Blog/Videos

Blog/Videos

Disability Network West Michigan hires Will Wilson as new CEO

Muskegon, MI, November 9, 2023 — Disability Network West Michigan (DNWM) hires Will Wilson as its new Chief Executive Officer.  In February 2023, Wilson most recently served as Deputy Director and Interim CEO, replacing Diane Fleser, who stepped down from her position after 5 years. Wilson has been with DNWM for 14 years.  

In his new role, Wilson will manage the day-to-day operations of DNWM which employs 16 and provides independent living resources for people with disabilities in a five-county area. He will have oversight of strategic planning, employment, finance, grants, partnerships, and related administrative duties. Under Will’s leadership, the organization recently completed strategic planning and development of a new mission statement that better reflects the future vision of the organization. 

Wilson will oversee and implement the organization’s strategy on behalf of the board of directors, ensuring that DNWM grows the service area, and continues to work to diversify the staff and board to represent better the communities that are served. “I am blessed to lead the efforts of DNWM’s mission by building and elevating our presence and services in all our communities. Being a native of West Michigan, I’m honored to work with and serve the communities in which I come from,” said Wilson. 

Lynne G. Bosma, President of the DNWM board, said Wilson is “the perfect fit to launch DNWM into the next chapter of advancing the rights of people with disabilities in the DNWM service area. Wilson is rooted in the Muskegon community and has a proven track record of building programs, securing funding, and supporting DNWM staff. We are excited to see the organization grow under his leadership.” 

Wilson’s Background 

Wilson brings 20 years of non-profit experience to his role, including serving 4.5 years with the US Air Force, in Security and Intelligence roles which featured two deployments to Saudi Arabia and Oman. 

Wilson has been with DNWM for over 14 years, most recently serving as Interim CEO for 8 months and before that the Deputy Director for 10 years. During his tenure with DNWM, he developed the robust and popular Veteran Peer Support Group and Veteran Appreciation Dinner. He is also the creator of SWAT (Simple Ways to Avoid Trouble) an anger management curriculum frequently used by Muskegon Co. Juvenile Court and local school districts. 

Wilson is an active volunteer and serves on a wide range of state and local boards and advisory councils and committees, including the Trinity Health Recipient Rights Advisory Committee, Men of Color Read, United Way of the Lakeshore, Disability Network Michigan, and more. 

Wilson is a proud graduate of Muskegon High School. He also holds a BA in Criminal Justice/Sociology from Michigan State University. He is finishing a Master of Justice Administration degree from Norwich University.  

About Disability Network of West Michigan

Since 1999, Disability Network West Michigan has been a Muskegon-based disability center for independent living. Disability Network West Michigan provides independent living resources for people with disabilities in Muskegon, Oceana, Newaygo, Lake, and Mason Counties. Resources include independent living mentoring and skills training, accessibility consulting and advocacy, disability peer support, and disability employment services and training for people with disabilities and local employers.

DNWM is one of 15 Centers for Independent Living in the state of Michigan. CILs are consumer-driven, community-based, disability organizations that promote independence and self-determination for people with disabilities.

DNWM’s mission is to equip, educate, and advocate for accessible communities for all. DNWM’s vision is equal access, opportunity, and belonging for all.

Supplemental Current Population Survey on Disability Employment Issues

the white house americans with disabilitiesThe Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy is seeking information from the public regarding a supplement to the Current Population Survey (CPS) on disability employment topics, which will be conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau in collaboration with the Department’s Chief Evaluation Office, and is expected to be fielded in 2024.

The Department is publishing this Request for Information (RFI) to gather information to aid in revising this CPS Disability Supplement and to inform its general disability employment research agenda.

The RFI can be downloaded from Regulations.gov.  Individuals and/or organizations with an interest in this subject are encouraged to review the RFI and provide comments via the Regulations.gov comment button.

Your input is important to the Department and we encourage a wide range of stakeholders, researchers, and disability advocates to comment..

Link for the Federal Register Notice:  Request for Information on Current Population Survey Disability Supplement 2024

Link to provide comments:  CPS Disability Supplement Survey Revision Comments

Now Available: Free At-home COVID-19 Tests for People Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision

the white house americans with disabilities

The Biden-Harris Administration has launched a new initiative to expand the availability of at-home tests that are more accessible for people who are blind or have low vision. The tests work with a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone and free app to provide users with audible instructions, and audible test results. Read more about the tests.

How to get the tests:
Order online or by calling 1-800-232-0233.

  • Each order will include two rapid-antigen tests that are more accessible for people who are blind or have low vision.
  • Orders will ship free, while supplies last.

Because supplies are limited, please order the more accessible tests only if you do not have options for using the standard tests. If you have someone you trust who can help you administer the test and interpret results (in person, or through a video platform like FaceTime or Zoom), or can use assistive technology (such as AIRA or Be My Eyes), please order the standard tests.

This initiative complements the Administration’s efforts to expand the production of more accessible tests and work with private sector partners on the development of new accessible tests.

