Michigan Disability Rights Coalition

Michigan Disability Rights Coalition MDRC cultivates disability pride and strengthens the disability movement by recognizing disability as a beautiful part of human diversity.

Posts from community members do not necessarily represent the views of MDRC

Assistive Technology (AT) in the kitchen is a must have! Our Michigan Assistive Technology Program will be at this event...
04/10/2026

Assistive Technology (AT) in the kitchen is a must have! Our Michigan Assistive Technology Program will be at this event Saturday with lots of AT to explore. Be sure to stop by!

Get ready for a culinary journey to Southeast Asia! Kalamazoo Valley Community College and its Kalamazoo Valley Museum will explore those flavor profiles whe...

1 in 4 Americans have a disability. In Michigan, that number is nearly 1 in 3. Yet, a new report from Detroit Disability...
04/09/2026

1 in 4 Americans have a disability. In Michigan, that number is nearly 1 in 3. Yet, a new report from Detroit Disability Power finds that only 10% of polling places audited across metro Detroit in 2025 met basic legal accessibility standards. Eric Welsby and Bakpak Durden explain what the numbers mean for disabled voters, and why the door to democracy keeps getting harder to open.

A new Detroit Disability Power report finds only 10% of metro Detroit polling places met basic accessibility standards in 2025.

Are you working to combat the opioid crisis? You could be eligible for $15,000 to $30,000 in student loan repayment. The...
04/09/2026

Are you working to combat the opioid crisis? You could be eligible for $15,000 to $30,000 in student loan repayment. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is now accepting applications for the Michigan Opioid Treatment Access Loan Repayment Program (MIOTA). This initiative aims to expand access to treatment across our state by supporting the dedicated professionals on the front lines.

Who should apply?

Medical & Osteopathic Doctors

Psychiatrists

Nurse Practitioners & Physician Assistants

Case Managers & Substance Use Disorder Counselors

The Goal: To help the estimated 1.3 million Michiganders in need of treatment by breaking down the financial barriers for the workforce that serves them.

Deadline: Thursday, April 30, 2026

Learn more and apply today:

Michigan Opioid Treatment Access Loan Repayment Program

Tonight in Kalamazoo -- are you registered? We hope to see you there!
04/09/2026

Tonight in Kalamazoo -- are you registered? We hope to see you there!

Please register for this event by completing the questions below. April 9, 2026 | 6:00 - 8:00 PM Kalamazoo County Land Bank, 1523 Riverview Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49004 Light refreshments will be provided. What Are Special Education Rights? Knowing and advocating for rights within the special educatio...

04/08/2026
April is   Month. If you’ve been worried about saving money while maintaining your state or federal benefits, a MiABLE a...
04/08/2026

April is Month. If you’ve been worried about saving money while maintaining your state or federal benefits, a MiABLE account is a good solution.
Why?

Keep Your Benefits: Save up to $100,000 without affecting your eligibility for Social Security (SSI), Medicaid, or SNAP.

Tax-Free Growth: Your earnings grow tax-free, and withdrawals aren't taxed when used for qualified disability expenses.

Flexibility: Use funds for what you need most—education, housing, transportation, healthcare, assistive technology, and more.

Join the Community: Nearly 6,000 Michiganders are already using MiABLE to build a more secure future

Learn more and open an account today at MiABLE: https://www.michigan.gov/miable?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=gud-search&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23237361053&gbraid=0AAAAAC0wzqtZXZfnYntmurekCuboZkatK&gclid=CjwKCAjw-dfOBhAjEiwAq0RwIzdIi6ZvFAZq17vMkUpyAWnO4ySQnye24aVQULEauNsVl-6BGS9dHBoCh2kQAvD_BwE



[Image description: Promotional graphic for MiABLE featuring its logo. Text reads "Save without losing your benefits," on a purple and orange background.]

Join us for an important virtual training that centers the experiences of Black mothers with disabilities and Black moth...
04/07/2026

Join us for an important virtual training that centers the experiences of Black mothers with disabilities and Black mothers raising children with disabilities.

✨ Black Motherhood & Disability: Care, Access, and Joy
This session explores the intersections of race, disability, maternal health, caregiving, and advocacy—while examining how racism and ableism shape systems of care. Together, we’ll also uplift how sharing our stories can spark collective change for Black families.

🗓 Date: Friday, April 17, 2026
⏰ Time: 12:00–1:30 PM
📍 Location: Zoom

🔗 Register here: https://leadblackdisabledmotherhood.eventbrite.com

This event is held in honor of this year’s Black Maternal Health Week theme, “Rooted in Joy,” celebrating joy as a source of strength, resistance, and pride. 💛

Accessibility: ASL and CART captioning will be provided.

The LEAD Program is funded by the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council(MiDDC).

Join us as we explore racism, ableism & maternal health for Black moms with disabilities & moms of disabled kids, celebrating joy!

Kalamazoo families — this one’s for you!Learn how to navigate the IEP process, advocate for your child, and understand y...
04/07/2026

Kalamazoo families — this one’s for you!

