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Monthly Archives: October, 2016

BUILDING A BETTER FINANCIAL FUTURE

Building a Better Financial Future for  People with Disabilities 

The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) program was created to encourage and assist individuals and families in saving funds for the purpose of supporting individuals with disabilities to maintain health, independence and quality of life.

And, to provide secure funding for qualified disability expenses on behalf of designated beneficiaries with disabilities that will supplement, but not supplant, benefits provided through private insurance, the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, the Medicaid program, the beneficiary’s employment and other sources.

The federal ABLE Act was signed into law in December 2014. The Michigan ABLE (MiABLE) was signed into law in October 2015. The Michigan Department of Treasury will administer the MiABLE program and enrollment starts November 1st.

For more details visit the following website:

www.michigan.gov/MiABLE

How can an ABLE account be used? 

(excerpt from www.michigan.gov/MiABLE)

An ABLE account must be used for “qualified disability expenses” that relate to the designated beneficiary’s disability and are for the benefit of that beneficiary in maintaining or improving his or her health, independence or quality of life.

The Internal Revenue Code, Section 529(e)(5), lists the following as qualified disability expenses:

1.    education;

2.    housing;

3.    transportation;

4.    employment training and support;

5.    assistive technology and personal  support services;

6.    health; prevention and wellness;

7.    financial management and administrative services;

8.    legal fees; expenses for oversight and monitoring;

9.    funeral and burial expenses;

10.  and, any other expenses that may be identified from time to time in future guidance published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin.

Expense payments from an ABLE account are referred to as “distributions” in the federal ABLE Act and legislation.

A distribution for housing expenses from an ABLE account would be considered a resource when determining eligibility for SSI and could affect the designated beneficiary’s Medicaid benefits.

 

 

WORK OPPORTUNITY TAX CREDIT

ELIGIBLE NEW HIRES

ABILITY Award Winner Sandy Baker DNWM Board Member!

Last night one of our board members was nominated and awarded the sixth annual Ability Award from Disability Network/Lakeshore.

The award is given to residents of Allegan and Ottawa counties who further the vision of a community where people with disabilities can participate, contribute and belong. Baker was selected from a list of 11 nominees by the DNL Selection Committee. Sandy Baker is an asset to our organization and we couldn’t be happier for her.

Holland Sentinel Article

EXPRESS YOUR OPINON!

EXPRESS YOUR OPINION! Disability Service Needs Survey

The Bureau of Services for Blind Persons in conjunction with Michigan State University’s Project Excellence program and Michigan Rehabilitation Services asks you to EXPRESS YOUR OPINION!! 

  • Are you an individual with a disability or a friend or family member of someone with disability?
  • Do you want to share your opinions about the needs and services for individuals with disabilities in your community?
  • If you answered YES, then you qualify to take an important survey about the service needs for people with disabilities in our Michigan communities.

TO TAKE THE SURVEY ONLINE GO TO:

Individuals with disabilities: https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_5BJHwzvLo716DXf

Family/Friends of individuals with disabilities: https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_4ZLyROc403xOvsh

TO TAKE THE SURVEY BY PHONE, CALL Su Pi at 517-432-0273

YOUR OPINION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US!!! THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO PARTICIPATE

SPOTLIGHT – MEET JANET THOM

Janet Thom is one of our board members who is equally a tremendous advocate for our organization. Prior to joining our board, she found that Disability Network West Michigan was a safe place to find the answers she was looking for.Janet Thom is one of our board members who is equally a tremendous advocate for our organization. Prior to joining our board, she found that Disability Network West Michigan was a safe place to find the answers she was looking for.

Disability Network West Michigan’s Recovery Cooperative Writers Group

If someone had to walk a mile in your shoes, what would it feel like?
If choice were an object, what would it be?
If the road to recovery runs through Oz, who would your Tin Man be? What does the Yellow Brick Road feel like? What would Oz say to you when you are finally face to face?
These thought-provoking questions have been writing prompts over the last year in our Recovery Co-op Writers Group. Led by Kim Lilly, the group meets weekly at the Recovery Co-op, a drop in center, to explore their individual stories of recovery – from addiction, mental illness, abuse.
“Everyone has a story in them,” says Kim, an Independent Living Specialist with Disability Network West Michigan. “The writing prompts help group members approach their stories within a framework that leads to self-discovery. When our writers share their words, we see them break through the isolation of their personal history and form connections over shared experiences with other group members.
“Their writing is beautiful. I don’t focus on spelling or grammar, but just let them tell their stories of who they are, who they have been – and who they are becoming.”
Kim stepped in to lead the group in January, using the Oz prompt as the first with the group. She says the universal themes in The Wizard of Oz resonated with the group, who are all working to find the strength of self to lead them on their individual recovery journeys.
Lori W. started her story this way:

The days were bright full of sun and lots of color. I smiled and sung songs as I walked thru the days of green fields and flowers. Then I meet what I thought was a great and wonderful man who turned my world into my great tornado. My world into a windstorm that throw me to a place way, way away from my normal state of normal mental health. I found myself in the world of the great Oz of mental illness. It was a dark and cloudy world with no more color just sadness.

She went on to detail her journey, which included her parents (the Lion), a good friend (the Scarecrow) and her son (the Tin Man). When she finally met with Oz and asked him to reverse the last 20 years, he said he could help with medication – but that she had to do the rest.
Lori concludes her Oz story with:

The next thing I know I was back to living a normal life doing volunteer work then with some time I was as a peer support specialist and working as an Activity Director for my local drop-in center. My life has color I sing smile laugh it is a joy and yes I do take the magic pills thou they really are not magic. I also work every day on my mental health looking forward looking for sunshine with a good attitude and take care of myself with good diet exercise and sleep.

“Their internal message is about everything they have done wrong in their lives,” Kim explains. “We need to put a new message in – and these writing classes are giving them the tools to do that. We have come really far together.
“I love working with this group. In the chaos of my busy days, that is my one hour where I can sit and really get calmed and centered. I spent most of the days with my foot halfway out the door. When I am there, I am centered and present. I get so much from watching members explore a hidden talent that they didn’t know they had.”
Kim and the group members are working on a collection of the writings in the class, which they share in a book “Writing Through Recovery.” We also plan to share occasional notes and essays on our Facebook page.
If you are interested in learning more about the Recovery Writers Group, contact Kim Lilly at Disability Network at 231.332.4031 or Lori Wells at Recovery Co-op at 231.722.3741.

SPOTLIGHT ON OUR OWN BOARD MEMBER – TRACY KNIGHT

Meet Tracy Knight. His introduction to Disability Network West Michigan helped him gain a better understanding of what he was capable of and how he felt. Tracy has since volunteered and become an active member of the board. #InclusionWorks

 

 

What does it mean to be a Consumer Run Center for Independent Living?

What does it mean to be a Consumer-Controlled, Consumer-Run Center?

Disability Network/Michigan shares a post of support for Disability Network West Michigan. Click HERE to read more.

dnm

SPOTLIGHT ON OUR OWN DNWM Board Member Caryn Vennema

Caryn Vennema’s story is proof that #InclusionWorks. Our video series in honor of National Disability Awareness Employment Month continues featuring new board member Caryn and her experience with Disability Network West Michigan.

NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH

In recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we would like to take the opportunity to introduce several of our staff and board members. First a consumer, now an active contributing staff member, Danna Pittman serves her peers and community as the Community Outreach Manager here at Disability Network West Michigan. #InclusionWorks