Newsletter

NET NEWS is designed to inform people with disabilities and other interested parties, on disability related issues and other matters relevant to the disability community.

We welcome your comments and suggestions.

DATES OF INTEREST

Board of Directors meeting.... Wednesday, May 21

ADA Celebration.................................. Friday, July 25

1st Annual Freedom Raffle Drawing. Friday, July 25

Leaders for Action meeting....... 2nd Thursday of each month

Computer Classes (call 742-1800 for starting dates)

Penny Rose McMillian

As many of you know, our friend and coworker, Penny was diagnosed with cancer in October. She has been courageously undergoing chemotherapy treatment and we hope she will be back to work soon. In the meantime, Penny would like to thank everyone for your cards, calls, visits, and most of all your prayers. She remembers all of you in her prayers. She would like to thank the people in the community who have worked with her to bring about positive changes for people with disabilities. She encourages all of us to carry on until she is well enough to return and work with you once again.

There is a letter from Penny to her TDN family and friends posted on the bulletin board at The Disability Network if you would like to stop in and read it. Get well wishes to Penny may be sent in care of The Disability Network and we will forward them on to her.

Get well, Penny. We miss you.

New Age Giving: “Little Rockefellers”

More middleclass donors are contributing more every year and at the same time demanding more accountability from the nonprofits they support. While the lion’s share of donations go to major charity organizations, there is a boom in giving small but substantial donations to local non-profits. (Smart Money, January, 2008, p. 77)

If you are interested in making a donation that is effective, accountable and has a desired impact for people with disabilities, please contact Luke Zelley, Director of Business Development at 742-1800 x 319.

The Leaders For Action (LFA) Housing Advocacy

The Disability Network’s housing group is working with the Michigan Housing Disability Workgroup and the Living in Michigan Coalition (livinginmichigan.org), advocating for accessible, affordable, and integrated housing across the state. One of our advocacy efforts has been asking for funding for the Michigan Community Housing Development Fund (MHCDF). In spite of the tough budget issues in Michigan, the Department of Labor and Economic Growth (DLEG) appropriations committee approved over two million dollars to the fund. The administrators of the fund are now asking for project proposals that can make an impact within fiscal year 2008; more information below.

We can make an impact and help affect systems change by speaking up and showing up. Nothing about us without us! Listed below is the information about the MHCDF and the 2008 Michigan Conference on Affordable Housing, both of which we are actively involved in.

Michigan Conference on Affordable Housing

10th Anniversary Conference

April 28-30, 2008 at the Lansing Center

The 10th annual Michigan Conference on Affordable Housing is coming up soon - and the brochure for registration is available at housingconference.org. CEDAM Staff have been working very hard to make the Community Economic Development track and the Asset Building track better than ever! The track features topics like inclusive design, community organizing, alternative transit, land use, smart growth, community collaboration, and much more!

Opportunity to Submit Project Proposals

Michigan's Housing & Community Development Fund

In 2007, Michigan Legislature appropriated $2.2 million in general funds to support Michigan's Housing and Community Development Fund, a flexible source of funding to assist local communities create housing options in neighborhoods and downtowns and address community needs. It is anticipated that MSHDA will release a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) and allocation plan for these funds by April 2008.

To assist in our efforts to demonstrate need and secure more funds for 2009, the Living in Michigan Coalition is developing a pipeline of eligible projects.

For more information please contact Angie Gaabo at gaabo@cedam.info.

It’s About Choosing Where I Want to Live! ...........

52 year old Valarie Turner loves being able to take a bath whenever she wants. “You don’t realize how valuable being able to make your own decisions is until you aren’t able to eat when you want, sleep when you need to, or take a bath when you want,” said Valarie.

The lifelong Flint resident experienced a brain aneurism in 2004 that lead to a stroke. The hospital staff thought that the lasting damage was too severe for Valarie to live on her own and she was discharged to a nursing home.

For three years Valarie says she was helpless and hopeless. “I didn’t think I would ever get out of there!” said Valarie. Then Kathy McGeathy, a Nursing Facility Transition Advocate from The Disability Network in Flint arrived in her room. “She told me that if it was want I wanted, she would get me out, and she did everything she said she would do,” said Valarie. Over the course of a year, Kathy helped Valarie put the many community resources together that she needed to move into her own apartment.

