Michigan Disability Rights Coalition

04/24/2026

For many disabled people, family caregivers are not just the best option. They are the only option.

Across the country, there is a severe shortage of direct care workers. Families are stepping in to provide complex, around-the-clock care because there is no one else available. And that care is real work. It means helping with medications, bathing, feeding, mobility, communication, and safety, often 24/7. It means change in careers, income, and personal health.

“Calling this ‘fraud’ isn’t just inaccurate. It’s disrespectful to the families holding our care system together,” said MDRC Executive Director Theresa Metzmaker. “Rhetoric like this does real harm. It puts essential supports at risk, especially programs that allow disabled people to live in their homes and communities.”

Caregivers’ time is valuable. Their labor is essential. And disabled people deserve support from the people they trust most. This is not fraud. This is survival.

Advocates for disabled people and those who care for them said they were insulted by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s allegations that the programs are "rife with fraud."

04/22/2026

Today, we celebrate National Assistive Technology Day.

Across our state, organizations are working to increase awareness, expand access, and connect people to the tools they need.

Through 30 Days, 30 AT Ways, we’re proud to be part of a collaborative effort highlighting the impact of assistive technology in everyday life.

Together, we’re building a more accessible Michigan.



Disability Rights Michigan
Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council
Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute
Michigan Elder Justice Initiative
MI - UCP

[ID: Graphic that says: Today is National Assistive Technology Awareness Day. Text: These organizations are working to increase awareness, expand access and connect people to the tools they need. Together, we are building a more accessible Michigan.
Logos for Michigan Developmental Disabilities Institute (MiDDi), Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council (MiDDC), Michigan Elder Justice Initiative (MEJI), Michigan Assistive Technology Loan Fund (MATLF), and Michigan Assistive Technology Program (MATP) are in the middle.
Text: Together, we are building a more accessible Michigan.
30 Days, 30 AT Ways logo.

Day 22. End ID.]

04/21/2026

Do you live on the east side of Michigan? Come join Outdoor Recreation AT Specialist Jileesa at DiversAbility Days. Jileesa will have a variety of AT for Outdoor Recreation for you to try out. Can't make the first one at Fort Gratiot? Not to worry, they will be happening all summer. Check out this flyer to see dates and places that work for you!

Register online using the QR code or visit: tinyurl.com/DiversAbilityDay
Questions? Text/call (248) 221-8040

[ID: DiversAbility Day Flyer with a banner picture of a person on a wheelchair and a person on an e-trike on a paved path on a sunny day. There are also four pictures in circles going down the flyer, 1. individual playing golf target practice, 2.two people playing ladder golf, 3. a person in a wheelchair using an adaptive fishing reel on a dock with other people nearby, and people rowing- the person in the middle has their oar held high in the air- on a lake. There is a QR code and logos for Rec Connect, Oakland County Parks, Huron-Clinton Metroparks, Rehab without walls, and Wheels in motion. Text: DiversAbility Day: Come play with us! Join us for free adaptive outdoor recreation.
-Fort Gratiot -June 1, 2026 4:00 – 7:00 pm, McIntyre Park
-Royal Oak - June 18, 2026 10:00 am – 1:00 pm, Normandy Oaks County Park
-Harrison Township - August 5, 2026 10:00 am – 1:00 pm, Lake St. Clair Metropark
-Clarkston - August 13, 2026 4:00 – 7:00 pm, Independence Oaks County Park
Register Online: tinyurl.com/DiversAbilityDay
Questions? Text/call (248) 221-8040. End Text and ID.]

04/21/2026

MDRC is committed to Disability Justice, and part of that commitment means that we look at disability through a lens of intersectionality. What is intersectionality and how does it impact our perspectives? Check out our training on the intersections of the disability and the LGBTQIA+ movement.

Join the LFI Team for Intersections of Disability and LGBTQIA+ Movements Training!In this engaging virtual session, we will delve into the shared histories a...

04/20/2026

In addition to our leadership programs, MDRC provides a variety of trainings to organizations and groups looking to become more inclusive. All of our training is facilitated by people with lived experience of disability. Interested in learning more? Contact us at leaders@mymdrc.org.

