Celebrating 25 years of Progress

On October 16th, 2006, DAKC began celebrating its 25th Anniversary on a grand scale. The air was charged with energy and excitement. Renowned news journalist and EGR native, John Hockenberry was the main attraction for the event. Not only did John address the Grand Rapids Economic Club at lunch, he also inspired the DAKC crowd at DeVos Place the same evening. Thank you to all those who planned, attended and participated in making DAKC’s 25th Anniversary gala an unforgettable evening. More photos located on page 2.

Anniversary of Transit Summit Fires Up Community
by David Bulkowski

On Monday, October 23, 2006, almost 90 people came out to celebrate a year’s worth of hard work. Fr. Mark Przybysz of Faith In Motion & St. Anthony’s did his standard excellent job emceeing the affair. The first task of the celebration was to review the transit victories accomplished since the summit in 2005. The list was quite extensive and included the appointment of a transit study group by the Kent County Commission, the soon-to-be launched single access point for transportation services for seniors and the increased in state funding achieved by stopping the transfer of dollars earmarked for transit to the General Fund.

The second task was to present an award to the six member cities of The Rapid for continued leadership on the transit issue. Mayors Buck, Heartwell and VerHeulen were on hand and joined by representatives of the other three cities. Finally, Jennifer Kalczuk of The Rapid gave an update on The Rapid’s plans for possible service changes and enhancements and Casey Dutmer of Concerned Citizens for Improved Transportation(CCIT) sent us out with a call to action. Our special surprise guest was Congressman Ehlers. He was supposed to be elsewhere and sent a staff person to represent him, but he is a great transit supporter so his busy schedule couldn’t keep him away. He too gave a call to action and encouraged us all to keep up the great work!

Speaking of the call to action, a couple of invitations:

1. DAKC publishes a weekly e-zine called, “Getting There Together Weekly.” If you would like to receive this via e-mail or snail mail, contact Joe at joe.s@dakc.us or 949-1100, ext. 223.
2. Now that the general election is over, it’s time for us to turn our attention to the renewal or enhancement of The Rapid’s millage. The Rapid Board is either going to put a renewal or slightly increased millage level before voters in May or August 2007. Much work needs to be done in the coming months. Head to The Rapid’s website and review their changes and enhancements to service (labeled phase 1 & 2): http://www.ridetherapid.org/newsInfo/coaplan/ . Then fill out the quick survey (link on the page you head to with the previous link). Let them know what you think! They are listening.
3. Get involved with CCIT! Contact Joe and he’ll get you on that list as well.

To read more about the transit agenda and the vision for a comprehensive transit system in our community, visit DAKC’s webpage and follow the links.

Welcome Interns and New Staff

Christy Howell is from Spring Lake, Michigan and is currently helping out at DAKC with the Brain Injury Alliance support group. She will graduate from Grand Valley State University in April with her bachelor’s degree in social work. After she graduates, Christy hopes to work in international adoption.

Liz Stielau is currently working on housing resources at DAKC. Social work is her major at GVSU with psychology being her minor. After graduation, Liz will be going on to graduate school to get her masters in social work. Liz is originally from Sturgis, Michigan.

Jodie Bargeron is a Masters in Social Work intern from GVSU. She received her BSW from GVSU in 2003. Later that year she joined the Peace Corps. She served in Mali (a West African nation and the home of Timbuktu) until the end of 2005. While Jodie was in the Peace Corps, she worked with mothers of malnourished children. She also had a few run-ins with chimpanzees. Jodie is very excited to be here at DAKC because it is such a rad organization.

Justin Antranikian is a Bachelor’s in Social Work intern and will graduate in May. Justin helps out at DAKC and in his spare time loves to camp and play video games. Justin is originally from Atlanta, GA.

Margaret Biggs
ZeroStep Team

Margaret Biggs recently became the newest member of the ZeroStep team. Margaret has a bachelor’s degree in interior design and a master’s in business management, along with extensive work experience in interior design, marketing, and sales training from Steelcase. “I’m very excited about working with the ZeroStep team and advocating universal design to architects, designers, builders and consumers regarding the residential housing market. This is an area I feel very strongly about, and I am looking forward to advancing the ZeroStep effort.”

Bonnie Siegers
Business Services Team

As DAKC’s Disability Navigator, Bonnie will work out of the Michigan Works! offices in Kent and Allegan Counties as an consultant on disability issues. Bonnie has worked over 25 years in the capacity of special education teacher, mental health facilitator and advocate for special education student and their parents. Her hobbies are collecting antiques, caring for her many animals and rehabing wildlife and abandoned pets.

Joe Vredevelt
Business Services Team

Joe joined DAKC recently as a part-time Legal Specialist. He is an MSU and Thomas C. Cooley Law School graduate. He will be helping out in areas such as Title I employment issues and working with local attorneys to better suit consumers with disabilities’ needs. Welcome Joe!

PASREP News

PASREP reimburses eligible persons with disabilities for personal assistance costs required to maintain employment. The purpose of this program is to allow persons with disabilities to work without the full burden of paying for personal assistance. This program is statewide, and is administrated by CILs across Michigan. The State of Michigan provides funding for the program through a grant from the Department of Labor and Economic Growth-Michigan Rehabilitation Services.

You may qualify if you:

• Have a functionally significant disability.
• Require at least five hours of personal assistance per week.
• Are able to employ and manage personal assistants, maintain records, pay required taxes and file timely reports
• Are unable to cover FULL cost of personal assistance from your own income and other sources.

