Election Day - Tuesday, November 6

The 2012 general election is tomorrow! Tuesday, November 6th.  

Federal and state law requires every city and township to provide accessible registration and voting locations for voters with disabilities.

If you require voting assistance, ask the election workers for help; a reason for the needed assistance does not have to be stated. Two inspectors will assist you in the voting station.  

A voter who is blind, has a disability, or is unable to read or write may be assisted with his or her ballot by any person of the voter's choice, except the following: the voter's employer or agent of that employer, or an officer or agent of a union to which the voter belongs.

For more information, contact your city or township clerk. Voters with hearing loss may contact the Bureau of Elections at (517) 241-4320 (TTY).

Disability Mentoring Day 2012      

On Tuesday, October 30, 2012, Disability Network of Mid-Michigan partnered with the Great Lakes Business Leadership Network to host the 11th annual Disability Mentoring Day. Expanded to a regional event three years ago, Disability Mentoring Day matches students with disabilities with workplace mentors in order to explore career interests and opportunities.

85 students from Bay, Isabella, and Midland counties took part in job-shadowing at various businesses around mid-Michigan. Students from Saginaw County will take part in similar activities at a later date. Participating businesses for Disability Mentoring Day 2012 included the Dow Chemical Company, Cintas, McLaren Bay Region, MidMichigan Medical Center - Midland, and the Great Lakes Loons.

Tours of business gave students the chance to experience the wide range of employment opportunities available to them after high school. Several of the participants expressed surprise at not only how many different careers were available, but also of the value employers place on co-ops and volunteering.

Jessica, a junior at Bay City Central High School, particularly enjoyed learning about opportunities at McLaren Bay Region. "It was helpful to hear from Human Resources about what they look for in an employee," said Jessica. "I didn't even know I could work there."

"I was surprised by the variety of jobs available at Dow Diamond," said Alysa, a junior at H.H. Dow High School. "I didn't realize [the Loons] hired people to work with children at the stadium. And that's what I want to do and I really hope I can work there this summer."

After job-shadowing and facility tours, students and company employees participated in small group mentoring sessions. In Midland, several Dow Chemical employees also addressed the students as a whole, including Greg Pollock, a communications specialist in public affairs, who is deaf. Greg described his experiences attending college and finding a job. He reminded the students to not let their disability become an obstruction in the pursuit of their dreams.

The primary goal of Disability Mentoring Day is to increase confidence among students with disabilities by exhibiting the wide range of employment opportunities available. Lowell Gisel, Skill Development program manager at Disability Network, echoed this goal by paraphrasing legendary basketball coach John Wooden:

"Everybody has something they can't do well. But, more importantly, everybody has something they do very well. What's important is not letting what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."

For more information on National Disability Employment Awareness Month and Disability Mentoring Day, click the image below to view October's episode of Access America. 

Disability Employment Awareness Month & Disability Mentoring Day

Witt's Prayer - A Novel by Mark Oliver  

Article courtesy of Cathy Nelson Price and the Midland Daily News 

With his newest novel now available to a wider audience than any of his previous works, Midland's Mark Oliver might be expected to rest a bit and savor the rewards of nearly 20 years' labor. But even for a successful author, there is no break from the routine that finally got him where he's always wanted to be.

"My dream has always been to make a living as a writer," Oliver said. "I write every day, mostly at night, for at least an hour."

After completing seven novels and a couple of plays, he's now a giant step closer to realizing that dream with Witt's Prayer, a cautionary parable about global warming that expresses Oliver's earliest and most enduring passion, to protect the Earth.

"My whole life, I've wanted to live near Lake Michigan," he explained. "I've always been concerned for our environment and how to protect Nature's beauty, and 'our island home.'"

If that phrase sounds familiar, it's reflective of Oliver's Christian faith, in which Witt's Prayer is grounded. Modeled on the story of Noah and the flood, its characters must choose between material gain and environmental responsibility.

The novel's journey is nearly as epic as the questions it poses. Oliver started the manuscript in 1993, then set it aside for nearly 15 years as he worked on other writing projects. Those years also brought him in touch with the other driving force in his life; advocating for the rights of, and support services for, those with disabilities.

