Ryan Buck
Hello good people and welcome to the pursuit of podcast where it’s truly not us. It’s you. I’m Ryan Buck, Artist Development New Leonard Media. With me is The Boss, Mark Wilson, President, New Leonard Media.

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Mark Wilson
How are you? I’m doing great, Ryan Today I have an intern help There is.

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Ryan Buck
That is enough about us the chit chat. More importantly our guests today are Demarie Jones, independent living specialist, and Alanna Lahey Associate Director, Disability Network, Northern Michigan. Was that okay? Because we had a little chat about titles and everything. So yeah, we want to make sure that that was accurate.

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Alanna Lahey

That was beautiful.

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Ryan Buck
It’s now a time of transition, which is exciting. But there’s a question that I have started asking recently and it’s really fun with two people. I’m just going to ask this as well. So you’re both at a gathering of some sort it social party. We’re at a party. We’re doing parties again, right? Yeah. So you’re putting yourself into that kind of space and you’re at a party and somebody asks you, what do you do?

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Ryan Buck
So firstly, what’s the response?

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Demarie Jones

My first response is I’m an advocate for people with disabilities.

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Ryan Buck
Okay. You would you have typically just taken the charge just because I find that dynamic interesting. So.

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Alanna Lahey

Yes.

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Ryan Buck
Okay.

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Alanna Lahey

So you would.

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Ryan Buck
And then you would maybe affirm that.

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Alanna Lahey 

I would. Absolutely. She’s also a social worker and, you know, many, many, many different titles and roles.

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Ryan Buck
Okay. So now you’ve got a little semicircle. What do you say now.

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Alanna Lahey

Of a semicircle.

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Ryan Buck
Of people around you? And.

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Alanna Lahey

Oh, sure, because everyone really loves to talk to the social worker stuff right there. They’re definitely gathering.

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Ryan Buck
I think you just sold yourself because that was a nice short little pitch. Oh, okay. So there’s a little semicircle and people are looking. So what type of questions you typically get and are they relevant?

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Alanna Lahey

Well, let’s see. So we would definitely get questions like what is disability network? Who is disability Network and what do you guys do? Because we we definitely do not have the greatest prisons. Yeah, prisons out there right at the moment. So I think that that’s that’s something that we are working towards getting out and people sometimes get confused or are just have never even heard about disability like before.

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Demarie Jones

Right. And I think a lot of people hear disability and they think, Oh, you are the people that determine if I’m disabled or not, Right.

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Alanna Lahey

And you’re going to cut me that check.

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Ryan Buck
Wow. Okay. So that’s that’s a lot. And that is interesting. Forgive me, but you’ve opened a lot of doors there. And the first one being awareness, which is I could say, wow, this is a small community. This is a small town awareness, which is interesting. And, you know, I guess a decent problem to have because you can combat that.

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Ryan Buck
So what are typical ways that you are generating awareness and is this a typical part of your day?

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Alanna Lahey

We don’t have a typical day ever, ever disability network every day is different, which is what I think I love most about my job is that there’s nothing like yesterday and nothing like tomorrow.

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Ryan Buck
So that’s wonderful. Yes. Is that a you?

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Alanna Lahey

That is a me. I love change, so I thrive on it. So that’s that’s great for me. It’s great from most people at Disability Network. It’s one of the reasons that keep the people around that come is that, you know, we get to do something different every day.

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Demarie JonesBecause you’re you’re with people. So, you know, one person is not the same. And disability doesn’t affect that person the same as this person. So these are issues that come up in people’s lives are always different, right?

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Ryan Buck
So, well, themes of change, I think, are a strong undercurrent, obviously, for what you do and who you support. And you are, you know, truly supporting people, families and communities. So how long have you both been with the organization?

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Demarie Jones

I’ve been with Disability Network. This will be my seventh year.

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Alanna Lahey

I’m going on my third year. However, I started with Dunmurry as an independent living specialist and then became associate director last year.

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Ryan Buck
Wonderful congratulations.

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Alanna Lahey

To you.

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Ryan Buck
And what are you celebrating right now? Just as an organization? Big thing, little thing. What are you celebrating?

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Alanna Lahey

Well, right now we are not mostly celebrating, but mourning the loss of Judy Human, who was.

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Ryan Buck
Oh, my goodness. Yes. Yes. Wonderful advocate. She was.

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Demarie Jones 

A huge advocate for the.

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Ryan Buck
Disability. Yeah. So an amazing sit in in San Francisco that generated. Yes.

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Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Her incredible violence ways protesting sit ins. Right. And yeah, it was an amazing, amazing woman. Yeah. So, yeah, this was a big loss for us. Absolutely not unexpected.

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Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

No, it was not. I think that as we move forward, we have a legislative day where we go to Lansing and talk with our representatives, and that’s in May. And so I think that moving forward, we will, you know, take spirit of Judy with us when we go.

