Inside a garage, sparks are flying while Flint-area students are transforming a rusted-out shell of a 1934 Nash into a thing of beauty.

   Beauty is a relative term.

   The students with disabilities are part of a summer-camp called Detroit Muscle Driven, sponsored by the Disability Network and Detroit Muscle.

 It’s a follow-up to the successful Wrenching for the Future program where students create a “rat rod”, a drivable, garage sale on wheels. It’s one part welding lesson, one part camaraderie and 2 parts creativity.

   42 year old Mike Chamber of Corunna says he’s participating to learn how to be a welder and that he ‘likes to grind”.

   The leader of the program is Richard Fruin, who’s become sort of a godfather of rat rods. Fruin has a national following, especially in Midwest states including Nebraska. He says he’s being inducted into the Rat Rod Hall of Fame. (yes there is one)

   He’s shepherding the work by the students on what will be called The Nasty Ash Rat, a Nash convertible. He expects to display the vehicle at this year’s Back to the Bricks in August.

Sixteen-year-old Mimi Lucio, a junior at a local high school, says she just learned not to share personal information on Instagram. Lucio is one of about a dozen Genesee County youth who learned about digital citizenship during a special presentation during “Camp of Life”. It’s a two-week summer camp for students with disabilities hosted by The Disability Network. 

These teens from across the county are building friendships, learning new skills, and having fun in an inclusive environment. They are learning independent living skills and recreation activities that will follow them into adulthood.

Camp leader, Meghan Slaght,  says they’re also learning about gardening, how to shop for groceries, and cooking. They’ll also learn emergency care from a nurse. Later, they’ll operate a kayak on a Clio-area lake. 

Lucio, who wants to get into cosmetology, says the camp is a cool way to relax, make friends and meet new people.

Things are getting busier at The Disability Network, and we’re experiencing a need for friendly help around the office and at upcoming community events. All volunteer positions are listed on the United Way’s Genesee Serves volunteer website. If you would like to request to volunteer by phone, please call 810-742-1800.

• Temporary Ramp Installation Volunteer
  The Disability Network is looking for a part-time volunteer to assist with the agencies’ temporary ramp program. The agency has temporary ramps that are installed in homes for free throughout Genesee County for a period of up to three months. The volunteer would need to survey the house and install the temporary ramp, plus pick up the ramp after the borrower is finished or upon the three-month limit. The ramps are made of aluminum and can be picked up relatively easily.

To learn more about the ramp volunteer position, visit Genesee Serves.

• Inclusive Kayaking (iKayak) Volunteer
  Want to volunteer for our iKayak Inclusive Kayaking program?  No prior kayaking experience required! Join us for our Volunteer Training Day to learn more about accessible kayaking and adaptive recreation. Our inclusive Kayaking Program provides an opportunity for people with disabilities to participate in adaptive kayaking on beautiful Buell Lake. Equipment, training, and 1:1 support included!

To learn more about the kayak volunteer position, visit Genesee Serves

• ADA Day Picnic Volunteer
  There are a lot of volunteer opportunities available in all different stations of the event such as registration, face painting, popcorn, games, parking lot… We will do our best to assign you to a location you find fun and rewarding.

To learn more about the ADA Day picnic volunteer position, visit Genesee Serves.

• Over the Edge Event Volunteer
  TDN is raising funds by partnering with Over the Edge to give people the chance to rappel down the Durant Luxury Apartments on Saturday, August 21st! The success of this event relies on help from volunteers like you! We have a variety of opportunities available: registration, parking, on the group hype person, and much, much more! Volunteers needed on Friday, 8/20/21 3 PM-8 PM & Saturday, 8/21/21 7 AM-5 PM.

To learn more about the Over the Edge event volunteer position, visit Genesee Serves.

• Over the Edge Rope Volunteer
  Previous experience with rope safety systems (ropes course facilitation, rock climbing instruction, high angle rescue, industrial rope access, etc.) is preferred but NOT required. Rope Volunteer Training: Friday, 8/20/21 1 PM-4 PM. Volunteers needed: Friday, 8/20/21 4 PM-8 PM & Saturday, 8/21/21 7 AM-4 PM.

To learn more about the Over the Edge rope volunteer position, visit Genesee Serves.

New Sessions for TDN Connect

TDN Connect continues with fun programming and new workshops this spring and
summer. The program is designed to connect people and provide a way to learn new skills and independent living completely online. People interested need only a phone, tablet, or computer and internet access to attend. All classes are offered through Zoom.

Many of the programs remain the same, including cooking, exercise, and a book club. Creative writing
sessions have been added along with new crafts for the upcoming months.

Programming includes: Cooking, Energize with Exercise, Crafting Club, Beyond the Book Club, Mental Health Check-Ins, Creative and adaptive writing

Recreation In Person

Do you like drawing or painting? Have you always wanted to kayak down the river on a warm, summer day? The Disability Network is offering two classes in person this spring and summer. Expressions: Inclusive Art Class is held at Flint Institute of Arts and introduces artists to different mediums and techniques. Classes run the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM.

