Community Living Services NEWS

CLS Upcoming Events

Please call 734-722-7185 about any of these events

Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wing organization has partnered with us to receive

discounted tickets to the following games:

Thursday, April 5th, 2012 at 7:30pm	New Jersey Devils
click for details

CLS In the News!

Click to check out the latest CLS monthly publication!

                                The ARC Detroit celebrated it’s 60^th anniversary with a “Conversation on Humanity” in which several
                                legislators were on hand to discuss issues that are important to people with disabilities. Seen here:
                               Advocate Janie Vermuelen, CLS Board member Andre’ Robinson and Congressman John Conyers Jr.

Fox 2 News anchor/reporter Ron Savage came to visit with the Peer Support Group at CLS recently. He talked about his exciting job at the TV station as well as being a part-time paramedic/firefighter in Brighton. The group asked numerous questions and learned a lot about fire and storm safety. Savage was the co-host at An Evening With Friends in 2010. We hope he’ll come back to visit again soon!

The 7th annual Walk a Mile in My Shoes Rally on May 11th was an inspiring and emotional day for everyone who attended! The weather was beautiful and an important message was proclaimed; People with developmental disabilities and mental illness MATTER! Buses and accessible vans took more than 200 people from Wayne and Oakland Counties to the State Capitol in Lansing to have their voices heard. Corey Langston from Wayne County sang the National Anthem! Everyone is looking forward to going back next year!

click to view slideshow!

Their voices were heard! A group of people supported by CLS stood up for what they believe in and spoke to their state representatives in Lansing April 13^th. Each of them wrote letters asking legislators to restore their Medicaid benefits that have been cut and to not make any more budget reductions. Everyone got a chance to spend a few minutes with their representatives and talk about their lives and how any kind of cuts to the mental health budget would drastically affect their lives. Thankfully the weather was beautiful and everyone had the chance to enjoy downtown Lansing! We even managed to get free hot dogs!!

Everyone wanted to pose in front of the Capitol Building!

The group gets ready to head to Lansing.

James Gaylor and Mike Olver relax after visiting with legislators

Legislative Aid Joseph Sullivan from Representative Kandrevas’ office wanted to hear what we had to say!

Community Living Services
Receives Trailblazer Award! CLS Award recipient

Seen here in the picture from left to right: Project Coordinator
Andrea Goodwin, DD Council Executive Director Vendella Collins
and DD Council President Andre’ Robinson.

Several years ago CLS was chosen to create and promote a program called “Smiles Across Michigan.” Smiles was recognized for its work in self-advocacy training, which produced hundreds of hand-written letters to state senators and representatives by people asking for the reinstatement of funding for the Medicaid Adult Dental Benefit. The project also (in its first phase) measured and then reported on the status of oral health and barriers to access to care by people with developmental disabilities. All of the hard work paid off, resulting in the reinstatement of the Medicaid Adult Dental Benefit.

The Smiles project was honored with the Developmental Disability Council’s 2010 Trailblazer award. This award is given to a project that has been particularly effective in the area of advocacy and education for people with developmental disabilities.

THANK YOU, GREG MONROE!

Once again, The Detroit Pistons come through! Several kids supported by CLS attended the February 22nd game against the Houston Rockets at The Palace of Auburn Hills, courtesy of Pistons center Greg Monroe. Jermaine Wells said, “I can’t believe I’m here!” Fifteen tickets were donated by Mr. Monroe along with complimentary t-shirts! All of the kids had a fabulous time despite the 108-100 loss. A special thanks to Gentle Teacher Larry Schmidt for taking everyone!