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Ryan Buck
Well, okay, That’s going to get me to another question ahead. But it doesn’t matter. We’re just talking this is how friends talk, right? So legislative, I think what’s fascinating and a lot of people may not know a theme that comes up on the podcast a lot is the advocacy you have to do, not just awareness, not just a Facebook post, but Lansing.

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Ryan Buck
Does it extend beyond that to D.C.? What does that kind of thing look like for you in your roles and the organization?

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Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Well, we we have a group of people with disabilities that meet on a monthly basis. It’s called our peer advocacy team. And so we are looking for opportunities all the time to bring awareness to our representatives and senators and letting them know, educating them that this is what we’re struggling with here in northern Michigan. Right. So we’re very active and working with our representatives in the state.

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Ryan Buck
So what’s the key to being successful in that now? I mean, you can share secrets if you want. You can hold.

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Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Repetition, repetition, repetition.

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Ryan Buck
And immediately. So very.

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Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Diverse. So we join all of the other Center for Independent livings in the state and kind of try to decide key issues for the year and all come together to discuss those with our representatives collectively. So there are 15 independent centers for independent living agencies in the state, and so each one of us would go to our corresponding representatives to discuss, you know, similar issues.

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Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Right. And those, you know, power numbers, we’re all coming with the same message. That’s really helpful.

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Ryan Buck
So for people who just only see this frustration in movies, a lot of this stuff is true. It is. You need to keep pounding on doors to be heard. You need to. But what does it take to really prepare for a big meeting? Let’s say you found it on the right doors and you have something big, something that could push through for the both of you.

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Ryan Buck
How do you get ready for that? How do you prepare to be undeniable in that room?

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Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Bring the story. Bring the story.

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Ryan Buck
Bring the story.

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Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

It’s not data. It’s not it’s a personal experience. So if it’s person that’s struggling and wants to go to you to that meeting with you, bring the story because it makes it real.

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Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

I think that looking at our past successes with the Go logo, right, so last year the Go logo was approved and I’m not sure if you are aware of that, but is the accessible parking signage right. So instead of the universal signage of accessibility, which is just a person seated in a wheelchair, it is the active person seated in a wheelchair that needs to be displayed on all signs for accessible parking in Michigan.

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Ryan Buck
That is wonderful.

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Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Yes. So we all came together to advocate for that and we were successful.

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Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Well, actually, that was like a three year process. So we started it like right before COVID.

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Ryan Buck
So that’s always the question to ask. And that sounds inspiring, but may just be deflated, but maybe not.

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Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

No, it’s not at all. I mean, nothing is ever from.

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Ryan Buck
Looking at your faces and you are smiling. So it’s because you know about this. Oh, of course. But for the layperson to hear three years to get a sign changed.

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Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

And it was I mean, yeah, something simple, right? I mean.

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Ryan Buck
You know, I mean, we know it’s not simple, but something maybe there are some things there are things that should be simpler.

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Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

But like, the theory behind it is what most people don’t understand. So if you look at the universal symbol of accessibility, you see just a stationary person and it’s a person is more than their wheelchair. So their wheelchair is assistive technology. It’s a tool that they use for mobility. It isn’t what makes or defines a person. So when you show the symbol with an active person, they get that status of I am a person and I have power, right?

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Ryan Buck
Well, this is perfect to tee up to my next question and maybe a hard question to answer, but I think an important one to ask and it’s not meant to be obscure on purpose, but what does independence mean to you?

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Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Independence? It’s not what independence means to us. Independence means something different to every single person. And you get to bring that to disability network when you come to us, right? You get to decide what that means for you and how we can help you achieve that, because that’s what we stand for, is determining your own independence and setting those goals and achieving those goals.

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Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

And we’re here to help you do that.

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Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

And the person determines that independence. We’re just a barrier remover. So whether it’s a policy or a person or a doctor’s office or whatever, we’re we’re there to help them navigate those barriers.

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Ryan Buck
Right?

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Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

They’re independence. They’ve already figured that out.

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Ryan Buck
We’re just here as a concept. Independence is interesting because how many people think about it and what it means to them. A lot of people might think, you know, the classic definition of independence, you know, from tyranny of something of that nature. But I think it’s really wonderful how you look at independence, because it is kind of different for everyone.

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Ryan Buck
But do people have issues with others defining it for them or others maybe thinking this is what you need and not allowing them to get to you, for example, to get the things that they may need?

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Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Yes.

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Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Yeah. We’re we’re still stuck in a medical model for disability, so we got to fix that person. Right.

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Ryan Buck
So what does that mean, a medical monocle? I think so.

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Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

There’s obviously something wrong with that person. Right.

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Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

So that possibility, you you need to be fixed.

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Ryan Buck
Right.

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Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

So and we don’t look at it that way. We look at it from a social model where you’re part of the community. So how can we make it better for you to live the way you want.

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Ryan Buck
To live.

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Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Right? Everyone else.

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Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Right, Right. Yeah, that’s inclusive. We are.

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Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Looking at inclusion and not at, you know, just defining how other people should live in relation to everyone else.

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Ryan Buck
Right? Hm.

