The Disability Network
3600 S Dort Hwy. Ste. 54
Flint, MI 48507
Voice: (810) 742-1800  Fax: (810) 742-2400 TDD: (810) 742-7647
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Newsletter
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THE DISABILITY NETWORK

Net News - March 2013

Click on a link below to read the article.

Medicaid Freedom to Work legislation has been signed by the Governor
Many qualified Michigan citizens with disabilities have education, skills, want to work, earn a paycheck, and pay taxes. For people with disabilities on Medicaid, the number one barrier to apply for the 80,000 current jobs available on the Michigan talent bank, is their fear of losing their Medicaid health care.

The Freedom To Work (FTW) amendment is the answer. Not to be confused with Right to Work, which has borrowed the term Freedom to Work, this important amendment to Medicaid was recently signed into law by Governor Snyder.

The passage of this amendment will allow our citizens with disabilities to live the American dream of working. People with disabilities can work more, earn more and still have access to necessary medical benefits. Until this amendment was made, some working people with disabilities had to limit their income and the amount of hours they worked so they did not lose healthcare coverage. Under the FTW amendment, people will pay a premium of 7.5% of their earnings for their Medicaid coverage, just like most of us do with private health care.

The Disability Network has been a strong advocate for Freedom-to-Work legislation and the amendments. Any barriers that prevent an individual from reaching their full-potential through competitive employment need to be removed. The Freedom-to-Work amendments were needed to allow more people to find and maintain gainful employment.

Congratulations to the entire disability community for their advocacy on this important issue!

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Welcome Wednesdays!
Welcomes Wednesdays is a new program that The Disability Network is starting. Each month a representative from a local organization will come to speak about a relevant social issue or about how their organization has bettered our community. We will also offer seminars on information of interest to the disability community.

Please join us on Wednesday, April 10th at noon at The Disability Network for our first Welcome Wednesday where Tom Travis from Carriage Town Ministries will speak. (More information inside this newsletter.)

If you are interested in being a speaker or are interested in joining a committee to help plan this program, please contact AnneRenee Parks by email at annep@disnetwork.org or by phone 810-742-1800 ext. #304.

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Net News Information
NET NEWS is published quarterly by:

The Disability Network, a Center for Independent Living supporting people with any type of disability in Genesee County

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

We welcome your comments and suggestions.

THE DISABILITY NETWORK
3600 S. Dort Hwy. Ste 54
Flint, Michigan 48507
(810) 742-1800 voice
(810) 742-7647 TTY
(810) 742-2400 fax
tdn@disnetwork.org
www.disnetwork.org

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Low-interest Loans Available
Seniors and people with disabilities (or their family members) can use the Michigan Assistive Technology Loan Fund to buy assistive technology devices and related services, including modification of vehicles and homes.

If you would like to apply for a loan to purchase any item or piece of equipment that will help you improve your independence and overall quality of life, The Disability Network is your local organization for Loan Fund information. Contact Carrie at The Disability Network at (810) 742-1800.

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It’s Income Tax Time!
There are several ways you can file your income taxes for FREE!

The Internal Revenue Service has two ways to get information:

1) Online at www.irs.gov, click on ‘Free File’

2) Or call the IRS at Telephone Assistance for Individuals:

Toll-Free, 1-800-829-1040

Some other free sites are: Myfreetaxes.com and TurboTax.com.

Locally you can contact VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) at 810-232-6355 or 211 for personal assistance in filling out your tax forms.

Remember the deadline is April 15th!

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Dates of Interest
Welcome Wednesday - Wednesday, April 10

Board of Directors meeting - Wednesday, May 22

ADA Celebration - Friday, July 26

Computer Classes (call 742-1800 for starting dates)

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Welcome Wednesday
Please join The Disability Network in launching the very first Welcome Wednesday.

Tom Travis from Carriage Town Ministries will speak about the programs that Carriage Town Ministries offers and how they have impacted the Community.

Please RSVP to AnneRenee Parks at annep@disnetwork.org or call 810-742-1800.

April 10, 2013 - 12:00pm to 1:00pm
3600 S. Dort Hwy. Suite 54
Flint , MI 48507

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Overcoming Fear and Shame - By Peter S. Kahrmann
I had planned to keep this secret. When I went through the experience I am about to share with you, I was determined never to tell a soul. Why? Because I was embarrassed and ashamed of myself. To a minor extent, I still am. But this column was named “Into the Light” for a reason: to bring things into the open that might otherwise be kept secret. And so, allow me to set embarrassment and shame to the side, and write.