Our inclusive kayaking program, iKayak, provides an opportunity for people s to participate in adaptive kayaking on beautiful Buell Lake. Equipment, training, and 1:1 support included! These are small classes to help ensure safety and social distancing. Masks will be worn for in-person events.

Contact Carrie Gerdeman at 810-742-1800 or carrieg@disnetwork.org to sign up!

The Disability Network can now register people with disabilities in Genesee County, over the age of 18, for the COVID-19 vaccine. People interested can call TDN at 810-742-1800 or send a text to (855) 516-2789 and an employee will assist with registration.

The Disability Network is working with the Genesee County Health Department to help get as many eligible people vaccinated as possible.

Bishop International Airport will act as a vaccination site for those registered through TDN. Individuals will receive an email confirmation and a text reminder of their appointment.

On March 12, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced expanded access to the vaccine to individuals with disabilities or underlying health conditions for people over the age of 16 beginning on March 22. Read more from the state regarding this expansion in the following article, Michigan Expanding Access to Safe, Effective COVID-19 Vaccine to Michiganders Ages 16 and Older with Medical Conditions, Disabilities Starting March 22

Are you ready for the ultimate accessible adventure of the summer?

It’s back! Coming this August to the Durant Luxury Apartments in downtown Flint, Over the Edge returns for its fourth year.

Registration for Over the Edge is open and all registration fees are waived this year.

The Disability Network has a big announcement planned for April — check back for details!

TDN Connect, a new multi-faceted virtual program offered by The Disability Network, is designed to help people learn new independent living skills by inviting them to participate in recreation and leisure programs completely online. The program kicked-off late last year with virtual cooking classes but has expanded for 2021.

TDN’s Health & Recreation Specialist, Amario Payton-Rice, took individuals and the community into consideration when developing the new series, “TDN consumer needs are of high priority when developing programs, we considered virtual activities that our consumers enjoy and began developing the programs.”

“Virtual connection opportunities offer consumers a chance to meet and participate in activities while currently sheltering in place. It reduces boredom/loneliness while helping individuals discover fun, leisure, and recreational activities.” – Health & Recreation Specialist, Amario Payton-Rice

Scheduled to start this month, this year’s programming includes adaptive cooking, exercise, crafting, a book club, and mental health check-ins with tips & techniques.

• Adaptive Cooking – “A Taste of Independence” is a virtual, adaptive cooking program designed to help individuals navigate the kitchen easier, as well as share their unique cooking experiences with their peers.

• Energize with Exercise – Though a partnership with Valley Area on Aging, individuals are able to participate in a seated workout program designed to help you get active and moving. The focus areas will be alleviating symptoms of arthritis, as well as improving balance, coordination, and core stability.

• Crafting Club – A program designed to get your creative juices flowing. This includes holiday-themed activities, as well as crafts that will help you find joy and contentment in your leisure time.

• Beyond the Book Club – “Reading a book is like re-writing the story for yourself.” This program is designed to promote meaningful conversations that go beyond the words written on a page. This program will help you reflect on your own personal experiences while learning to empathize with the experiences of others.

• Mental Health Check-Ins – This is an open environment designed to help you learn tips & techniques on how to navigate the ups and downs of life. If you’re looking for a safe space to share your sentiments, manage stress, or ideas on how to respond to traumatic events then this program is for you! This program will be facilitated by a Master level Social Worker and a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist.

To view the schedule of TDN Connect sessions, please visit our calendar or visit the TDN Connect Program page to learn more about our programs.

If you are not registered for a program or if you would like to register for additional programs, please contact the Health & Recreation Specialist, Amario Payton-Rice at Amarior@disnetwork.org or at (734) 905-2859.

On January 28, 2021, The Disability Network cosigned a letter to the state, along with the other centers for independent living across the state, to advocate for vaccine priorities. The entirety of the letter can be found below.

January 28, 2021

The Honorable Gretchen Whitmer Governor of Michigan
P.O. Box 30013
Lansing, MI 48909

Dear Governor Whitmer,

On behalf of the 1.9 million Michigan residents with disabilities, Disability Network of Michigan (DNM) is requesting a review of the current policies for the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and the supports for this process that are being planned.

DNM asks of the Governor and MDHHS Director that:

1. Prioritization of all people with disabilities age 16 to 64 is changed from Phase 1C to 1B.
2. All materials involved in the vaccine registration process are accessible to those with disabilities.
3. All vaccine distribution sites need to be fully accessible and accommodating to persons with disabilities.
4. A prioritization schedule process is considered that does not require a person to prove their disability when they are already receiving services through a program where disability eligibility is already determined.
5. All healthcare workers are encouraged to receive the vaccine to protect patients with disabilities as well as receive implicit bias training to ensure equal access to quality, in-person care.
6. Funding for grassroots vaccine outreach and education.

