Our Special Needs Trust is a “Pooled Trust” fund created to manage funds for supplemental needs during a beneficiary’s entire life. A beneficiary can receive funds from such a trust without compromising public support such as Medicaid, Medicaid Waivers, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and certain other benefits available through the state of Michigan.

For example, individuals with disabilities who receive an inheritance, that would jeopardize benefits can deposit the money in a pooled trust and not lose their benefits.

Pooled trust funds can be used for items such as:

• vacations
• home repairs
• supplementary medical or dental care
• technology
• home furnishings

 What is Sibling ROOTS and why is it Important?

Sibling ROOTS supports the brothers and sisters of children with challenges in Midland County. Siblings of children with challenges often identify experiencing feelings of stress, isolation, being left out, and role confusion. Sibling ROOTS creates opportunities for these children to come together and share their story with other children who ‘just get it’. The ROOTS program provides networking opportunities for siblings and parents, fun and healthy outlets for sibs to express themselves within a safe environment, and learn ways to improve and support their sibling relationship.

Who is Sibling ROOTS for?

Sibling ROOTS is separated into two sections:

• Sibshops (for siblings ages 7-11)
• TeenSibs (for siblings 12-17)

Sibling ROOTS is for any child within Midland County who has a brother or sister with challenges. These challenges may include medical, communication, intellectual, or behavioral. There is no specific qualification that the sibling with challenges needs to have.

What are the results?

Through Sibling ROOTS, sibs are able to connect, share their story, have fun and learn some really cool things! Research has identified that such groups increase a sibling’s confidence, relationship satisfaction, and coping and strategy skills while decreasing the feeling of isolation, resentment and frustration. These results can be seen long-term through a stronger family unit and positive sibling relationships to last into adulthood.

How can my child become involved?

Sibling ROOTS schedule
For more information on Sibling ROOTS, contact Rachel Baker atbaker@thearcofmidland.org or 989.631.4439 x109

A facilitatoris one who makes the Person Centered Planning process easier. Facilitators at The Arc of Midland do the following:

• Assist individuals in inviting the people that they want
• Focus on topics of the individual’s choice
• Share information about resources and options available to the person
• Encourage group participation
• Assure there is a recording of the meeting
• Help to establish links to the community
• Connect individuals to needed supports from service agencies

Facilitators at The Arc of Midland are available to facilitate Person Centered Plans, Circles of Support, MAPS, Individual Budgets, and more.

Definitions

Person Centered Plan – an annual process in which individual’s dreams and goals are discussed and strategies are brainstormed in order to reach those goals.

Circles of Support – a group of people who meet regularly to help a person with an intellectual or developmental disability realize a dream or reach a life-goal.

MAPS – a process to help an individual get from the present reality to future dreams.

Individual Budgets – a process to help individuals budget their service dollars, allowing them to choose how their money is spent.

For more information or to request a facilitator, contact The Arc of Midland, 989-631-4439.

The following principles guide the facilitation of personal plans by The Arc of Midland:

• We first and foremost support the dreams of individuals, their families, and/or significant others
• Person centered planning is biased toward the individual’s goals, dreams, and agenda
• Person centered planning helps individuals create a life in their homes and community and plan how that will be supported
• Facilitation extends “circle thinking” to the person centered planning process
• Individuals need to be part of a community; facilitation focuses on life outside the service system
• We value and respect individual choices, even when they seem to be self-limiting or controversial
• Facilitators and their stores of local knowledge are resources forindividuals and their families and staff

People First of Midland is an advocacy group composed of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who strive to promote choice, respect, community inclusion and self-determination by providing education, assistance, guidance, resources, and support to others with disabilities in our city and around the state.

People First Goals

• Provide money for people to attend conferences and/or seminars
• Bring in speakers to present on self-determination
• Find creative ways to give back to the community through volunteer work
• Contact state and local representatives on issues such as accessibility in public places under the Disability Act and public and personal transportation issues

Meeting Times
People First generally meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 5:00 pm- 6:00pm at The Arc of Midland. However, meeting times and places are subject to change so please contact The Arc for current meeting dates and locations. Our last meeting of the year occurs in May and we break until September.

People First Dances
People First sponsors several dances each year. We have an annual Halloween dance, and a Christmas dance. For more information please contact The Arc.

People First Schedule
Refer to the Arc’s Calendar for current dates and times.

