Washtenaw ACA

10/10/2026

ACA is excited about a free special education workshop sponsored by our friends at MiPAAC, the Michigan Parent, Advocate and Attorney Coalition. It will be held Tuesday, November 10 from 6-8pm at the Ypsilanti Library-Whittaker branch. Topics include an overview of special education rights and advocacy, how to resolve disputes, and learning how parents can work together to make change for all of our kids! Registration link is on the flyer and also posted in the comments.

10/02/2026

can be a great tool for supporting independence and independent living! There is a free webinar from the Illinois Assistive Technology Program and the Michigan Assistive Technology Program on October 20 from 10am-noon, with assistive technology tips and tools for cooking and eating.

Have you signed up for this informative training featuring the Illinois Assistive Technology Program? Now's your chance, don't miss out!

Join the Michigan Assistive Technology Program and the Illinois Assistive Technology Program for Tech Tuesday: Assistive Technology for Cooking and Eating. Cooking can be complex, time-sensitive, and physically demanding. For disabled people, preparing and eating meals may come with added challenges. The right tool or strategy can make cooking, and eating easier, safer, and less stressful. In this webinar, we’ll share examples of low- and high-tech assistive technology for the kitchen and dining, along with tools and strategies that can support your daily routines.

This Tech Tuesday take place Tuesday, October 20th from 10 a.m. to Noon. Register here: https://atforcookingandeating.eventbrite.com/
ASL and CART captioning will be provided.

[Image description: A flyer for Tech Tuesday. At the top is a large purple rounded rectangle with white text: “Tech Tuesday: Assistive Technology for Cooking and Eating”.
Below the title, on the left side, is a large block of purple text that reads:
“Daily meal preparation can be challenging for anyone. Cooking can be complex, time-sensitive, and physically demanding. For disabled people, preparing and eating meals may come with added challenges. The right tool or strategy can make cooking, eating, and mealtime easier, safer, and less stressful. In this webinar, we’ll share examples of low- and high-tech assistive technology for the kitchen and dining, along with tools and strategies that can support your daily routines.”

On the right side are three overlapping circular photographs outlined in purple and orange. The top photograph shows kitchen items including a measuring cup, bowl, and egg. The middle photograph shows a person using an adaptive cutting board to slice vegetables. The bottom photograph shows a liquid level indicator being used with a glass of water.

Below the main description is an orange rounded rectangle with white text. The heading reads:
“Presenters: Illinois Assistive Technology Program (IATP) and Aimee Sterk, LMSW
MATP Program Director.”
Near the bottom center is a calendar icon followed by:
“Tuesday, October 20
10 am- Noon”
Along the bottom are three logos: MATP (Michigan Assistive Technology Program), IATP (Illinois Assistive Technology Program), IATP TECH KITCHEN (Plan, Prep, Cook).] See less

10/01/2026

An update from our friends at Disability Rights Michigan!

09/16/2026

The After I'm Gone program is a webinar series offered by our friends at The Arc of Western Wayne and the Arc of Northwest Wayne. Each webinar will cover a different topic important to many adults with developmental disabilities, including Social Security programs, housing, person-centered planning, etc. Please see the flyer for registration info!

09/10/2026

We need to hear from you! Washtenaw ACA is considering a new program that would provide a menu of advocacy and other legal/financial decision-making tools that people with IDD may need, especially after their parents/primary caregivers are gone or not able to provide the supports that they have been.

Your thoughts and ideas are important to us! We invite you to complete a short survey to share your opinions, and please stay tuned for more information. To take the survey, please visit this link. If you have already responded to the survey, thank you!

Washtenaw ACA is developing a program that will provide advocacy and other supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) need, especially after their parents or main caregivers are gone. The program's goal is to offer a menu of services , including: advocacy (with and for th...

08/28/2026

Ride-sharing service Lyft is getting more accessible for people who use Home and Community Based Services (HCBS)! In some areas, people with disabilities can use their HCBS budget to pay for Lyft rides.

Lyft Pass for Public Transit

08/21/2026

Washtenaw County's Office of Community and Economic Development wants to learn more about the needs of people who live here. Please consider filling out their survey--voices of people with IDD and their families matter!

Strong communities start with your voice - take the 2026 Washtenaw County Needs Assessment today!

The Community Needs Assessment helps Washtenaw County shape programming and direct funding to where residents need it most.

Take the survey today: bit.ly/wccna26

07/08/2026

Summer is prime time for severe weather in Michigan! Michigan Assistive Technology Program has an upcoming webinar on August 11, with important info about preparing for weather and other emergencies.

New training alert! Join us for Tech Tuesday: AT and Emergency Preparedness to learn how to make emergency drills more inclusive and accessible; ways to prepare your home and family for potential emergencies based on your unique language, cultural, and disability related access needs; ideas for how to create your own custom accessible emergency kit; and more! Leave with practical tips and valuable resources to help you and your community stay prepared.

This free lunch and learn is taking place Tuesday August 11th from 12-1:30 p.m. Register here to get access to the resources guide and recording: https://ATandEmergencyPredparedness.eventbrite.com. ASL and CART will also be provided.

[Image description: Flyer with a header that reads, "Tech Tuesday: Assistive Technology (AT) and Emergency Preparedness."

Text: "Join us to learn how to make emergency drills more inclusive and accessible; ways to prepare your home and family for potential emergencies based on your unique language, cultural, and disability related access needs; ideas for how to create your own custom emergency kit; and more! Leave with practical tips and valuable resources to help you and your community stay prepared."

A section labeled "Presenters:" lists:

Priscilla Cano
Bilingual Disability Advocate
(Spanish/English)
Caitlin Hurban, AT Specialist

To the right are circular headshots of Priscilla Cano and Caitlin Hurban outlined in dark purple and magenta.
Below is a calendar icon with the text:
Tuesday, August 11
Noon - 1:30 pm
At the bottom left is the Michigan Assistive Technology Program logo. To the right is the Michigan Disability Rights Coalition logo and name. Text: "Register today! *ASL and CART provided*" is in the bottom right corner.]

06/25/2026

Over 600 disability advocacy orgs across the U.S. have spoken out against moving special education and civil rights responsibilities out of the U.S. Department of Education. Please add your voice today by contacting your members of Congress!

📢 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥-𝐈𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐲: 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐀 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬

TODAY - (June 25) disability and education advocates across the country are urging Congress to speak out against efforts to move the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) from the U.S. Department of Education to HHS and transfer education civil rights enforcement responsibilities from the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to the Department of Justice.

☎️ Take Action

Contact your U.S. Senators and Representative and urge them to publicly oppose these transfers and support keeping OSERS and OCR within the U.S. Department of Education.

🔗 Use the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc. (COPAA) script and links: https://www.copaa.org/page/TakeAction

Students with disabilities deserve strong protections, strong systems, and meaningful opportunities to succeed.