A Mentor and a Friend

Independence is often not just about freedoms enumerated in the Constitution. For many of us, independence is about the simple things in life, that many others might take for granted. For Midland resident Doug Dean, one of those simple things was having someone with whom to do things in the community; a mentor...a friend.

Doug is a familiar face to many in the Midland area. He actively volunteers for several local nonprofits and community groups. He is a regular volunteer for Disability Network; perhaps you've seen him at one of our vendor booths during local expos, at our community picnic, or at our Piano Palooza fundraiser.

But several weeks ago, the idea of a mentor came up and Doug informed us he'd welcome the idea of someone to do stuff with when he wasn't volunteering. Troy Grice, a social work student at SVSU, was looking for an opportunity to volunteer. Working with Doug offered a mutually beneficial opportunity, and Troy jumped at the opportunity.

Troy and Doug got together several times a week. They talked about goals and how they could work together to achieve them. One of Doug's goals was to get in better shape, so the two of them became walking buddies at the Midland Mall. Activities varied greatly, including trips to the community center, the supermarket, City Forest, local restaurants, and even craft shows.

"Working with Doug has been an invaluable experience," Troy said. "It's always rewarding to see someone try new things, and to excel."

Doug is thankful for the time he's gotten to spend with Troy.  "He's been helpful," said Doug. "I'm working toward my goal of learning to read and to work with money."

Both Doug and Troy have found this mentor relationship useful. They've learned things together and from each other.

"Troy's a mentor, but he's also my friend," said Doug. "And that's pretty good."  

 Nursing Facility Transition Program Celebrates 300th Transition 

DNMM's mission is to promote and encourage independence for all people with disabilities. Independence can mean different things to different people, which is why we adhere to a person-centered approach. Simply put, it's what the individual wants that matters.

Together with our partner Medicaid Waiver agents (A&D, Region VII and Region 10 Area Agencies on Aging, NEMCSA, and NHCMH), we meet with nursing home residents to discuss possibilities; to determine if transitioning out of the facility is an option for someone and, more importantly, what that person wants.

 Charter Helping DNMM Remove Barriers  

Charter's Michigan Operations is pleased to announce they have donated  $5,000 to assist DNMM in removing barriers for people with disabilities. DNMM has included the purchase of video conferencing equipment as one solution to  attain that goal, which will assist people with disabilities unable to travel to metropolitan areas with a cost-effective way to overcome those hurdles.

Videoconferencing will allow DNMM to provide workshops, training sessions, consults, and peer mentoring in remote locations where longstanding transportation and economic barriers have existed.

"Over the past ten years, we have seen an increase in the number of people with disabilities requesting our services, particularly in rural areas," said David Emmel, Executive Director at DNMM. "Lack of financial resources and accessible transportation prevent many in rural areas from fully accessing our services. With this financial contribution from Charter, we are one step closer to creating more inclusive and accessible communities."

"We are pleased and honored to support an important community organization like Disability Network of Mid-Michigan," said Dave Slowik, Vice President and General Manager for Charter in Michigan. "Their customers are our customers, as well as family members. We are grateful to DNMM for the work they do and glad we can lend our support."

Disability Network of Mid-Michigan serves people with disabilities in twelve mid-Michigan counties including Alcona, Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Iosco, Isabella, Midland, Ogemaw, Roscommon and Saginaw counties. Charter is the primary cable and broadband provider in the majority of these areas. DNMM's monthly television program "Access America" is aired through Midland Community Television on Charter's channel 99.

About Charter

DNMM Hosting FREE Social Security Seminar

• Disability (SSDI)
• Medicare
• Retirement
• Survivors
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

It's Social Security Made Easy! A free informative seminar hosted by DNMM!

WHEN: July 9th, 2013 - 2:00pm - 3:30pm

WHERE: Mid-Michigan Community Action Agency, 1574 E. Washington Rd., Farwell, MI 

For more information about the event, contact Disability Network at 1-800-782-4160 or visit www.dnmm.org.

Be Summer Wise And Save!

With the arrival of summer, the MPSC highlighted its Be Summer Wise website, where utility customers can learn about ways to reduce energy bills.

"Summertime means rising temperatures, and that can mean high electric bills," said MPSC Chairman John D. Quackenbush. "The MPSC's Be Summer Wise website has many useful tips to help customers cut energy bills. The good news is many tips can be implemented at no or low cost."

The Be Summer Wise website features information on using energy wisely, planning ahead by using budget billing plans offered by utilities, shut-off prevention programs, energy efficiency tips and more.

The U.S. Department of Energy provides the following easy low-cost and no-cost tips to cut energy usage:  

• Install a programmable thermostat to lower utility bills and manage your heating and cooling systems efficiently.
• Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle.
• Turn things off when you are not in the room such as lights, TVs, entertainment systems, and your computer and monitor.
• Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips; turn the power  strips off when the equipment is not in use. TVs and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power.
• Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120°F.
• Take short showers instead of baths, and use low-flow showerheads for additional energy savings.
• Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
• Air dry clothes.
• Check to see that windows and doors are closed when heating or cooling your home.
• Look for the ENERGY STAR® label on light bulbs, home appliances, electronics, and other products. ENERGY STAR products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

For more tips, click here to visit the Be Summer Wise website.

Know Your Rights!

DNMM Invites all Midland County Residents to a free, interactive seminar on individual rights and applicable laws with regard to:

10:30am - 2:30pm

WHERE:

Strosacker Building - Room 110

Downtown Midland 

Community Feedback: Question of the Month

We need your input! Here's an easy way for your voice to be heard!

As part of our on-going efforts to make our communities accessible, we'll be asking our readers questions each month.  We'll use your answers, your suggestions, and your opinions as a basis for determining what we can do, in terms of services and advocacy, to build fully inclusive communities.

July 2013 Question:   

For people with disabilities, independence can often mean the freedom to fully participate in the community.  Sometimes a person simply needs a little support to access his or her community. Our question for July is:   

When or with what do you need the most help?  

Click here to submit your answer(s) to the question.  Your responses will be anonymous and we will not share your name or email information with any third party.