On-line Information & Resources

WID

World Institute on Disability is a nonprofit research, training, and public policy center promoting the civil rights and full societal inclusion of people with disabilities

 
Not Dead Yet Advocacy group opposing physician assisted suicide

 
ADAPT Americans with Disabilities for Attendant Programs Today focuses nationally on promoting community-based living instead of warehousing people with disabilities in institutions and nursing homes

 
Center for Self-Determination CPES offers a variety of services to individuals and families including: In-Home Support, Early Childhood Intervention, Consultation, Assessment, Employment Services ...

 
NOD National Organization on Disability provides the latest in disability related news, information, and resources

 
AAPD American Association of People with Disabilities is the largest nonprofit cross disability member organization in the U.S. It is dedicated to ensuring economic self-sufficiency and political empowerment for the more than 45 million Americans with disabilities

 
ILRU Independent Living Research Utilization is a national center for information, training, research, and technical assistance on independent living

 
History of IL by Gina McDonald & Mike Oxford

 
ADA

Great Lakes - Provides information, materials, technical assistance and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).

 

 
NCIL National Council on Independent Living is a national membership organization that advances independent living and the rights of people with disabilities through consumer-driven advocacy

 
Websites with disability statistics:

 
http://www.atxchange.org/v3/home.php

ATXchange.org is a nonprofit, Michigan-based web site where people can buy, sell, trade, or give away assistive technology.

 
http://www.disabilityresources.org A site that is dedicated to internet based disability resources.

 
http://www.mi.DB101.org A Michigan-specific tool for determining how working will affect various disability benefits.  Highly recommended!

 
Get Involved and Support Regional Collaboration

We are a region in transition. We are no longer simply a collection of independent, self-contained small Midwestern towns with clearly defined borders. Our prosperity and rapid growth has transformed us into an emerging metropolitan region that is now home to 1.3 million people.
While we are clearly not what we once were, we have not yet arrived at what we will become. An exciting yet critical window of opportunity exists for our region to determine the quality of life that will be enjoyed by future generations.

Join us as we Lead, Convene and Encourage in regional strategies centered around our Priorities for Regional Collaboration

 
Telework Loan Fund Have you ever wished you could work from home?  Michigan residents with disabilities can apply for loans for equipment and home modifications to do just that!  Individuals can either start a home-based business or work for an employer from home. Loans can be used to purchase any mechanical or electronic devices or apparatus, software or telecommunications systems necessary to perform telework. Go to the website for more information.

 
The Michigan Assistive Technology Loan Fund Allows people with disabilities and seniors (or their family members) to purchase assistive technology devices or services, including modification of vehicles and homes.  Loans may also cover cost of training to use the purchased equipment, warranties, and service agreements

 
ATXchange.org A free Michigan classified - website to help people with disabilities get the tools they need. This site is operated by the Michigan Disability rights Coalition-a nonprofit statewide network of individuals and organizations that supports the disability community through grassroots activism, public education, and advocacy.

 
ADA Chicago Regional Headquarters A great resource for information on the Americans with Disabilities Act

 
Disaboom.com A site connecting the millions with disabilities

 

 
The National Council for Support of Disability Issues works to help advance public attitudes, awareness, respect, consideration and advance the success of people with all types of disabilities.

 
Komtoo.net A computer & web resource.

 
DisabilityResources.org A site that is dedicated to internet based disability resources.
https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits-portal/ebenefits.portal This is a new site being promoted by the VA as an easier way for the veteran to seek information, apply for benefits, check the status of a claim, etc.  It is intended for “Wounded Warriors, Veterans, Service Members, their families, and their caregivers.  Check it out!

 
http://www.va.gov/ This is the main VA site, which will take you to all kinds of places that can help you and show you your government in action, trying to take care of you! The VA has made some huge changes under the new director, Eric Shinkseki.  All of the changes are intended to provide better service to veterans.

 
http://www.va.gov/site_map.htm This is a valuable site that lists all the main level pages on the VA website.  Sometimes it’s easier to go right here than search all over the place.

 
http://www.va.gov/vaforms/ It always takes a form, or lots of forms, to get things done, so here is the place to go to get them.

 
http://www.battlecreek.va.gov/ This is the site of the nearest Medical Center for veterans, though a full-scale Medical Center is planned for Grand Rapids for 2013. Right now the Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Lansing, and Benton Harbor Clinics are under the auspices of the BCMC.

 
https://www.myhealth.va.gov/mhv-portal-web/anonymous.portal?_nfpb=true&_nfto=false&_pageLabel=mhvHome This site allows a veteran to track their health history and treatment, including prescription refills, physician information, military health history, a medical library, and many other resources.

 
http://www.vetsuccess.gov/ This site deals with veterans who are seeking or undergoing vocational rehabilitation in order to seek employment.

 
http://www.dav.org/ This site introduces a disabled veteran to an organization that, for a membership fee, will represent them and advocate for them. The membership fee is a one-time fee for permanent lifetime membership, and is based on age at time of application.

 
http://www.vva.org/ This is the service organization for veterans of Vietnam.

 
http://www.legion.org/veteransbenefits This takes you to the Benefits Center of the American Legion website.

 
http://www.purpleheart.org/ This organization was chartered by Congress in 1958, to honor and offer services to Purple Heart recipients, but also offers services to all veterans and their families.

 
http://www.vfw.org/ This is the main site for the Veterans of Foreign Wars.  The VFW offers a lifetime membership for an age-related fee that can be paid over time if needed, and offers a wide array of benefits.

 
http://www.ssa.gov/online/ This links to Social Security’s list of forms to use to apply for disability, retirement benefits, Medicare.

 
http://www.disaboom.com/disabled-vets

Increasingly, for today’s veteran, disability may be the outcome of serving one’s country. As the number of disabled American veterans continues to grow, however, so do the programs meant to help them get back to a life of independence and contribution. Learn about education, housing, business, medical, and other benefits for disabled veterans.

 
http://www.clockmobility.com/ Clock Conversions in Grand Rapids is the most experienced company around at converting vans and installing wheelchair lifts and accessories.