Pediatric Support Group for Parents and Families of Children with Eye Disease and Visual Impairment

Thu, 10/10/2013 - 3:43pm by monkk

The University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center is hosting a pediatric support group for parents and families of children with eye disease and visual impairment on Saturday, November 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This support group is open to all parents and families of children with eye disease and visual impairment. The meeting is free but registration is required. Bring your questions! In addition to presentations, the program includes time for group discussion and Q&A sessions. Childcare and a continental breakfast will be provided. Parking is free. For more information please contact: Karen Norman at 734.764.4163.

Dia De La Familia Latina

Tue, 10/01/2013 - 10:21am by Beth Manuel

The excitement will be Sunday October 6th at the downtown library of AADL, as we unite with The U of M Comprehensive Cancer Center to bring Dia de la Familia Latina. This event is aimed at raising awareness of cancer & other health issues among Latinos. We will be featuring the countries of Argentina and Brazil This informational activity - which takes place during National Hispanic Heritage Month - will include health information and resources from local community agencies & organizations that serve Hispanics and Latinos. There will also be fun crafts & activities for children as well as refreshments and entertainment for all! Join us Sunday from 2:00-5:00 pm!

Virtual Career Fair for People with Disabilities

Wed, 09/11/2013 - 11:04am by monkk

Are you a person with a disability looking for a career opportunity or internship? This Virtual Career Fair is free for students and alumni from 2- and 4-year colleges and universities across the United States to attend. Students and alumni with disabilities are invited to interact with employers via chat sessions. Register for the fair, then once you have completed the registration form you will be approved and sent a follow-up email with your user name and password. You may only participate in this Virtual Career Fair if you have an uploaded resume. Instructions on how to upload your resume and attend the fair are included in the student tutorial.

Check out the Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.

Michigan Artists Partner with MSU RCPD for a Dynamically Inclusive ArtPrize Entry

Wed, 09/04/2013 - 4:32pm by monkk

With a large demographic of the population that can be excluded from a variety of art forms, a group of artists known as The Diatribe took on the challenge of changing how art can be accessed. These Grand Rapids natives’ passion to expand the limits of accessibility to art inspired them to create their own exhibit at ArtPrize, the world’s largest public art competition. While hosting ArtPrize, the city of Grand Rapids becomes home to a diverse collection of independent artist’s work from 45 states and 47 countries. The Diatribe felt that ArtPrize was far too important of an event to still be inaccessible to some very large demographics. They set out to change this through their spoken word and in particular their exhibit, The Word of Mouth.

Their piece will feature live portions of their poetry, along with videos, Braille text, murals, and visual art pertaining to sight, speech, or hearing. The videos will feature sign language and/or captions of the group’s spoken word. When faced with the challenge of making an entirely accessible exhibit, one of the collaborators turned to the MSU Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities when doing research. After a meeting, RCPD was left in awe of the work that these artists were doing and was ecstatic to be able to help them through the captioning and building tactile and Braille elements of their work and spreading the word about their exhibit. The biggest way you can help them spread their words and share in their art is by attending ArtPrize and voting on site for their exhibit. ArtPrize runs September 18 - October 6, 2013 and The Diatribe’s shows will be Mondays and Wednesdays from 5-8 pm.

Dawn Farm Jamboree!

Wed, 09/04/2013 - 12:35pm by Beth Manuel

Head on down to Dawn Farm's Fantastic 40th Anniversary Jamboree on Sunday, September 8th, 2013 from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm! Admission and all activities are FREE! This is a great family activity with hayrides, pony rides, and a children’s tent, too. Visit the working farm or bid on unique items in both silent and live auctions. Funds raised from the auctions will help support critical addiction services for individuals who need help and lack resources. For more information, or if you would like to volunteer at the event, call 734-485-8725.

Health Care 2014

Wed, 08/14/2013 - 9:47am by Beth Manuel

Do you have questions about Health Care? Like millions of Americans, you probably do. As you may have heard, in 2014 the landscape of health care options will change drastically for some people. This site will answer all of your questions and even some you didn't know you had. If you have additional questions you'd like answered in person, click here for information on a Community Forum scheduled for Thursday, August 22. For more health related sites that have been vetted by AADL staff, check out our health-related Select Sites.

Great Start Readiness Pre-School Program

Tue, 08/06/2013 - 12:47pm by Beth Manuel

Give your pre-schooler the benefit of early-childhood education. Your family may qualify for Free Public Pre-School. The Great Start Readiness Program prioritizes children by
risk factors that may typically be a barrier to success in school. To see if you or a family you know qualifies for this program call your local United Way 2 1 1 line, or go to this website for more information.

Double Up Food Bucks!

Fri, 08/02/2013 - 3:57pm by Beth Manuel

If you receive Public Food Assistance, you can receive Double Up food Bucks and buy twice the amount of goods at area Farmer's Markets. This program allows recipients to spend any amount up to $20.00 per day using your Bridge Card to purchase Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB). Double that $20 to $40 by spending it on healthy, delicious Farmers Market foods like bread, baked goods plus fruits and vegetables. What a fantastic way to stretch your food budget!

Described Video Service/DVS

Wed, 07/10/2013 - 11:09am by Beth Manuel

AADL continues to grow its collection of films that have a Descriptive Video Service or DVS feature. More films are being produced for children and adults that are Described Video Recordings for L Card users to borrow. There are comedies, action, animation, horror and science fiction films available. Many can be sent by mail to our WLBPD patrons as Free Matter for the Blind. If there's a member of your family who has been missing out on movies due to low-vision, look at our list of described videos that you can watch together!

WORLD SIGHT DAY - Oct. 10, 2013

Wed, 07/03/2013 - 3:54pm by iralax

World Sight Day (WSD) is an annual global event, on the second Thursday of October that brings attention to blindness and vision impairment as a major international public health issue. The World Health Organization and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness help coordinate events and activities for this important day of awareness, and Lions Clubs International very actively promotes WSD through their many local organizations. Other WSD goals are to influence governments to be involved and to designate funds to treat this problem. They also hope to educate target audiences about blindness prevention. Locally, the Washtenaw Library for the Blind & Physically Disabled housed at the Ann Arbor District Library, loans books, magazines, and videos in alternative formats (digital cartridge, digital download, large print, Braille, and descriptive video) to individuals of all ages who are certified as unable to read or use standard printed materials as a result of temporary or permanent visual or physical limitations. For more information about this service, call 734-327-4224.