[Image description: Flyer for MDRC'sLeaders for Inclusion (LFI) program promoting “Disability Awareness: Inclusion & Belonging Trainings.” It advertises in-person and virtual presentations and lists topics such as disability history, disability pride, LGBTQIA+ and disability, disability justice, inclusive language, inclusion vs. belonging, ally work, ableism, disability identity, intersectionality, accessibility, and inclusion scale assessment. A photo shows three young adults, including one wheelchair user, laughing together outdoors. Contact information is provided: Leaders@MyMDRC.org
, 517-333-2477, and www.MyMDRC.org. The program is funded by the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council.

04/17/2026

Ajaunè Thomas, Director of Leadership Programs at the Michigan Disability Rights Coalition, presented this morning at a full-day professional development event, "Key Disability Health Competencies and Care Principles for Clinicians," hosted by our partners University of Michigan Center for Disability Health and Wellness.

The session, “Thinking About Disability: Why the Framework Makes a Difference,” was well received with follow up questions and possible opportunities for more in depth trainings. MDRC and the Center for Disability Health and Wellness work together to change healthcare systems to be more inclusive and accessible.
The conference is still happening with great sessions and presenters until 6pm. Virtual attendance is available.

Clinicians, healthcare professionals, and advocates, register here and learn more: https://umich.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_e4FatFlSHIlLDwy

Image Description: Ajaune Thomas and Co-Presenter Dr. Carrie Pilarski pose in front of the conference sign.

04/17/2026

This session will explore how caregiving, maternal health, and access to services intersect. We’ll also reflect on how systems of care impact families and how sharing stories can help build community and inspire change.

04/16/2026

In celebration of Older Americans Month this May, the Michigan Bridging Aging and Disability Networks Community of Practice is offering an Aging with a Developmental Disability Webinar Series.

A new webinar will be held every Thursday in May at 10:30 a.m. for people aging with developmental disabilities, as well as family members, service providers, and supporters.

Growing older can bring new questions and challenges. For people with developmental disabilities, aging may mean changes in health, support needs, housing, or daily routines. Having the right information, resources, tools, and community can help people continue making choices and stay connected to what matters most.

Join us: MATP Director Aimee Sterk will present on May 28 about Assistive Technology for Aging in Place.

To register, scan the QR code on the flyer or use this link to reserve your spot: https://forms.office.com/g/GmrX5fqMv4

[ID: A flyer with a picture of person with glasses standing outside of a building Text: Presented by the Michigan Bridging Aging and Disability Networks Community of Practice: Aging with a Developmental Disability Webinar Series. In celebration of Older Americans Act Month, join us to learn important information for those aging with developmental disabilities, their family members, service providers, and supporters.

Each Thursday in May from 10:30 a.m. -12:00 p.m.
May 7- Aging Services Overview
May 14- Getting the Right Supports for You
May 21- Supports for Caregivers
May 28- Assistive Technology for Aging in Place
Scan the QR code or use the link below to reserve your spot:
https://forms.office.com/g/GmrX5fqMv4 End ID.]

04/16/2026

We are thrilled to share the news that Jeanine Rowe, an ambassador from our Leaders for Inclusion program (LFI), was appointed by the Governor to the Michigan Barrier Access Board! Jeanine has a passion for physical access, and has focused her advocacy on changing building codes. As a certified ADA Coordinator, she brings a wealth of knowledge and lived experience to her role. Congratulations!

[Image description: Jeanine a light skinned woman with glasses who uses a wheelchair, smiles broadly in a headshot]

04/15/2026

At MDRC we offer a series of leadership programs for disabled people, by disabled people, to equip advocates with the tools, confidence, and access to amplify their stories and be the change they’d like to see. Today, advocates from our program are meeting with their Michigan legislators in Lansing to talk about teaching disability history in schools, an issue they’ve identified as vital. While they work, check out this piece of disability history... an act of civil disobedience that got little attention at the time and has now been largely forgotten. But it eventually spurred a national movement, and it's just the sort of history that should be widely taught.

People in wheelchairs surrounded and barricaded two city buses over the course of two days, demanding wheelchair lifts and chanting, "We will ride."

04/14/2026

The next edition of the Michigan Assistive Technology Program newsletter comes out tomorrow. Sign up today!

Check out this great feedback about our newsletter, MATP Tech Connect. Have you signed up for our newsletter yet?

You can sign up here: https://bit.ly/4tjtzO5

[ID: Graphic of a quote with MATP logo in the bottom right. Text: Just wanted to say that I always look forward to your newsletters and webinars! Also thank you for including the low glycemic potato, I know someone whom this will help! -Emma MATP Tech Connect Newsletter Subscriber. End text and ID.]