L.E.A.N. On Us

07/09/2025

07/09/2025

People with disabilities are often left out from conversations about emergency preparedness, including parents with disabilities who need to keep themselves and their children safe during a disaster.

Join us for an important discussion with Shari Myers and Melissa Marshall of The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies, along with Judy Brown and Morénike Giwa-Onaiwu, Advisory Board members of the National Research Center for Parents with Disabilities, on emergency preparedness for disabled parents and their families.

Live Spanish Translation Will Be Available!

Register here: https://zurl.co/DEEoc

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Image Description:
Webinar promotional graphic. Text reads: Disaster Preparedness for Parents with Disabilities. July 21, 2025 at 12 PM ET. Speakers: Melissa Marshall, Shari Myers, Judith Brown, and Morénike Giwa-Onaiwu. Four headshots of the speakers are displayed. Icons for ASL interpretation and closed captions are visible, indicating that these accessibility features will be provided during the webinar.

06/23/2025

The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, in conjunction with the Michigan Elder Justice Initiative (MEJI), released a new report, Public Funds into Private Pockets: How Nursing Homes May Be Hiding Profits and Depriving Residents of Care and Quality.

Some highlights from the report include:
• From the years 2021-2023, nursing homes in Michigan funneled $1.2 billion dollars through related party companies.

• The four nursing home chains examined in the report, who owned and operated 98 nursing homes in Michigan, paid related parties $544.5 million from 2021-2023, with little to no accountability for how those funds were used.

• In the four chains examined, staffing levels were well below recommended levels and Care Compare Star Ratings were well below average.

Read the report: https://theconsumervoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Public-Funds-Into-Private-Pockets.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawK-ZTxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF4aEZTQzd4RGx5SHRCb3lqAR4dfhM5HnrFTemcxXANff2jYZZL35zwr5CtDkxgHGx9qaY_X29kMl8o28Dw1w_aem_BhZgS3L4tAMY9GmJTB9O9Q

06/12/2025

The U.S. Department of Energy issued a final rule to remove a key protection in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. This elimination would no longer require newly constructed or renovated buildings using federal funds to be accessible for people with disabilities. This allows renovations that legally exclude ramps, elevators, and other necessary accommodations. This is a direct attack on the civil rights of people with disabilities. Comment on each docket using our link.

https://pulselink.bio/mich_silc.

06/06/2025

05/28/2025

📣 Upcoming ADA Workshop: Know Your Rights in Healthcare! 🏥

We’re proud to share an important event hosted by the Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons (NVRC)—a nonprofit committed to empowering Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals through advocacy, education, and accessible resources.

🎤 Leading the session is Steven E. Gordon, JD, a nationally recognized ADA expert with over 30 years of federal service, including as Civil Rights Enforcement Coordinator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Virginia. He’s been a strong voice for disability rights, especially in healthcare.

🗓 Date: Thursday, June 26, 2025
🕖 Time: 7:00 PM ET
💻 Location: Online via Zoom
🔗 Register at www.nvrc.org

💡 Learn about:
✅ What “effective communication” means under the ADA
✅ Why qualified interpreters and CART services matter
🚫 What providers can’t do—like charging for aids or relying on your family to interpret

🧏‍♀️ ASL interpreters and CART provided. Need other accommodations? Contact NVRC at info@nvrc.org or 703-352-9055.

Everyone deserves clear communication in healthcare. Join this powerful workshop to learn about your rights!

05/09/2025

These are currently free. Please share this information. Thank you!

Families with a child or adult with autism in the U.S. can request a free NAA Big Red Safety Box® here: http://bigredsafetybox.com

*Please note: the box in English or Spanish is free for those in need, and you may donate the shipping to help more families receive a box. **If you also need free shipping, use the "Additional Shipping Grant" section.**

**The materials in the box are based on U.S. practices & laws and may not be applicable in other countries. Because of this, the box is available to U.S. residents only. However, we do offer a free downloadable toolkit at: https://bit.ly/3vyFoUq

05/07/2025

The Arc of Macomb has a program called SPARC that can benefit your loved one and your local community when bridging gaps with law enforcement agencies. Please contact them to create a registry in your area or obtain training for your local jurisdictions.

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05/02/2025

AUTISTIC STUDENT ARRESTED | An incident at a Northside ISD middle school resulted in an 11-year-old with autism behind bars for 8 days. Community leaders are asking authorities to change their approach to these cases. https://bit.ly/42THSNM

04/21/2025

The Sterling Heights Police Department has become one of the first agencies in the area to implement a special needs registry, providing emergency crews with critical information.

04/18/2025

The Sterling Heights Police Department is proud to announce the launch of its new Special Needs Registry, a voluntary and confidential tool designed to help officers better respond to individuals with disabilities, medical conditions, or unique behavioral needs during emergency situations.

Get all the details on our website: bit.ly/3ErNu9K

04/16/2025