Disability Network Southwest Michigan

01/21/2026

We've got a second post for you today... Join us TOMORROW or the 27th for a powerful discussion on the connection between Disability and harm reduction. This presentation will explore how stigma, systemic barriers, and medical discrimination impact Disabled people. We’ll examine how harm reduction aligns with Disability justice, why substance use disorder is recognized as a Disability, and how lack of access to care forces people into dangerous alternatives. Through real-world examples and interactive discussion, we’ll highlight the urgent need for autonomy, equity, and policy change. Attendees will gain actionable steps to challenge stigma, advocate for inclusive harm reduction, and support Disability rights. Let’s work together to create a future where no one is denied the care and dignity they deserve.

Register for 1/22: https://loom.ly/iJUAIw0
Register for 1/27: https://loom.ly/8v_Lusw

Link preview ID: Text in large, teal letters: Beyond Stigma. Text in small, black and white letters: Harm Reduction & Disability.

01/21/2026

: Every Wednesday we want to share some good news happening here at DN and in our community. Today we have our January programming to share – don’t miss out on these free, virtual presentations!

Learn more and register for upcoming trainings here ➡️ https://loom.ly/03YNsU4

ID: Text: Events this month. January. 13: Webinar: Disability History 101, 1:00 to 2:30 PM; 21: Webinar: Intro to Accessibility, 10:00 to 11:30 AM; 22*: Webinar: Beyond Stigma: Harm Reduction & Disability, 2:00 to 4:00 PM; 27* Webinar: Beyond Stigma: Harm Reduction & Disability, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. *Indicates a Special Event.

01/20/2026

It’s officially under a month until the first meeting of the Book Club! 📚🎧

If Disability Intimacy by Alice Wong is still waiting patiently on your shelf or in your headphones (audiobook fans, we see you), now’s a good moment to dive in. It’s a long read, but very worth the journey. We can’t wait to talk about it with you on February 18! More here: https://loom.ly/-QeilD4

ID: The displayed link preview shows a black graphic with bold, white text: Book Club. The graphic displays the cover of the book Disability Intimacy by Alice Wong, a tan book with several large, colorful flowers.

Disability Network Southwest Michigan is excited to partner with Kalamazoo Public Library to launch the Book Club—a book club dedicated to promoting access, inclusion,…

01/20/2026

The weather is doing the most today. ❄️ For everyone’s safety, all three of our offices are closed due to inclement weather. Staff are still available by phone if you're in need of warming shelter resources or other information. Stay safe and warm today.

ID: DNSWM logo atop a snowy road with several vehicles and a large building; text: Office Closure.

01/19/2026

📣 Join us for an upcoming special presentation! Beyond Stigma: Harm Reduction & Disability

Attendees for this webinar can expect a powerful conversation exploring how stigma, systemic barriers, and medical discrimination impact Disabled people—and why harm reduction is a vital part of Disability justice. This session is for anyone who wants to learn, advocate, and help build a future where no one is denied care, autonomy, or dignity.

We’ll dive into:
✨ How substance use disorder is recognized as a Disability
✨ Why lack of access to care pushes people into unsafe alternatives
✨ Real-world examples and interactive discussion
✨ Actionable steps you can take to challenge stigma and support inclusive harm reduction practices

📅 Thursday, January 22, 2:00-4:00 PM https://loom.ly/iJUAIw0
📅 Tuesday, January 27, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM https://loom.ly/8v_Lusw

The link preview shows text on a black background which reads Beyond Stigma: Harm Reduction & Disability.

01/14/2026

In observation of World Braille Day on January 4 and January being Braille Literacy Month, we asked if you think braille creates letters, numbers, and symbols using a) SIX raised dots or b) NINE raised dots.

The answer? Six! Braille is a tactile writing system for people with low vision or blindness that uses six raised dots to represent letters, numbers, punctuation, and contractions. Providing braille materials upon request is one way schools, businesses, and other organizations can be inclusive and give individuals the access they need.

ID: Two rows of dots illustrating braille characters, with the word “Braille” displayed below. Text: World Braille Day Answer: Six dots.

01/13/2026

: On Tuesdays we'll post a tip about the . Our hope is that this gives you better insight into who we are and what we stand for.

