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Category Archives: COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Final Summer Transitioning Youth Camp (STYC) Comes to an Amazing End in Newaygo County!

WHAT AMAZING COMMUNTIY SUPPORT!
Wow! The final Summer Transitioning Youth Camp (STYC) in the Fremont area of Newaygo County came to an end last week with resounding success thanks to the youth who participated, their counselors and the community who supported them in attaining more knowledge and skills through work-based experiences. Again, we can not thank everyone enough for their support, generosity and kindness! A special shout-out to Danielle Bennett our Youth Transition Specialist and Benjamin Post, Youth Counselor with MRS for making the inaugral STYC camp in Fremont such a hit!

We would like to acknowledge once again those who made such a significant contribution and making it possible to complete objectives and goals our youths set for themselves!
McDonald’s– For allowing us to crowd their picnic tables and consistently fill our water bottles and empty our bladders…again!
Tractor Supply Co.. – Volunteering their business for our youth to explore and develop work-based learning opportunities
Tamarac, The Center for Health and Well-Being – Providing information on Nutrition, Health & Wellness, Physical Fitness.
ChoiceOne Bank – Budgeting and money management
Michigan Secretary of State’s Office – The processes and establishing state ID’s (they were also open for questioning and provided drivers training manuals to our youth)
Fremont Public Library – For providing their conference room, Community Room and private interviewing rooms for mock interviewing.
Alpha Family Center of Newaygo – DISC personality testing/ healthy relationships
Bill’s Shop N Save – Providing space and water for car wash
Sweet Tire – Promoting car wash to customers and continued support
Empowerment Network & FCS Nest Resale – Thrift shop fashion search for interview clothes
Elsie’s Ice Cream Station – Last day fun and games and of course Ice Cream!
Michigan Rehabilitation Counseling and Education Association – Self-directed career assessments and results.
NC RESA Advanced and Accelerated Services – For graciously completing mock interviews and videotaping for review and discussion.

Camp Newaygo Accessibility Review

Recently, Disability Network West Michigan Newaygo County staff completed an accessibility review at Camp Newaygo. They toured the camp, including the new Craft Shop & the zip line. Unfortunately, It was raining w/thunder & lightening so the zip line was not available for staff to try, and some areas are still “under construction” and will be evaluated at a later date.

Beginning loft of zip line (not accessible)

End of Zip line showing distance between lofts.

Ramp to new Craft Shop.

Accessible bathroom in new craft shop.

Signage for Dark Room

Dark room for developing film

New driveway to craft shop (Wheelchair accessible) in progress.

New driveway to craft shop (in progress, accessible)

Current drive to new Craft Shop. (Steep grade, not wheelchair accessible)

Pottery Wheels (pottery porch & Gretchen’s Deck outside.

“Building Communities that “WORK” so that people with disabilities can lead full and exciting lives!”

The CIL Director’s met in Lansing on June 15 and June 16 to discuss items pertinent to the current landscape of our CIL’s and communities.  Areas of both strength and weaknesses were discussed in regards to collaborating as a Network and ideas were shared on how to achieve goals more effectively. 

One of the most impactful things discussed as a group was around defining Independent Living and talking strategically about weaving IL in our own communities.  The discussion lead to a more effective question around “why?” This offered deeper discussion and resulted in the following impact statement for our Network: 

“Building Communities that “WORK” so that people with disabilities can lead full and exciting lives!”

 

Summer Transitioning Youth Camp (STYC) Newaygo County

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Pic: Group of 7 campers and staff

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Pic: Camper moving pallet of lawn care products

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Pic: Three campers stocking products

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Pic: Two female campers emptying bag into trash container.

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Pic: Male camper pulling pallet of products.

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Pic: Female camper mopping floor.

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Pic: Female camper sweeping floor

Our first STYC camp in Newaygo County has started this week in Newaygo and it looks like everyone is learning independent living skills while have a great time! Our summer program is to offer youth an opportunity to develop their goals and plans for what will come after they complete their secondary education.  Our thanks to the Newaygo Tractor Supply Co. for their partnership! Tractor Supply Co.

THANK YOU AND KEEP VOTING!

Thank you for your votes and your friends and family’s votes getting us in the top six videos chosen! We are one step closer to you helping us help others! Now the real work begins tomorrow, April 1st. We need to be one of the top three in order to get the $5000 donation. Voting will take place from April 1st, 2017 through April 14th, 2017 at 5pm. Rules will remain the same for this round. This means that you can vote once per day per email address! They will update the votes daily until April 11th, 2017. They will not display the updated tallies for the final three days. WE CAN DO THIS…VOTE VOTE VOTE!

CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

SHOW ME THE MONEY

Disability Network will be participating in the upcoming  SHOW ME THE MONEY event on Saturday, January 28, 2017. The event is being held at Christ Temple Apostolic Faith Church, 412 E Sherman Blvd in Muskegon from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm.

SHOW ME THE MONEY PROGRAM OF EVENTS