Contact Cyndy Viars, System Change Facilitator at (616)949-1100, Ext. 225 or cyndy.v@dakc.us to see if you qualify.

Looking for Skiing Volunteers
by Bruce J. Blinkhorn

It is time to put some thoughts into making this coming winter a very positive experience for yourself and a person who has any challenges in life. Who really wants the option to ski down hill or cross country ski? For four years, I have been a volunteer for two wonderful programs here in Michigan. I am looking for more volunteers and people with a verity of challenges who want to have some fun and ski. I have been very lucky to meet many high quality individuals who volunteer and are very brave students with a strong passion for life.

Cannonsburg Challenged Ski Association www.skiccsa.org Teaches or assists all types of physically or mentally challenged persons to down hill ski. In Late November there is a meeting at Cannonsburg, to help you fully understand the program. You will then choose what type of challenged issue you would like to focus on helping to ski, blind, deaf, wheelchair users, amputees, or mentally challenged. New volunteers are matched up with experienced volunteers and you work as a team to help your assigned student to ski. The three of you are a team together for the seven weeks. Classes are Jan 7th - Feb 22 on one of these times, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 6pm - 8pm Sunday 1-5pm. You pick any two hour block of time that works for you, only once a week.

Michigan Ski for Light. www.msfl.org Teaches or assists Blind people to Cross country ski on 1 weekend January 19-21. At Higgins Lake the D.N.R. run Ralph A. MacMullen conference center. Friday night you’re taught from experienced volunteers how to assist a blind person to cross country ski. Your skills are matched to your blind persons. Then Saturday and Sunday we all go to the wonderfully tracked trails in the beautiful woods of northern Michigan. We ski in groups helping each other. Lodging and food is provided for $145.00 per person.

Contact Bruce J Blinkhorn with any questions: (616) 443-9127 or e-mail him at bblinkhorn@glfasteners.com

ATLF and Teleworks Low Interest Loans Available to People with Disabilities Contact Renee Thompson at (616)949-1100, Ext. 236

“Unforgettable” Aktion Club

Are you looking for new activities and meeting new friends? Do you have a hidden talent and need a safe audience to showcase it? Then you should check out the Aktion Club.

An Aktion Club is a community based service group composed of adult citizens who live with disabilities. These citizens get involved in community activities and events to give back to the community by offering service and using their talents, abilities and gifts.

To learn more about the Aktion Club, go online to DAKC’s website: http://www.dakc.us/aktionclub.htm or call Trisha at (616)949-1100, Ext. 235. Join the “Unforgettable” Aktion Club and start having fun today! The “Unforgettable” Aktion Club is sponsored by Kiwanis Club North.

Governor appoints DAKC’s Rob Lewakowski to Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council

(Grand Rapids)—Governor Jennifer Granholm has appointed Robert M. Lewakowski, Outreach Accessibility Coordinator at Disability Advocates of Kent County to the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council (The DD Council).

The Council is comprised of people with developmental disabilities, their families and allies, as well as professionals from state and local agencies charged with assisting people with developmental disabilities. The vision of The DD Council is that all citizens of Michigan have the opportunities and supports to achieve their full potential.

Rob has a great deal of experience advocating for disability issues both on a personal and professional level. As a person with a mobility issue caused by cerebral palsy, Rob’s greatest areas of concern are inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace, increased public transportation and access to public buildings. Lewakowski believes

“If a person is unable to access a work site because of building design or if they must rely upon others to arrive at the work place, the stream of commerce in the community becomes still.” Rob further believes “A disability doesn’t diminish the desire to work and pay taxes. Transportation to and from work, that’s half the battle. “I am extremely honored” said Lewakowski. “I am looking forward to being a part of the system that will create more opportunities for people with disabilities.”

DAKC is hosting their Holiday Open House on Thursday, December 14, 2006 from 1:00pm - 4:00pm.
Everyone is invited but please RSVP by December 11 by calling (616) 949-1100, Ext. 255.
Disability Advocates is located at 3600 Camelot Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
The only thing you need to bring is your good cheer!

Make Everyone Feel Welcome in Your Home this Holiday!
This is the time of year when company comes calling. Most of your family and guests will have no problem entering your home but what about grandma who uses a wheelchair now or grandpa who has a hard time climbing the steps to your upstairs bathroom? Have they stopped coming to your home because it was easier for them to stay home?
If so, then you should consider ZeroStep. ZeroStep is:

1. DAKC’s program that works with families, builders, remodelers, architects and designers to achieve attractive and user-friendly for people of all ages and abilities. It is about creating a home that will last a lifetime.
2. The ZeroStep standard is based in the design concepts of Universal Design and Aging-in-Place. One myth associated with ZeroStep is that people assume that they can’t afford to make these changes.
3. Due to cost, the experience of local builders has shown this myth to be false--in fact, for only a few hundred dollars, a family can save tons of thousands of dollars down the road as the family’s needs and abilities change.

If you would like more information on DAKC’s ZeroStep program, visit its website at: http://www.zerostep.org or contact Margaret Biggs at (616)949-1100, Ext. 249. Don’t let another Holiday go by without having the whole family stop by.

SAVE THIS DATE

Walk & Roll 2007, Saturday, March 17, 2007, Catholic Central High School
The Sightseer

Reading by radio for people who are blind, visually impaired and physically disabled who cannot read themselves.
For more information:
Call (616)235-0020 or go online http://www.thesightseer.org