080124_BattleCreekShopperNews_LOW

http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS Thursday, August 1, 2024 17

18935 15-1/2 Mile Rd., North of Marshall OPEN: Tue-Sat 11am-7pm • Sun 11am-5pm • For more info 781-4293 / http://www.turkeyville.com

* Check out our website for more info!

Vintage Camper & Car Show

AUG 3 & 4 • 10am-6pm Aug 10 & 11 • 11am - 5pm

Royal Stagg Pirates & Witches Weekend

NOW SMOKING WINGS & DRUMSTICKS ON SATURDAYS UNTIL GONE

Hours: M-F 8-5 • Sat 8-12 • Sun Closed

Visit your Kubota dealer today for a demo! KubotaUSA.com

SVL75-3 SERIES

Built to do all the hard work. And make it look easy. The toughest jobs call for equipment that doesn’t back down. Kubota SVL75- 3 compact Track Loaders feature an ergonomic cab for exceptional comfort, renowned reliability, and broad dealer support that’s ready to work hard for you.

*© Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2024. This material is for descriptive purposes only. Kubota disclaims all representations and warranties, express or implied, or any liability from the use of this material. Forcomplete warranty, safety, incentive offer and product information, consult your local dealer or go to KubotaUSA.com. 24 Months or 15,000 Bales (whichever occurs �rst).

Your hometown Kubota dealer of choice.

KUBOTA KINGS826 E Chicago St Coldwater, Mi 49036517-279- http://www.kubotakings.com

Built to do all the hard work. And make it look easy.

SVL75-3 SERIES

Built to do all the hard work. And make it

look easy.

The toughest jobs call for equipment that doesn’t back down. Kubota SVL75- 3 compact Track Loaders feature an ergonomic cab for exceptional comfort, renowned reliability, and broad dealer support that’s ready to work hard for you.

KUBOTA KINGS 826 E Chicago St Coldwater, Mi 49036517-279- http://www.kubotakings.com

SVL75-3 SERIES

Built to do all the hard work. And make it

look easy.

The toughest jobs call for equipment that doesn’t back down. Kubota SVL75- 3 compact Track Loaders feature an ergonomic cab for exceptional comfort, renowned reliability, and broad dealer support that’s ready to work hard for you.

KUBOTA KINGS 826 E Chicago St Coldwater, Mi 49036 517-279- http://www.kubotakings.com

The toughest jobs call for equipment that doesn’t back down. Kubota SVL75-3 compact Track Loaders feature an ergonomic cab for exceptional comfort, renowned reliability, and broad dealer support that’s ready to work hard for you.

CLARE TANNER
Executive Director, Arc of Calhoun
County

On the eve of Disability
Pride month eleven people
who have intellectual and/
or developmental disabilities
(“IDD” for short) gathered in
Battle Creek to explore how
they could work together to
improve the lives of people
with disabilities in Calhoun
County. Disability Pride
Month is celebrated in July to
mark the anniversary of the
Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA).
The ADA is a federal law
passed in 1990 that prohib-
its discrimination against
people with disabilities in
everyday activities.
And yet the gathered
self-advocates shared a
number of ways they face
discrimination on a regular
basis, and took energy from
their shared experience and
shared commitment to act.
Self-advocacy is a Civil
Rights Movement for People
with Disabilities
“IDD” refers to a range of
conditions that are usually
present at birth and affect
a person’s physical, intel-
lectual, and/or emotional
development.
Many of these conditions
affect multiple body parts
or systems - but how they
manifest is unique to indi-
viduals.
A core principle of self-

advocacy is that people with IDD are capable of speak- ing up and saying what is important to them. The self-advocacy group in Calhoun County is an outgrowth of efforts by local organizations to understand areas of unmet needs of people with IDD and their families. For instance, when The Arc of Calhoun County brought people with IDD together back in March of 2024 to provide feedback and guid- ance; a clear ask was to have an ongoing opportunity to talk and a chance to tell their own ideas. Aspirations they expressed included, “Break out of my shell and know how to engage with others,” and, “Be a leader.” A strong motivation expressed was to “help others.” So on June 31, and again on July 12, Community Inclusive Recreation and The Arc of Calhoun County provided transportation and a space for these self-advocate leaders to get to know each other and make a plan of action.

“Accept Us for Who We Are” Self-advocates talked about why it was important to get together as a group. Overwhelmingly they shared stories of being misunder-

stood and excluded. They told of being bullied, overlooked, and ignored as if “they weren’t even there.” Some participants described feeling “shoved aside.” One person explained the concept of “masking” and how draining it was to con- stantly try to hide her disability in public. What’s Next? Initial discussion focused on the need to educate the public and change attitudes. The wish was for people without disabilities to be “nice,” “respectful,” and avoid “judging a book by its cover.” In short order the group came up with a list of additional items to tackle over time, including: bet- ter services, special educa- tion, voting, employment, transportation, and having a resource list. The self-advocates know they need to address how to stay organized, including: leadership, communication, opening up the group to others, fundraising, and a name for themselves! They will meet every two weeks sup- ported by local organizations, friends and family. For more information, Contact Clare Tanner at The Arc of Calhoun County (269) 966-2575 or Rhonda Ostrander-Cook at Community Inclusive Recreation (269) 968-8249.

Self-advocates affirm ‘Disability Pride’ and

commit to work for broader recognition

KCC seeks applicants for

office training program

Kellogg Community College is seeking applicants for an Office Readiness Training program starting in September and offered at no cost for Battle Creek residents who meet income guidelines. The program, offered through KCC’s Innovative Accelerated Credentialed Training (iACT) initiative, will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays from Sept. 30 through Dec. 12. It will be held at the Woman’s Co-op, located at 2055 East Columbia Ave. in Battle Creek, the college said. The training will be led by faculty from KCC’s Office Information Technology (OIT) Program, who will use hands-on instruction to cover Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel and PowerPoint software applications, among other skills. Students will have the opportunity to earn the WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate, and classes are designed to lead students toward completion of an Administrative Assistant Certificate by summer 2025. Interested individuals must call (269) 565-2828 or complete the information form online at kellogg.edu/iact by noon Friday, Aug. 16. The program is open to Battle Creek residents who meet income guidelines. Participants must be at least 18, complete the Accuplacer Next Generation Reading test with a score of 244 or greater, and be able to attend the training for extended hours daily for the duration of the program.

KCC is offering a free Office Readiness Training program to qualified residents.

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