Contact Info
If you are interested in People First of Midland, our accomplishments or our goals, please contact Rachel Baker at (989) 631-4439 x109 baker@thearcofmidland.org or Ben Tenney at (989)631-4439 x.102 tenney@thearcofmidland.org

What is an Individualized Education Plan (IEP)?

Each public school child who receives special education and related services must have anIndividualized Education Program (IEP). The IEP must be designed for one student and must be a truly individualized document. The IEP creates an opportunity for teachers, parents, school administrators, related services personnel and students (when appropriate) to work together to improve educational results for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The IEP is the cornerstone of a quality education for each child with an intellectual or developmental disability.

To create an effective IEP, parents, teachers, other school staff and often the student must come together to look closely at the student’s unique needs. These individuals pool knowledge, experience and commitment to design an educational program that will help the student be involved in, and progress in, the general curriculum. The IEP guides the delivery of special education supports and services for the student with a disability.

The Arc’s education advocacy services help parents, guardians, and students develop a plan of action for obtaining a free and appropriate education and helping students make meaningful progress on their educational goals.

The Educational Advocate

• listens to the parents/guardians, gathering valuable information related to the current situation and reviews the current Evaluation Report (ER), Individualized Education Program (IEP), and other pertinent documents, as necessary.
• educates/informs parents/guardians about their children’s right to a free and appropriate education, the applicable laws, the special education process, how to effectively partner with the school team, how to effectively resolve issues, and how to be their children’s best advocate.
• may attend IEP meetings with parents/guardians, if requested/deemed necessary. The advocate may also attend a resolution meeting, mediation or a due process hearing, if requested/deemed necessary, and the family has been unsuccessful in obtaining a free appropriate public education (FAPE) for a student through other appropriate methods.
• encourages parents/guardians to attend local workshops and conferences and to network with other parents through a variety of local disability-specific or topic-specific parent support groups. Knowledge is power.
• encouragesstudents to become a stronger voice for themselves by self-advocating appropriately.
• may refer the family to other state and local service providers, e.g., behavioral health, intellectual and developmental disabilities, medical assistance, support groups, etc. as needed.
• always works toward empowering the parent/guardian to become an informed, active, equal member of his/her child’s IEP team, knowing that the child’s parent/guardian is always the child’s best advocate.

Everyone in Education is a collaboration of families, schools and community, providing training, information, resources and ideas to broaden opportunities to help all children to be successful in the general education setting.

The I.D.E.A Act of 2004
After a long and oftentimes contentious legislative battle, Public Law 108-446, or the “Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004” (IDEA 2004) was passed by Congress and then signed by President George W. Bush on December 3, 2004. The earlier version, IDEA 1997, remains substantially in place; however this particular re-authorization of the statute contains many new provisions that take effect July 1, 2005. The highlights are:

• Highly Qualified Teachers – redefines the education levels and certifications necessary for special educators who teach core academic subjects.
• Fixed Fiscal Authorization Levels – specifically sets spending authorizations for the next six fiscal years (e.g., $12.4 billion in FY2005, and increasing each year to $26.1 billion in FY2011), as opposed to annual line-item budget battles.
• Performance Goals and Indicators – instead of performance goals and measures established by a State, the new law requires that these be the same as the State’s definition of adequate yearly progress (AYP) for all children under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), which would include a State’s objectives for progress by children with disabilities. Short-term objectives are no longer mandatory, except for those students with significant cognitive impairments taking alternative assessments that measure achievement.
• Participation in Assessments – IDEA 2004 makes mandatory that all children with disabilities be included in all State and district-wide assessments, including those under NCLB, with accommodations or alternative assessments if necessary and as included in the child’s individualized education plan (IEP).
• Initial Evaluation and Reevaluations – local districts are required to conduct a full and individual initial evaluation of a child before providing special education and related services, and to conduct reevaluations as warranted. School districts must still obtain consent from the parent prior to an initial evaluation, and the evaluations must take place within 60 days. IDEA 2004 no longer requires a mandatory three-year reevaluation, and prohibits reevaluations more frequently than once a year unless the parent and the local district agree.
• Transition Planning – the requirement that the IEP contain a statement of “transition service needs” (from school to employment or independent living) now must occur “not later that the first IEP to be in effect when the child is 16.”

