Blog Post
Improved Benefits for Families of Emergency Workers Killed on Duty
by annevm
A recent change in a federal act fixes coverage gaps and provides a better safety net for families of first responders killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty. The action closes gaps in the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Act that had left some first responders without benefits. The program started more than 30 years ago to help families of federal, state and local firefighters, police and medics. The new legislation extends the program to private, nonprofit emergency medical services volunteers and personnel. A push for change came following the 2008 line-of-duty death of Cheryl Kiefer, who worked for Jackson Community Ambulance in Michigan, a private nonprofit service. To learn more, visit the website of Huron Valley Ambulance.
Blog Post
Call for Art!
by iralax
Artists with disabilities, and their allies, living in Washtenaw County are invited to enter the 2nd Annual Allies for Disability Awareness Art Show, Oct. 22-26, 2012 at the Duderstadt Gallery on the UM North Campus. Any type of art is welcome, especially interactive or tactile pieces that can be touched and/or played with. If you want to participate please email disabilityartshow@gmail.com, and they will send you the link for the application Website. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with a final deadline of August 31. This is in conjunction with UM Investing in Abilities Week.
Blog Post
Financial Awareness for Older Adults
by iralax
As adults over 55 with low income and disabilities strive to stay in their homes, the threat of theft, fraud, and other forms of financial exploitation increase. To become more educated about this, they, their caregivers and service agencies who assist them, Michigan Ability Partners (MAP) is offering training to increase financial management skills. This is made possible by a grant from The Anna Botsford Bach Fund for Seniors at the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation. MAP will promote this service through the organizations in the Washtenaw Elder Justice Coalition. For more information call Misty Hendershot, MAP Payee Supervisor at 734-975-6880.
Blog Post
Doc Watson, the heart and soul of bluegrass guitar music, has died
by sernabad
Doc Watson, whose lightning-speed flatpicking style of guitar playing befuddled those who have tried to emulate it and who brought new life to folk music, died yesterday In Winston-Salem, NC, following complications from colon surgery.
Blinded when he was one, Doc Watson's first instrument was the harmonica. A few years later, at age 10, his father gave him a banjo and a neighbor gave him guitar lessons.
He eventually graduated to the electric guitar, playing with a rockabilly bind with an unreliable fiddle player. To fill the fiddle gap, Doc Watson figured out how to translate that sound to his guitar.
In the 1960s, Ralph Rinzler, a prominent folkie, encouraged Watson to go back to the acoustic guitar. Watson immediately became a hot commodity on the folk music circuit.
Toward the end of the 60s, Merle Watson, Doc's teenage son, joined his dad for a wonderfully successful run, fueled by their performance on Will the Circle Be Unbroken?, the million-plus album by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
Doc Watson's career was nearly derailed by his grief over the death of Merle in 1985, the result of a tractor accident.
Watson, who earned eight Emmys despite his deeply ingrained modesty, was 89 years old. His was the second death to rock the North Carolina and the national music world. Beloved Earl Scruggs died in March.
Blog Post
Financial Planning for Adults & Children with Disabilities
by iralax
Are you a parent or guardian of a child or an adult with a disability? To help you prepare for the financial implications of possible upcoming life transitions Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living will host a group of experts including an attorney, a financial adviser, bank and insurance representatives, and a disability advocate to discuss ways to plan for successful transitions for children and adults with disabilities. Topics regarding trusts, power of attorney, social security, investments, banking options and life insurance will be covered. Families should bring their questions and any necessary documents to address their concerns. Light refreshments will be served, and there will also be an art and social area for respite for all families who need their children or dependents to attend in order to participate in the meeting. Walk-ins are welcome, but RSVPs are helpful for planning the event. For more information, to RSVP or to request accommodations please contact Carolyn Grawi at 734-971-0277 ext. 16 or at Carolyn@aacil.org.
Tuesday, June 5, 6-7:30pm | Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living | 3941 Research Park Drive | Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Blog Post
Parent's Corner: Resources for special needs children
by manz
The Downtown library has a shelf in the Youth Department known as the Parent Shelf. On this shelf you’ll find a variety of parent-child related books on a multitude of topics- including everything from phonics to tantrums to potty training to diet. These books are available for checkout, and can be found in the catalog when searching “parent shelf,” if you’d like to have one sent to a branch of your choice.
On the parent shelf, and in the regular collection, the library has a slew of books that may answer questions that parents, teachers, and caregivers may have about working with children with special needs. See here for a list of titles in the regular collection, or check out these Parent Shelf titles to get you going:
Positive discipline for children with special needs
No longer a secret: Unique common sense strategies for children with sensory or motor challenges
The learning tree: Overcoming learning disabilities from the ground up
Blog Post
Helping the Blind in Michigan
by iralax
Terri Wilcox is Secretary for the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan. A goal of this 50 state organization is to increase literacy among the blind, and that means Braille. Braille is literacy for the blind just as reading print constitutes literacy for sighted people. Yet only ten percent of blind children are currently being taught Braille. Join Terri at the Downtown Library on Sat., Jan. 14, 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm to learn more about this initiative and the many other ways she is working to level the playing field for everyone in Michigan.
Blog Post
Greatest Inventions for the Physically Impaired
by Beth Manuel
This list of Greatest Inventions for Physically Impaired people came to our attention from Best Online Colleges.com. Is there anything you would add or remove? With technology changing so quickly, it would be great to elicit input from you, our patrons! Their website is worth a gander if you are looking for on-line higher education programs, too.
Blog Post
Paralympic Powerlifter Medalist at AADL!
by iralax
While Mary Stack was born with a rare medical condition called pseudohypoparathyroidism, which limits her mobility, she has competed in a range of adaptive sports since the age of sixteen. As a measure of how far her ability and determination have taken her, Mary recently returned from the ParaPan American Games in Mexico with a bronze medal for lifting 280 pounds! This gave her the first women’s Paralympic powerlifting medal ever for US women at these games. Mary works as a Sports Coordinator at Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living and is training for the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. She will talk about this and other aspects of her life at the Malletts Creek Branch on Saturday, Dec. 10, 3-4:30 pm.
Blog Post
Online Exercise/Nutrion Program
by iralax
The National Center for Physical Activity and Disability ( NCPAD) offers a free personalized, online physical activity and nutrition program for people of all abilities. NCPAD’s “14 Weeks to a Healthier You” offers individualized exercise and nutrition recommendations based on your preferences and abilities, plus online or telephone support. It’s like having your own personal trainer at home! The NCPAD motto is “Exercise is for Every body." They believe that everyone can benefit from a personalized exercise routine.