00;11;27;27 – 00;11;58;08
Mark Wilson
Well, it kind of seems like the word adaptability is been like kind of more prevalent than saying flat out disability like added complete disadvantage. I mean, the world kind of we all adapt no matter who we are and what we have going on. Introverts in my life adapt daily to my extroverted ness. Yes, to my need to talk all the time.

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Ryan Buck
Well, and that’s that’s the thing you know, a lot of and it was a buzzword in business or a buzz term in business. I’d rather be adaptable and smart and maybe there’s something to that. But, you know, talking about smarts, Alina, you received your B.A. in psychology and sociology from Tulane University. Interesting. Lauren Hutton graduated from there, and I met her when I was working at the Swiss Hotel Chicago.

00;12;21;11 – 00;12;26;05
Ryan Buck
That could be a good story for offline. And you got your J.D. from Syracuse University. Go orange.

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Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Yes, go orange.

00;12;27;22 – 00;12;37;06
Ryan Buck
And the president graduated from there. RoboCop graduated from there. Peter Weller. Yes. So did you want to be a president or a robotics police officer?

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Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Just want to say that if Joe Biden can do it, anyone can do it.

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Ryan Buck
Right? So for you, what was the dream, the plan and the reality?

00;12;45;29 – 00;13;18;28
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

What was the dream, The plan and reality for me, I went to to Syracuse looking at it special legislation and disability law. I was a human rights and civil rights focused individual. And so I went there both with that and then the cold case, Justice initiative in mind, and that is a civil rights era based organization. So they were looking at old cold cases from the 1950s ish era and trying to find the killers and bring them to justice.

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Ryan Buck
This sounds so attractive and how it can be a real pursuit of study even before this was in the social consciousness and you got to start pursuing that. Was it fun?

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Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Oh, absolutely. Absolutely, yes.

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Ryan Buck
Yeah. Okay. So that was part of the dream and the plan. It’s absolutely. So it’s interesting that they merged.

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Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Yes. So I really was focused on civil rights in general. And then it wasn’t until I got there that I realized how much I fell in love with disability law. And that was an interesting story in itself. Just because I got stuck taking land use and zoning, which I thought would be.

00;13;53;27 – 00;13;55;20
Ryan Buck
The stock taking stock.

00;13;55;21 – 00;14;02;23
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Taking as my first semester. First quarterly. Yeah, first year elective. I only got it doesn’t.

00;14;02;23 – 00;14;04;06
Ryan Buck
Sound super sexy. I get it.

00;14;05;24 – 00;14;18;26
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

And in general, disability law really coincides and they merge and I realize how much I absolutely love disability law just from land use and zoning out.

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Ryan Buck
Well, hey, shout out to land use and zoning and zoning. You’ve talked to a lot of folks in our community. We’ve had guests on this podcast, too, you know, supporting our natural resources and the earth. Nothing else happens without it. So I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. And it’s interesting to see you were, you know, inherently inspired.

00;14;39;20 – 00;14;47;12
Ryan Buck
Were you similarly inspired in an educational path or what? Got you to want to do what you’re doing.

00;14;47;13 – 00;15;05;02
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Might change with a midlife change. I started out in business. I married a brilliant man who had mental health issues, so I spent a lot of time navigating the health care system for him. Right? And one day over coffee, he said, You know, you make a pretty damn good social worker. And I’m like.

00;15;05;20 – 00;15;06;02
Ryan Buck
Hmm.

00;15;06;24 – 00;15;09;20
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

So I’ve changed. I, I look.

00;15;09;25 – 00;15;18;14
Ryan Buck
At that relationship wise. I mean, that’s a wonderful, supportive thing to say for a partner to say, Right. Well, you know, you find.

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Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Her, it’s a struggle. Mental health in our area, in our state, in our country is a struggle. So you can’t navigate mental health by yourself when you’re in crisis.

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Ryan Buck
So do too many people do that? Yeah. So, I mean, that’s kind of.

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Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Where they don’t and and we lose them. So. Right. Yeah. So that’s.

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Ryan Buck
How it’s.

00;15;43;06 – 00;15;47;23
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Changed. And then move to Grand Valley. Got my master’s in social work and wow.

00;15;47;23 – 00;16;10;06
Ryan Buck
Yeah. Are there elements are there elements of when you both look at, at your education because it’s really impressive right. You seem geared towards it. Are there elements of your education you couldn’t do this without and elements of your education where maybe you would have focused elsewhere?

00;16;10;10 – 00;16;17;27
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

I think for me, I could do the work. I just needed the letters behind my name for people to understand what I do.

00;16;18;06 – 00;16;18;15
Ryan Buck
Right.

00;16;18;22 – 00;16;23;01
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

So, I mean, I could be an advocate for, you know, people with disabilities.

00;16;23;01 – 00;16;28;00
Ryan Buck
Legitimacy keeps coming up. Is is not just recognition, but then legitimacy.

00;16;28;05 – 00;16;28;15
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Right?

