Disability Network Southwest Michigan

Don't let August slip by! ☀️ We've got a great lineup of opportunities to learn, connect, and engage this month, including webinars and our quarterly Book Club discussion.

Take a look at what's coming up and join us for one (or more!) events. We'd love to see you there!

🔗 Register for Understanding Hidden Disabilities: https://loom.ly/K79FTMA
🔗 More info on Book Club: https://loom.ly/cbgoJsk
🔗 Register for Supporting Autistic People: https://loom.ly/oGliZ14

ID: Text: Events this month. August. 11: Webinar: Understanding Hidden Disabilities, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM; 19*: Book Club, Authors of this quarter’s book selection "I Will Die on This Hill" will join the meeting virtually! 6:00 to 7:30 PM; 27: Webinar: Supporting Autistic People, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. *Indicates a Special Event.

: Every Wednesday, we share good things happening here at DNSWM and in our community.

Accessibility starts at the front door.

Last week, staff members Jackie and Hank had the honor of accepting a generous grant from Corewell Health Foundation Southwest Michigan in support of our Ramp Up program. This gift will be used in Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties. The funds will help provide ramps to increase safety, improve quality of life, and expand access for people throughout the community.

We're so thankful for organizations that recognize the importance of removing barriers and creating communities where everyone can be involved. Thank you, Corewell Health Foundation, for helping make Southwest Michigan more accessible!

ID 1: Staff members Jackie and Hank stand with three representatives from Corewell Health Foundation, holding a grant check supporting the Ramp Up program. Everyone is smiling.
ID 2: A group of 17 Corewell Health Foundation staff members and community grant recipients pose together in business attire with a large ceremonial check for $162,500 supporting community organizations.

: On Tuesdays we share a tip or fact about the to give better insight into who we are and what we stand for.

Today's tip is geared toward customer service and the business community, but applies to everyone.

Whether you're greeting someone at a business, helping a client, or assisting a community member, remember this: people with disabilities don't want pity. They want the same respect, courtesy, and quality service you'd offer anyone else. Offer assistance if it's needed, but don't assume it is.

Disability doesn't define a person's value. Kindness, dignity, and respect should never depend on disability status.

ID: DNSWM logo. Text: Tip Tuesday. Treat everyone as a valued customer; don’t treat people with disabilities with pity.

! Every first Monday of the month we'll introduce you to someone on our team. Today, we're introducing Miranda, Community Education Program Manager.

Before becoming our Community Education Program Manager, Miranda wore many DNSWM hats over the years. She's been an intern, Volunteer Coordinator, facilitator of the Brain Injury Survivors Peer Support Group, and is currently the lead coordinator for the annual ADA Celebration. This year she celebrated her 18th year at DNSWM!

From service animals to voting rights and beyond, Miranda has a wealth of knowledge across many disability-related topics. She combines her lived experience as a person with a disability with many years of facilitating DNSWM trainings to educate and connect with individuals, nonprofits, and businesses alike. Plus, she keeps our presentations new and fresh based on community feedback. She's incredibly organized, always on top of things, and if you ever need help, she's typically the first to jump in.

One of the most important parts of the Community Ed team is helping people better understand disability, accessibility, and the experiences of the Disability Community. This knowledge creates real, meaningful change. Thanks for all you do, Miranda! Your dedication and passion have helped shape DNSWM and the communities we serve.

ID: Miranda, a woman with brown curly hair wearing glasses and a blue shirt, standing in front of a body of water and a large bridge. Text: Spotlight on Our Dedicated Team. Miranda Grunwell, Community Education Program Manager. “I love providing education to our community and creating opportunities like our ADA Celebration to celebrate Disability Pride.”

Well done, Disney! Authentic representation informed by lived experience is eve👏🏽ry👏🏾thing👏🏾!

We especially love that this character is introducing the concept of Autism at such an early age - and not just for one episode! Understanding that people with Autism do exist and are a regular part of many families has the power to change the trajectory of how a child understands concepts of disability and inclusion for the rest of their life.

‘BeBe Proud’ has been part of the Proud family since the original series. He isn’t a new character brought in for a special episode. He’s the baby of the house, one of the twins, someone viewers have known for years.

Now he has an autism diagnosis.

The creators said they specifically didn’t want to bring in an autistic guest character who shows up, teaches everyone a lesson, and disappears by the credits. BeBe is family. He was always family. The diagnosis is part of his story now, not the whole of it.

