showcase cinemas

Did you know that you can watch a newly released feature film that is described for people with visual impairments? Showcase Cinema in Ypsilanti shows a film with described video every week. It is noted by the letters RWC or DVS next to the film that will have this feature. Go to nationalamusements.com, enter the zip code for Showcase Cinemas (48197). This week the film being shown is The Bounty Hunter. Beginning Friday, March 19th through Thursday March 25. Show times are: noon, 2:40, 5:20, 8:00 and 10:40 PM DVS films are always shown in theater 14. Running time: 1 hour 46 minutes. Rated PG 13. showcase cinemas

rideconnect logo
Now there's RideConnect, a new transportation coordination center serving Washtenaw County residents. Sponsored by Western Washtenaw Area Value Express or WAVE, the Washtenaw Area Transportation Study or WATS; People's Express, Washtenaw County, and Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, RideConnect also coordinates services among existing public, private, and non-profit transportation as well as county human service agencies.

work

The Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living continues their career development workshop series with Unspoken Rules of Work. Land the job & survive the first 90 days! A lot goes on in the workplace. Workplace culture and dynamics are tricky to navigate, and the “unspoken rules of work” can make or break you. In this workshop, learn what it takes to get ahead and stay ahead, so that you can be your most successful self! This is a 2-Part workshop on Monday, Februrary 8 & Wednesday, Februrary 10 at 10 am to 12 pm each day. To register, email Julia Plaggemeyer at jplaggemeyer@aacil.org or call 734-971-0277, ext. 21.

The Downtown Library has a new dedicated area of assistive technology devices that are available for anyone with a visual or learning disability, including a Kurzweil 1000 scanning station and JAWS text-to-speech software, a Braille embosser, a closed circuit reader and magnifiers at all public desks. Public computers at Malletts Creek, Traverwood, West and Downtown Youth have JAWS, and a function that enlarges type is on all public computers. Assistive technology trainer, Nick Wilcox, is ready to help walk-in patrons on the second floor at the Downtown Library from 2-6pm on Tuesdays or by requesting an appointment at WLBPD: 734-327-4224.

community

Community Collaborative Outreach Gift Board, a nonprofit organization whose primary function is to improve the lives of the citizens of the Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor area, is hosting a holistic health fair on Saturday, August 29, from 10:00am until 2:00pm. The fair will be held in the Fellowship Hall of Community Church of God located at 565 Jefferson Avenue in Ypsilanti and will address issues relating to health, education, children, veterans, seniors, and finance. This will be a great family event with light refreshments, prizes, and trinkets. There will truly be something for everyone!

pottery

The University of Michigan School of Art and Design and the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living are jointly offering a class on working with clay for people with disabilities September 21 through December 7. Classes take place Mondays from 2 to 4 pm at the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living. The classes are free, and no tools or prior experience is necessary. Space is limited to 20 people who must make a firm commitment. To join, contact Carolyn Grawi at cgrawi@aacil.org or 734-971-0277 x. 16.

wraparound logo

Life can be tough out there if you are a parent under the age of 21 or a pregnant teenager. Add to that being homeless or aging out of (or still in) foster care and things can seem hopeless. Fortunately a new grant to serve this group of young people is available in our community. Services are available to resolve immediate needs as well as future planning.To refer a teen parent who is at risk, contact Catherine Kabira, Wraparound Facilitator at 734-929-6509 or ckabira@emich.edu.

The Library of Congress, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicappped (NLS) offers an extensive music program for its patrons. The NLS Music Services has scores, music theory, instrument instruction, biographies, and articles reprinted from periodicals. They are available in large print, Braille, Web-Braille, and on cassette. Anyone residing in the U.S. or its territories, or an American citizen living abroad, whose visual or physical impairment prevents them from reading regular-print, is eligible. Music lovers with disabilities can get in tune with this wonderful program by calling 800-424-8567 or by going to the NLS Web site.