"I tell other people who have dreams, and may be disabled, 'Don't be afraid to make a mistake,'" Oliver said. "So often, people with disabilities feel like their missteps are magnified as it is, and it's even harder for them to get up and try again. I try to use my own experience to encourage others if I can."

He shares that advocate's role with another well-known disability awareness activist, his wife Teresa. The Olivers were married in 2007, after meeting at a dance.

Dancing, working or advocating, the Olivers qualify as a power couple in the field they've chosen to serve. Teresa is currently the vice president and consumer advisory committee representative for the Disability Network of Mid-Michigan. She's also a CMU graduate student, working toward her master's Degree in counseling.

Small wonder, then, that the heroine of Witt's Prayer is named Teresa. "Except," she noted, "that he originally wrote the novel before he met me. Although [for the final version] I was his thesaurus!"

Said her husband, "After I met her, I realized that the heroine in the novel is a lot like Teresa, so of course I renamed her."

Both Olivers serve on the Vestry of St. John's Episcopal Church in Midland, where Mark is a lector and Teresa a chalice minister. "I wanted to relate my faith through the novel," he said. "Part of its moral is that there's more to life than trying to obtain material wealth. A connection to God is very beneficial."

Whether or not Oliver becomes a best-selling author, he works like one. "Writing is a solitary business," he said. "It takes some discipline. But you focus on one thing until you get it done. If you write one page a day, think what you'll have in a year!"

Witt's Prayer can be purchased on Amazon.com. 

Veterans Day 2012 

Veterans Day is November 11th. To our brave men and women of the armed forces, and to their families, we thank you for your service.

There are many restaurants and companies who want to thank our veterans by providing them with discounts or a free meal. To those companies offering veterans a free meal or a discount, we say thank you. Our goal is to share as many of these free meals and discounts with our military veterans as possible. Click here for a more complete list of Veterans Day discounts. 

A couple of things to consider:

• Proof of Military Service. First, most companies require some form of military ID - including a U.S. Uniform Services ID Card (active/reserve/retired), Current Leave and Earnings Statement (LES), Photograph in uniform, be wearing uniform (if your service permits), Veterans Organization Card (e.g., American Legion and VFW), DD214, discharge paperwork, or other form of identification. Other restaurants and companies may only require a photo of you in uniform, or go by the honor system.
• Participation. Second, always call ahead to verify locations, times, and participation. Many of the listed companies are franchises and may have different policies and often the free meals are from a particular menu. We suggest you contact the restaurant beforehand to verify their participation.

The following restaurants are offering free meals or discounts to veterans.  

We hope everyone will join us in thanking all veterans, and their families, for their service. 

RICC Fall Harvest Dinner

The Midland County Regional Inclusive Community Coalition is sponsoring a free fall harvest dinner.

Join us from 6:00 - 8:00pm at Blessed Sacrament Church, in Midland, on Thursday, November 8, 2012.    

Seating is limited. Please RSVP to 835-4041 by Monday, November 5th.

The dinner is made possible through collaboration with GMS Arts Education, PAO, CMH, the ARC of Midland, Disability Network of Mid-Michigan, Safe Haven Outreach and the Arnold Center. 

World Without Walls    "W3"    

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

Believe it or not, over 80% of assistive technology (AT) solutions are fast and low-tech," notes Dr. Therese Willkomm (director of AT in New Hampshire and author of numerous works on homemade AT). "But when we hear the word 'technology,' we think of a computer, an iPad, a wheelchair, or a speech generating device. Yet keeping it fast, simple, and inexpensive is often what it's all about."   

This video features low-tech and free tools available for older students and adults with developmental disabilities: scheduling, communication, cooking, computer access, and tools for fun. Presented by the Parents Helping Parents iTECH Center in California.

50 Fabulous Freebies for Fun and Function

Looking for some help around the kitchen?  The following video highlights five assistive technology devices for the kitchen, all under $25. 

Assistive Technology in the Kitchen

 A recent episode of Access America, featuring many low-cost and low-tech assistive technology devices. 

Access America: Assistive Technology

Piano Palooza VII is Coming!

SAVE THE DATE!!!    

The Seventh Annual Piano Palooza is Saturday, February 2nd, 2013.  It will take place from 6-10pm at the Midland Country Club.

Tickets are on sale November 3rd. Contact Matthew Ivan at 989-835-4041 to reserve your spot today!