COVER 2021 Impact Report October 1, 2020 – September 30, 2021 Pg. 2 Our Work 880 nursing facility residents were supported through DRM investigations of abuse and neglect 5,846 online views of “Students with Disabilities: An Advocate’s Guide” 4,002 calls to DRM Information and Referral advocates 2,949 Facebook friends 1,000 Mi-Choice slots were expanded in the FY22 budget through DRM advocacy 25,623 DRM publications distributed Pg. 3 and 4 Our Stories * A caller contacted DRM to investigate if Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS) would provide her with tutoring for college due to struggles with online learning. This had been approved for a previous trial semester, but there was concern about whether the MRS counselor would agree. DRM attended a meeting with the client and the counselor, where the client’s IPE was revised to include the tutoring along with other college supports. * DRM was contacted to address a complaint that a client was being neglected. The client, who was in prison, reported his tracheostomy tubing had not been maintained properly (not cleaned) and he had acquired an infection. An investigator-advocate contacted the Michigan Department of Corrections to address the concerns. The client received a tracheostomy cleaning kit and was scheduled for health services visit within two weeks. * A client contacted DRM because they had an $11,000 SSDI overpayment. DRM was able to obtain work subsidy information and assist the client in providing this documentation to the Social Security Administration. The client's records were updated, and the overpayment was fully eliminated. * DRM assisted at 56-year-old * DRM assisted at 56-year-old man with a traumatic brain injury to secure necessary community supports. The man’s weekend services had been suspended for lack of staff availability. DRM legal staff intervened, filing a local appeal and then an administrative hearing request. When those avenues proved unsuccessful, DRM went to state court and obtained an order to provide the weekend services. During these appeals, the provider suspended the man’s remaining weekday services, again due to lack of staff. DRM filed another administrative hearing request, and this time an administrative law judge ordered reinstatement of the services. * DRM was contacted on behalf of a 10-year old student who was having difficulty accessing their school's virtual programs due to COVID-19-related restrictions. An advocate provided information on the student's rights. DRM also provided information about the Michigan Dept. of Special Education and Office of Special Education Programs' guidance. The parent was able to resolve their concerns with school. * A DRM advocate intervened on behalf of a 19-year-old man who was hard of hearing and had autism. The man needed hearing aids to fully participate in a college program for audio engineering. The hearing aids were listed in the man’s Individualized Plan of Employment but had not been provided, and the man’s vocational rehabilitation counselor continued to request additional information and paperwork which threatened to delay the hearing aids for months. DRM contacted the man’s counselor at Michigan Rehabilitation Services, and soon afterwards the hearing aids were provided. Pg. 5 TOGETHER WE CAN DO SO MUCH MORE SUPPORT us through cash donations. Support for DRM comes in part from the generosity of your donations. LIKE us on Facebook to stay up to date with our latest news. SIGN UP. Don’t miss our monthly e-newsletter. Email rhuddleston@drmich.org to sign up. SHARE our story. Tell others about the services DRM can offer. DRM is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization Pg. 6 9 PROGRAMS OPERATED BY DISABILITY RIGHTS MICHIGAN The Protection and Advocacy for: 1. Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (PADD) 2. Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) 3. Individual Rights (PAIR) 4. The Client Assistance Program (CAP) 5. Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) 6. Voting Accessibility (PAVA) 7. Assistive Technology (PAAT) 8. Beneficiaries with Representative Payees (PABRP) 9. Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury (PATBI) Grant Awards & Support 2021 Percent PADD $1,072,741 24.2% PAIMI $1,075,991 24.3% PAIR/GLADA $513,883 11.6% CAP $273,382 6.2% PAAT $96,865 2.2% PABSS $165,273 3.73% PAVA $107,429 2.4% Rep Payee $728,667 16.4% PATBI $109,368 2.5% State Grant $194,400 4.4% COVID Grants $88,286 2.0% Private Grants & Contracts $0 0.0% Donations & Miscellaneous $8,661 0.2% $4,434,946 100.0% Expenses 2019 Program Services $3,842,589 Management & General $457,551 $4,300,140 Pg.7 BACK PAGE 4095 Legacy Parkway Lansing, MI 48911 517.487.1755 ? 800.288.5923 (Voice) 517.374.4687 (TTY) Fax 517.487.0827 www.drmich.org Find us on Facebook 2021 Board of Directors John McCulloch President Royal Oak Hansen Clarke 1st Vice President Detroit Jane Shank 2nd Vice President Interlochen Mark Stephenson Treasurer Troy Paul Palmer Secretary Lansing Thomas H. Landry Immediate Past President Highland Malkia Newman Waterford Selena M. Schmidt Shelby Township Mark Wiedelman Troy Melody Arabo West Bloomfield Jill Busha Alpena Brian Calley Portland Davin Hemmila Negaunee Disability Rights Michigan is mandated by federal and state law to protect the legal rights of individuals with disabilities in Michigan. DRM receives part of its funding from the Administration for Community Living, the Center for Mental Health Services-Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Rehabilitation Services Administration, and the Social Security Administration. This publication is made possible by support from these federal funders. The contents are solely the responsibility of DRM and do not necessarily represent the official views of the federal agencies listed above. The Annual Report is funded by the federal appropriations and grants, 94%; State of Michigan appropriations and grants, 5%; Other, 1%.