Disability Network Southwest Michigan

Join Us! ADA Event: Americans with Disabilities Act Celebration
2024-07-29 11:30 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | MI
This year marks 34 years since the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, also known as the ADA. The ADA is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in everyday activities. The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability just as other civil rights laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. The ADA guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to enjoy employment opportunities, purchase goods and services, and participate in state and local government programs.

This event will offer a BBQ lunch, including vegetarian and gluten-free options. Zot Artz will facilitate inclusive art projects using adaptive tools for people with disabilities of all ages. A short program with comments from Disability Network President & CEO, Yvonne Fleener, will take place.

Feel free to bring guests as all are welcome. We look forward to spending time with you!

Register Here

Autistic Adult Peer Support - Tuesday
2024-01-16 10:00 - 11:30
This group provides an opportunity for Autistic adults to enjoy authentic social interactions and build genuine friendships in a safe and non-judgmental space. All Autistic adults are welcome to attend, including self-diagnosed Autistics and those who were previously diagnosed with Asperger’s or PDD.

Meetings are held online using Zoom. Follow this link for further details on the Autistic Adult Peer Support Group and to complete registration.

For more information email Max or call them at 269-345-1516 x 126.

Autistic Adult Peer Support - Thursday
2024-01-11 18:00 - 19:00

Webinar: Disability Language & Etiquette
2024-08-15 10:00 - 11:30
The language we use is powerful and can reveal hidden assumptions we might not realize we have. Our words can be hurtful even when well-intended. This workshop challenges assumptions about what it means to have a disability. Participants will be able to explore new ideas and ask questions in a safe environment.

This event is being offered online at the following times:

Thursday, August 15, 2024 at 10:00 to 11:30 AM — (Click here to register)

Tuesday, August 27, 2024 at 1:30 to 3:00 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.

PtW: The Power of Disability Language
2024-08-20 12:00 - 13:30
This presentation is intended for families/guardians.

Language is more than just a form of communication. It shapes the way we think and shows how we view others. The language we use can enforce stereotypes or create inclusion and equality. In this presentation, we will talk about how you can use powerful disability language to model disability as human diversity and not something that is wrong, broken, or needs to be changed.

This event is presented by Miranda Grunwell of Disability Network Southwest Michigan on:

August 20, 2024 at 12:00 to 1:30 PM — Click here to register

The Power of Disability Language is part of our Paving the Way to Self Determination training series. Be sure to check out the other Paving the Way events HERE!

Webinar: Ableism 101
2024-09-10 13:30 - 16:30
Ableism 101: Everything you know about disability is (probably) wrong!

In its simplest form, ableism is the belief system that tells us it is better to be non-disabled than it is to be disabled. Ableism also examines disability discrimination on a systemic level by looking at the ways our society designs physically and socially segregated systems.

In this Ableism 101 workshop, we will introduce the basic concepts of ableism and explore how the language we use around disability can either support equality or perpetuate stigma. Participants will be challenged to identify their own unconscious bias around disability. Come learn how to support the disability rights movement in Southwest Michigan.

This webinar will be offered at the following times:

Tuesday, September 10, 2024 at 1:30 to 4:30 PM — (Click here to register)

Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at 9:00 AM to 12:00 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.

PtW: Preparing Your Child for Employment (Long Before Employment!)
2024-09-12 09:30 - 11:00
This presentation is intended for families/guardians.

Many parents worry about the employment future of their child with a disability. This training, led by staff who spent years removing barriers to employment for young adults, will focus on important independent living and pre-employment skills that you can help your child start building in their early years in preparation for a successful and fulfilling work life in the future!

This event is presented by Mary Fortney of Disability Network Southwest Michigan on:

September 12, 2024 at 9:30 to 11:00 AM — Click here to register

Preparing Your Child for Employment (Long Before Employment!) is part of our Paving the Way to Self Determination training series. Be sure to check out the other Paving the Way events HERE!

Webinar: Ableism 101
2024-09-18 09:00 - 12:00
Ableism 101: Everything you know about disability is (probably) wrong!

In its simplest form, ableism is the belief system that tells us it is better to be non-disabled than it is to be disabled. Ableism also examines disability discrimination on a systemic level by looking at the ways our society designs physically and socially segregated systems.

In this Ableism 101 workshop, we will introduce the basic concepts of ableism and explore how the language we use around disability can either support equality or perpetuate stigma. Participants will be challenged to identify their own unconscious bias around disability. Come learn how to support the disability rights movement in Southwest Michigan.