00;16;28;15 – 00;16;31;02
Ryan Buck
It just you as a person had to deal with that.

00;16;31;02 – 00;16;38;24
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Yeah right. I wasn’t I didn’t want to be the wife that was doing the advocacy. I wanted to be able to advocate for.

00;16;38;24 – 00;17;05;26
Ryan Buck
An advocate for Capital T capital. So, well, we, you know, are in a place where if you go to the website, which is really amazing, we’ll talk about that in a second. But you talk about community resources and you offer many, and that’s a name that heavily implies community. So how has Traverse City improved as a city as it relates to what you do and who you serve in the last, let’s say, five years?

00;17;06;10 – 00;17;21;07
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Well, I think that it’s important to shout out here that we don’t just serve diversity. We serve 17 counties across the tip of the Met. So we are over in Traverse City, down to Manistee and over to Alpena. We are. We are around to the bridge. Yes, to the bridge. Exactly. So.

00;17;21;07 – 00;17;22;04
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

And Beaver Island.

00;17;22;13 – 00;17;25;13
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Oh, and Beaver Island. That’s right. We get to go out there every once in a while.

00;17;25;15 – 00;17;26;07
Ryan Buck
That is correct.

00;17;26;13 – 00;17;29;17
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

So, you know, if you need that ADA assessment, we are here for you. Beaver Island.

00;17;30;12 – 00;17;33;14
Ryan Buck
Bring. Is this an ongoing thing that you’re looking to get done?

00;17;33;18 – 00;17;36;07
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Oh, well, I, I like to travel and I like.

00;17;36;17 – 00;17;37;20
Ryan Buck
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

00;17;37;22 – 00;17;38;23
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

I on call me now there’s.

00;17;38;23 – 00;17;41;15
Ryan Buck
A music festival there or a couple I think at times.

00;17;43;00 – 00;17;44;03
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Exactly.

00;17;44;03 – 00;17;45;09
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

I got stranded there one week.

00;17;45;26 – 00;17;46;17
Ryan Buck
Oh my goodness.

00;17;47;06 – 00;17;55;12
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

So I think that with all of the work that we do, a lot of this is some of the rural outreach, making sure that people know that we’re there for them.

00;17;55;15 – 00;17;55;26
Ryan Buck
Right.

00;17;56;00 – 00;18;26;07
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Because you don’t you don’t get a lot of supports when you’re in some of our more rural areas, but how are we making things better? We are advocating and improving accessibility. I didn’t answer your last question, but like my law degree really helps our agency to offer ADA assessments. So making sure that businesses and buildings and parks and streets and sidewalks are all accessible to people with disabilities, people’s homes, apartment buildings, all of these things, I’m able to do that with my degree.

00;18;26;20 – 00;18;38;29
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

So that’s really, really helpful. And, you know, we sit on advisory boards and things like that to help, you know, make Traverse City better, help make various counties and cities and townships better and stronger.

00;18;39;15 – 00;19;02;21
Ryan Buck
Well, it’s a place that, you know, moving from a larger city. You do appreciate our community and our area because it is easier to get around, but you still have to allocate your time. And it does take a lot of time. You go to the website and there are so many different things that you can do. So what advice would you have to somebody who maybe is just there at the beginning of their journey?

00;19;03;00 – 00;19;14;22
Ryan Buck
They’ve just decided to try to get help with anything that’s that’s in their life. What would be the best first step? Call somebody who just has them on the telephone, right? Is that what you’re saying?

00;19;14;26 – 00;19;15;21
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Call us. Yeah.

00;19;15;23 – 00;19;22;18
Ryan Buck
Okay. So walk in or call would be a great first step. Absolutely. And why? Why is it why is it a call or walk in?

00;19;22;20 – 00;19;41;02
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Because like you said, this is a journey and you’re taking your first steps. Right? So there’s so much that can encompass anything, whether you need something simple, like just the phone number to Social Security Administration or you need to know what that journey looks like before you even get started. You want a plan like we’re here to help you do that, right?

00;19;41;10 – 00;19;53;16
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

You know, we aren’t we aren’t the person that files your paperwork for you, but we can help you understand what it is they’re looking for and start to help you collect that paperwork and those stock doctor’s records and things like that.

00;19;53;17 – 00;20;09;19
Ryan Buck
Well, specifically, there are things that you do that I think are are really fascinating. And when you look at what Disability Network does, it is even more than I suspected. So something like the ticket to work program. Can you kind of briefly comment on that? I mean, and it helps you with something that’s really kind of critical.

00;20;10;00 – 00;20;35;22
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Yeah, that’s a really excellent program for people who are looking to find out if they can be self-sustaining without Social Security benefits. So with that, it allows you to maintain your Social Security benefits while working with us, with your ticket to work over the allotted amount and getting increased income and things like that, to make sure that you can do it before you lose all of your benefits and have to reapply for it.

00;20;35;22 – 00;20;39;18
Ryan Buck
That’s that’s a big thing. Maybe with anything in life, it’s everything’s risk and reward.