Learn how to navigate the IEP process, advocate for your child, and understand your rights at a FREE community event from 6-8 p.m. this Thursday, April 9, at Kalamazoo County Land Bank. The Michigan Disability Rights Coalition and partners Michigan Parent, Advocate & Attorney Coalition (powered by Autism Alliance of Michigan), Michigan Alliance for Families, Disability Network Southwest Michigan, and Michigan Transformation Collective will present useful tips to support your disabled child throughout their education. Register now and get more details:

Please register for this event by completing the questions below. April 9, 2026 | 6:00 - 8:00 PM Kalamazoo County Land Bank, 1523 Riverview Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49004 Light refreshments will be provided. What Are Special Education Rights? Knowing and advocating for rights within the special educatio...

Learn more about the Michigan Assistive Technology Program that loans out all sorts of assistive technology to support d...
04/06/2026

Learn more about the Michigan Assistive Technology Program that loans out all sorts of assistive technology to support disabled people, their family members, educators, employers, and service providers across Michigan. Reach out to try before you buy.

The Michigan Assistive Technology Program (MATP) offers short-term device loans — completely FREE — so you can try Assistive Technology in your everyday life before making a decision.

Whether you need a communication device, mobility aid, hearing support tool, or smart home technology, borrowing first helps you choose with confidence.

Who can borrow? Anyone with a disability, their family members, educators, employers, and service providers across Michigan.

How to get started: Contact MATP staff at 800-578-0280 or AT@Mi-at.org or visit MATP’s website to learn more.


Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council
Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute
Michigan Assistive Technology Program

Join us for an important in-person community conversation, Monday evening, April 13, at Wayne State University in Detroi...
04/06/2026

Join us for an important in-person community conversation, Monday evening, April 13, at Wayne State University in Detroit, on patient safety and physician-assisted su***de. Michigan Disability Rights Coalition (MDRC), is in partnership with the Patients’ Rights Action Fund (PRAF) and serves on the PRAF Michigan Coalition Committee.

As part of our ongoing advocacy, MDRC works to uplift the voices of disabled people and address the real risks these policies can pose to our community. Hear from experts as they unpack the medical realities and explore the growing concerns for disabled people and other vulnerable communities. RSVP or learn more: miethicalcare@gmail.com

[Image Description: Flyer with teal and white design for a 2026 event titled “The Realities of Physician-Assisted Su***de.”

Event: Patient Safety & Assisted Su***de Town Hall
Date: Monday, April 13, 2026
Location: Wayne State University, McGregor Memorial Conference Center, Room J, 495 Gilmour Mall, Detroit, MI

Schedule:
Start Time: 6:00 p.m.
Social Time: 6:30–7:00 p.m.
Presentation: 7:00–8:00 p.m.

Speakers:
Lisa K. Gigliotti, Esq. – Health Policy Advocate
Jason Negri, Esq. – Patients’ Rights Action Fund
Dr. Jeanne Lewandowski – Hospice and Palliative Care

Light refreshments provided. Parking available (closest: Lot 31).
A QR code is included for RSVP.]

Physician-assisted su***de raises serious questions—especially for the most vulnerable.

Hear from experts on April 13 at 6 PM at Wayne State University as they unpack what’s at stake.

Free entry, parking, & refreshments.
RSVP: miethicalcare@gmail.com

***de

The vibrant complexity of disability will be featured this year at the Capital City Film Festival in Lansing. ReelAbilit...
04/06/2026

The vibrant complexity of disability will be featured this year at the Capital City Film Festival in Lansing. ReelAbilities short films will be shown at 11 a.m. this Saturday, April 11, at the Riverwalk Theatre. Tickets are $5. The program is 88 minutes long and includes open captions. Each film tells a compelling human story. Topics include disability identity, intersectionality, humor, family, and pride. Don’t miss it!

ReelAbilities celebrates disability, promotes inclusion, and advances accessibility through film. The short films in this program have been curated in partnership with the ReelAbilities Film Festival. Selections include: Sleepyhead, Salsa, The Art of Weightlessness, Comedy Against the Odds, Unholy,

From Francisco Vaca, MDRC's Leadership for Inclusion Coordinator:Happy World Autism Awareness Day.I was a late diagnosis...
04/02/2026

From Francisco Vaca, MDRC's Leadership for Inclusion Coordinator:

Happy World Autism Awareness Day.

I was a late diagnosis, receiving my autism diagnosis at 25. For years, I wondered why the hum of the refrigerator felt like a fractal pattern in my mind.

“If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.” Autistic people are individuals, each with our own experiences, strengths, and needs. The same is true for me.

In college, I began giving presentations in Diversity in the Workplace courses about LGBTQ+ pride. At the time, I hid my autism diagnosis, believing I could only be seen by society through one identity instead of as my full self. Today, I’m grateful to be working at Michigan Disability Rights Coalition, where I can show up authentically and be fully myself.

[Image Description: Frank, wearing shirts that read "Feisty and Non-compliant Michigan Disability Rights Coalition."]

Address

3498 East Lake Lansing, Suite 100
East Lansing, MI
48823

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+15173332477

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