FEDERALLY MANDATED PARTNERSHIPS

• Advisory Council on Mental Illness (ACMI)
• Michigan Commission For The Blind (MCB)
• Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC)
• Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC)
• Michigan Statewide Independent Living Council (MISILC)

OTHER PARTNERS

• The Arc Michigan
• Disability Network/Michigan (DN/MI)
• Disability Voice
• The Michigan ADA Steering Committee
• Michigan Commission on Disability Concerns (MCDC)
  
• Michigan League for Human Services (MLHS)
• Michigan Protection & Advocacy Service (MPAS)
  
• Michigan Youth Leadership Forum (MYLF)
• MI Works! Association (MWA)
  
• United Cerebral Palsy of Michigan (UCP)
  
  

THE ARC MICHIGAN

Click here to visit the Arc Michigan web site

The Arc Michigan promotes the value and potential of all people.  It exists to empower local chapters of the Arc to assure that citizens with developmental disabilities are valued and that they and their families can participate fully in and contribute to the life of their community.

Members of The Arc Michigan receive a wide array of services and benefits including:

• State and federal legislative advocacy activities
• Educational conferences and seminars
• Special insurance rates through The Arc US
• Educational materials and newsletters from local, state and national organizations.  Reduced rates for many other relevant publications
• Free parent and professional training, including technical assistance training
• Assistance locating high quality services
• Toll-free information and referral line

The Arc Michigan
1325 S. Washington Avenue
Lansing, Michigan  48910
Toll-free number 1.800.292.7851

THE MICHIGAN ADA STEERING COMMITTEE

Click here to visit the Michigan ADA Steering Committee web site

The Michigan ADA Steering Committee was formed in 1991 and is comprised of businesses, disability groups and government agencies all working together to increase the awareness and implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) throughout the State of Michigan through:

• Training Assistance
• Training and Workshops
• Referrals to specialized agencies
• Lending audiovisual library books
• Providing grants to organizations that meet the objectives of the Steering Committee

The ADA requires businesses and governments to make their goods, services, and/or facilities accessible to clients, customers and employees with disabilities.

For more information on the Michigan ADA Steering Committee call 1.800.292.5986

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MICHIGAN COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND (MCB)

Click here to visit the MCB web site

The Michigan Commission for the Blind Rehabilitation Services Program is a state-federal program designed to assist persons who are blind to achieve personal, social, and economic independence emphasizing jobs in the competitive labor market.

Counselors and other staff work with individuals to develop an Individual Plan for Employment (IPE).  They also work to meet employer's needs to obtain and maintain appropriately qualified personnel.  If you are an employer or a person who is blind or visually impaired, you may take advantage of services by contacting your local office.

Michigan Commission for the Blind Offices:

Flint State Office Building
125 E. Union - 7^th Floor
Flint, Michigan 48502
Phone: 810.760.2030

Jerome T. Hart Office Building
411 East Genesee
Saginaw, Michigan 48607
Phone:  989.758.1765

Victor Office Center
201 N. Washington
P.O. Box 30652
Lansing, Michigan 48909
Phone:  517.373.6425

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MICHIGAN COMMISSION ON DISABILITY CONCERNS (MCDC)

Click here to visit the MCDC web site

The Michigan Commission on Disability Concerns which includes the Division on Deaf and Hard of Hearing responds to and advocates on behalf of Michigan's 1.9 million people with disabilities. This is done through information and technical assistance, disability rights training, working with the Michigan Business Leaders Network on employment for people with disabilities, coordinating the Michigan Youth Leadership Forum and conducting disability awareness and sensitivity training.  The Division on Deaf and Hard of Hearing deals with issues involving Michigan citizens who are deaf or hard of hearing. Our Mission is to provide statewide leadership to empower and integrate people with disabilities into all apsects of society.

 MICHIGAN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES COUNCIL (MDDC)

Click here to visit the MDDC web site

The MDDC operates under the federal Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 1994.  Its activities include:

• advocating for people with developmental disabilities as a strong voice working on behalf of those citizens.  Objectives of this advocacy include supporting and encouraging people to take control of their lives through community-wide, results-oriented action;
• channeling federal funds - more than $2 mission in annual grants - to state and local services agencies and organizations in Michigan.  These groups use the grants to affect policies and systems change, to develop results-oriented initiatives; and to collectively work toward community inclusion through RICCs;
• entering into agreements with Michigan agencies to help carry out Council reesponsibilities set forth in the Developmental Disabilities Act;
• assisting Michigan citizens with developmental disabilities to access appropriate treatment, services and habilitation for such disabilities;
• supporting projects that develop, enhance or advocate for community-based supports.  These lead to independence, community inclusion and productivity for Michigan citizens with developmental disabilities;
• organizaing and defining activities of a statewide network of Regional Interagency Coordinating Committees (RICCSs).

Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council
Lewis Cass Building
Lansing, Michigan 48913
Voice:  517.334.6123
TDD:  517.334.7354
Fax:  517.334.7353

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MICHIGAN LEAGUE FOR HUMAN SERVICES (MLHS)

Click here to visit the MLHS web site

-Promoting social well-being since 1912-

 MICHIGAN PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY SERVICE (MPAS)

Click here to visit the MPAS web site

The mission of the MPAS is to advance the dignity, equality, self-determination, and expressed choices of individuals.  MPAS promotes, expands, and protects the human and legal rights of people by providing them with information and advocacy.

People with disabilities have to deal with a wide variety of issues.  MPAS will try to answer any questions they might have relating to disability.  They have experience in the following areas:  discrimination in education, employment, housing, and public places; abuse and neglect; Social Security benefits; Medicaid, Medicare and other insurance; housing; Vocational Rehabilitation; and HIV/AIDS issues.

For more information, please call MPAS at 1.800.288.5923 (in Michigan) or 517.487.1755 (in Lansing).

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MICHIGAN STATEWIDE INDEPENDENT LIVING COUNCIL (MISILC)

Click here to visit the MISILC web site

Michigan Statewide Independent Living Council (MISILC) is:

• an organization of individuals who represent the interest of people with disabilities across Michigan.
• made up of Governor appointed Council members, with a majority being people with disablities and other non-voting ex-officio members that provide vital links to state agencies, that provide services to people with disabilities.
• proud to promote and advocate the Independent Living (IL) phoilosophy as a valued right of all people.
• funded by state and federal grants.

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MICHIGAN YOUTH LEADERSHIP FORUM (MYLF)

Click here to visit the MYLF web site

The Michigan Youth Leadership Forum (MYLF) for students with disabilities is a unique career leadership training program for high school juniors and seniors with disabilities.  By serving as delegates from their communities at the five-day event in the state capital, these delegates cultivate leadership, citizenship and social skills.

MYLF is an educational and motivational forum.  Guest speakers address such topics as disabilitiy rights laws, innovations in technology and resources.  Delegates spend a day at the State Capitol debating a selected bill with several members of the STate Legislature.  By providing a framework of disability history and an atmosphere of encouragement, MYLF offers people with disabilities common challenges, experiences, and opportunities to learn from one another.

The key to MYLF's success is leadership by example.  Successful men and women with disabilities serve as mentors by helping youth realize their abilities, rights and obligations to pursue meaningful employment and contribute to society.  These mentors with disabilities have traveled the same path many of these delegates will face.  Mentors work in small groups to help student delegates explore personal leadership and career plans in a totally accessible environment.

Delegates are chosen through a statewide competition that seeks students with disabilities who have leadership potential.  Each applicant submits a standard form, an essay, and letters of recommendation.  The delegates that are selected are representative of the state by geography, gender, ethnicity, and types of disabilities.

For more information about the Michigan Youth Leadership Forum, contact:

Michigan Commission on Disability Concerns
and Division on Deaf and Hard of Hearing
201 North Washington Square, Ste. 150
Lansing, Michigan 48909
Voice/TTY: 517.335.6004
Toll Free Voice/TTY): 877.499.6232
Fax: 517.335.7773
Video Relay IP Address: dodhh.net
E-mail: mcdc@michigan.gov
or dodhh@michigan.gov

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UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY OF MICHIGAN (UCP)

Click here to visit the UCP web site

The mission of UCP Michigan is to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities.

UCP Michigan is a dynamic network of people committed to the following purposes:

• To assure the rights and entitlements of persons with disabilities;
• To equip and enable individuals with cerebral palsy and other severe disabilities to attain the fullest possible employment, productivity, and participation in an integrated community;
• To support freedom of choice by assuring multiple options in daily living;
• To provide a continuity of quality human services;
• To present factual material for the awareness and understanding of all segments of the public;
• To involve persons with cerebral palsy and also others with severe disabilities in decisionmaking proesses affecting their lives; and
• To mobilize human and financial resources to accomplish the above.

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