00;20;40;04 – 00;20;57;18
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

And sometimes, like you don’t even need to take it to work program. You can come in and talk to one of our benefits counselors. And just to find out what it looks like, if you work 10 hours a week. Right. What does it look like if you work 20? Right? Right. What does it look like? If you make $8 an hour versus $12 an hour or you make $20 an hour?

00;20;57;24 – 00;21;01;08
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Right. These are all really different things that can really impact your life.

00;21;01;08 – 00;21;22;03
Ryan Buck
Right. And speaking as a terrible procrastinator, sometimes even that first step is just enough to make you feel like. And I do think a phone call or a meeting in person is is the best first step. So when you think about big problems that affect our community and again, it’s a small community and we’re lucky in that way.

00;21;22;11 – 00;21;42;16
Ryan Buck
Employment that’s a big thing. We got eight different hotels coming into the community within the next three years and we’re already talking about employment. So can you talk to employment and how I mean, there’s benefits, so many benefits of employing individuals with disabilities in the workforce. So what are things that you can speak to in that regard?

00;21;42;27 – 00;22;08;02
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

So we offer a lot of different services, unemployment. We have a job club, we have, you know, job shadowing and a lot of different services that we can offer regardless of what it is you’re looking for. We partner with MRAs so that they can also provide services alongside of us. Right. But one of the things about employment that goes hand-in-hand is is housing.

00;22;08;02 – 00;22;11;28
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

So if without the housing in Traverse City, that doesn’t really make a difference.

00;22;11;28 – 00;22;17;22
Ryan Buck
It’s so interesting. One issue just bumps into another. That’s another small community thing. So fascinating.

00;22;17;23 – 00;22;25;20
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Yeah, I mean, those kind of going hand-in-hand. So if you can’t afford to live in Traverse City, you also can’t afford to work in the city those you know well.

00;22;25;20 – 00;22;27;17
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

And then there’s transportation, right?

00;22;27;27 – 00;22;29;22
Ryan Buck
So there you go. I know there’s another one.

00;22;29;22 – 00;22;47;20
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

So if you if you’re living rurally because you can’t afford to live in Traverse City and you have to work in Traverse City, how are you going to get there? So, you know, boosting up our ability to have public transportation that can move you from, say, Courtemanche to Traverse City or you know.

00;22;47;29 – 00;23;09;24
Ryan Buck
What you talk about? Okay, That’s one facet. But you’re here and you’re doing it and you’re smiling. So there has to be hope because we talk to a lot of people and you talk about a lot of problems. And I always have to ask everybody, is there hope? There’s hope. Okay. There’s always workers, right?

00;23;10;00 – 00;23;10;14
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Of course.

00;23;10;18 – 00;23;21;11
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

And that’s why we have to continue to advocate for these things so that the money gets pushed into these areas so that we can, you know, build accessible, affordable housing. Exactly.

00;23;22;00 – 00;23;45;00
Ryan Buck
But being being, you know, employed in not just because it looks good to a corporate board, but diversity in the workplace is a good thing no matter what’s. And so if you are in need or there is something even if you have questions about whether you would be good for a certain role or a position, can somebody reach out to you and say, I just really, you know, so many calls on the phone.

00;23;45;01 – 00;24;03;08
Ryan Buck
She says, this is what I’m thinking. I don’t know. It’s my first job in a long time, but that’s okay. Absolutely. Somebody can pick up that phone and be like, we gotcha. Because it’s again, we talked. I said risk and reward. Somebody could just be nervous about that. Is it going to be, you know, am I going to be respected?

00;24;03;08 – 00;24;06;07
Ryan Buck
Is it going to get me what I want? Is there going to be a run on it.

00;24;06;07 – 00;24;29;17
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

To figure out ways to to highlight and enhance those things that you did while you maybe weren’t working? If you haven’t worked in ten years? And, you know, it doesn’t mean that you haven’t done anything right, You volunteered. You might have taken care of a loved one. And you know, those are things to highlight on a resume. We can help you do both your resume, like find those skills, all of those things.

00;24;29;17 – 00;24;31;14
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

We we do those type of things as well.

00;24;31;14 – 00;24;50;14
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

And then support you when when you are being employed. Because as a person who collects disability, you’re going to have to report those wages. And that gets kind of cumbersome. I mean, you’re you’re going to weekly paycheck and you and I can just, you know, get our weekly paychecks and go on with our lives. But if you’re collecting the benefit, you have to report those.

00;24;50;14 – 00;24;51;07
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

So you.

00;24;51;07 – 00;24;51;23
Ryan Buck
Sure do.

00;24;51;29 – 00;25;02;04
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

So it does get you know, you have to remember to report them. Yeah. It gets to be more work than right. So you and I going out and getting. Sure.

00;25;02;08 – 00;25;20;05
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

And from the employer’s side, too, you know, we always encourage employers to reach out to us as well. Let us know that they’re hiring. Let us know that they’re looking to partner and find people with disabilities to taking trainings from us to make sure that they’re accessible in the workplace and as inclusive as possible.