This webinar will be offered at the following times:

Thursday, November 7, 2024 at 9:00 AM to 12:00 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.

PtW: Building Resilience
2024-09-24 09:30 - 11:00
This presentation is intended for families/guardians.

How do we help children with the skills they need to not just survive, but thrive? Being a caretaker is hard work and at times overwhelming. A caring and resilient adult’s role is crucial in the formation of a resilient child. In this course, we will identify the skills that go into becoming a resilient adult, how to instill that resilience in our children, provide some scientific insights, and provide some practical tools and resources.

This event is presented by Anne Kooy of Disability Network Southwest Michigan on:

September 24, 2024 at 9:30 to 11:00 AM — Click here to register

Building Resilience is part of our Paving the Way to Self Determination training series. Be sure to check out the other Paving the Way events HERE!

Webinar: Confronting Domestic Violence Through Disability-Inclusive Strategies (Quarterly Special Event!)
2024-10-16 10:00 - 12:00
This presentation highlights the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in domestic violence situations, as well as the ways that domestic violence can itself be disabling. It explores the definition of domestic violence through a disability lens, emphasizing the prevalence and consequences of intimate partner violence, child abuse, and caretaker abuse and neglect. Accessibility is discussed, focusing on safe environments and resource availability, including service animals. The presentation concludes with strategies for disability-inclusive advocacy, urging communities and service providers to adopt inclusive approaches to protect and support individuals with disabilities.

This webinar will be offered at the following times:

Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM — (Click here to register)

Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at 2:00 to 4:00 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.

PtW: The Basics of Supported Decision Making
2024-10-21 15:30 - 17:00
This presentation is intended for families/guardians.

Every adult has the right to make life decisions, to direct their life and to be treated with dignity, as an autonomous adult. All adults need and get advice and counsel when making different life decisions. Many options, other than guardianship, are available to provide counsel, guidance, and assistance with making decisions. Person Centered Planning and Self-Determination require that adults with disabilities are respected and honored to make life decisions with the support and counsel they need to remain as independent and autonomous as possible. This presentation will discuss tools, that can be used to support people in decision-making while retaining their rights.

This event is presented by Mary Shehan of The Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council on:

Monday, October 21, 2024 at 3:30 to 5:00 PM — Click here to register

The Basics of Supported Decision Making is part of our Paving the Way to Self Determination training series. Be sure to check out the other Paving the Way events HERE!

PtW: IEP - A Closer Look
2024-10-23 15:30 - 17:00
This presentation is intended for families/guardians.

This workshop will help you take a more in-depth look at the core areas of the IEP and prioritize your greatest concerns. You will learn how to address concerns through the IEP process and improve your ability to have productive conversations.

This event is presented by Stephanie Nicholls of Michigan Alliance for Families on:

Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at 3:30 to 5:00 PM — Click here to register

IEP – A Closer Look is part of our Paving the Way to Self Determination training series. Be sure to check out the other Paving the Way events HERE!

Webinar: Confronting Domestic Violence Through Disability-Inclusive Strategies (Quarterly Special Event!)
2024-10-29 14:00 - 16:00
This presentation highlights the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in domestic violence situations, as well as the ways that domestic violence can itself be disabling. It explores the definition of domestic violence through a disability lens, emphasizing the prevalence and consequences of intimate partner violence, child abuse, and caretaker abuse and neglect. Accessibility is discussed, focusing on safe environments and resource availability, including service animals. The presentation concludes with strategies for disability-inclusive advocacy, urging communities and service providers to adopt inclusive approaches to protect and support individuals with disabilities.

This webinar will be offered at the following time:

Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at 2:00 to 4:00 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.

PtW: The Importance of Sexuality Education for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
2024-11-04 15:30 - 17:00
This presentation is intended for families/guardians.

The lack of sexuality and relationship education for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities can lead to high rates of abuse, being charged with sex crimes, unplanned pregnancies, and sexually transmitted infections. Explore the importance of building sexual self-advocacy skills and how to support, educate, and empower individuals with I/DD to become sexual self-advocates.

Presented by Mary Shehan of The Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council on:

Monday, November 4, 2024 at 3:30 to 5:00 PM — Click here to register

The Importance of Sexuality Education for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities is part of our Paving the Way to Self Determination training series. Be sure to check out the other Paving the Way events HERE!
