disABILITY Film Festival

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we are proud to offer this disABILITY Film Festival. We will be showing the five films below at various locations throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region on July 6th, July 13th, and July 20th. Click on the movie poster to view the film's trailer. 

Showtimes and screening locations are at the bottom of the page. Admission is FREE! Seating at many locations is limited.  First come, first served. There are no advance tickets or reservations. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Crisis Hotline, Veterans Press 1    

Directed by:  Ellen Goosenberg Kent
43 minutes,  Rated: TV-14

Many veterans returning from war must turn to the unique services of the Veterans Crisis Line to help with personal and professional traumas at home. This film follows several VCL counselors who work the phones of this 24-hour service, providing support, guidance, and hope to active and retired servicemen dealing with PTSD and other emotional and physical troubles.

Music Within      

Directed by:  Steven Sawalich
94 minutes,  Rated: R

The true story of Richard Pimentel, a brilliant public speaker with a troubled past, who returns from Vietnam with a serious hearing impairment and soon finds a new purpose in his landmark efforts on behalf of Americans with disabilities. Starring Ron Livingston (Band of Brothers, Office Space).

My Left Foot:  The Story of Christy Brown

Directed by:  Jim Sheridan
103 minutes,  Rated: R

Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood, Lincoln) won his first of three Best Actor Oscars in this powerful glimpse into the life of Christy Brown. Born with cerebral palsy in the slums of Ireland, Christy was paralyzed until the age of 5 when he demonstrated control of his left foot by using chalk to write a word on the floor. With the help of his steely mother - and no shortage of grit and determination-Christy overcomes his challenges to become a painter, poet, and author.

Murderball      

Directed by:  Henry Alex Rubin
86 minutes,  Rated: R

Like any sport, wheelchair rugby features intense rivalries. The US and Canadian Paralympic wheelchair rugby teams are as fierce as any rivals, and more than most. Murderball follows the US team as they discuss the sport, their lives, and how the nature of their disabilities, while they play their way to the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens.

Autism in Love      

Autism in Love follows the story of four adults with autism spectrum disorders as they search for and manage romantic relationships. Director Matt Fuller's sparkling documentary captures the joys and heartbreaks of love. He emphasizes struggles that are only too familiar, creating in Autism in Love a relatable and winning celebration of accepting the differences in others and in ourselves.
 

Party at the Park!

On Monday, July 27th, from 6-9pm, Disability Network joins several disability service organizations from throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region in hosting a FREE regional celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

Join us for Live Music,
Food, and Fun!

The Friendship Shell at Wenonah Park

Bay City, Michigan

 

Entertainment Provided By:

CEYX Party Band

PWSD DanScene Competitive Edge Team

Disability organizations and related non-profits will have informational tables along with
fun youth activities!

Concessions are available from local food vendors at a nominal cost.

 

Media Sponsor:

Accessible Recreation Activities

Regional Disability Summit

As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is only fitting that we have an open discussion about where we are with respect to building accessible and inclusive communities here in the Great Lakes Bay Region, and where we are headed.

Join us from 8am - 4pm on Monday, July 27th as we bring together some of the areas top experts across a wide-variety of disability-related issues.  Breakout session topics include: Medicaid & Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, A Discussion on Education: "Diploma or Certificate of Completion?", Workplace Accommodations & Assitive Technology, Alternatives to Guardianship, "Out and Inclusive in the Workplace," Telling Your Story, and 25 Years of the ADA.
 

Greg Baird is an engaging speaker with heart and humorous insight. He has spoken to audiences on such topics as equal rights, diversity, bullying, and hate crimes. Greg delivers a powerful and unique perspective on what it means to be gay in the 21st century. An important voice of the LGBTQ community, Greg's lecture is inclusive for all audiences.

Thank You For Your Service!
by David Emmel,  Executive Director 

In May of this year we said a fond farewell to several board members who were instrumental in charting the course for the Disability Network of Mid-Michigan. These board members have completed six years of commitment to our organization, our consumers, and our communities.

During their time on our board, their leadership has paved the way for many opportunities for us, and has shaped the landscape of inclusion and access in communities across our twelve county service region.

These individuals have been collectively focused on 1) growing our organizations impact, 2) ensuring our board has the talent and ambition to achieve greatness, and 3) creating a model of strength and sustainability for long-term impact.

We owe much of our continued success to these visionary individuals who have guided us toward promoting and encouraging independence for all people with disabilities:

Bill Bateman, Frank Champagne, Harry Leaver, Teresa Oliver, June Price, Jerry Pritchett, and Tim Troy.

Thank you all for your commitment to building accessible and inclusive communities!

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ADA Signing 1990

by Pat Cudahy, Former Executive Director, Midland Center for Independent Living

Departure, Twelve noon, July 25th, 1990. Bernie Cudahy, official CIL chauffeur, arrived at the Midland Center for Independent Living in a motor home - an old Winnebago that hadn't been driven for years. Our destination? Washington D.C. And despite Bernie's warnings of "that old beast will never make the trip," our enthusiasm and anticipation could not be greater.

Tickets to attend the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) had been triumphantly secured through Congressman Bill Schuette's office. Pat Cudahy, CIL Director, Jeri Hortsman, CIL Office Manager, and Linda Friend, wife of Roger Friend of Outdoor Access, eagerly climbed aboard the motor home and set off to witness history.

The ADA mandates inclusion of people with disabilities in employment, public accommodations, and access to telecommunications, to transportation, and to activities of federal, state, and local government. This landmark legislation was the world's first declaration of equality for people with disabilities and it opened the door of opportunity to millions of previously isolated American citizens.

Now, any journey in life is like to encounter a few obstacles. And, well, let's just say our old beast of a Winebago did not make the trip, as Bernie predicted. The bake line ruptured in the Pennsylvania mountains, forcing us to finish the trip in the compacted comfort of a 1988 Lincoln Sedan. But we pressed on, undeterred, and every bit as enthusiastic. After all, this was History...and we were going to be a part of it.

We arrived in Washington D.C. at 5:00am. At 9:15am, our entourage was in front of our hotel waiting for a cab to take us to the White House. It was nearly 100 degrees already that morning. As we arrived at the White House, we gained a full appreciation for just how momentous and complex an occasion like this was. Trying to get 2,000 people using wheelchairs, crutches, and braces through metal detectors and security was an ordeal difficult to describe. And with the heat, we gladly accepted iced tea and lemonade. However, we soon needed to find an accessible restroom and, to our disappointment, there was only one such facility for the entire crowd.

But we made do. And soon President Bush was delivering his now historic address. I was pleased the President used person-first language throughout the address and I remember swelling with pride as he declared July 26th "a new independence day" for people with disabilities and applauding his famous demand that the "shameful wall of exclusion finally come tumbling down."

God was with us through the events of our fifteen-hour trek to Washington. We overcame every obstacle and we relished at our fortune of being a part of something so momentous. I'm proud of the progress we've made over the last 25 years, I'm glad our CIL, now Disability Network of Mid-Michigan is ever-expanding, and I look forwarding to continue making strides toward ensuring full inclusion and independence for all.