Though DNM recognizes these concerns may have been previously considered, we believe it is imperative to re-assess these critical issues.

1. DNM asks that prioritization of all people with disabilities age 16 to 64 be changed from Phase 1C to 1B, whether they live in congregate care settings or not. Based on current estimates, those in Phase 1C may not receive the vaccine until May 1 which exposes vulnerable people to further health issues and risk of death.  All individuals with disabilities should be considered a part of the high risk group and part of the Phase 1B due to their vulnerable conditions. Twelve states have already recognized this heightened risk of death and included people with high-risk medical conditions in Phase 1B. To delay this prioritization will put lives at risk.
2. DNM would ask that the vaccine registration process be accessible to those with disabilities (including but not limited to learning and visual disabilities). We further ask MDHHS and local health departments to consider the barrier posed by computers being the dominant way to access vaccination registration and the unintentional effect and barrier this may have on vaccination delivery. It is critical to promote other options more widely and to provide alternatives. Without increased access, the critical issues we address below will become even more critical.
3. Once people have been granted permission to the vaccine it is important to consider the accessibility of the sites where vaccines will be delivered. All vaccine distribution sites need to be fully accessible and accommodating within the Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. Medical staff should be prepared to accommodate individuals who will be passengers in an accessible vehicle. In addition, home/mobile vaccination options must be developed as quickly as possible to avoid costly options such as ambucabs and ambulance rides to in order to receive the vaccine. CDC recommendations on vaccine distribution include suggestions for these scenarios and are available here: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/implementation-strategies.html.
4. People with disabilities who receive Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) through MI Choice Waiver Programs, the Home Help Services (HHS) program through MDHHS, the Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), and high school students or young adults age 16 and older who receive special education services, have already had their disability or underlying medical conditions determined to be served by these programs. We urge those who set the vaccine priority phases and the county-level health officials to use these already qualified statuses to determine eligibility in Phase 1B.  Persons with disabilities aged 16-64 should be able to request prioritization, through a current or previous medical provider. Persons without doctors or who are not signed up with the programs listed above should be allowed to confirm their disability status in another manner.  
5. DNM further requests all healthcare workers be strongly encouraged to receive the vaccine to protect patients with disabilities as well as receive implicit bias training to ensure equal access to quality, in-person care. While Michigan has prioritized vaccine distribution to those who work in congregate living settings such as group homes and nursing homes, we must also focus on parents and guardians as well. These persons, while not employed outside the home as caregivers, are clearly as essential to our community’s well-being as those who are employed in these critical roles and represent the same risk of infecting those they care for.
6. While DNM applauds the recent leadership by the state to engage the public through trusted community leader forums, DNM feels the effort must go further. Funding for grassroots vaccine outreach and education would allow our collective teams to fully engage in the process of promoting vaccination and helping more Michiganders obtain them.  DNM encompasses fifteen Centers for Independent Living (CILs) across the state, all uniquely situated to engage and build trust for segments of our population that may be hesitant to the vaccination.  CILs are community-based organizations, providing services to all disability types and all ages.  We are often the first stop for people with disabilities and their families.  Additionally, the majority of our collective staff are people with disabilities so local communities often view CILs as an approachable and dependable source of information.

We want to thank you for the consideration of these important issues and strongly encourage you to adopt them so that all Michiganders can be best served.

Respectfully Submitted,

Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living
Blue Water Center for Independent Living
Disability Advocates of Kent County
disABILITY Connections
Disability Network/Capital Area
Disability Network/Flint & Genesee
Disability Network/Lakeshore
Disability Network of Mid-Michigan
Disability Network/Northern Michigan
Disability Network/Oakland & Macomb
Disability Network Southwest Michigan
Disability Network Southwest Michigan/Berrien and Cass
Disability Network/Wayne County-Detroit
Disability Network West Michigan
Superior Alliance for Independent Living
Disability Network/Michigan

The Disability Network will be launching a campaign this year featuring our very own community. We are seeking individuals and families throughout Genesee County who are interested in sharing their stories and are comfortable being in front of a camera. The campaign will feature local residents with disabilities sharing their own stories with pride and in their own words. Disabilities are more than we think.

Our community is diverse and comprised of visible and invisible disabilities. Let’s tell people who we are. ❤️

Please fill out the form (external link opens in a new tab) and someone will follow up with you soon. If you have any issues completing the form below, you may send an email to tdn@disnetwork.org with your name and contact information. You can also call or text 810-444-7459.

For questions about The Disability Network or this campaign, send an email to tdn@disnetwork.org.

We asked The Disability Network staff to name a few of their favorite things (and people) here at TDN. We will be sharing these stories and photos all way into 2021. From kayaking to sandwiches, to partners and magic, there are a lot of favorites at TDN — these are just a few!

If you have a favorite TDN thing, please share on social media using this hashtag #TDNFavorite. You can also send an email to tdn@disnetwork.org to share your favorite thing!

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