Co-Founder & CEO, Inclu

Following his own life-changing spinal injury, Richard co-founded IncluTravel, reigniting the travel ambitions of those who believed their journeys were over.


Sylvia Longmire - Founder, Spin the Globe

Silvia is an award-winning accessible travel writer, photographer, entrepreneur and disability rights advocate.


Cory Lee - Founder, Curb Free with Cory Lee Blog

Wheelchair user Cory Lee has amassed hundreds of thousands of followers, and risen as one of the foremost travel bloggers focusing on accessibility.


Angus Drummond - Founder, Limitless Travel

Traveling through thirty-five countries with his wife, Angus observed the world’s lack of accessibility, so he founded Limitless, envisioning an inclusive world for Disabled travelers.


Amar Latif - Founder, Travel Eyes

This innovative company matches sighted guides with blind or visually impaired travelers, proving that sightseeing is an experience meant for all.


Neha Arora - Founder, PlanetAbled

Neha launched PlanetAbled in New Delhi, specializing in travel services for individuals with disabilities and seniors.


Matt Pierri - Founder & CEO, Sociability

He designed and built the mapping App, SociAbility. By demonstrating that accessible spaces attract more visitors, Matt aims to make accessibility the norm, fostering greater inclusion.


Chris Wood - Founder, Flying Disabled

As a proud dad of two wheelchair-using children, Chris is focused on enhancing air travel for wheelchair users, earning him an MBE for his contributions to Aviation Accessibility.


Agnes Abelsen - Founder, Travengers

Travengers was created to enable those with hidden disabilities a chance to connect and explore. Travengers organize social events as well as virtual and domestic tours.


Read The Full Article

Low Vision and AMD Awareness Month


As part of February’s Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Low Vision Awareness Month, Prevent Blindness is offering free resources to the public to help educate and empower individuals to make informed decisions about their vision and eye health.


AMD is an eye disease that is a leading cause of vision loss for Americans ages 50 and older. It affects central vision, where the sharpest vision occurs, causing difficulty in conducting daily tasks such as driving, reading, and recognizing faces. According to a new study, more than 19 million Americans ages 40 and older were estimated to be living with AMD in 2019. Prevalence of AMD increases with age. Among persons ages 80 and older, approximately 3 in 10 have early AMD, and approximately 1 in 10 have the vision-threatening late form.


The Prevent Blindness “AMD Learning Center” and the free GuideMe app, are designed for those who have been recently diagnosed with AMD. GuideMe works by asking a few questions about the user and the user’s AMD diagnosis. It then creates a customized guide with helpful information, tips, resources and suggested steps to take to be proactive about protecting vision. 


Prevent Blindness recently launched the redesigned resource, “Living Well With Low Vision, which provides accessible guides, such as the “Self-Help Guide to Non-Visual Skills” and “The ABCs of Caring for the Visually Impaired” handbook. Additionally, the site has patient and care partner resource directories and a new feature dedicated to vision loss and mental wellness. Visitors can also find information on the latest vision research, disease-specific news and clinical trials. 


“As our population ages, the number of people who are affected by vision loss will continue to climb,” said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. “Thanks to our generous partners, we are able to provide the public with information they need to hopefully help slow the progression of AMD, as well as the resources for patients and care partners to face the many challenges that low vision can present.”

Free Tax Filing Resources 


File your taxes for FREE using United Way’s secure platform, MyFree Taxes. This easy-to-use system gives you two options – file by yourself or with assistance.

  • Mobile optimized for computer, tablet or smartphone
  • Most filers complete their taxes in less than an hour
  • Completely free for federal and state returns
  • File on your own or with assistance
  • Powered by United Way and TaxSlayer


File using MyFreeTaxes

AARP Tax-Aide


The Midland branch of the AARP Tax-Aide program is a volunteer-run organization that assists low to moderate-income seniors over the age of 50, and low-income families. The annual program features IRS-certified tax aide volunteers and offers individual tax appointments available from February 1st through April 11th.


Appointments are available at the following locations: 

Midland Community Center

2205 Jefferson Avenue, Midland

Tuesdays and Thursdays

(989) 832-7937, ext 6

Coleman Library

111 First Street, Coleman

Wednesdays

(989) 465-6398

Shepherd Community Library

257 Wright Avenue, Shepherd

Tuesdays

(989) 772-0748

Isabella Commission on Aging

2200 S Lincoln Road, Mt. Pleasant

Wednesdays and Thursdays

(989) 772-0748

Robert Parks Library

6010 N Skeel Avenue, Oscoda

Wednesdays and Thursdays

(989) 278-8739

East Tawas City Hall

760 Newman Street, East Tawas

Tuesdays

(989) 218-9186

Hale MI AARP Site

310 N Washington Street, Hale

Thursdays

(989) 257-2460

Each return gets reviewed by a senior Tax Aide member, and it will be electronically filed the same day. Appointments typically take an hour or an hour and a half. You may be required to pick up an intake form to fill out prior to your appointment – call the locations listed above for more details.

