Disability Network Southwest Michigan - St. Joseph
Adult Independent Living, Assistive Technology, Special Ed Advocates
Address: 2900 Lakeview Avenue | St. Joseph, MI 49085
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Ages Served: Adults
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AboutServicesFAQ
About Disability Network Southwest Michigan - St. Joseph
We are the first stop for people with disabilities and their families in Southwest Michigan. We serve people in Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph & Van Buren Counties. As the leading disability social services organization in Southwest Michigan, our goal is to help foster a community where people with disabilities are able to participate fully in everyday life with equal opportunities and self-determination. Whether someone has a physical, psychiatric, neurological, or sensory disabilities, we believe they should be able to thrive and grow at home, in the workplace, and in their community.
We also assist organizations, businesses, and government agencies to understand their rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act. We provide workshops and onsite training, technical assistance and support in learning to be welcoming of people with disabilities as customers, clients, patrons, volunteers, or employees.
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Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re not sure where to start, this article lists 6 types of housing to be on the lookout for. Your child’s school and other parents are great resources to find out about potential options. Local groups, like your area’s Arc chapter, autism society, or special needs groups on social media, are good places to find resources as well. For additional help, consider working with a social worker and/or case manager.
You can get your child an AAC device a few ways:
Add it to your child’s IEP. If your child has an IEP, you can request that an AAC device be made part of it, and that they always have access to it in school. (Some schools will allow you to take the device home, too.)
Ask your child’s doctor. You can request an evaluation for an AAC device through your child’s doctor. This requires an evaluation, and your child’s insurance should cover part (or all) of the costs.
Buy one yourself. Many AAC devices are just apps installed on regular iPads or a tablet. They can be a bit pricey, but getting insurance to pay for AAC devices can take a long time.
There isn’t one set way that an IEP meeting is run, but generally it involves everyone on the IEP team reviewing your child’s goals, progress, and sharing ideas and suggestions on what supports or accommodations may be helpful to accomplish those goals.
It’s required that the school staff go over every section of the IEP with you and explain every part. This is only a draft, because the IEP may change based on what’s discussed in the meeting. You do not have to sign or agree to the IEP at the IEP meeting. If you don’t like the IEP, you may not have to agree to it at all.
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