Disability Network Southwest Michigan

12/18/2025

: On Thursdays, we highlight something we're thankful for. Today we're shining a light on Kalamazoo's official tourism and convention bureau, Discover Kalamazoo, whose annual meeting we attended last week. Discover Kalamazoo understands that for tourists and locals alike, knowing the physical accessibility details for one's intended destination is essential information for people using wheelchairs, walkers, or navigating other access needs. Thank you, Discover Kalamazoo, for making accessible travel info readily available! ➡️ https://www.discoverkalamazoo.com/plan-your-trip/accessible-travel/

Pictured is DNSWM staff member, Kelly L. with Discover Kalamazoo's Mallory Hernandez, attending the annual meeting last week at Bell's Brewery. 🍻♿

ID: DNSWM staff member, Kelly L., with Mallory H. from Discover Kalamazoo.

12/17/2025

Today we're shouting out Michigan Disability Rights Coalition's Michigan Assistive Technology Program. Assistive technology (AT) is equipment or devices that help someone do tasks that are difficult because of their disability, or make a task easier or safer. Examples of AT could be a shoe horn, a reacher, a talking clock, an automatic/power door, voice-to-text software, and more.

MDRC is conducting a survey to better understand the accessibility of Assistive Technology for individuals with disabilities in Michigan. Please consider taking this survey before it closes December 19!

💠 Survey for people with disabilities: https://loom.ly/vdoQ_wM
💠 Survey for caretakers: https://loom.ly/aDKyj5E

ID: Michigan Disability Rights Coalition logo. A cell phone and a tablet, each displaying voice-to-text technology with the words "Hi! How can I help you?" Text: Do you use Assistive Technology (AT) Tools? Take our survey!

12/16/2025

We had a blast last week at the final Southwest Michigan First Chamber Connect event of 2026, hosted at MRC Industries, Inc.'s artWorks! We met some new community members and saw familiar faces, too. Congrats to MRC for a great gathering. 🎨🖼️

As you complete your holiday shopping, don't sleep on MRC artWorks located on the mall in downtown Kalamazoo. Their gallery and retail space features artwork created by people with disabilities. ArtWorks gives adults living with developmental disabilities an outlet to achieve creative self-expression in a way that promotes personal growth, dignity, and self-confidence—all while earning a paycheck.

More here ➡️ https://loom.ly/nrEQITk

ID 1: A wooden shelf featuring various artworks such as plants, paintings, and beaded decor. A small handwritten sign reads "Artisans with disabilities."
ID 2: Clarence from the Chamber, smiling and holding a microphone, while pointing to Susan from MRC, who is also smiling. They stand in front of a room with a red and white Chamber sign.

12/15/2025

Happy Monday, DN fam! This week, we're thankful for The Brownlee Insurance Group-Farm Bureau Insurance. The owner, St. Clair Brownlee III, has chosen DN as the nonprofit beneficiary of his Quotes for Change program, which runs just a little longer, through December 2025!

Here's how it works: every time someone contacts St. Clair for an insurance quote, he makes a financial contribution to DNSWM. It's just that easy! This financial support helps us as we continue to strive to make our community more accessible and inclusive. Thank you, St. Clair, for helping us spread our mission throughout Southwest Michigan!

Every quote = real dollars supporting real people, right here in our community.
📞 Call St. Clair at (269) 775-0547
📧 Email: brownleeinsurancegroup@fbinsmi.com
Learn more about Brownlee Insurance Group and request a quote online ➡️ https://loom.ly/6GV0SZI

ID: The Farm Bureau logo above a graphic of the state of Michigan; text: A Michigan Company.

12/12/2025

In case you missed our post yesterday... we're down to crunch time to vote for DNSWM in Community Homeworks' 5th Annual Gingerbread House contest! Notice all of our accommodations, like the accessible parking spaces and entryway ramp? We don't play when it comes to inclusive design! ✨🎄🏆

Community Homeworks' mission is to empower neighbors to maintain safe, stable, and sustainable homes for generations. 🏡

Voting takes less than 30 seconds and ENDS TOMORROW, so we need your vote NOW. Help us take home the gold! ➡️ https://loom.ly/CRYMMHs

ID: A split graphic. The left shows a blank, white board before any decorating; above it is text "How it started." The right shows a fully decorated board featuring a gingerbread house, accessible entryway, a ramp, a yard sign, a billboard, and accessible parking lot; above it is text "How it's going."

