State Bar of Michigan
Volume
2, Issue 3, July 2006
Disabilities Project Newsletter
Connecting to Community Resources
by Calvin A. Luker, Respect ABILITY Law Center
I have found in my travels through Michigan courts that court employees – from judges on down – often are expected to have all the answers to everyone’s questions about anything and everything. Actually, it is not surprising at all that court staff receive so many questions about so many issues. After all, courts have become community information points where people expect things to be fixed. They expect to find answers. Unfortunately, answers are not always that easy to come by, and I cannot offer a ready resource that answers every question.
I can help, however, when the question or issue raised involves people with disabilities. I compiled the attached “quick hit help list” to give court employees and others immediate referral sources for those citizens who come to them with questions that might be related to mental or physical disabilities – their own or those of a family member or friend. The list is intended to be used standing alone or as a computer resource with links to governmental or organizational Internet resources.
I concentrated on disability organizations that have chapters or offices throughout the state. I included organizations that concentrate on children and older individuals. I also included state offices that have special expertise with particular disabilities. The list includes Internet links to Michigan Community Mental Health entities, Michigan ARC affiliates, local and regional Area Agencies on Aging, and federally authorized veterans' organizations providing help to Michigan veterans.
When I put this list together, I discovered some nifty things for myself. For example, the Michigan Disability Resource Directory allows you to locate disability agencies or resources searching by disability, service area, name, map, or geographic area. It is not a complete resource, but it is a good start. I learned, too, that one can connect with people who use TTY or TDY telephones simply by calling the Michigan Relay Center at 711. (Try it. It works.) I also discovered that the 24 entities I list here appear on about 90 percent of the Internet “links” lists I reviewed while compiling this list. So connecting people to the resources, information, or services they need is not necessarily as burdensome as one might think, at least when making that initial connection.
Please take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the list and keep it handy. It might just give you the resource you need to point a well-meaning citizen in the right direction, without having to make a court case about it. I wish you success and appreciate all you do to serve the people of Michigan.
A Quick Hit Help List
Alzheimer’s Association – The
Greater Michigan Chapter
Dian Wilkins, President/CEO
20300 Civic Center, Ste 100
Southfield, MI 48076
(800) 272-3900
(248) 351-0280
(248) 351-0417 Fax
Education, training, and support for adults who have Alzheimer’s disease and their families and friends.
Regional chapter locator: http://www.alzgmc.org/about_us/regional_offices.htm
The ARC Michigan
Dohn Hoyle,
Executive Director
1325 South Washington Ave.
Lansing, MI 48910-1652
(800) 292-7851
(517) 487-5426
(517) 487-0303 Fax
Services and resources for children and adults who have developmental disabilities and their families, friends, and supporters.
Local ARC chapter locator: http://www.arcmi.org/local_chapters_list.htm
Area Agencies on Aging Association
of Michigan
Mary Ablan, Executive Director
6105 West St. Joseph, Ste 204
Lansing, MI 48917
(800) 803-7174
(517) 886-1029
(517) 886-1305 Fax
Provide resource and referral support to Michigan citizens age 60 and over on Medicaid and Medicare, home- and community-based services, meals-on-wheels, advocacy, etc.
Area chapter locator: http://www.mi-seniors.org/locations.php
Association for Children’s
Mental Health
Amy Winans, Executive Director
100 W. Washtenaw St., Ste 4
Lansing, MI 48933-2129
(888) ACMH-KID (226-4543)
(517) 372-4016
(517) 372-4032 Fax
Provide advocacy and information and resources to families of children with emotional and behavioral challenges throughout the state.
Outstate contacts: http://www.acmh-mi.org/contact.htm#local
Autism Society of Michigan
Sally Burtn-Hoyle, Executive Director
6035 Executive Dr. Ste 109
Lansing, MI 48911
(800) 223-6722
(517) 882-2800
(517) 882-2816 Fax
Education, training, and support for persons with autism and their families.
Citizens for Better Care
Nancy
Jackson, Executive Director
4750 Woodward Ave., Ste 410
Detroit, MI 48201
(800) 833-9548
(313) 832-6387
(313) 832-7407 Fax
Advocacy services for residents of Michigan’s nursing homes, homes for the aging, adult foster care homes, and assisted living programs.
CBC regional office locator: http://www.cbcmi.org/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=181
Early On Michigan
Use this website to locate your geographic area’s Early On coordinator to access evaluation and educational services when there is a concern for a child’s development.
http://www.cenmi.org/pair/coordinators.asp
Easter Seals – Michigan
1105
N. Telegraph Rd.
Waterford, MI 48328
( 800) 75-SEALS(7-3257)
(248) 451-2900
(248) 338-0095 Fax
Provides a wide range of services across the disability spectrum. Services include mental health, developmental disability, and children’s health. Easter Seals also provides jail diversion and post-adjudication services.
http://mi.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=MISE_homepage
Easter Seals chapter locator: http://mi.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=MISE_locations&s_esLocation=loc_
Elder Law of Michigan, Inc.
