Webinar: Supporting Families of Children with Invisible Disabilities (Guest Presentation by Dr. Tamiko L. Garrett)
2026-02-12 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
This is a Special Guest presentation by Dr. Tamiko L. Garrett.

Many disabilities are not immediately visible — yet they deeply impact a child’s daily life, learning, and relationships. This presentation will explore the unique challenges caregivers face when seeking support and services for children with invisible disabilities such as ADHD, autism, mental health conditions, and chronic illnesses. Participants will learn practical strategies to build stronger partnerships between caregivers and providers, improve communication, and create more inclusive and understanding environments in schools and service settings.

This event is taking place at the following time:

Thursday, February 12, 2026, from 12:00 to 1:00 PM — (Click here to register)

Participation in this event is available through an internet connection. Disability Network Southwest Michigan believes all people deserve full access and inclusion in our programs and services and will make every effort to secure necessary accommodations for participants in our events. Please register as soon as possible if you will require an accommodation to participate.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this webinar, please follow this link to email Miranda or call her at 269-345-1516 x120.

About Dr. Tamiko L. Garrett:

Dr. Tamiko L. Garrett is the creator and Executive Director of Parents for Transition (PFT) a non-profit organization in Kalamazoo, MI. Parents for Transition provides caregivers and youth impacted by invisible disabilities, educational resources, support, and self-care opportunities.

She is also a parent of a young adult with an invisible disability. Dr. Garrett has 20 years of experience in the field of Education (K-12 and Higher Education). She was inspired to create the PFT due to her own experience navigating a child with an invisible disability through the K-12 system to higher education.

Dr. Garrett completed her doctorate degree from Eastern Michigan University in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Administration in August 2019. Her research interests are parents raising children with disabilities, particularly those with invisible disabilities, and how cultural differences may affect student learning. Dr. Garrett is also a part-time instructor at Western Michigan University in their Teaching, Learning, and Educational Studies Department. She teaches methods courses to students majoring in Elementary Education.

Webinar: Understanding Hidden Disabilities
2026-02-17 14:00 - 16:00
Hidden disabilities are disabilities that are not immediately visible by looking at a person. Though unseen, these disabilities affect daily life and can lead to discrimination. People with hidden disabilities often encounter barriers in employment, education, and social settings due to a lack of understanding. In this workshop, we will explore the impact of hidden disabilities, debunk common myths, and identify ways to be an active ally.

This event is being offered online at the following time:

Tuesday, February 17, 2026, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM – (Click here to register)

Participation in this event is available through an internet connection. Disability Network Southwest Michigan believes all people deserve full access and inclusion in our programs and services and will make every effort to secure necessary accommodations for participants in our events. Please register as soon as possible if you will require an accommodation to participate.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this webinar, please follow this link to email Miranda or call her at 269-345-1516 x120.

#DWord Book Club Meeting
2026-02-18 18:00 - 19:30
Disability Network Southwest Michigan is excited to partner with Kalamazoo Public Library to launch the #DWord Book Club—a book club dedicated to promoting access, inclusion, disability pride, and spreading the message that Disability is not a bad word.

Join us for an opportunity to engage in respectful, thought-provoking discussions of books by and about people with disabilities, uplifting lived experiences from across the Disability Community and creating space for meaningful conversation and connection.

All are welcome—whether you’re new to disability-focused literature or a longtime reader. This is a cost-free group; readers are not required to have a library card to participate. To ensure accessibility for all, each book is available in print, digital, and audiobook formats through the Kalamazoo Public Library.

Venue

CEN/Boardroom at Kalamazoo Public Library, located at 315 S. Rose St, Kalamazoo, MI 49007. Registration is not required.

Book Selection

February’s book selection is Disability Intimacy, by Alice Wong.

About: The much-anticipated follow up to the groundbreaking anthology Disability Visibility: another revolutionary collection of first-person writing on the joys and challenges of the modern disability experience, and intimacy in all its myriad forms.

What is intimacy? More than sex, more than romantic love, the pieces in this stunning and illuminating new anthology offer broader and more inclusive definitions of what it can mean to be intimate with another person. Explorations of caregiving, community, access, and friendship offer us alternative ways of thinking about the connections we form with others—a vital reimagining in an era when forced physical distance is at times a necessary norm.

But don’t worry: there’s still sex to consider—and the numerous ways sexual liberation intersects with disability justice. Plunge between these pages and you’ll also find disabled sexual discovery, disabled love stories, and disabled joy. These twenty-five stunning original pieces—plus other modern classics on the subject, all carefully curated by acclaimed activist Alice Wong—include essays, photo essays, poetry, drama, and erotica: a full spectrum of the dreams, fantasies, and deeply personal realities of a wide range of beautiful bodies and minds. Disability Intimacy will free your thinking, invigorate your spirit, and delight your desires.

