logologologo
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
March 2011
needs
We Need Your Input!


survey

We are conducting a community needs survey about issues facing residents of Mid-Michigan. We want to make certain the voices of those with and without disabilities are equally heard and reflected in programs, services, and policies.

 

If you would be willing to take this 15 minute survey,  it will help us better serve all residents Mid-Michigan.    

 

Click here to take the survey! 

 

Screen-Reader Accessible Survey

 

Thank you for participating!   

 

This survey is being conducted throughout Michigan by our stateswide Disability Network association.  If you have questions or would prefer to answer the survey questions by phone, call Terri at (989) 835-4041 x 211.

tickets

A Ticket To The Ball Game 

accessible seating ball gameHave you ever bought tickets to a ball game or a concert online?  For years, that process for people with disabilities has been difficult, if not impossible.   In fact, it has been downright unfair.  Often, tickets that went on-sale on a Saturday morning were not available to people needing accessible seating until the next business day.  Also, in many accessible seating areas, only one companion was permissible.  This meant some families wouldn't have been able to sit together! This kind of process had created separation of people with disabilities from their friends and families for years.  That's all about to change!

 

On March 15 new regulations took effect impacting ticketing practices.  Essentially, they provide equal opportunity for people to buy tickets.  Any fashion, time-line or price range that is available for sale must also be made available to people with disabilities.  Further, they expanded the companion seating requirement to include three contiguous seats in the same row (if they are available at the time of purchase).  This means, you can get that ticket to the ball game on Saturday morning AND sit with your friends or family!  These rules go a long way to making events accessible to people with disabilities.  It is regulations like these that build community.

 

You can view the new rules here: Revised ADA Regulations

 

fighting

 Fighting Back

 

Midland resident Mary Elizabeth Laforet has a disability resulting from a brain injury sustained thirty-five years ago. Back then, little was known about treating such injuries, and as a result, doctors often recommended institutionalization or discharge.   Unwilling to accept the notion that she would never regain full mobility, Mary met with many different therapists and psychologists, eventually realizing her pursuit of her life as it was could only be achieved through her own positive motivation. Mary was able to forgive the medical community for not having all the answers.  She set out to find those answers, and by so doing, regain her independence; to regain control of her own destiny.   

 

In her new book, Fighting Back, Mary recounts her experiences living with a disability and her lifelong effort to rejuvenate her nervous system.  She reflects on the power of the mind and resiliency of the spirit and how, when combined with perseverance, the body can find new life like the butterfly emerging from chrysalis.

 

Fighting Back is available for purchase online at: www.TatePublishing.com 

 

The book will be available in bookstores in early April. 

champion

Heart Of A Champion 

Anthony Robles NCAA ChampionAnthony Robles was born with one leg.  For Robles, living with a disability has never kept him from enjoying his life's passion: wrestling. That passion led him Arizona State University and eventually to Philadelphia for the NCAA Wrestling finals. And now, Anthony has added a few words to his moniker: National Champion.

 

For Robles, his perfect 36-0 national championship season was the fulfillment of a life-long journey; a journey begun when he took up wrestling as a high school freshman in Mesa, Ariz. Anthony will be the first to tell you, he was anything but dominant at the start.

 

"I was a terrible wrestler, only about 90 pounds, but my mom told me God made me for a reason, and I believe that reason was for wrestling," said Robles, who was given a standing ovation on the podium by a sellout crowd of 17,687.

 

"I wrestle because I love wrestling," he said. "But it inspires me when I get kids, even adults, saying I've inspired them, and they look up to me, and they're motivated to do things other people wouldn't have thought possible."

 

With his wrestling career now over, Robles plans to be a motivational speaker. He has quite a story to tell.  

emergency

 9-1-1 Accessibility Survey 

911On March 16, 2011, the FCC's Emergency Access Advisory Committee (EAAC) released a national on-line survey to determine the most effective and efficient technologies by which persons with disabilities may access Next Generation 9-1-1 emergency services systems.  The survey asks about accessing emergency services via video, text, and voice.  The results of the survey will inform the EAAC as it develops recommendations for the FCC to draft rules to ensure that people with disabilities can access NG 9-1-1 services. 

 

This survey will be available until April 24, 2011.  We encourage people with disabilities to complete this survey. Please feel free to share information about the survey with other people with disabilities and organizations representing persons with disabilities.

 

Click here for the survey in English and ASL

 

Click Here for the survey in Spanish 

energy 

Free Home Energy Audits

home inspectorFor the next few weeks, all Consumer Energy natural gas customers can contact All Seasons Heating and Cooling to request a Home Performance Energy Audit, free of charge!  Consumers will pay All Seasons Heating.  

 

All Seasons will set up an appointment, come to the house and do a walk-through energy use assessment, share ways to reduce your use and give you a "grab bag" of assorted energy saver items.  It will take about an hour and someone needs to be at the residence.

 

This is a limited time offer so call soon!  989-832-2752  

 

video
Come Invest In Our Dreams

Come Invest In Our Dreams

 

 In this Issue:
email us:

info@dnmm.org

 
Board of Directors
 
 Officers:
 Jerry Pritchett
 President

 Sharon Leenhouts
 Vice President

 Harry Leaver
 Secretary

 Bill Bateman
 Treasurer

 Members at Large:
 Tim Troy 
 June Price  
 Peter Jensen            
 Frank Champagne
 Teresa Oliver
 Ivonne Mosquera

 

 Executive Director: 

 Sara Grivetti, M.A.,C.R.C.

 
Check out
our NEW
website!
 
 Even if We Cannot
    ...See
        ...Walk 
                ...Hear
                ...or Read
 
 We Can Dream! 

 

Disability Network of
 Mid-Michigan celebrates 21 years of promoting  & encouraging independence.

 

Events Calendar

April 2
Art Clash 2011  
Do-All, Inc.
1400 S. Lincoln Ave.
Bay City, MI 48708
(989) 894-2851
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Admission: $20

April 11th 
Consumer Advisory Committee Meeting 
5:00pm - 7:00pm

DNMM Office 

 

Topics include: Community Input, The Dashboard (overview of DNMM services), and a discussion of our new website.

Refreshments provided. "Call ins" encouraged.  

RSVP to Terri at 989-835-4041 ext. 211

 

May 6th

50+ Health for Life Expo

Delta College

9:00am-1:00pm

 

May 11th

"Walk A Mile In My Shoes" Rally 

State Capitol-Lansing 

12:30pm

 
Peer Group Calendar

  

April 6th
Peer Group Meeting
DNMM Offices
1705 S. Saginaw Rd. Midland
3:00 pm
 
April 18th
 Peer Group Meeting
Butman-Fish Library
1716 Hancock Saginaw
10:00 am

April 22nd
Midland Peer Group
"Movie Day"
Meet at DNMM Office
12:00 noon 
 
April 26th
Bay Peer Meeting
Westminster Church
103 E. Midland St., Bay City
9:30 am