This week's tip is about harm reduction. Harm reduction is a practical, compassionate approach to behavior that focuses on reducing the negative consequences of risky behaviors—without requiring someone to stop those behaviors completely. It doesn’t encourage risky behavior; it simply recognizes that people deserve safety and care no matter what.

Learn more about harm reduction and why substance use disorder is recognized as a disability in one of our upcoming webinars!

These trainings will be in collaboration with Lindsey P. from Kalamazoo Harm Reduction and Luca M. from Street Medicine Kalamazoo (Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine) ⤵️
🔷 Thursday, January 22, 2026, 2:00-4:00 PM: https://loom.ly/iJUAIw0
🔷 Tuesday, January 27, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM: https://loom.ly/8v_Lusw

ID: DNSWM logo. Text: Tip Tuesday. Have you heard of harm reduction? It’s about:
- Keeping people safe, not judging them
- Offering tools and support that reduce harm (like clean syringes, naloxone, seat belts, condoms, etc.)
- Respecting people’s choices and dignity
- Helping people make positive changes at their own pace

01/08/2026

: On Thursdays, we highlight something we're thankful for. This week we're shining a light on Maddy, DNSWM intern and first year medical student at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine. As part of her internship, Maddy was tasked with presenting as part of the DN Community Education team. She recently facilitated her own webinar—Beyond the Ramp: Reimagining Accessibility in Healthcare— and it went amazingly well! Great job, Maddy, we know you'll be a great Disability advocate throughout your medical career!

ID: Bold, colorful orange, navy, teal, and yellow design. A woman with blonde hair wearing a flowered shirt and glasses, smiling. Text: Intern Spotlight. Maddy S. First year medical student at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine.

01/07/2026

Every Wednesday, we want to share some good news happening here at DN and in our community.

In case you missed it: Disability Network Southwest Michigan is excited to partner with Kalamazoo Public Library to launch the Book Club—a book club dedicated to promoting access, inclusion, disability pride, and spreading the message that Disability is not a bad word. More here ➡️ https://loom.ly/-QeilD4

ID: The displayed link preview shows a black graphic with bold, white text: Book Club. The graphic displays the cover of the book Disability Intimacy by Alice Wong, a tan book with several large, colorful flowers.

Disability Network Southwest Michigan is excited to partner with Kalamazoo Public Library to launch the Book Club—a book club dedicated to promoting access, inclusion,…

01/06/2026

Sunday was World Braille Day and January is ! We celebrate braille as a powerful example of what access looks like in action. When information is accessible, people have more choice, more freedom, and more opportunity to belong.

Let's test our community's braille knowledge:
👍 Like this post if you think: Braille uses SIX raised dots to create letters, numbers, and symbols.
❤️ Love this post if you think: Braille uses NINE raised dots to create letters, numbers, and symbols.

Stay tuned for the answer!

ID: Text: January 4, 2026. World Braille Day.

01/05/2026

For our first Monday of the year, say hello to DNSWM staff member Lisa. Lisa leads the Information & Referral (I&R) team, a team that helps those we serve connect to vital resources in our community (and honestly, so much more!). I&R work is foundational to who we are here at DNSWM and we're so glad Lisa joined the team in 2021. A fun fact: Lisa is a Medicare guru and regularly helps our customers navigate this complex system to get their needs met. A more fun fact: her favorite snack is popcorn - she even has an air popper in her office! 🍿

ID: Staff member, Lisa, standing outside while wearing a black shirt; text: A Spotlight on our dedicated team: Lisa Fuller, Information & Referral Program Manager. "My favorite thing about Disability Network is the dedication and creativity of our staff to meet our customers as they are, no matter where they are in their life journey."

01/01/2026

🎈🎉 Starting the year off right… by celebrating Konjoh! 🎉🎈

Today is our faithful volunteer Konjoh’s birthday, and we’re so grateful for all the ways he shows up for our community. Thank you for being a constant source of support, kindness, and good energy. May your birthday include cake, celebration, and zero volunteer duties today. 😉

Show Konjoh some birthday love in the comments below! ⬇️

ID: The outline of a Polaroid picture on top of a photo of DNSWM volunteer Konjoh dressed in a grey suit and hat; text: Happy birthday, Konjoh!