“I have my independence back, and I don’t take it for granted,” said Valarie.

Community Choice Program Funding

The Disability Network received a grant from the state to assist persons wishing to move from nursing facilities to the community. The “Community Choice” program provides Medicaid eligible individuals with the funds needed to set up a home in the community. Through Person Centered Planning, individuals will be assisted with locating housing, identifying and arranging for in-home supports, link to other community resources, re-connect with family and friends, get assistance with clothing, food and furniture and begin to rebuild their lives. Call 810-742-1800 for information.

“Ronald G. Kremski Accessible Recreation Award”

TDN is excited to announce the creation of the “Ronald G. Kremski Accessible Recreation Award”. The award will be presented at TDN’s ADA Celebration on July 25th to an organization or person who has advocated, developed or created programs and services that demonstrate a commitment to accessible recreation for individuals with and without disabilities.

“I am pleased that TDN is able to honor the request of Tiffini Jones and the Ronald Kremski Estate by creating an award that will stimulate the development of accessible recreation experiences that invite, welcome and support the inclusion of all people of all abilities”, said Mike Zelley, President and CEO at TDN. “The award will demonstrate how going above and beyond the minimum requirements of the ADA can create greater access and usability for all people of all abilities in our community.”

For more information about the “Ronald G. Kremski Accessible Recreation Award”, please contact Luke at 742-1800 x 319

The Social Security Administration has a new Work Incentive Liaison (WIL) in their office. She is available to meet and speak with you on various work incentives, such as Ticket to Work, Plans for Achieving Self Support (PASS), Blind Work Incentives, and Disability Benefits, or to answer any questions you may have. You need not be a social security recipient to receive information.

Please contact:

Adriana Templeton
Social Security Administration
1149 Robert T. Longway Blvd
Flint, MI 48503
810-239-5346 Ext 1229

Medicare Scam Reported

The Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP, Inc.) is issuing a warning to Michigan residents with Medicare health coverage.

Medicare beneficiaries in some areas have received calls from a person stating they were from Medicare. The caller requested the beneficiaries’ Medicare identification number and their bank account numbers stating they would be issuing new Medicare cards.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is NOT reissuing Medicare cards, nor would they contact beneficiaries at home to ask them for their bank account information and their Medicare number.

Any Medicare beneficiary receiving one of these calls should gather as much information as possible about the caller …. name, telephone number where that person can be reached (call-back number), time of day of the call or anything else that government officials could use to track and prosecute the scam artists. Beneficiaries are urged to call the MMAP toll-free number at 1-800-803-7174, 1-800- Medicare (1-800-633-4227) or 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) to report any such telephone calls.

United Cerebral Palsy of Michigan offers Low-interest Loans

The Michigan Assistive Technology Loan Fund allows people with disabilities (or their family members) to purchase assistive technology devices or services, including modification of vehicles and homes. Loans may also cover cost of training, warranties, and service agreements.

The Michigan TeleWork Loan Fund allows people with disabilities to purchase equipment to enable them to telework (work from home or at a telework center). www.michiganloanfunds.org

The Disability Network is your local organization for Loan Fund information. Call 810-742-1800 with questions or to submit your loan application.

Attention Online Shoppers

The Disability Network, along with iGive.com, invite you to change YOUR online shopping into support for The Disability Network by shopping online at over 681 well-known stores. You’ll receive free deals and coupons for being an iGive.com member. If you join iGive.com and make a purchase within 45 days, iGive.com will donate $5.00 to The Disability Network! We had one new supporter who shopped through iGive.com last quarter generating a total donation of $47.42. Just imagine the donation that 100 supporters like you could generate for The Disability Network.

HOW IT WORKS:

1.Join at http://www.iGive.com/tdn

2.Shop the Mall at iGive.com. You'll see many familiar stores.

3.Up to 26% of EACH purchase gets donated!

Shop within 45 days of joining, and TDN will receive an extra $5.00 donation.

