Point of SAIL spring newsletter

Learn about all the fun things the Superior Alliance for Independent Living (SAIL) has planned for this spring and summer in their quarterly newsletter:  http://www.upsail.com/news.php.

Great opportunity for teen girls

Her Power! Her Pride! Her Voice! will take place on August 24-27, 2012 at Camp Fish Tales in Pinconning Michigan. The event cost is on a suggested scale that ranges from $35-$70 per girl. This includes: food, lodging, activities, T-shirt and art supplies.  It is open to girls with ANY disability, visible or not. 

More information can be found on their website:  http://herpowerherpride.weebly.com/index.html.

Free workshop series "Design Your Own Life"

Got word Sarah from SAIL that the folks from the Developmental Disabilities Institute at Wayne Sate University are coming up to Marquette this summer to conduct four different workshops that should be pretty useful for teens and adults.

Training #1, June 12 at 6 pm:  "Supporting Growth Through Opportunity and Choices."  This training is designed to provide information about how to support people with disabilities in making their own choices without influencing them in their decision-making.

Training #2, June 26 at 6 pm:  "Supporting People in establishing Friendships and Making Community Connections."  This training is designed to give information about ways to support people with disabilities in developing relationships/friendships with people in the community.

Training #3, July 17, 6 pm:  "Living a Self-Determined Life."  This training module will examine aspects of living self-determined life in greater detail by breaking down the various characteristics and elements of a self-determined life.

Training #4, Jul 31, 6 pm:  "Ten successful and Assertive Steps for Working with Professionals."  This training is designed to give practical ideas on how to increase your own level of assertiveness when working with professionals in service to people with disabilities.

All trainings will be held at the Superior Alliance for Independant Living (SAIL) office, 1200 Wright St, Marquette.  Call 906/228-5744 or email Kristine Tollefson and kristinet@upsail.com to register by June 5, 2012.

Minutes for May 2012 meeting

As I posted early, our guest was not able to attend.  We still have an interesting meeting with five attending.

Chiropractor Brandon Turino and his wife Mercedes Turino (who some may know as a Social Worker with MAPS) stopped by.  They wanted to let us know about his business, Integrated Wellness Chiropractic, and an upcoming workshop at Peter White Public Library.  The workshop title, The Perfect Storm, refers to the combination of causes behind neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, adhd, and sensory processing disorder.  The workshop will be held June 12 at 7 pm in the Community Room at Peter White Public Library. 

Heidi reported a few items from SEPAC.  As I posted Monday, now is the time to register for this summer's Lose the Training Wheels session.  There will be a meeting at MARESA this Thursday, May 17 at 6:00 pm.

Heidi also brought my attention to another advocacy option for parents:  Michigan Protection and Advocacy Services.  This statewide agency has a local office on Baraga and their mission is to advocate and protect the legal rights of people with disabilities.  Among other things, they provide a variety of advocacy information and services related to disability issues in Special Education.   Their local number is 228-5910.  Heidi says to ask for Judy.

I shared some information about the Autism Society of Wisconsin conference I attended last week in Green Bay.  It was awesome!  I was able to sit in on seven different presentations on topics ranging from bullying to using video technology.  Each breakout period offered several options to chose from.  One of the sessions I found most intriguing was on Social Thinking groups.  Social Thinking, obviously has to do with social skills.  The term was coined by Michelle Garcia Winner.  I've started to collect some books and a DVD on this topic that I'll be donating to the Peter White Public Library.

Young athletes-- last time till fall

5/14/12  Update:  We are meeting at Harlow Park not Sandy Knoll, same time:  6:30.


The final meeting of the school year of Young Athletes will be held tomorrow (Monday, May 14) evening at Sandy Knoll School's gymnasium at 6:30 pm.  Stop on by with your youngster (age 3-8) for fun and exercise.

Lose the Training Wheels-- register now!

Will try to get all caught up tomorrow night, but wanted to post regarding the Lose the Training Wheels program tonight.  Registration for this summer's session closes this Friday, May 18.  If you have a child age eight or over who has not yet mastered the art of riding without training wheels, this program can change his or her entire summer.  The success rate has been over 90% most years. 

This year's camp will run June 11-15, that's the first week of summer vacation.  Students participate in one 75 minute session each day.  The training will take place at Lakeview arena.  For more information, call Karin at 361-2932 or check out their website at http://www.losethetrainingwheelsmqt.org/.

bad news, good news

The bad news is that our guest speaker for next Sunday's meeting had to cancel-- a medical emergency that couldn't be helped. 

The good news is that we will still meet at 1:00, Sunday May 13 at Peter White Public Library.  Hope to see you there!