00;25;20;05 – 00;25;35;29
Ryan Buck
Right. Well, you you do a lot of work with so many people. And I’m fascinated to hear from you How much of your work at present is focused on maybe youth and then how much your work is focused in the teen to adult area Right now?

00;25;36;22 – 00;25;40;07
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Well, we we say that we work with people from womb to tomb.

00;25;41;09 – 00;25;45;24
Ryan Buck
So catch you all. Yeah. All ages of life look good on a T-shirt.

00;25;45;29 – 00;26;13;01
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

All stages of life. Yes, exactly. So, you know, we have parent networks to assist families who might have, you know, young people. And with disabilities, we have various educational offerings that we offer to youth with disabilities. Yeah. And then we have transitional services. So, you know, you have young adults who are looking to become independent, leave Mom’s home and see what’s out there in the world.

00;26;13;02 – 00;26;22;26
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

You have those type of transitional services and we go all the way up to, you know, people who are, you know, in nursing facilities and either want to transition home or they’re at home and want to transition.

00;26;22;28 – 00;26;24;11
Ryan Buck
Is that like options counseling?

00;26;24;11 – 00;26;26;25
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

That is options counseling program. Yeah. Yes.

00;26;26;25 – 00;26;50;20
Ryan Buck
Wow. And so well, you know, you talked about all the various different things, Deborah. You talked about, you know, having to report to the IRS and things of that nature. It seems like you have an opportunity to engage youth on some of this stuff early. Is that become more of a shift in that like the life program, for example, is something that, you know, you’re reaching out to school.

00;26;50;20 – 00;26;55;20
Ryan Buck
So has that been a more concerted focus to get more engaged with with younger families, individuals?

00;26;55;20 – 00;27;15;00
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Oh, absolutely. That’s that’s definitely one area where we’re definitely focusing on just because putting those skills out there and making sure that people have the skills to remain independent, you know, throughout their lifetime starts at a young age. So that is we have one department that looks just at the youth transitional services.

00;27;15;07 – 00;27;18;04
Ryan Buck
So how many how many employees?

00;27;18;24 – 00;27;19;05
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

20.

00;27;19;20 – 00;27;20;13
Ryan Buck
20 employees.

00;27;20;14 – 00;27;22;05
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

20 employees for 17 counties.

00;27;22;20 – 00;27;25;02
Ryan Buck
I was just going to say, is it enough area.

00;27;25;12 – 00;27;28;03
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Of the size of New Jersey? So.

00;27;28;27 – 00;27;41;14
Ryan Buck
Okay, that’s fascinating because you still have a business to run. You still have a day to day to do. You have you both have things that you don’t love to do each day.

00;27;41;16 – 00;27;43;09
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Well, we love everything about our job.

00;27;43;10 – 00;27;47;02
Ryan Buck
That’s amazing. Honestly, you heard it here. First, a few things that I don’t.

00;27;47;02 – 00;27;48;05
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Like about my job.

00;27;48;05 – 00;27;49;02
Ryan Buck
My goodness.

00;27;49;11 – 00;28;02;00
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Really, I have to say that. I mean, compared to other jobs that I’ve worked, I mean, I guess it’s a change every day. But yeah, I don’t I don’t get up in the morning. Then I was just going to go on to help anybody today.

00;28;02;09 – 00;28;10;07
Ryan Buck
Yeah. Okay. I get that. I get that. But even a constant barrage of positivity, you know. So how But.

00;28;10;09 – 00;28;15;02
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

You know, I mean, there’s some sad things that happen, but there’s usually good outcomes.

00;28;15;02 – 00;28;30;26
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

So we don’t have the cure to the housing crisis. No, we don’t have the cure. So, I mean, we have our sad moments, too, right? When people are experiencing homelessness and they have a service dog and can’t go to a shelter or they’re a person who uses a wheelchair and they don’t have a room at the shelter, they’re always like that.

00;28;31;03 – 00;28;32;19
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Oxygen and they can’t go to the.

00;28;32;19 – 00;28;33;16
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Shelter, right.

00;28;33;24 – 00;28;34;23
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Hydrogen tank.

00;28;34;23 – 00;28;55;01
Ryan Buck
So because well, those things that you talked about stories and I was going to ask you, you know, how do you use those in a good way and how do you, you know, maybe separate those things because they can be inspiring, but it also can be it can wear on you. So how do you, one, use those stories in in a meaningful way and doesn’t look shameless, let’s say?

00;28;55;01 – 00;29;00;04
Ryan Buck
And then how do you kind of try to, you know, take inspiration from them and not let things weigh on you?

00;29;00;15 – 00;29;09;02
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Well, we don’t necessarily market either positive or negative. No, it’s not that. It’s a marketing tool. It’s it’s getting stories out there so people.

00;29;09;02 – 00;29;09;24
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Understand.