ATTENTION SENIORS AGE 60 or OLDER

Effective March 1, 2008, MTA is offering a helping hand to seniors who require and qualify for gentle assistance when using MTA’s expanded Your Ride service. A qualified MTA driver will assist eligible senior passengers to and from Your Ride vehicles, an well as to and from destination entrances. The MTA can offer this extra level of service to seniors as a result of the senior mileage. Personalized Your Ride service for seniors is available throughout Genesee County. Just call to schedule service.

Catch a ride...door to door...and leave the driving to MTA

Complete Streets

We have been working on a project that promises to increase transportation choices for people in Flint and Genesee County. “Complete Streets” are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users. Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and bus riders of all ages and abilities are able to safely move along and across a complete street. The Complete Streets project, funded by the Ruth Mott Foundation, has the potential to provide elected officials, policy makers, planners, traffic engineers, and others with low or no cost solutions to enable all people using all modes of transportation an opportunity to use our roads safely.

In May we will be participating with several of our community partners in a week long event called Smart Commute. On May 7^th there will be an opportunity to try out bicycles and handcycles in front of the Crim Foundation office. Glen Ashlock, last years Crim Foundation handcycle winner will be on hand. Watch for more information later this spring.

Mentoring Program

Mentee Finds Career Path-

Enrolls at ITT Technical Institute

Eileen was referred to the mentoring program by her Michigan Rehabilitation Counselor, Elaine Simmons, to explore her career interest in computer repair and computer drafting. Eileen's mentoring team brainstormed contacts in the community that could assist her in obtaining information she needed to find her opportunities. Throughout her experience, she completed many informational interviews and met with many different employers in several computer related fields.

After exploring computer related jobs, Eileen decided that she wanted to explore training programs, specifically ITT Technical Institute in Swartz Creek. She, along with Ann Jacob from The Disability Network, set up an appointment and spent many hours talking to an advisor about the programs available. Eileen was very excited about what she heard and decided that ITT Technical Institute was the perfect opportunity for her. She chose the Computer Aided Drafting Program and reports that she is doing great and is very happy with her career decision.

www.ThePumpGuide.com

An online directory of gas stations serving drivers with disabilities

“The Pump Guide” is a collaboration between the nonprofit sector, business and government to solve a problem created by the growth of self-service gas stations.

Developed by the Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America (MPVA) through a partnership with the members of the Michigan Petroleum Association, “The Pump Guide” is a free website that lists over 800 Michigan gas stations with their hours, any special instructions on what their patrons need to do to get assistance, and information on other services available, such as a snack shop or ATM services.

If your local gas station is not listed, please tell them about the program. If you discover a listed gas station not living up to their agreement contact MPVA at 1-800-638-MPVA.

Disability Parking Placards

Did you know it is illegal for you to leave your State of Michigan issued handicap parking placard hanging from your rear view mirror when your car or truck is in motion? Local and State police can issue a ticket for ‘obstruction of view’ if you drive with the placard hanging from your mirror. If you want to leave it in view, you can display it on the left hand side of your dashboard . Do not risk a fine by leaving the placard on your mirror when you drive.

Persons with either a permanent or temporary disability that significantly affects their ability to walk may obtain a disability parking permit. There is a limit of one permit per person. Permanent disability permits are valid for four years. Temporary disability permits are valid for a maximum of six months.

For more information visit: www.michigan.gov

Get Registered to Vote by October 4th

2008 is a very important election year. We all exercise our voting and have our voices heard. Voting is also a way to achieve new policy goals, but it requires participation by all of us. Voting ensures that our elected officials are responsive to concerns and issues. It is important every citizen with a disability to.

People with Disabilities hold some important distinctions:

· We comprise 20% of Americans over the age of 18,

· In 2004, 10% more people with disabilities voted,

· However, we are the lowest group of registered voters.

We all need to have our voices heard by registering and voting. Elected officials want our vote and we to support candidates who support our issues. We will choose a new President and many elected officials this year. Whether your choice is a Democrat or Republican, it is very important that you vote.

Please register to vote now. For information on how to get registered, contact your local League of Michigan Voters or go to www.lwv.org/voter/register.cfm. You must be registered by October 4th, 30 days before the November 4th election. Hope to see you all at the polls on November 4th.

Submitted by: Gary Kidd, ADA Specialist at The Disability Network

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