This is my YEAR!  Youth Employment And Recreation for Saginaw Youths   

Sometimes seemingly simple things like filling out a job application form can be quite intimidating, especially if you haven't done it before. 

In a series of weekly seminars, Saginaw youth enrolled in a new Youth Employment And Recreation (YEAR) program have learned things like how to properly apply for employment and how to put together a resume.  

"I think it's very helpful because I've never filled out an application for any other job," said Co Co Chanel Moore, a program participant.  "These skills will help me get ready for the real world. I'll be ready." 

Moore is one of more than 40 Saginaw young people between the ages of 16 to 19, participating in the newly-created program.  

"The students have a four-day work week, and they have a day where they go to the park. It's kind of like a volunteer/give-back type of day," said program coordinator Latrell Bailey.

Teri Cady, a spokesperson for the Disability Network of Mid-Michigan - the lead partner in a six-agency collaboration administering the program -  said the YEAR program gives the teens a chance at a paying part-time job and it helps to broaden their horizons by introducing them to employment and recreational opportunities they may have never before considered.

"We want to make sure the youth are prepared to become contributing community members," Cady said.

The program pays the teens 20 hours each week for doing community work projects, attending work and pre-employment training sessions and an outdoor recreation component.  

Ramon Quintero, an 18-year-old from Saginaw, who is currently pursuing a G.E.D., said he is enjoying both the work and recreational days.

"I thought it was going to be boring, but they take us to do stuff, stuff I've never done before," said Quintero. "This job application program that I'm doing today is preparation that will help me in the real world, like after I graduate from college. And it never hurts to learn a few things."  

Legislative Breakfast:  You're Invited!  

You are cordially invited to attend a legislative breakfast sponsored by the Regional Inclusive Community Coalition (RICC) of Central Michigan and Midland County. 

Legislators from Clare, Isabella, Gratiot, and Midland counties have been invited and constituents will discuss current concerns and ideas impacting people with disabilities.   

WHEN: 

Friday, September 21, 2012 

Registration: 7:30am 

Breakfast & Meeting:  8:00am - 10:00am 

WHERE:

Central Michigan University

University Center Rotunda

Mt. Pleasant, MI

RSVP:

Contact Disability Network of Mid-Michigan at 989-835-4041 by Tuesday, September 18.   

Please be sure to let us know if you will need an accommodation to participate.

Annual Picnic a Success!    

Mentor Training

Are you or do you know someone who is living successfully through life's experiences, such as:

• Disability
• Veteran
• Elder
• Trauma
• Transition to Independent Living

If you or someone you know would be good at:

• Listening
• Sharing Experiences and Knowledge
• Embracing Diversity
• Encouraging Others
• Being a Friend

Be a Mentor! Join us for all new information and training!

WHEN:  

September 24th, 25th, and October 1st.

10:00am - 3:00pm (Lunch is provided). 

WHERE:

Listening Ear

107 E. Illinois

Mt. Pleasant, MI

Call to reserve your seat today!  1-800-782-4160!

The Pump Guide Assists Motorists With Disabilities     

Financial Wellness: A Free Webinar Series 

A free, multi-session webinar series on financial wellness for people with disabilities may be of interest to you or someone you know.

The National Disability Institute is hosting the   

Financial Wellness Series, sponsored by Acorda Therapeutics, as a free series that will address financial, tax and public benefits topics for people living with multiple sclerosis (MS), their families, and care teams.

The first session took place on September 5, 2012.  To view the session, click the link below. 

Being Money Smart - Financial Wellness Webinar Series

The webinar series will include five additional 90-minute programs, each beginning at 3pm ET on select Wednesdays through December 2012.

*       September 26, 2012 - Prolonging Work - Supports To Keep You On The Job

*       October 17, 2012 - Social Security Disability Insurance -  The Impact of Work on Benefits

*       November 7, 2012 -  Supplemental Security Income -  The Impact of Work on Benefits

*       November 28, 2012 -  Favorable Tax Provisions for  Individuals with Disabilities

*       December 19, 2012 -  Saving and Investing - For Workers and For Individuals on Public Benefits

If you have questions, want more information, or would like to register, please visit www.realeconomicimpact.org/financialwellness and contact the hosts of this series directly.

VOTE!!! Registration Deadline Approaching!   

The deadline to register to vote in the November 6, 2012 general election is Tuesday, October 9th.  

What does it take to register?  

If you have a Michigan driver's license, you visited a Secretary of State's office and are likely already registered.

Otherwise, go to your township, city or county clerk's office taking along a government-issued photo ID (driver's license with photo, passport, state college student ID with photo, etc.) to prove you are who you say you are.  

You could also complete a Voter Registration Application and Michigan Driver License/Personal Identification Card Address Change Form online.

If you have moved, be sure you have the sticker with your new address on the back of your driver's license, and if you don't, visit the Secretary of State's office to make that change official.  

If you are away from home at the moment, but will be home on election day, visit www.vote411.org to get information on registering. Follow the requirements for Michigan.  

Disability Network of Mid-Michigan will be conducting a voter registration drive in Saginaw on September 25th.  We've also recently featured "Voting" on an episode of Access America. The show was broadcast on MCTV, Bay3-TV, MAC 3 TV, and Saginaw Government TV in July. It is currently available to view on our Vimeo page. 

AT Corner: Our Monthly Focus On The World of Assistive Technology   

Low-tech Transitions Back to School 

Strategies, ideas, and resources for easing a child into new routines

by Randi Sargent, parent and AT advocate     

For many of us who support students with special needs, back to school either comes too quickly or not quickly enough. After a summer of relaxed schedules and vacations, we need to prepare our kids for "back to school" and for our kids who rely on assistive technologies, this involves more than a trip to Target for markers and paper. Read on to learn about visual strategies and low-tech assistive technology tools you can use to help kids transition smoothly to a classroom and minimize back-to-school anxiety.

Create Visuals to Illustrate New School Routines

Visual supports, such as schedules and people locators, help kids with special needs get back into or learn a new school routine. These can be made in low-tech ways using magazine pictures, photos and picture symbols from Boardmaker or other free sources. To familiarize a child with a new environment, get or take pictures of the teacher, classroom, cafeteria, bathroom, gym, playground, and other key areas around school. Use these to introduce the new environment and later to make the daily classroom visual schedule. For purchase, there are even pre-made bracelets available with classroom routine symbols! Parents can make wearable/changeable schedules that shows daily after school activities and therapies.  

To read the full article, click here.