I am sitting on the floor in the bathroom. The bathroom door is locked, and there is someone knocking on the front door of the house. I am terrified, I can’t move. Intellectually, I know I am safe, and I know the person at my front door is my case manager, and I know my case manager is a truly caring and kind woman. But intellectual awareness has no influence at times like this; it simply doesn’t count.

Other than moments of occasional trembling, I can barely move; standing up is, for the moment, not an option.

I had thought her home visit was at noon, and when she didn’t arrive I relaxed and figured something had happened, and she’d be calling to reschedule. When I see her car pull into my driveway shortly after three that afternoon, an internal switch flips on, and I am immediately in a state of terror.

More often than not, when I am caught off guard in life (someone arriving at my home unexpectedly being an example of this), fear kicks in. This time was no different. I rapidly locked the doors to the house and fled into the bathroom, locking the door behind me. Sitting on the floor with the half cup of coffee that was in my hand when she pulled into the driveway, I curse myself for not bringing a book with me.

At least with a book I’d have some place to go, some place to hide. There is no way I’m opening the door. Suddenly, the phone rings, and I know she must be calling me from her cell phone. The trembling increases. Why the fear? a reader may understandably want to know. OK, I’ll explain. But understand: The explanation is not one that seeks sympathy or pity. The explanation, as you will see, is comprised of facts not of my making.

However, I am responsible for managing their role in my life to the best of my ability. I was shot in the head at point blank range in 1984, and a bullet is lodged in the frontal lobe of my brain.

The damage from the bullet hinders the very areas of the brain that are designed to help me (or anyone) manage fear, threat, and so on. I also deal with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), which, in a nutshell, is an emotional disorder that results from a trauma out of the norm.

And so, in the bathroom I am flooding, meaning there is excessive neurological activity going on, and the part of my brain designed to calm this activity does not work because of the damage. The PTSD merely exacerbates the situation.

Sitting on the floor, in the bathroom, I know all this. But as I said, knowing something, does not, in and of itself, serve to free you from it. Knowing does, however, serve to remind me that I am not my enemy. In this moment, I am not my opponent. My opponent is the rather merciless tandem of brain damage and PTSD.

An hour has passed and other than opening the bathroom door a sliver on two occasions, I can’t leave the room. By this point, I’ve come to fully recognize the emotional condition I’m in. I am feeling exactly what I was feeling when the kid held the gun against the side of my head moments before he fired.

I am frozen.

I wonder if my case manager will call the police, and will they break into the apartment and then breakdown the bathroom door and find me here, a quivering mass of fear and, needless to say, embarrassment and shame.

I decide I’ll wait until she leaves and then make up a lie so no one will ever know about this. For some reason I don’t understand (then or now), I believe people will be angry with me if I tell them about this.

And so, I decide, I will lie. Sure, my car is out front. But I’ll just say I was down the road helping a friend, or maybe I’ll say a friend dropped by and we’d gone out together. No way on earth will I tell a living soul what really happened.

Then I remembered something. I remembered reading that when someone is going through an anxiety or panic attack, the brain withdraws blood from the frontal lobe (exactly the place in the brain you’d want to have blood at a time like this) and gathers it in the brains center. If you engage in a cognitive task such as playing solitaire or conversation, or counting out loud, you force the brain to move at least some of the blood back into the frontal lobe. While this might not fully free you out of the hell you’re in, it may well prevent it from getting worse and maybe, make things a little better.

And so, sitting on the bathroom floor, I begin counting out loud. After a while, I realize this must be helping me at least somewhat because I notice I am feeling foolish for counting out loud, and it is not lost on me that I’ll take foolish over terrorstricken any day.

More than two hours pass before I am able to leave the bathroom. My case manager is no longer outside. I sit down in my reading chair. As the terror finally lifts, a deep sadness take its place, and, for a time, I cry. I don’t mind. There is comfort in it. Slowly but surely, I grow back into feeling safe again.

The next day, my case manager called me. My plan to lie to her lasted a split second. Instead, I told her the truth and in doing so, was met with understanding and compassion. She was not at all angry, just very glad I was OK. I received the same deeply welcome response from the few close friends I shared this experience with. Let me say to those of you who’ve had and have similar experiences: You are not alone. It is very likely that those who truly care about you will respond with kindness and compassion should you bring your experience, well into the light.

I don’t think you need that kindness and compassion. I know you deserve it.

Peter Kahrmann writes a blog on disability issues. He resides in Massachusetts.

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Now Taking Students Computer Classes for Spring and Summer
Spring and Summer classes have been scheduled. Class sizes are small and designed for beginning computer users. Students will learn Windows 7 Operating System and Microsoft Office 2007.