Follow this link for a Plain Language version of Disability Intimacy.

Accommodations

Accommodations can be provided upon request to (269) 553-7944 or follow this link to email Jade W. at Kalamazoo Public Library.

Webinar: Disability & Intersectionality
2026-02-25 09:30 - 12:00
Intersectionality describes how people’s overlapping identities impact their experiences with privilege and oppression. Presenters will define ableism, racism, sexism, classism, and other forms of oppression and discuss their impact on people with disabilities. We will look at ways to build a more inclusive society for all.

This webinar is being offered at the following times:

Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM — (Click here to register)

Participation in this event is available through an internet connection. Disability Network Southwest Michigan believes all people deserve full access and inclusion in our programs and services and will make every effort to secure necessary accommodations for participants in our events. Please register as soon as possible if you will require an accommodation to participate.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this webinar, please follow this link to email Miranda or call her at 269-345-1516 x120.

Webinar: Accessibility in the Wild: An Introduction to Physical Accessibility
2026-03-10 10:00 - 11:30
This workshop is a practical introduction to understanding and improving accessibility in your community spaces, programs, and services. Participants will learn basic concepts of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including how accessibility applies to entrances, doors, paths of travel, service counters, signage, parking, and more. Through real-world examples and simple tips, attendees will gain insight into common barriers and learn small but meaningful ways to make spaces more inclusive. The session will also highlight how Disability Network Southwest Michigan can support you in making your spaces accessible to everyone. No prior experience is needed—this session is for anyone who cares about creating welcoming, accessible spaces for all community members.

This event is being offered online at the following times:

Tuesday, March 10, 2026, from 10:00 to 11:30 AM – (Click here to register)

Thursday, March 26, 2026, from 1:30 to 3:00 PM – (Click here to register)

Disability Network Southwest Michigan believes all people deserve full access and inclusion in our programs and services and will make every effort to secure necessary accommodations for participants in our events. Please register as soon as possible if you will require an accommodation to participate.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this webinar, please follow this link to email Miranda or call her at 269-345-1516 x120.

Webinar: Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities
2026-03-11 13:30 - 15:00
In this presentation, learn how to make an emergency plan for your household. Everyone needs to prepare for emergencies, yet most of us don’t think about it until we are in crisis mode. Whether an emergency forces you to leave your home or stay in it, you can feel secure knowing you have a plan.

This webinar will take place at the following times:

Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at 1:30 to 3:00 PM — (Click here to register)

Disability Network Southwest Michigan believes all people deserve full access and inclusion in our programs and services and will make every effort to secure necessary accommodations for participants in our events. Please register as soon as possible if you will require an accommodation to participate.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this webinar, please follow this link to email Miranda or call her at 269-345-1516 x120.

Webinar: Understanding Social Security Benefits
2026-03-17 15:00 - 16:30
Parents and guardians often feel lost when it comes to navigating Social Security disability benefits for their loved one with a disability. This training will provide an overview of the two Social Security disability benefit programs – Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) – which can provide financial support to individuals with disabilities. Presenters will touch on the benefit application process, important factors around turning age 18, the impact of parental income/assets, and the myth that people receiving benefits can’t hold employment to reach further financial security.

This event is offered at the following times:

Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 3:00 to 4:30 PM — (Click here to register)

Participation in this event is available through an internet connection. Disability Network Southwest Michigan believes all people deserve full access and inclusion in our programs and services and will make every effort to secure necessary accommodations for participants in our events. Please register as soon as possible if you will require an accommodation to participate.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this webinar, please follow this link to email Miranda or call her at 269-345-1516 x120.

Webinar: Accessibility in the Wild: An Introduction to Physical Accessibility
2026-03-26 13:30 - 15:00
This workshop is a practical introduction to understanding and improving accessibility in your community spaces, programs, and services. Participants will learn basic concepts of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including how accessibility applies to entrances, doors, paths of travel, service counters, signage, parking, and more. Through real-world examples and simple tips, attendees will gain insight into common barriers and learn small but meaningful ways to make spaces more inclusive. The session will also highlight how Disability Network Southwest Michigan can support you in making your spaces accessible to everyone. No prior experience is needed—this session is for anyone who cares about creating welcoming, accessible spaces for all community members.

This event is being offered online at the following time:

Thursday, March 26, 2026, from 1:30 to 3:00 PM – (Click here to register)

Disability Network Southwest Michigan believes all people deserve full access and inclusion in our programs and services and will make every effort to secure necessary accommodations for participants in our events. Please register as soon as possible if you will require an accommodation to participate.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this webinar, please follow this link to email Miranda or call her at 269-345-1516 x120.