00;29;09;25 – 00;29;23;07
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Understand and are aware. It’s educational, but we’re not trying to make money or anything off of the stories. The stories can be brought to the attention of our legislators. They can be brought to the attention of the public.

00;29;23;09 – 00;29;23;22
Ryan Buck
Right?

00;29;24;05 – 00;29;28;07
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

But all of it is to educate and to, you know, encourage advocacy.

00;29;29;19 – 00;29;33;13
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

And self-advocacy, you know, teaching the person to be their own best advocate.

00;29;33;28 – 00;29;39;29
Ryan Buck
In would it be, you know, accurate to say that you’re working towards being irrelevant?

00;29;40;24 – 00;29;41;21
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

That would be lovely.

00;29;42;16 – 00;29;44;27
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

That’s not a thing. But yes, it would be great.

00;29;44;28 – 00;30;05;12
Ryan Buck
Right? Right. But it wouldn’t be because, you know, there’s always going to be something that’s that’s that you’re challenged by. But when you think about partnerships, because you have to be partners with so many, you talk about the life program and you have to coordinate with schools and the partners that you have. You just talked about addressing homelessness.

00;30;05;26 – 00;30;13;23
Ryan Buck
What’s the key to to finding the best partners and getting the most out of them together? How do you approach partnerships to make them work?

00;30;14;11 – 00;30;38;25
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Outreach need dire need. When you have one person who has one specific need and you’re scrambling to help that person, you start to make those those relationships and friendships with the the various agencies and all of our communities. And I think that that’s one of the best ways. I won’t say the best, but it’s it’s the most frequently occurring ways that we make these relationships happen.

00;30;38;25 – 00;30;56;08
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

We attend to collaborative meetings so that those exist in the community for each of the agencies to, you know, bring various issues to the table, talk about. But yeah, there’s there’s a lot of different ways that we reach out. Well, kind of the to one one for disability if that makes sense.

00;30;56;08 – 00;31;13;28
Ryan Buck
Yeah, it does. But this is a very again we talk about the advantage is of a small community but there can be some challenges because there’s a lot of competition. So what are the keys to really standing out when you’re trying to, to look at a partner? You know, how do you look at what’s the best partner, what’s the best tenants?

00;31;14;05 – 00;31;17;20
Ryan Buck
And then, you know, what are you know, what’s your approach at standing out?

00;31;18;09 – 00;31;19;24
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

We want partners with lots of money.

00;31;20;08 – 00;31;25;27
Ryan Buck
Yeah. Okay. Let’s get all the answers. That’s a good qualifier.

00;31;27;14 – 00;31;43;21
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

No, I think it’s just that continuing collaboration. Right. So continuously going to those meetings and having those conversations and having them join you on that advocacy journey as well. Right. So and a lot of there’s other organizations that don’t specialize in disability.

00;31;43;21 – 00;31;50;24
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

I wouldn’t say we don’t have competition. We had competition. I’d love to meet them. But yeah, I would love to have a competition.

00;31;50;25 – 00;32;08;04
Ryan Buck
That’s wonderful to hear. So and because it’s an easy question to ask, well, then maybe could I ask who? Who else do you look up to? Are there organizations in other states that you take as models of what you do, or are you kind of inventing is as in using the resources that you have?

00;32;08;04 – 00;32;20;15
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

So we collaborate with other center for independent livings, but we all do the same core services essentially. So it’s not that we have anyone necessarily to look up to. It’s more or less what is.

00;32;20;24 – 00;32;37;26
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

One of them doing that we can incorporate or, you know, when we started, you know, during COVID, we started a quarantine cooking, right? And so now other cities have been, you know, adding cooking to their services, right. You know, for their clients, We.

00;32;37;26 – 00;32;39;23
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Started a virtual gaming group.

00;32;39;23 – 00;32;42;12
Ryan Buck
So all virtual gaming like, yeah.

00;32;42;15 – 00;33;03;26
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Video gaming for the gaming. Yeah. It’s it’s really, really growing. And I think that a lot of other sales even at a state are starting to to do this too which is is great it’s amazing the number of issues that come out with gamers that you know and kids but most of it’s kids. I mean we’re trying to get all ages involved.

00;33;03;27 – 00;33;07;10
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Sure. I won’t say children, children, but young adults.

00;33;07;20 – 00;33;08;23
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

18 and over, right?

00;33;08;23 – 00;33;32;22
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Yeah. And so we we get all kinds of issues. And in that safety, those are things that you don’t necessarily learn in school. And you’re you’re talking to people online who are not safe and a lot of bad things happen to people with disabilities because of that. So, you know, this is incredible. And I think that a lot of other agencies need to be aware and try and incorporate something because I’m catching a lot of issues.

00;33;32;26 – 00;33;37;29
Ryan Buck
Well, this seems inspiring in a way because in some misinterpreting.

00;33;37;29 – 00;33;38;12
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Oh, it’s.

