Information & Referral

Disability Network West Michigan is proud to offer information on resources that are available to people with disabilities.

For our Consumers

DNWM provides information and referral services regarding community resources. If you have questions about the following:

– Benefits such as Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income
– Counseling and other supports
– Disability Rights and the ADA
– Employment supports, pre-employment transition services, job training, and rehabilitation services
– Health care services
– Housing resources
– How to return to work after receiving disability benefits (regardless of length of time or amount of benefits)
– Transportation resources

Call anytime and one of our information and referral specialists will assist you.

For Business

ADA Accessibility Consulting and Evaluations

Are you perplexed about how to make your workplace accessible for all individuals? Disability Network West Michigan offers accessibility consulting and evaluations as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Our ADA-trained staff members will visit your business and, along with you, conduct a walk-through evaluation. We will review our findings with you and then follow up with a written accessibility checklist and report. We are committed to partnering with your business to provide the most affordable, accessible workplace possible.

Disability Inclusion and Awareness Training

Are you and your employees curious about how you can best serve your customers with disabilities?

We can help!

Our Disability Inclusion and Awareness Training for Employers is a one-hour presentation for groups who wish to learn about people with disabilities. It is designed to correct misconceptions and reduce the anxiety felt when meeting and interacting with someone with a disability by stressing that we all share common needs and dreams.

Topics covered include:

– A brief overview of the history and scope of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
– A basic definition of disability as defined by the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission
– A discussion of common stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding people with disabilities, including true stories from the presenter’s experiences
– An overview of best practices for interacting with people of varying abilities
– An open question-and-answer period

Employment and Hiring of Individuals with Disabilities

We are committed to improving employment outcomes for people with disabilities. We believe employment means economic self-sufficiency and independence.

For people with disabilities who want to work

We offer a variety of employment assistance services designed to help you prepare for, locate and maintain employment. Some of the things we can help you with are:

– Decide when and how you will disclose your disability to potential employers
– Discover which assistive technology or other accommodations will help you do your job and find out how to get what you need
– Discover the skills and knowledge you already have that will make you a valuable asset to an employer
– Direct and focus your job search efforts by matching those skills, along with your interests, to possible careers
– Follow up with you and your employer to ensure everyone’s needs are being met
– How to look your best and make a great impression during an interview
– Instruction and assistance in completing paper and online job applications
– Learn to create professional resumes, cover letters, and thank you letters
– Practice answering some of the toughest interview questions

For Employers

There are countless employer benefits to hiring individuals with disabilities. Disability Network West Michigan partners with employers to create business processes and practices that improve the success of hiring and sustaining employment of individuals with disabilities in your business.

Over 16% percent of people with disabilities are unemployed, almost double the rate of unemployment among people without disabilities.

Services we offer include

– Assistive technology resources
– Disability Inclusion and Awareness Training for all employees
– Mentoring
– Training on workplace accommodations
– Workplace accessibility consulting and reviews of your business environment