Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan, through a grant from Lundbeck, is pleased to offer two FREE six-week art therapy programs for adults with epilepsy called Studio E. Through this program you’ll...

• work with art therapists and other people with epilepsy in a group setting to create artistic pieces using a variety of mediums
• strengthen your artistic voice and learn from others in an open, welcoming environment
• express emotions about epilepsy that may be difficult to explain to others
• help to raise awareness about the realities of life with epilepsy (if you choose to share your artwork)

DETROIT

WHEN:  Every Monday, from June 3 - July 8, 2013, from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm.

WHERE:  1 Ford Place, Detroit, MI 48202, Room 3C00 (3rd Floor Conference Room)      Directions

HOW:  Contact  (800-377-6226 ext. 1302) to register. The registration deadline is May 27, 2013.


GRAND RAPIDS

WHEN:  Every Monday, from July 15 - August 19, 2013, from 4:00 - 7:00 pm

WHERE:  Grand Rapids location to be determined

HOW:  Contact   (800-377-6226 ext. 1302) to register. The registration deadline is July 8, 2013.

 MI SIBS (Michigan Supporting and Including Brothers and Sisters) is online at www.misibs.org and on Facebook.  An organizing group is meeting next Tuesday, May 14th at Claddaugh Irish Pub (17800 Haggerty Rd., Livonia).  The meeting will focus on organizing future events and activities.  For more information or to register visit www.misibs.org.  To help with planning the Fall conference contact Angela Martin at angela.martin@wayne.edu or (313) 577-9470

 Life Without Limits Through Assistive Technology Conference
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Detroit-Dearborn
5801 Southfield Expressway, Detroit

Breakout Sessions to include:
iPad Accessibility Features
Universal Design for Learning
Home Modifications
Proper Wheelchair Seating
Michigan Assistive Technology Loan Fund Application Process
AT pioneer RJ Cooper via the Internet
Comprehensive Automotive Solutions
Seating and Positioning
Assistive Technology Demonstration

Conference Cost: $30.00 per person
Limited scholarships available for persons with disabilities & family members
Make checks payable to: UCP/Detroit
23077 Greenfield Rd. Suite 205
Southfield MI 48075

RSVP Today!
Call to register today or for more information at (248)557-5070

Come join in the fun at the United Cerebral Palsy of Michigan Charity Golf Outing! Friday June 21st at the Majestic Golf Course in Hartland. 
18 Holes Championship Golf w/ Cart
Gift Bag at Registration
Box Lunch
Men’s/Women’s Longest Drive
Closest to Pin
Longest Putt
Putting Competition prior to Outing
Raffle
Guest Speaker from United Cerebral Palsy of Michigan
Door Prizes
Tons of Fun!!
Full BBQ Style Dinner
Register here: http://www.cpgolf.org/Home_Page.html

My Child Without Limits has partnered with Dr. Lisa Samson-Fang to update medical information on the website.  This site is a wealth of information to help you understand, plan and act on your child's future.  To use the resources, start here: http://www.mychildwithoutlimits.org/about/how-to-use-this-site/

 Proposed changes to Do Not Resuscitate orders particularly as they affect people with guardians: HB 4382, 4383, 4384

These bills would authorize guardians to issue do not resuscitate orders for wards.   They are very broad reaching and do NOT require that the ward be terminal or comatose.   Thus a ward could have a DNR order, have a the flu or have a heart attack or stroke and would not be revived.  Advocates for people with disabilities are opposing the changes or seeking to amend the bills to require that two doctors would be needed to indicate that the person for whom a DNR order could be signed by a guardian must be eligible for Hospice care (not expected to live for six months).  

If you are concerned with this issue contact your legislator.   http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(0w0ipwrq2oko0c45z0zfyca0))/mileg.aspx?page=GetObject&objectname=2013-HB-4382

Visit the Michigan for Consumers for Healthcare website to learn more an to contact your legislator!  Without Medicaid expansion, more than half of Michigan's uninsured residents will be without coverage.

Camp Discovery 
June 23 - June 27, 2013
Augusta, MI  49012

MISIBS is the newest state chapter to join the National Sibling Leadership Network (SLN) and groundwork is being laid in Kent County for active local involvement of siblings in ensuring the full inclusion of their brothers and sisters in all aspects of community life. Like the SLN, MISIBS plans to provide siblings of individuals with disabilities the information, support, and tools to advocate with their brothers and sisters and to promote the issues important to them and their entire families.

See attached flier for details on their first gathering this Thursday, October 18th.

Traverse City students Ellen Selby and Ava Warren read a book recommended by their teacher Megan Hancock this past spring.    

The book, "Out of My Mind," by Coretta Scott King Award-winning author, Sharon Draper, was an inspiration for much more than book reports for these young readers.

Inspired by the book's main character, Melody, Ellen and Ava came away from their reading with a desire to do something to help improve the life of people with cerebral palsy.

In the story, Melody, about the same age as Ellen and Ava, lives with cerebral palsy and cannot walk or talk.  Though she has a photographic memory and is a smart child most people don't have an inkling of who she really is.  

The world begins to finally open up for her, when she discovers she can communicate through a computer.  Ellen and Ava said they were surprised at how patient and forgiving Melody was with people who misunderstood and mistreated her.