Session 1: April 22nd- May 20th. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 1pm- 3pm

Session 2: June 20th – July 19th. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 10am-12pm

Session 3: July 29th – August 23rd. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, 10am -12pm.

Call today to reserve your spot in one of these FREE computer classes: 810-742-1800

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HealthPlus Tour de Crim
Ever wanted to check out the Crim’s famous 10-mile blue line course by bike? Well here’s your chance! The Crim Fitness Foundation is happy to introduce the HealthPlus Tour de Crim. This family-friendly bicycle fun-ride will take place 11am-3pm, Saturday, May 11.

HealthPlus Tour de Crim is a non-competitive bicycle fun-ride along the Crim Festival of Races famous 10-mile blue line course. There will be four stops during the ride where bicyclists will have the option to participate in fun and challenging obstacles of varying difficulty. In addition to the fun-ride, participants will have a chance to enjoy flavorful beers from Michigan microbreweries. Children will learn about and practice bicycle safety during a bicycle rodeo and helmet fitting. Participants will be encouraged to enter bicycle related contests such as Most Classic Bike, Most Decorated Bike, Most Creative Costume, Most Creative Team, etc.

Register today and save with early registration specials and combos at www.tourdecrim.org

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I Support the ADA
Beginning last summer, The Disability Network’s ADA Department developed a working relationship with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) in order to assist them in providing accessible road work projects in our area. Our first exposure to the MDOT projects involved an impromptu site check of MDOT’s addition of accessible sidewalks on the east and west sides of Dort Highway, between Lippincott and Atherton Roads. We provided the agency with information on making the sidewalks accessible and showed them ways to improve accessibility by removing barriers such as guide wires and curving the sidewalk around existing, unmovable telephone poles or fire hydrants.

We are looking forward to working with MDOT on a City of Flint Safe Routes to School (SR2S) project later this year. This project will include wider sidewalks that are pitched for water run-off, based on the 2010 ADA Standards and new count-down crossing signals that are accessible to visually impaired pedestrians and others who use the sidewalks around the school.

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Are You a Veteran Who is Homeless or at Risk of Becoming Homeless?
Are you currently living with someone else because you cannot afford to rent or own your own home?

Have you had trouble finding or holding a job?

Do you have a disability that makes it difficult to hold a steady job?

Do you have service related injuries that make returning to civilian life difficult?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, are worried about your housing situation or just need someone to talk to, the Veterans Administration may be able to help. Whether you need immediate help or you are just looking for information you have options.

For more information about programs in Genesee County, call 810-257-3068. You may also call VA’s hotline at 1-877-424-3838 (24 hours a day, 7 days per week) or visit www.va.gov/homeless.

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Information and Referral
If you have a question on any disability related issue, call our Information and Referral Specialists; Sheletha Graves or Linda Garrett

Our information and referral department specializes in helping people find information and access the services they need. Simply call for an appointment. Jobs, housing, social security, and utility assistance are just a few of the topics we can assist you with.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does The Disability Network do? We provide an array of services that helps a person with a disability to become or remain independent. (housing, medical equipment, classes, etc.)

2. Does The Disability Network assist with bill payments? We search for funds within the Genesee County area and provide the information to the consumers who are in need of assistance.

3. Can you assist me in applying for services by internet? Our Specialists provides assistance with most applications via the internet.

4. Can you help me get a job? TDN works closely with MRS and Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce to refer and assist people with disabilities seeking employment.

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Monster.com - First in Industry to Make Website Accessible for Blind Users
Monster.com, after working closely with teams from the National Federation of the Blind and the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, announced that it will enhance its website and mobile applications to make them accessible to blind job seekers. Monster Worldwide's Chief Information Officer Mark Conway said, "Although portions of our site were already accessible, we all agreed we could do more." Monster.com provides job seeking, career management, recruitment and talent management products and services in more than 40 countries.

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TDN Survey
You can help us serve you better. Complete this brief survey and return it in the mail or give us a call and let us know how we are doing.

Have you received information/support from The Disability Network?

_ Yes _ No _ Don’t Know

The services provided by The Disability Network were:

_ Very Good _ Good _ Fair _ Poor _ Very Poor

Comments:___________________________________________________________
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If you would like us to contact you, please provide name/phone number:

Name: ___________________________________________

Phone number: ____________________________________

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Archived Newsletters:

December 2012 (PDF)
October 2012 (PDF)
June 2012 (PDF)
March 2012 (PDF)
November 2011 (PDF)
September 2011 (PDF)
June 2011 (PDF)

Questions/comments can be submitted
through the link above.


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