Jane Vermeulen Leadership Award


Jane "Janey" Vermeulen was an advocate for disability rights who believed all people with disabilities should be respected and supported to live actively in their community. Jane was an ardent supporter of self-determination, self-directed services and supports, and community living. She shared her experience and knowledge with others as a Peer Mentor.


Jane was an active member of the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute (MI-DDI) at Wayne State University, and shortly after her death in 2022, they established the Jane Vermeulen Leadership Award in her honor. This award is presented annually to a Michigan resident with a disability who exhibits leadership in their local and/or disability community. The award recognizes Jane's passion for self-determination, self-advocacy, support for person-centered supports and community living for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities - just the way Jane lived her life. The person chosen will receive a scholarship of up to $500 to attend a leadership training event or conference.


If you are a self-advocate or know a self-advocate, who reflects the essence of Jane, please nominate yourself or them for this distinguished award.

Nominate Yourself
Nominate Someone Else

Celebrating Black History Month


As we celebrate Black History Month, which takes place every February, Disability Network of Mid-Michigan recognizes the contributions made and the important presence of African Americans in the United States. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 1 in every 4 Black Americans has a disability. Let's take a moment to learn about a few whose achievements and gifts add so much to our lives.


The Past: Black Americans With Disabilities Who Reshaped History

  1. Harriet Tubman was born in Maryland in 1820. A former slave known for her bravery and leadership as an abolitionist and conductor on the Underground Railroad, Tubman made 13 perilous trips to free 70 enslaved individuals and earned the nickname “Moses.” Harriet Tubman’s epilepsy was a major part of her personal story.
  2. Sojourner Truth was a former slave who became a powerful voice in the abolition movement, known for her speech “Ain’t I a Woman?” which was a demand for action and equality. According to historical accounts, she had a hand injury which was necessary for her to hide because disability was perceived as a moral failing and something that needed to be fixed to have value.
  3. Malcolm X was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement and Black Nationalism who gained national prominence through his charismatic speeches and sermons, but what many don’t know is that he had dyslexia, making it difficult for him to read and write. Nevertheless, he taught himself to read and write while in prison and went on to pen a bestselling book, “The Autobiography of Malcolm X.”


The Present: 3 Black Americans With Disabilities Reshaping The Future

  1. Simone Biles is a 2016 Olympic gymnastics champion and the first female gymnast to win four consecutive all-around world titles since the 1970s. She has won an eye-popping 14 world championship medals. At the age of six, Simone was diagnosed with ADHD and today serves as a powerful voice for those with both invisible and visible disabilities.
  2. Missy Elliott, is a 51-year-old businesswoman, rapper, and Grammy Award winner. At the peak of her career in 2008, Elliott experienced a startling and alarming weight loss, sparking criticism from both fans and the media. She was diagnosed with Graves’ disease, an incurable autoimmune disorder that causes a range of symptoms, including hair loss, tremors, muscle weakness, and bulging eyes. She had to take a step back from her career to focus on her recovery. Through nutrition, exercise, and ongoing treatments, she has learned to live with and manage her disease and returned to the music scene in 2011.
  3. Draymond John is an investor and television personality who founded The Shark Group and serves as one of the five investors on ABC’s Shark Tank. John launched his successful clothing line FUBU in the 1990s, positioning him as a business guru, branding specialist, and “Godfather of Urban Fashion.”. As a child, he found it difficult to read and write. Professionals diagnosed him with a learning disability, but it wasn’t until 1999 that he received an official diagnosis of dyslexia after a friend encouraged him to seek help. He has also been diagnosed with a hearing disorder and uses assistive technology to manage his hearing loss.


Read the full article from kit.org.

Why You Should Get Vaccinated


Protect yourself and those around you

  • Prioritize your health
  • Vaccines reduce the amount of downtime of illness
  • If you’re a person with a disability or an older adult, you’re at higher risk of serious illness


We offer vaccine support services:

  • Help scheduling a vaccine
  • Transportation to a vaccine appointment
  • Access to in-home vaccines
  • Companion support during your vaccine appointment


Call us at 989-835-4041 or email us for more information or assistance.


If You Are Working and You Have a Disability, You May Qualify for PASREP


Are you working but need help to make ends meet? Is the cost of personal assistance a barrier to your employment? PASREP can help!


If you have a significant disability, are paying out of pocket for personal assistance, and are working at least 24 hours per week you might be eligible for PASREP. 

 

The Personal Assistance Services Reimbursement Employment Program (PASREP) is a Michigan-based statewide organization that reimburses eligible persons with disabilities for personal assistance costs required to gain or maintain employment. These individuals could not continue to work without personal care assistance. PASREP helps individuals maintain their employment, their quality of life, and their independence.


PASREP helps break the barrier to going back to work by assisting with out-of-pocket personal assistance costs. This can help bridge the gap caused by lost benefits. PASREP recipients receive reimbursements for personal assistance services up to $1,000 per month.

Apply Online Now

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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.

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 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.

Contact Us

Disability Network Mid-Michigan

989-835-4041 | dnmm.org

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