News from Disability Network

Our Mission: To Promote and Encourage Independence

for All People with Disabilities.

1705 S. Saginaw Road

Midland Mi 48640

989-835-4041 800-782-4160
www.dnmm.org

April 2010

Arts for All Scheduled for May 8th

Disability Network of Mid-Michigan received a grant from the Midland Area Community Foundation, whose mission is strengthening our community by providing leadership, fostering collaboration on local needs and issues, and encouraging a legacy of giving through grants, scholarships, and events. The grant, in the amount of $3,172, is to support the Arts for All disabilities awareness event on May 8, 2010.

The Arts for All project is a one-day collaborative art activity that will be hosted by Disability Network and Creative 360. The activity will take place at Creative 360, 1517 Bayliss Street in Midland, and will culminate with an exhibit in their gallery. Dwayne Szot from Zot Artz - Arts for All - will facilitate a community art project that is completely accessible to people of all ages and abilities. The project will focus on disability awareness and community collaboration. The Arts for All project is designed to educate the community about disabilities while celebrating the 20th anniversary of both the Disability Network and the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and getting everyone in the community involved in the art activity.

We are hoping that lots of participants will come to Creative 360 to work on a large-scale art activity. It is an ideal chance for community members to work together regardless of their age, income, or disability. The event is free and open to the public between 9am and 4pm. Many people will be able to participate in creating at any given time, either on a central canvas, large strips of paper, or smaller canvas boards. Other activities will be going on all day If the weather is good, outside activities also will be available that allow all artists with or without physical disabilities to create art in ingenious ways in wheelchairs and walkers. Drop in at any time to make your mark on the canvas through these unique print-making methods.

April is Autism Awareness Month

Though there is no single known cause or cure for autism, it is treatable. Children do not "outgrow" autism, but studies show that early diagnosis and intervention can lead to significantly improved outcomes. With the right services and supports, people with autism can live full, healthy and meaningful lives.

There are different forms of autism and in many cases autism is referred to as the "autism spectrum disorder". This spectrum may includes autism as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV (most often Autism and Asperger's Syndrome) and autism as defined in the Expanded Autistic Spectrum Disorders (including High Functioning Autism, Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities, Semantic-Pragmatic Communication Disorder, and others). People with autism may function at various points on the spectrum. Asperger's Disorder was first described in the 1940s by Viennese pediatrician Hans Asperger who observed autistic-like behaviors and difficulties with social and communication skills in boys who had normal intelligence and language development. Autism and the Expanded Autistic Spectrum Disorders also are found in people with normal and higher intelligence as well as in people with lower intelligence.

While there is no known cure for autism, there are treatment and educational approaches that may reduce some of the challenges associated with the condition. Intervention may help to lessen disruptive behaviors, and education can teach self-help skills that allow for greater independence. But just as there is no one symptom or behavior that identifies individuals with autism, there is no single treatment that will be effective for all people on the spectrum. Individuals can learn to function within the confines of autism and use the positive aspects of their condition to their benefit, but treatment must begin as early as possible and be tailored to the child's unique strengths and needs in order to generate the most positive results.

If you need more information or would like to speak to someone about accommodations or services for people with autism, please call our Information & Referral Services at 989-835-4041.

Do you have to Allow Service Animals in your Business?

The answer is YES. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), businesses and organizations that are open to the public or serve the public must allow people with disabilities to bring their service animals into all areas of the facility where customers are normally allowed to go. This federal law applies to all businesses open to the public, including restaurants, hotels, taxis and shuttles, grocery and department stores, hospitals and medical offices, theaters, health clubs, parks, and zoos.

Service animals are animals that are individually trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities such as guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling wheelchairs, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, or performing other special tasks. Service animals are working animals, not pets.

Yet, 20 years post-ADA people with disabilities are still being discriminated against. Below are a couple of recent examples of complaints and the resolutions:
· In Michigan, an individual who has a seizure disorder complained that she was denied access to a doctor's office because she uses a seizure alert animal. The practice modified its policy to allow service animals to accompany individuals throughout the medical practice, trained its employees on the new policy, and wrote a letter of apology to the complainant.

· In North Carolina, an individual with a mobility disability complained that he was denied access to a grocery store because he uses a service animal for balance. The company agreed to expand the scope of the mediation to cover all stores in the grocery chain nationwide. The company changed its policy, developed procedures to allow service animals, posted them on the nationwide employee website, and incorporated them into its corporate policy manual. Additionally, the company posted signage stating "Service animals welcome, no pets please" in more than 1,300 stores in 11 states.

The resolution is often as easy as staff training and placing adequate signage on your place of business. These simple steps may save you thousands of dollars in attorney fees and settlements should a patron file an ADA violation against your place of business. If you need assistance in designing an ADA training please contact us at 989-835-4041.

LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

Sara Kristal M.A., C.R.C.

In the last several months I have watched two documentaries on HBO that I found extremely informative and engaging regarding Autism (A Mother's Courage; Talking Back to Autism) and Pediatric Bi-Polar Disorder (Diagnosis Bi-Polar). Each documentary features personal perspectives from families trying to understand the disability and find ways to adjust to their child's challenges.

At times I would find myself in tears; coupled by moments of laughter. I continue to be amazed at the quantity and quality of research regarding autism. The alternative educational resources available assist kids with non-verbal forms of autism and teach them to communicate in a variety of methods. My tears overflowed when a mother shared her perspective of finally being able to know what her child wants to eat.

The documentary Diagnosis Bi-Polar was less encouraging. Over 800,000 children under 18 have been diagnosed; yet the research is so limited and many children remain misdiagnosed with disabilities such as AD/HD. On a daily basis most of these parents are dealing with their kids attempting suicide, extensive fighting with their siblings and getting suspended from school for behavioral issues. These parents feel so helpless, face on-going scrutiny from society and lack good support.

As a parent who has adapted to having children who don't learn and behave like other children; I found both documentaries to be honest reflections of the helpless feeling I so often faced when my children were younger. But, what I lacked, and what our community needs, is a better support system for parents who are working through these issues. I envision Disability Network as being the community gathering place where parents can come together to share and support each other.

If you'd like more information on each documentary visit www.hbo.com/documentaries or www.amotherscourage.org

IN THIS ISSUE:

Arts for All

Autism Awareness Month

Do you have to Allow Service Animals in your Business?

LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

email us

info@dnmm.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Officers:
Jerry Pritchett, President

Sharon Leenhouts,

Vice President

Harry Leaver, Secretary