US Department of Education: A Guide to the Individualized Education Program

Citizens Alliance To Uphold Special Education (CAUSE) : IEP Specific Information

Wrights law – Special Education Law & Advocacy

Information from the U.S. Government on No Child Left Behind, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Assistive Technology, Parent Resources, etc.

Project Lifesaver Has Many Roles

The primary mission is to locate and rescue missing persons. We have established many partnerships with local law enforcement to help save money and time for taxpayers. We also have many partnerships that strengthen the awareness of our technologies and services.

Benefits to Midland County:

• Many family members and caregivers are seeking alternatives to nursing homes and a means to keep track of those who experience dementia and may wander away from home.
• Individuals with autism or other intellectual and developmental disabilities may be unable to seek help if they become lost or wander from the sight of family or caregivers.
• It can take hours or days for Law Enforcement to find a person at great expense and risk to the individual who is lost.
• Every minute lost means the difference between being found safe and sound or being found injured or even dead.
• The following statistics confirmed the need in Midland County for a wandering tracking device:
  • “Walk away’s,” or people who are missing because they wander, are a frequent occurrence and comprise many time-consuming hours for emergency personnel. Since 2002, there have been over 45 missing person reports in which a person “walked away” in Midland County.

The Arc of Midland is available to help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities manage their finances.The Arc can receive and deposit monthly SSI and SSDI payments and assist individuals with managing their expenses, budgeting, and paying bills.

In addition, our Social Security and claims filing program offers advice and assistance in filing for SSI, SSDI, Medicaid, and Medicare for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Employees at the Arc of Midland are available for filing appeals of denials, including some court appearances. We also help with resolution of overpayments and other issues with the Social Security Administration.

To learn more contact us!

Our Special Needs Trust is a “Pooled Trust” fund created to manage funds for supplemental needs during a beneficiary’s entire life. A beneficiary can receive funds from such a trust without compromising public support such as Medicaid, Medicaid Waivers, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and certain other benefits available through the state of Michigan.

For example, individuals with disabilities who receive an inheritance, that would jeopardize benefits can deposit the money in a pooled trust and not lose their benefits.

Pooled trust funds can be used for items such as:

• vacations
• home repairs
• supplementary medical or dental care
• technology
• home furnishings

Sharing Tree

Sharing Tree is a program sponsored by United Way of Midland County where community members volunteer to purchase a needed item as a Christmas present for an individual who is financially unable to purchase it him or herself. A staff member of The Arc of Midland submits requests toUnited Way of Midland County and distributes these gifts to individuals.

Dental Services

The Helping Hands Dental Center opened in December 2004. Staffed by both paid and volunteer dentists it is funded by Medicaid, foundations, churches and service organizations. The Center treats Medicaid eligible adults who reside in Midland County. Provided services include examinations, cleanings, fillings, dentures and partials, along with soft tissue cancer exams and extractions. The Center is located at 1509 Washington Street, Midland in the Midland Towne Center Plaza. Appointments are necessary and can be made by calling 989-837-9740. 

The 211 help line may also be able to provide assistance especially for dental services for children. Additionally, The Bay City Dental clinic (989-892-7062) and Michigan Community Dental Clinic in Mt. Pleasant (989-772- 4026) accept patients from out of their respective areas.

Find Your Elected Officials

Registration Deadline for your district:

To Be Determined

Register to vote:

Michigan Voter Registration

Your Polling Place:

Find Your Polling Place

Polling Place Hours:

To Be Determined

What you need to know on election day:

Voting at the Polls on Election Day

In order to vote in Michigan, you must present one form of photo identification at the polls:

• Michigan driver’s license
• Michigan personal identification card
• Driver’s license or personal ID card issued by another state
• Federal or state government-issued photo ID
• U.S. passport
• Military identification card with photo
• Student identification with photo from a high school or an accredited institution of higher education
• Tribal identification card with photo

Voters who do not have acceptable picture ID or forgot to bring acceptable picture ID to the polls can vote like any other voter by signing an affidavit. Once you sign the affidavit, you may cast your ballot. It will be counted with all other ballots on Election Day.

Election Dates:

Citizen Emergency Information

Did you know that Midland County 911 offers a specialized Citizen Emergency Information Form on their website? By completing and submitting the form to adi@midland911.org (or by Fax to 989-839-5476) you provide emergency responders with valuable detailed information about you and your loved ones.