Kate
White, Executive Director
3815 West St. Joseph, Ste C200
Lansing, MI 48917
(800) 347-5297
(517) 485-9164
(517) 372-0792 Fax
Operates the Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors. Also provides technical assistance, legal information, and lawyer referral services to senior citizens.
http://elderslaw.org/Home/index.htm
Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors: http://elderslaw.org/Hotline/index.htm
Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan
Arlene
Gorelick, President
20300 Civic Center Dr. Ste 250
Southfield, MI 48076-4154
(800) 377-6226
(248) 351-7979
(248) 351-2101 Fax
Provides training and awareness services to people with epilepsy and those who work with them.
http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/local/michigan/index.cfm
Office locator: http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/local/michigan/offices.cfm
Michigan Association for Children with Emotional
Disorders
Susan McParland, Executive Director
30233 Southfield Rd, Ste 219
Southfield, MI 48076-0000
(248) 433-2200
(248) 433-2299 Fax
Information and support services for children with emotional disorders and their families.
Michigan Association for Deaf, Hearing and
Speech Services
Nan Asher, Associate Director
2929 Covington Ct., Ste 200
Lansing, MI 48912-4939
(800) YOUR-EAR (968-7327)
(517) 487-0066
(517) 487-2586 Fax
Statewide collaborative agency providing resources and advocacy services to people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Michigan Department of Community Health
Community
Mental Health Access List
Use this Internet resource to locate your geographic area’s primary community mental health provider of services to people who have mental illness or developmental disabilities.
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/cmh_8_1_02_37492_7.PDF PDF
Michigan Department of Military and
Veterans Affairs
3423 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Lansing, MI 48906
(517) 335-6523
(517) 241-0674 Fax
State department taking responsibility for connecting Michigan veterans and their families to veterans' assistance funds and resources.
Veterans service locator: http://www.michigan.gov/dmva/0,1607,7-126-2362-136501--,00.html
Michigan Disability Resource Directory
Search this Michigan Internet directory by disability, type of service, agency name, or geographic area. An excellent but too well-hidden resource.
Michigan Division on Deafness
(800) SAY-ABLE(729-2253)
(517) 334-7363
State agency assisting with services and accessibility issues.
Michigan Interpreter Directory
This 37-page Internet resource, prepared by the State of Michigan Commission on Disability Concerns Division on Deaf and Hard of Hearing, contains lists of sign language interpreters broken down by geographic region. The Directory also contains references to federal and Michigan laws, certification information, the Interpreters' Code of Ethics, suggested interpreter guidelines, and interpreter referral agencies.
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/2005_Section_ll_Interp_dir_pdf_120401_7.pdf PDF
Michigan Office of Services to the
Aging, Michigan Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Sarah Slocum, State
Long-Term Care Ombudsman
PO Box 30676
Lansing, MI 48909-8176
(866) 485-9393
(517) 335-1560
(517) 373-4092 Fax
The focal point of the Michigan aging network providing leadership, innovation, advocacy, and supportive services on behalf of Michigan's older adults and caregivers.
http://www.miseniors.net/MiSeniors+Home/
Geographic locator: http://www.miseniors.net/cms_miseniors/search/searchgeo1.asp?CatID=7
List of services: http://www.miseniors.net/CMS_MiSeniors/search/service1.asp?CatID=7
Michigan Protection and Advocacy
Service, Inc.
Elmer Cerano, Executive Director
4095 Legacy Parkway, Ste 500
Lansing, MI 48911-4263
(800) 288-5923
(517) 487-1755
(517) 487-0827 Fax
Provides representation, information, and referral services to people with disabilities as Michigan’s federally mandated protection and advocacy system. Service information areas include institutional abuse and neglect, access to community services, housing, education, self-determination, and guardianship/conservatorship. Has an attorney on staff.
http://www.mpas.org/HomePage.asp?btnMPASHome.x=50&btnMPASHome.y=18
Michigan Relay Center
711
This telephone service permits people using ordinary phones to communicate with deaf or hard of hearing people who use TTY, TDY, or other electronic devices to communicate over telephone lines. To access the Michigan Relay Center, dial 711. The Relay Center operator will explain the system and complete the call from that point on.
Michigan Statewide Independent Living Council
417
N. Seymour, Ste 10
Lansing, MI 48933
(800) 808-7452
(517) 371-4875 (Fax)
Provides advocacy, resource, educational, and organizational services to people with disabilities.
Centers for Independent Living locator: http://www.misilc.org/documents/CILRoster_024_007.doc MS WORD
Michigan Works! Association
This Internet website connects to Michigan’s primary job-finder service. While it is not disability-specific, it is a valuable source to consult for persons whose situation might be improved by finding employment.
http://www.michiganworks.org/page.cfm/1/
Geographic locator: http://www.michiganworks.org/page.cfm/14
NAMI Michigan
National Alliance for
the Mentally Ill
921 N. Washington
Lansing, MI 48906
(800) 331-4264
(517) 485-4049
(517) 485-2333
Provides support, information, and education to families affected by mental illness.
Geographic chapter locator: http://mi.nami.org/namimap.html
National Federation of the Blind of Michigan
Fred
Wurtzel, President
1212 N. Foster
Lansing, MI 48912
(517) 485-0326
(517) 485-4645 Fax
Provides information and referral help to blind individuals and their families and supporters.
United Cerebral Palsy of Michigan,
Inc.
Linda Potter, Executive Director
3401 E. Saginaw, Ste 216
Lansing, MI 48912
(800) 828-2714
(517) 203-1200
(517) 203-1203 Fax
Provides information and referral services to Michigan residents who have cerebral palsy and to their families and supporters.
http://www.ucp.org/ucp_local.cfm/87