STAGES Program Full of Summer Activities For Area Youth

 

Our ninth annual Summer STAGES program begins in June. Students will have the chance to participate in events focusing on employment and independent living skill building and recreation.  Students can tour local businesses, participate in a community gardens project and work at Camp Fish Tales near Pinconning.   

On the recreational side, students can attend River Roar in Bay City, tennis lessons at Midland Community Tennis Center, a Great Lakes Loons baseball game, bike riding events in Bay City, Midland and Saginaw, High Ropes & Horseback riding at Camp Fowler, a Bay City River Boat ride, swimming at Delta College and more!  In addition, 2pm-4pm on Wednesdays throughout the summer, students can make use of our "Hang Out" at 3921 Todd Street in Midland.

Registration for the STAGES program is due by May 27^th and is open to youth ages 14-26.  Please contact Lowell at 989-835-4041 for information on applying. We are very excited about our program this summer and we hope to see you!

Featured in last month's newsletter, Midland author Mary Elizabeth Laforet will be signing copies of her new book, Fighting Back, at Barnes and Noble bookstore, 3311 Tittabawassee Road, in Saginaw, on Saturday, May 6, from 11:00am - 1:00pm.   

In, Fighting Back, Mary recounts her experiences living with a disability and her lifelong effort to rejuvenate her nervous system.  

Now available at Barnes and Noble bookstores, Fighting Back is also available for purchase online at: www.TatePublishing.com, Borders.com, and Amazon.com. 

Michigan Ranked 3rd Nationally in Medicaid Disability Services 

According to United Cerebral Palsy, Michigan ranks third in providing Medicaid services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  The analysis compares services offered across the country, giving preference to states where more individuals are served in the community as opposed to institutions.

Vermont, Arizona, Michigan, New Hampshire and California fare best in the ranking. Meanwhile, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi round out the bottom of the list.

However, the report authors caution that no state is perfect, writing "although some states rank better than others, every state has room for improvement."

As in previous years, states at the top of the ranking do not fit one profile. They are both large and small, wealthy and poor. Moreover, they have varying tax structures and differ significantly in the amount they spend on Medicaid home and community-based services waivers.

Since last year's report, more than 2,000 Americans with disabilities moved out of institutional settings and into the community, according to the most recently available data, much of which is from 2009. And, Michigan became the tenth state to have no large institutions.

Click here to read the full report and analysis. 

Chippewa Cab Expanding Medical Transportation

Chippewa Cab company, ordinarily serving Mt. Pleasant and Mid-Michigan,  is now offering medical transportation to an expanded area.  They will now transport north to Traverse City and south to Detroit.  They are able to transport elsewhere for a nominal fee. 

Chippewa Cab fees are $2.00 per trip and $2.50 per mile.  They will also wait for the duration of an appointment for a $20.00 wait fee.  For longer runs into the expanded area, they ask that patrons call 24-hours in advance.  For shorter runs, 15-30 minutes prior to pick-up is normally sufficient.  

Chippewa Cab company runs 7 days/week, 24 hours/day, including holidays. They have a wider lift with an 800lb capacity. For more information, or to schedule transportation, please call 1-800-298-7801 or visit www.chippewacab.com.