Need more assistance? 
The trained staff at the Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) can provide additional assistance with:

  • Ordering tests.
  • Understanding instructions for test administration and test results.
  • Providing alternative instructions for traditional at-home tests for people who are unable to access, read, or understand the manufacturer’s version.
  • For those who cannot use an at-home test, DIAL operators can:
    • Assist with ordering “swab and send” kits to collect a sample and mail it back for results.
    • Connect callers to local organizations for assistance locating other testing options in their community, including in-home testing programs or transportation or companion support to visit a community-based testing site.

Call 888-677-1199 Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Eastern) or email [email protected].

OSERS Issues 2022 State Implementation of IDEA Determination Letters

the white house americans with disabilities

The U.S. Department of Education issued its 2022 determinations for states and territories on their implementation of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) Office of Special Education Program (OSEP) releases determinations each year, on behalf of the Secretary of Education, based on states and territories’ State Performance Plan (SPP) and Annual Performance Report (APR).

A state or territory’s SPP/APR evaluates its efforts to implement the IDEA’s requirements and purpose and describes how it will improve IDEA implementation.

The IDEA details the Secretary’s four categories for state determinations, which are:

  • Meets the requirements and purposes of IDEA;
  • Needs assistance in implementing the requirements of IDEA;
  • Needs intervention in implementing the requirements of IDEA; or
  • Needs substantial intervention in implementing the requirements of IDEA.
  • Part B determinations address the requirements of IDEA Part B, which serves students with disabilities, ages 3 through 21. This year, 22 states or territories met requirements, three states need assistance (one year), 35 states or territories need assistance (two or more consecutive years), and no state or territory received a determination of needs for substantial intervention.

 

Part C determinations address the requirements of IDEA Part C, which serves infants and toddlers from birth through age 2. This year 30 states or territories met requirements, nine states need assistance (one year), 17 states or territories need assistance (two or more consecutive years), and no state or territory received a determination of needs for substantial intervention.

OSERS OSEP will publicly release state and territory APR documents at the end of July on the IDEA website.

White House Office of Public Engagement, Disabled Stakeholder Calls for Disability Pride Month

the white house americans with disabilities Happy Disability Pride Month!

Thanks to all of those who were able to join yesterday’s stakeholder call for Americans with disabilities. Below, you will find the materials and resources referenced.

During the month of July, we will meet weekly to hear from leaders from across the Administration about the work that they’re doing to ensure access, inclusion, and equity for people with disabilities. These calls are closed press but otherwise open to the public. ASL and CART will be provided.

Thursday, July 7th at 2pm ET
Thursday, July 14th at 2pm ET
Thursday, July 21st at 2pm ET
Thursday, July 28th at 2pm ET

Register Here
Full Link: https://pitc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_RudJxj1NRumTQb02gT5dew

Onward!

Emily Voorde
Associate Director
White House Office of Public Engagement
@Voorde46

Upcoming Meeting of the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities

 

Upcoming Meeting of the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities

 

Thursday, July 28 | 12:00 – 4:00 pm ET
Register for the meeting.

The President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID) will host a virtual meeting for its members to identify emerging topics to examine in the Committee’s Report to the President. All the PCPID meetings, in any format, are open to the public. This virtual meeting will be conducted in a presentation and discussion format. View more details published in the Federal Register notice.

Stakeholder input is very important to the PCPID. Comments and suggestions, especially from people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, are welcome at any time. If there are comments or feedback you would like to share with the PCPID as it begins to prioritize its work, please share them through this form on ACL.gov .

Hiring People with Disabilities Pays Off for All Involved

standing tall on wheels blog article by jeff vandykeFor me, growing up as child and eventually into an adult living with Cerebral Palsy, a wheelchair user, with a severe panic disorder, I always knew this goal was attainable for others, but I’d be lying if I said I thought I would ever find myself in that position.

After all, here I was a full-grown adult quickly approaching his late 20’s, a degree in hand, years of volunteer service, an artistic background, and most importantly a heart driven to make a positive difference. Yet, the one strike against me was that I had no official prior work experience. To make matters worse, every organization I had reached out to for help with finding employment turned me down… so, how can that change, if no one will give you an opportunity?

The answer for me was hidden within a single phone call and the belief in me from a group of, at the time, total strangers, which has changed the course of my life forever. After reaching out to Michigan Rehabilitation Services and explaining my situation, I was eventually matched up with Disability Network West Michigan, where I initially took part in what I only know how to describe as introductory meetings and from there not only did become a volunteer where I completed all different types of tasks such as designing, phone calls, sorting paperwork, etc.

Along with that, I also participated in programs known as ‘Job Club’ and ‘My Choice My Voice’, which helped me begin to learn about various topics that I had never been shown or worked on before such as resume building, community resources, and interview skills, but most importantly helped me work on developing my self-confidence as an individual. Over the course of the year, I continued to develop my skills as a volunteer. I even received the Steven Silky Volunteer of the Year Award for my efforts, and was eventually hired as Disability Network West Michigan’s Graphic Design Specialist.