With the support of their teacher Ellen and Ava created a PowerPoint presentation to share with other classrooms at school.  With the help of the student body, teachers, and parents, the fourth graders raised $264.38 as a donation to United Cerebral Palsy of Michigan.

You can read more about Sharon Draper at :  SharonDraper.com

 The Michigan Stiltwalker is unable to complete his hundred mile journey today raising funds and awareness for Cerebral Palsy.   Neil Sauter started walking on Tuesday – World Cerebral Palsy Day – but had to cut short his quest yesterday when he had trouble with his stilts that caused him to fall.   Neil thanks everyone who visited with him during the journey and all the donors who together contributed $181 to United Cerebral Palsy of Michigan.  

Neil also thanks Up North Live http://www.upnorthlive.com/news/story.aspx?id=797876#.UEoE8bJmTas and WZZM Channel 13 in Grand Rapids   http://adacascade.wzzm13.com/news/news/73090-man-walking-grand-haven-lansing-stilts for reporting the story.

Ameriprise Senior Hockey Team Raises over $6500 for United Cerebral Palsy of Michigan

What do Hockey Players do in the summer?  They play golf and raise funds to support services that benefit people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities!   In June the Ameriprise Senior Hockey Team launched the first annual UCP Michigan golf Outing at Majestic Golf Course.   It was a beautiful June day and the golfers had a wonderful time on the course and at the dinner and raffle.   Special thanks to event organizers Jason Trzcinski and Matt Brown and the following event sponsors:

·         Ameriprise Financial Services

·         Grace & Porta

·         Ever So Green

·         24 Hour Vending

·         Duncan Chiropractic Group

·         Southfield Firefighters

·         HoneyBaked Ham

·         Gordinier Group

·         Dirt Designs

·         Jensen Industries

·         UHY

·         Huszti Dental

·         Lost Creek Woods

·         Lakeland Ice Arena

·         Golling Chrysler

·         Kathy’s kids Daycare

·         Premier Refrigeration

·         OmniSource

·         San Angelo Construction

·         Modern Floors

·         Dan Elden

·         D & D Bicycles

·         Success Mortgage Partners

·         Mike LaLone Well

·         Sposita

·         Honigam

·         JW Westcott

·         Centro Contstruction

·         Comeback Inn

·         Joe Kocur Foundation for Children

·         Barazsu & Cross

·         Petersen Insurance Agency

·         Bloomfield Township Plice Department

·         SDM Enterprises

·         Eagle Graphics

·         Black Velvet

Marcie Lipsitt, on behalf of the Michigan Alliance for Special Education, has organized a rally in Lansing on the main steps and grounds of the Capitol on August 29 at 4:30pm.

The rally is formally titled;

IEP Michigan Pre-Labor Day Rally; the Law, the Reality and the Dream

While there are many issues preventing Michigan students with IEPs from receiving a “free appropriate public education,” there are several that are devastating “all” students including those being exited from special education and those no longer being identified.

For more information, log in to Facebook and click on the image below

Work Incentive Planning Assistance Program Closed.
As of June 30, 2012 the Social Security Administration (SSA) has closed the Work Incentive Planning and Assistance programs across the country.  

Following June 30, 2012 if you have questions about SSA benefits or your public assistance benefits contact one of the organizations listed below.  It has been our privilege to provide you with Social Security work incentive and benefit consultation services.

Work Incentive Information:
Ticket to Work Call Center (866) 968-7842
Social Security Administration (800) 772-1213
Employment Help: Michigan Rehabilitation Services in your area
Michigan Commission for the Blind in your area
Community Mental Health in your area
Employment Networks in your area (you can get a list of these at https://yourtickettowork.com/web/ttw/home

 Michigan's Integrated Technology Supports (MITS) is excited to share information about the great sessions that will be taking place this summer at Blended Learning 2012 in Traverse City on June 18 - 20, 2012!

Topics Include:

iPad Sessions, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Assistive Technology, Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Technology to Support Struggling Students AND MANY OTHERS!! 

Cost:   $25 Students and Parents of Student(s) with Disabilities

$100 Educators (before $50 scholarship)

Scholarship Link: MITS/REMC Blended Learning Scholarship Application (http://goo.gl/KOjhS)

 Event details and registration can be found here: (http://mits.cenmi.org/Events/EventDetails/tabid/502/EventId/201/Default.aspx)

 See attached newsletter for events brought to you by the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living.

 United Cerebral Palsy Case for Inclusion 2012 Report

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) released The Case for Inclusion study May 23, 2012.  This annual report tracks the progress of community living standards for Americans living with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Michigan is ranked second best after Arizona.  UCP President & CEO Stephen Bennett said "The Case for Inclusion clearly identifies the states that are successful in providing the supports and services that people living with disabilities need, as well as states that are struggling."  

Access the full report at http://www.ucp.org/the-case-for-inclusion/2011/

SAVE THE DATE!

The Arc Michigan Annual Conference 

Keynote Speaker: Samuel Bagenstos

June 21st & 22nd

Radisson Hotel

111 N. Grand Avenue, Lansing, MI 48933

Visit http://www.arcmi.org/ for program schedule and to register