Disability Network of Southwest Michigan

They are the first stop for people with disabilities and their families in Southwest Michigan. Disability Network serves people in Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph & Van Buren Counties. As the leading disability social services organization in Southwest Michigan, their 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 disability, Disability Network believes they should be able to thrive and grow at home, in the workplace, and in their community.

They 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.

Their goal as a disability rights advocate is to protect the civil and human rights of individuals with disabilities, and make sure that the laws put in place to protect them are vigorously enforced. In fact, we, too, are people with disabilities. At least 51% of our Board of Directors and staff members identify as having some kind of disability. Their philosophy has always been that people who live with a disability are experts on disability issues, and that services we provide should be created with the direct input of those they will impact. That makes them different from the traditional social services model.