Disability Network Southwest Michigan

10/09/2026

✨ Accommodation Spotlight: Mona!

For National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), DNSWM staff are sharing what kinds of workplace accommodations help us show up as our best selves.

For Mona, sitting for long periods can be tough on her back, so she’s found a few things that help her get through the workday. This includes standing during longer meetings, using a yoga mat during breaks to lie down and reduce pressure on her back and feet, and using a standing desk.

She also has some flexibility in her schedule so she can make it to physical therapy appointments.

Sometimes, accommodations are simply about finding what works for you.

ID: DNSWM logo. Mona, a Lebanese woman with dark hair and glasses, wearing a black tshirt. A yoga mat, weights, and a calendar are pictured. Text: Accommodation Spotlight: Mona Khaled, Director of HR & Disability Initiatives.

10/08/2026

: Today we're thankful for employers who recognize the value and talent people with disabilities bring to the workplace.

We're thankful for employers who look at a person's skills, experience, creativity, and contributions rather than making assumptions based on disability.

We're thankful for workplaces that are willing to make changes when needed, listen to their employees, and create opportunities for people to do what they do best.

This National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we're celebrating employers who recognize that disability is part of the workforce, and disabled workers have a lot to bring to the table.

VID: Individuals with various disabilities sharing the skills they can bring to the table in employment settings.

10/08/2026

📢 Reminder: All three Disability Network Southwest Michigan offices are closed today for an all-day staff event.

Staff will be working remotely tomorrow and will be back in offices on Monday. Thanks for understanding!

ID: DNSWM logo. Text: Office Closure. Oct. 8, 2026.

10/07/2026

Disability Network Southwest Michigan offices will be closed tomorrow for an all-day staff event. We'll see you next week!

ID: DNSWM logo. Text: Office Closure. Oct. 8, 2026.

10/07/2026

: Every Wednesday, we share good things happening here at DN and in our community.

Today we're highlighting upcoming learning opportunities for National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Our Community Education team is bringing three disability employment topics to the community:
• Working while receiving Social Security disability benefits
• Asking for job accommodations
• What to do when an employee discloses a disability

Join us for one session or all three!

🔗 More information & registration here: https://loom.ly/x5jMOWI

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a time to recognize the contributions of workers with disabilities and promote workplaces where everyone can succeed. This…

10/06/2026

: On Tuesdays we share a tip or fact about the to give better insight into who we are and what we stand for.

Today's tip is related to this month's ongoing theme of disability & employment.

We often hear questions, confusion, and misinformation about a person's ability to be employed when getting SSI or SSDI benefits. It's simply not true that working automatically disqualifies someone from staying connected to important financial resources like SSDI, SSI, Medicaid, and Medicare.

That said, the "rules" around maintaining benefits can be complex. Reviewing your situation with a Benefits Planner is the best way to move forward with employment. Learn more about your rights and resources at our upcoming training: You CAN Work When Receiving Social Security Disability Benefits!

📅 October 13, 2026 | 10:00 - 11:30 AM
🔗 Register here: https://loom.ly/mT5_s0s

ID 1: DNSWM logo. Text: Tip Tuesday. It’s a MYTH that people who receive disability benefits like SSDI/SSI can’t work without losing health coverage or benefits.
ID 2: Four people in different work uniforms, including a barista, receptionist, medical professional, and skilled trade worker. Text: You Can Work When Receiving Social Security Disability Benefits!; an orange banner with text: Part of the October Disability Employment Series.

10/05/2026

! Every first Monday of the month we'll introduce you to someone on our team. This month, we’re shining the spotlight on none other than Kristi O.!

Kristi first came to Disability Network as a volunteer at our front desk. Fast-forward a bit, she’s now a Certified Accessibility Specialist, she provides regular peer supports to our volunteer receptionists, and jumps in constantly to help out our Community Education team!

If you’ve met Kristi, you already know that she’s always smiling, always helpful, and always ready to pitch in in whatever way she can.

A fun fact about Kristi is that she's an ice-skating superfan! Another fun fact is that Kristi recruited her mom to volunteer at our summer ADA Celebration (photo evidence included), which was a huge help at the event.

When we asked Kristi what she loves most about her role, her answer was simple: the people. She enjoys supporting our staff and volunteers and working with people in the community to help make spaces more accessible and welcoming.

We’re pretty lucky to have Kristi on our team!

ID 1: Kristi, a woman with short, red hair wearing a blue shirt that says Love, Accessibility, & Disability Justice. Text: Spotlight on Our Dedicated Team: Kristi Oostveen, Accessibility & Community Education Assistant. "My favorite thing about my role at Disability Network is the people I encounter. Helping to support the work of a diverse team of staff and volunteers and working with our customers and the community to make our spaces more inclusive and accessible for all is particularly meaningful for me."
ID 2: Kristi and her mom, Jo, at the July ADA Celebration. Kristi is a woman with short, red hair wearing a blue shirt that says Love, Accessibility, & Disability Justice. Jo is a woman with short, grey hair wearing a black shirt.

10/02/2026

What do people with disabilities bring to the workplace?

Knowledge. Creativity. Skills. Lived experience.

People with disabilities bring a wide range of talents, perspectives, experiences, and expertise to their work. Disability is one part of who someone is, not a measure of what they can contribute.

This National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we're celebrating the value and talent people with disabilities bring to workplaces every day.

ID: A four-quadrant graphic with text and icons representing knowledge, creativity, skills, and lived experience.

10/01/2026

: On Thursdays we highlight something or someone we're thankful for.

Today we're sharing our gratitude for community. Some of the biggest examples of community here at DNSWM are our peer support groups — most definitely including the Brain Injury Survivors group.

This group connects people who understand that life after a brain injury can come with changes and plenty of questions. Members have a place to share experiences, learn from each other, give encouragement, and celebrate wins along the way.

Some group members recently attended the Brain Injury Association of Michigan's Annual Fall Conference in Lansing. Doing so required some support from family members, friends, and each other. We're thankful for those who show up, listen, share, laugh, support others, and remind each other that no one has to navigate disability alone. That's community.

🔗 Learn more about peer support groups: https://loom.ly/94OoL_M

ID 1: Attendees at the recent conference: Laura, Tim, Michelle, Anne, Mike, Bob, Olive, Carolyn, CJ, Jennifer, and Mindy.
ID 2: Bob's sister and niece surprising him at the conference.

10/01/2026

Happy National Disability Employment Awareness Month!

This year’s theme is “Celebrating Value and Talent.”

Here at Disability Network, we see the value and talent every day. Many of our staff are people with disabilities, bringing lived experience, skills, knowledge, creativity, and plenty of different perspectives to the work we do.

All month long, we’ll be talking about disability and employment, sharing information, celebrating disabled workers, and highlighting what can help people succeed at work.

Let’s celebrate the value and talent people with disabilities bring to the workplace! 🧡

ID: DNSWM logo. Three young adults with different apparent and non-apparent disabilities. Text: October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Celebrating Value & Talent.