Support

Advocate, Collaborate, Educate, Care

You Advocate

Perhaps you or a friend were among the hundreds of people with disabilities and allies who were “Feisty & Noncompliant” and wrote, emailed, met with, or telephoned your senators and representatives and the Governor in support of the MI Choice Medicaid Waiver Program. Because of you, many more seniors and people with disabilities will be able to choose to receive services in their own home instead of nursing facilities. We need your support to continue important advocacy efforts in reforming Michigan’s long-term care system.

You Collaborate

You participate in grassroots groups, testify at committees, and write letters to legislators ensuring that there is “Nothing about us without us!” People with disabilities, seniors, allies, legislators, and MDRC staff are forming strategic partnerships to guarantee affordable, accessible, integrated, safe housing. This year, in collaboration with our partners at Disability Network the Developmental Disabilities Council, UCP of Michigan, Arcs, the State of Michigan, and others, we were able to get people with disabilities to the table as decisions were being made on funding allocations for affordable housing. Because of this organized collaboration, changes in policy were made around the state to increase access to housing for people with disabilities as they transition out of nursing homes. Because of organized collaboration to attend Michigan State Housing Development Authority hearings, people with disabilities will have access to additional affordable, accessible supported housing units.

You Educate

MDRC partnered with dozens of organizations across the state to educate people with disabilities and allies about the benefits of assistive technology (AT). Because of these efforts, more than 11,481 people learned about technology that will help them, or the people they serve, get jobs, go to school, and live in the community.

MDRC partnered with UCP of Michigan and AT&T to teach dozens of people with disabilities how to tell their stories using digital storytelling. Through “Many Faces, One Voice”, people with disabilities around the state have been using cutting edge technology to tell their compelling stories in ways that are accessible to everyone. People who have taken the class are telling personal stories of disability pride, institutionalization, family perceptions, barriers in access to transportation, and self advocacy. We’ll be looking for ways to continue to use this tool for education and advocacy work.

You Care

Please consider how much more you can do to help by sending a tax-deductible year-end gift to Michigan Disability Rights Coalition.

“Nothing about us without us!”
“With liberty and access for all!”

These words symbolize our work at MDRC. When you support our efforts through financial gifts and by donating your time, you are actively living out these core beliefs as they guide our work together. A large majority of our staff and board are people with disabilities. The groups we support around the state are run by people with disabilities. When you give to MDRC, the funds are used to support people with disabilities as they educate legislators, bureaucrats, and the general public about the issues that impact all our lives. Your support assures that people with disabilities are strategically at the table and have an impact.