And they cast an autistic child to voice him. Aiden Dodson is autistic himself, playing an autistic character on Disney, which is still rarer than it should be. Holly Robinson Peete, who has been open for years about raising an autistic son, voices the doctor who delivers the diagnosis.

Here’s why this lands. Somewhere right now there’s a Black autistic kid watching a show his whole family already loves, and seeing a character who is like him, voiced by someone like him, staying right where he belongs.

Not a lesson. Not a very special episode.

Just family.

Source: Disney, Parents

July has flown by! Today is the last day of Disability Pride Month, but the conversation continues.

July reminded us what happens when people come together: more conversations, more connections, and more opportunities for change.

This year’s ADA Celebration was our largest yet, bringing together 300+ people. We also saw our campaign reach more people than ever before, reminding us that conversations about disability MATTER.

True change requires collective action and a shared voice. 🖤🤍

Thank you for showing up, sharing our message, and helping us work toward our vision: a fully accessible community where disability is valued as human diversity and everyone belongs.

Ps. Don't forget, disability is not uncommon!

ID: Bold white text on a black background. Text: Disability exists in every family, workplace, community. : Disability is not uncommon.

: On Thursdays we highlight something or someone we're thankful for.

Today we're feeling especially grateful for the sponsors of last week's ADA Celebration, who helped make it all possible. Your support helped create an event where people with disabilities could gather in a safe, accessible space and connect with each other and with community organizations.

Thank you, Kalsec, Bronson Healthcare, and Consumers Energy for believing in our mission and investing in a more accessible Southwest Michigan. We couldn't do it without you! 🫶

Every ADA Celebration is a reminder that meaningful change happens when communities come together. We are grateful to our ADA Celebration event sponsors for helping create an event that honors the past, celebrates the present, and looks toward a better future.

A huge thank you to Kalsec, Bronson Healthcare, and Consumers Energy Helping Neighbors Program, for standing with the and helping make this celebration a success. 🎉 We couldn't do it without you!

ID: Logos for Kalsec, Bronson Healthcare, and Consumers Energy on a background image of attendees gathering at last year's ADA Celebration. Text: Thank you to our sponsors!

Looking for something to do this weekend?

Michigan DNR is looking for help pulling spotted knapweed in their prairie restoration area in Augusta! This disability-friendly workday is at Fort Custer Recreation Area, Whitford Lake, from 12:00 - 2:00 PM on Saturday, August 1. The DNR will do their best to fulfill all accommodation requests. The work site includes direct sun and areas of uneven or partially unstable ground, so please plan accordingly.

Donate your time, make a difference, and get a free t-shirt!
Register here: https://loom.ly/qjIdziA

For accommodation requests, contact Michelle OKelly at [email protected].

ID: Two people working outdoors in a large field with trees behind them. Michigan Department of Natural Resources logo. Text: Accessible Volunteer Opportunity!

: Every Wednesday, we share good things happening here at DN and in our community.

Last Friday our community came together to celebrate the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and 45 years of Disability Network Southwest Michigan, and what a day it was! 🎉

More than 300 people joined us to connect, create, and celebrate alongside over 45 community organizations holding resource tables, talented artists and makers with disabilities, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters.

Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, sponsored, and helped make this our biggest ADA Celebration yet. Your support is helping build a community where everyone belongs. 💙☀️🍽️

Check out some of our favorite moments of the day! IDs are in the caption for each image.

: On Tuesdays we share a tip or fact about the to give better insight into who we are and what we stand for.

Did you know that disability is the largest minority group worldwide? That's one reason the Disability Pride Flag is so meaningful. Created by and for the Disability Community, it celebrates the diversity, strength, contributions, and resilience of disabled people around the world.

Each color has a purpose:
❤️ Red: Physical disabilities
💛 Gold: Neurodiversity
🤍 White: Invisible and undiagnosed disabilities
💙 Blue: Psychiatric disabilities and mental illness
💚 Green: Sensory disabilities
The faded black background honors those who have experienced ableism and violence, while the diagonal stripes symbolize disabled people breaking through barriers.

The Disability Pride Flag reflects the many identities, experiences, and stories that make up the Disability Community.

ID 1: The disability pride flag (muted red, gold, white, blue, and green stripes running diagonally from top left to bottom right on a muted black background). DNSWM logo. Text: : Disability is not uncommon.
ID 2: White text on a black background: Disability is the largest minority group worldwide. : Disability is not uncommon.