Overall, while it may not have happened overnight and there were definitely some difficulties along the way, which can be expected with any major life change… it’s all been worth it. Even on those days when I felt myself begin to slip throughout this process, I had an amazing team of individuals (now fortunate enough to call them friends) there to support me. Not because they had to, but because they genuinely wanted to see me succeed and I can’t begin to express how empowered that support can make someone feel. I truly feel like I experienced all the trials and tribulations I have, not only to better prepare me for where I am today, but to have more tools at my disposal to help others who might be on/or about to start this same journey. Just because people living with disabilities might do it differently, use an alternative approach, or require an accommodation of some kind, doesn’t mean we can’t be just as effective (if not more so) than any other perspective hire.

Last, but not least, if I could leave you with any advice… it’s that if I can, you can. I know, it sounds overly simple, but it’s true. Success is rarely ever a straight path, but that’s okay, so long as it’s your path. Keep going, you never know where life is going to take you!”

Fun Day at Lakemont Ridge, FL – A letter from a great supporter of DNWM

Fun Day at Lakemont Ridge Frostproof, Florida!

booksmark fund raising in FL

We received this wonderful letter and beautiful bookmarks from a supporter of DNWM.

Our 55 and older retirement community event, is held in February each year.  It wasn’t held last year because of Covid.

I had lots of pieces of Aida cloth left from bigger projects and decided to do counted cross stitch bookmarks with it.  I also have lots of crochet cotton left from bigger projects and found some bookmark crochet patterns and started crocheting bookmarks.  Then there was the material scraps from larger projects and those could be sewed into bookmarks as well.

The next thought I had was ‘what will I do with all these bookmarks’ which I began making during Covid.  I have never sold anything I have made, so that wasn’t an option.  I enjoy giving away whatever I make, HOWEVER, Disability Network came to mind and I remembered the Fun Day from other years.  So I enquired about how that works, signed up for a table and in February set it up with a big sign, including the logo, that said all proceeds go to Disability Network West Michigan.

The sale was from 8 am until 1 pm and a portion of the Club House was set aside with tables for crafters of all kinds.  Fun Day includes a lot of activities starting with coffee and donuts in the morning grilled lunch outdoors, games, and concludes with an auction.

I was all set up at 8 am and no one came through, so I figure it would be a long day.  That didn’t last long.  Soon there were lots and lots of people and they were buying bookmarks.  Someone would comment, “I really like that one” then walk on by, come back later to buy it and it was already gone.  The Disability sign generated lots of conversation about the organization and ways other people are helping people with disabilities.  Lots of satisfying interaction.

I really enjoyed doing it, meeting new people in our community, seeing all different kinds of arts and crafts and, most of all, knowing what I raised was going to a worthy organization.

Then I leveraged my “better” half to contribute some cash as well, so that sealed the deal.

Donna & Gil Fleser

New opportunities for individuals with disabilities to enjoy outdoor recreation

Let’s help the Village of Shelby make this project the best and most inclusive that it can be as this playground will be an asset to your community and Oceana County for years to come.

Join us on April 11 at 6:playground image with accessible swings00 pm

Location: Shelby Village Hall, 218 N Michigan Avenue, Shelby, MI

The Village of Shelby will be submitting a grant application to purchase and install a *Universally Accessible Playground at Getty Park. The Village of Shelby is doing their due diligence to ensure that Getty Park is designed for all users and will create new opportunities for individuals with disabilities to enjoy outdoor recreation. At the writing of this invite, the Village is still finalizing the revision of the park’s master plan for this project. But I am happy to report the master plan is not only planning to install the universal playground, but there is a splash pad being planned, a gazebo, restrooms, picnic pavilion with a gas fireplace, seating areas with companion seating, accessible picnic tables, natural landscaped areas, as well as basketball, tennis, and pickle ball courts.

We hope that you will join us on Monday, April 11th, at 6:00 pm to help us support the Village’s efforts with the renovation plans for Getty Park. Once completed Getty Park will become a destination for you and many other people to recreate and enjoy these universally designed park amenities.

Should you not be able to attend the meeting, please check out the conceptual renderings of the playground attached to this communication. We would then encourage you to write a brief letter expressing your support of a universal playground and the benefits of this park with accessible park amenities for your family. Those letters can be sent to the Village of Shelby at the address below.

Please reach out to us if you have questions or concerns. We look forward to our time together.

Sincerely,

Disability Network West Michigan & The Village of Shelby

JOIN OUR TEAM – FINANCE DIRECTOR POSITION AVAILABLE!

Disability Network West Michigan is currently looking to fill the position of Finance Director, part-time (20hr). Please click the link below for more information and to submit your resume before March 31, 2022. Feel free to share with your networks, family, friends or those that may have worked in Finance and have retired and possibly looking for part time work! We encourage those with disabilities to apply.

 

Finance Director DNWM