12/11/2025

Vote for DNSWM in Community Homeworks' 5th Annual Gingerbread House contest! Notice all of our accommodations like the accessible parking spaces and entryway ramp? We don't play when it comes to inclusive design! ✨🎄🏆

Community Homeworks' mission is to empower neighbors to maintain safe, stable, and sustainable homes for generations.

Voting takes less than 30 seconds and ENDS SATURDAY, so we need your vote NOW. Help us take home the gold! ➡️ https://loom.ly/CRYMMHs

ID 1: A gingerbread house that includes an accessible entryway, a ramp, a yard sign, a billboard, an accessible parking lot, and people using mobility devices like wheelchairs.
ID 2: Several DNSWM staff members gathered around a table covered in candy and baking supplies, constructing a gingerbread house.
ID 3: Two DNSWM staff members decorating a gingerbread house.

12/11/2025

: On Thursdays, we highlight something we're thankful for. Today we're shouting out Michigan Disability Rights Coalition's Michigan Assistive Technology Program. Assistive technology (AT) is equipment or devices that help someone do tasks that are difficult because of their disability, or make a task easier or safer. Examples of AT could be a shoe horn, a reacher, a talking clock, an automatic/power door, voice-to-text software, and more.

MDRC is conducting a survey to better understand the accessibility of Assistive Technology for individuals with disabilities in Michigan. Please consider taking this survey before it closes December 19!

💠 Survey for people with disabilities: https://loom.ly/vdoQ_wM
💠 Survey for caretakers: https://loom.ly/aDKyj5E

ID: A person's hands holding a cell phone, completing an online survey. Michigan Disability Rights Coalition logo. Text: Are you a caregiver for an older adult or someone with a disability? Take our online survey. Help make Michigan more accessible for all.

12/10/2025

Every Wednesday, we want to share some good news happening here at DN and in our community. Today is Human Rights Day, an observance that reminds us that equity, dignity, and inclusion belong to everyone—including disabled people. That said, ableism continues to create barriers in education, employment, healthcare, housing, and community life. These barriers don’t disappear on their own... we dismantle them together.
More about Human Rights Day here ➡️ https://loom.ly/2912pQM

Interested in learning ways to dismantle barriers? One simple step is to sign up for our newsletter. Stay up to date on our upcoming events, trainings, and join us in combating ableism and promoting access and inclusion. ➡️ https://loom.ly/jxcSeB8

Human Rights Day commemorates the day on which, in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

12/09/2025

We are so proud to have partnered with Discover Kalamazoo and Wheel the World to increase accessibility across Kalamazoo! A special shoutout to all of the hard work done by DNSWM ADA Specialist, Kelly L.! ♿️🌎✈️🧳

Wheel the World’s accessibility audit has positioned Kalamazoo as a national leader in inclusive travel, benefiting both visitors and local residents.

12/09/2025

Words matter! The way we talk about Disability can either support equality or reinforce stigma. Join us this afternoon from 1:00 to 4:00 PM to explore the power of language at our free, virtual Ableism 101 workshop.

Register here ➡️ https://loom.ly/U-ZALgc

ID: A yellow speech bubble on a teal background. Text: Your words matter!

12/08/2025

There's still time to catch both Ableism 101 & 102 webinars this month!
Register for Ableism 101 ➡️ https://loom.ly/U-ZALgc
Register for Ableism 102 ➡️ https://loom.ly/GuOPiPM

ID: Text: Remaining events this month. 9: Webinar: Ableism 101, 1:00 to 4:00 PM; 17: Webinar: Ableism 102, 1:00 to 4:00 PM.

12/06/2025

Thanks for sharing, Southwest Michigan First Chamber!

We were so proud to partner with Discover Kalamazoo and Wheel the World on this project! A special shoutout to all of the hard work done by our ADA Specialist, Kelly L.! ♿️🌎✈️🧳

Kalamazoo County has one of the highest number of verified accessible destinations for those with physical disabilities in the United States, according to Wheel the World.