DNMM and Midland County Habitat for Humanity Celebrate Building Purchase

Nearly one year ago, Midland County Habitat for Humanity (MCHFH) and DNMM formed a joint venture to give both organizations joint-ownership of the former Hawkins Printing building on South Saginaw Road, where both organizations have been located for the past four years.

On Thursday, July 26, the two organizations held a reception to celebrate the completion of the building purchase and to thank area foundations who contributed to the campaign's success. Participating foundations included the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, the Dow Chemical Company Foundation, the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation, the Alden and Vada Dow Family Foundations, the Charles J. Strosacker Foundation, the Dow Corning Foundation.

"This just feels right," said former building owners Don and Joann Hawkins. "We're happy to sell our building to two organizations who do so much good for our community."

"We started this partnership with Disability Network four years ago," said MCHFH Executive Director Jennifer Chappell. "It's wonderful to see what happens when the community supports the important work of two non-profits. The savings from this purchase will allow Habitat to provide significantly more Midland County families safe, decent, and affordable housing."

"This collaboration will help both agencies substantially increase the investment of our respective resources back into the community," said DNMM Executive Director David Emmel. "The savings generated from the purchase of our building will increase our ability to provide needed services for people with disabilities, reaffirming our commitment to building accessible and inclusive communities. "

Saginaw YEAR Participants Seek to Curb Violence & Restore City's Reputation  

By Darcie Moran - The Saginaw News 

A group of service-oriented teens are hoping to change the community's view of its youth this summer. Nearly 90 teens, aged 16-19, and hailing from Bidgeport, Buena Vista, and the city of Saginaw, work 20-30 hours a week as part of the YEAR program (Youth Employment And Recreation). The program seeks to make positive changes in their lives and in the life of the Saginaw community. 

David Emmel, executive director of Disability Network of Mid-Michigan, said the program has been an exciting start for teens who might not have prior work experience.

"For many of these individuals, it's the first time of real employment," Emmel said of the program, which kicked off in June. "It's part of a learning process."

It has been an important step toward curbing gang violence, said participants such as Bridgeport High School graduate MyKeem Harper, 19, of Saginaw.

"It's easy to get caught up in the streets," Harper said. "With this program, we're keeping them out of the streets and doing something productive for the community."

Harper said he's happy to be involved with something positive in the community that people can take notice of, especially because he so often hears about shootings. With time, he hopes the mixture of the teens from different part of town in the program will make a difference in the violence.

"I like the idea that we have young people from every side of town," said Inez Williams, one of the YEAR program coordinators who is with STRIVE, Strong Teaching Reaching Individuals Visualizes Everything.

She said in the past, teens have informed her it was unsafe for them to be on certain parts of town because they were accused of violence or had bad relations with teens on the other side of town. She said she now always asks the participants if they would not be welcome in a certain part of town, then assures location safety before any project.

Saginaw High School and Saginaw Arts & Sciences Academy student Arizsia Staton, 16, of Saginaw said she has become frustrated with the public focus on violence and the reputation that has been given to area teens.

"Not everyone (is) so caught up in the negativity in Saginaw," Staton said. "We're moving forward."

Staton said she joined the program to better herself and become more financially independent, while others, such as Delta College student Donald Bivens, 18, of Bridgeport, said they were saving their paychecks for college. Bivens also said he has seen changes in himself during the 12-week program.

"I'm not lazy anymore," Bivens said. "I think I'm doing good things for Saginaw and for me."

Staton said the hard work involved with the program, which frequently has teens cleaning streets, beautifying areas and picking up litter, has provided her with a good work ethic.

She said she now looks forward to the school year, when she will have an easier time getting up and getting to classes on time because of the strict work schedule she must follow with the program.

When the students aren't at work around the community, Williams said they gather to discuss values, life skills, resumes, friendships, and leadership. Once a week, students partake in a recreation activity such as fishing, volleyball, canoeing, or hiking.

The Disability Network of Mid-Michigan helps to administer the program through a grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources split among similar programs in Saginaw, Flint, Pontiac and Detroit.

The Saginaw program nearly tripled the number of participating teens from 2012 to 2013 because of an increase in the grant, Emmel said. For Saginaw, the grant rose from about $120,000 to about $330,000.   

"It's a really positive program for the community and our region," Emmel said.   

 Dunking for Disability Network!  

Do you love dunk tanks?  So do we! And we're teaming up with the Midland High School Chemic Cheerleaders to give you a wonderful opportunity to help support our STAGES Youth Transition Program!

DUNKING FOR DISABILITY NETWORK

WHEN: THIS FRIDAY August 16th

Noon - 4:00

WHERE:  Midland County Fairgrounds

(Booth is located across from Gerstacker Building, near Grandstand, directly next to the Garber Chevrolet tent).

COST:  3 chances for just $5.00!!! 

Our thanks to Ware-Smith Woolever Funeral Home for donating the tank and to the Midland High School Chemics cheerleaders  for donating their time and volunteering to be our dunkees.  We greatly appreciate their support and their collaborative spirit.

So come on out to the Midland County Fairgrounds on Friday from Noon - 4pm, and test your pitching skills at "Dunking For Disability Network!"    

 You Can Help Make Our Beaches Accessible!    

As we seek to build inclusive and accessible communities, we will need not only your input, but that of the community at large. One of the areas we're hoping to place considerable emphasis over the coming months, is creating access to beaches.

Tawas State Park beach is in the midst of developing a General Management Plan. The plan begins with the assembly of a Planning Team from various specialists within the DNR. The Planning Team typically includes the Park Managers, Conservation Officer, District Park Planner, District Supervisor, and Recreation Division Management Plan Administrator. In addition, the Stewardship Unit participates through its Manager, Ecologist, Ecological Restoration Specialist, and Cultural Specialist.

Once the Planning Team has studied the park, stakeholders and the public will be invited to learn more about the process, understand the findings of the team, and to provide input. A survey is now available for the public to offer input about Tawas State. It only takes a few minutes to complete and your information is invaluable! Click here to participate!

Please feel free to share this link with your family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and co-workers! http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TawasPoint  

Your voice can help make our beaches accessible to everyone!  

Internet Access and the ADA

When websites are not accessible, people who

are blind or who don't read printed text due to a learning disability cannot use the internet to apply for jobs, buy clothing, or even plan a vacation.  It can mean that people who are Deaf cannot access video instructions, training material, or web-based movies online because many videos posted do not have closed captioning.  Because of website inaccessibility, some people with disabilities do not have equal access to internet-based goods and services, including job opportunities.

The ADA is a law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. It was enacted in 1990 before the Internet was widely available. The ADA requires accommodations be made in public areas for people with disabilities.  Advocates argue that the internet and websites are public areas and should be covered by the ADA.

There are lawsuits that will be decided soon that will give businesses better guidance about accessibility of their websites.  There will also be new federal regulations that should clear the way for better access to the internet by disabled users under the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Stay tuned!

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