At MISILC, we believe that independent living looks different for every person. And for many people with disabilities, a caregiver–professional or family–is often a critical factor in maintaining independence and achieving goals. That’s why advocating for caregivers as people and as a profession is so important to us. It’s part of our current State Plan for Independent Living and it's on the radar of every disability advocate and nonprofit we know, as well as our government leaders. The quality of life of the disability community depends on a reliable supply of dedicated caregivers, and currently, we’re all coming up short. 

Happy Black History Month! Throughout history, the work of all civil rights activists has intersected with people fighting for racial equity. Disability advocacy in particular has shared advocates, tactics, and sentiments with predominantly Black-led civil rights movements: MLK himself acknowledged that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” and lamented discrimination in healthcare against Americans of color and many others. Disability advocates were inspired by civil rights peaceful protests and sit-ins and used these strategies to garner support for another type of diversity: disability. Legislation that affirmed the rights of people with disabilities–the Americans with Disabilities Act–ultimately became law in 1990.

The proposed $35.5 billion 2024 budget for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) would provide more than $300 million to increase wages for people working in nursing homes. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proposed $210.1 million to go toward increasing the wages of direct care professionals at nursing homes across Michigan. Another $90 million would be going to increase the wages of non-direct care nursing home staff. In all, this would increase the average by $1.50 per hour.

We’re just a month into 2023, and it’s already turning out to be an exciting and invigorating year. From beginning to craft the 2025-2027 State Plan for Independent Living, to exploring the benefits of mentorship, to making plans for another project that will be revealed in the spring, we’ve started the year off strong! Your support and participation with MISILC and the CILs helped us have an incredible 2022, and we’re grateful to have you on this journey in 2023. Thank you for your continued support of our efforts and Michigan’s disability community–we’re so proud to do this important work and collaborate with changemakers across our state. 

To kick off this year, we’ve been discussing the benefits of mentorship, especially as they relate to ensuring people with disabilities can live self-directed, independent lives. But first, you might be wondering: what is mentorship, anyway? What do mentoring relationships look like? And, most importantly, what’s in it for me? We’re here to answer those questions and give you the resources you need to mentor or be mentored and reap the rewards.

We’re days away from 2023, and in addition to the excitement that’s brewing for new endeavors in the new year, I’ve been reflecting on all the good that 2022 brought.

For some people, the holiday season is the happiest of them all…for others, it’s the hardest. Many people struggle with loneliness, sadness, and even full-on seasonal depression this time of year, making it difficult to feel particularly festive. Financial stress, a lack of friend or family support and companionship, grief over lost loved ones, and the high expectations of gift giving and celebrating can take a toll if you let them. Whatever you’re feeling this December, the best gift you can give to yourself and those around you is prioritizing your own well-being. Below are five tips for protecting your mental health over the holidays!

November brought unseasonably warm weather, gatherings with friends and family, and opportunities to connect with people across our communities. Now, as we approach the new year, we’re looking back on our achievements in 2022 and planning even more education, advocacy, and community-building for 2o23.