00;33;38;18 – 00;34;00;10
Ryan Buck
You. You it feels like you can go anywhere, you can you can lead, you can create, you’re agile enough to make these connections and know who to look for and optimally with lots of money and things like that. But I think that’s really fascinating that you’re able to give so much to so many. And you talked about technology, you know, you’ve had the Community Connections podcast.

00;34;00;10 – 00;34;13;26
Ryan Buck
Is that still happening or because now I see there’s a couple of episodes out there, there’s three. The one I listened to was on Independence and our Youth and Youth Transition, our podcast. Yeah, your podcast.

00;34;14;00 – 00;34;17;06
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Let’s see, what are those things that you delete? Because we’re all like, What are you talking.

00;34;17;06 – 00;34;37;01
Ryan Buck
Oh great. No, I found it inspiring because John Bertram put his phone number out there. I like, call me everybody. I felt like when it was recorded, he put like the fake thing and he’s like, I will do what you need. I’m sorry to have asked a corny question. Oh, no, no, no. This is how you maybe don’t think about very much.

00;34;37;10 – 00;34;51;13
Ryan Buck
But I was going to say, you’re adapting, you’re doing different things, and podcasts are a great way to do it. And he was somebody who literally put his phone number out and said, okay, I will help you. And I think he said day or night. And I believed him.

00;34;52;05 – 00;34;52;25
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

And I said.

00;34;53;15 – 00;34;54;09
Ryan Buck
I believe.

00;34;54;10 – 00;34;57;09
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

It is inspirational and definitely committed to his.

00;34;57;09 – 00;34;57;27
Ryan Buck
Job. Right.

00;34;58;07 – 00;35;04;12
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

We all are. I mean, we we we aren’t a crisis center, but we do really care. We truly.

00;35;04;12 – 00;35;24;22
Ryan Buck
Do. And is that you know, that’s clearly not enough. You know, you need the things that you’ve done. You need the experiences that you’ve had and what what is important to you as a culture, a disability network. You know, when you go to work every day, you know, what do you both try to bring? What do you both try to take away from each day?

00;35;25;04 – 00;35;48;17
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Well, we have independent living philosophies and we also have our motto, Nothing about us without us, right? So we are a community of people with disabilities. We operate for people with disabilities. It is a consumer led organization. Yeah. So this is what we are all about. We live, breathe, sleep, eat, drink, and we aspire disability.

00;35;48;22 – 00;36;05;11
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

We have a great group of people. So then if you know, if you’re stuck on something, if I’m stuck on something, I can go to Alana’s office and go, you know, I don’t know what to do with this. And you know that continuous feedback from others that may have walked the similar walk, you know, and can guide you through that.

00;36;05;11 – 00;36;09;02
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

And so we just have a really great team of people.

00;36;09;03 – 00;36;15;21
Ryan Buck
You’ve had to, you know, wrangle alpacas. You are somebody who probably stays organized. You keep everybody.

00;36;16;02 – 00;36;17;13
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

Keeps keep I’m.

00;36;17;13 – 00;36;37;00
Ryan Buck
Guessing this because there’s a lot of different reasons. I love this dynamic because we start we go all the way back to the beginning before we wrap up with this party thing. And I love how I could see it, you know, like I see you start it and then you get it going. That semicircle of people. But Alana, you clearly are passionate.

00;36;37;00 – 00;36;52;06
Ryan Buck
You’re both very, clearly passionate and you talk about the legal things and you know, all the things that you’ve done. But do you still have that? I’ll see you in court face and can I see it? Because I know this is not a visual medium, but do you still have it because you’re known for the. I’ll see you in court face.

00;36;52;06 – 00;36;53;00
Ryan Buck
Do you still have it?

00;36;53;00 – 00;36;55;14
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

I am are you are you on my Facebook?

00;36;56;24 – 00;36;57;19
Ryan Buck
I don’t know. I mean.

00;36;57;19 – 00;37;09;15
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

I am not an attorney, so I’m not taking anyone to court. And this really network doesn’t necessarily handle any issues however good this kind of law. And that is, I’m absolutely happy to help people understand.

00;37;09;15 – 00;37;27;17
Ryan Buck
What that’s a face they just need. Yeah, it’s just it’s another tool in the tool belt. I could see that. Yeah. I just never heard it put that way. And because I think I know the face in general, but I just thought it was really something unique to have been able to put out there. So how can anybody support, donate?

00;37;27;17 – 00;37;35;24
Ryan Buck
What is the best way aside? You know, we just talked about calling and in going in, but what’s it what’s the best way to support volunteer? Is that the best way.

00;37;35;24 – 00;37;40;28
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

So you can donate online at the IWW right Disability network dot org.

00;37;41;07 – 00;37;58;07
Ryan Buck
Awesome. Well Elena Desmarais, thank you both so much for your pursuits and all those who pursue along with you doing all the amazing things that you do for those in our community that need it. Is there anything else that I’d like to share with our team, our listeners, the people who hopefully will call and support?

00;37;58;21 – 00;38;02;23
Alanna Lahey – Disability Network Northern Michigan

No, I think that this just about covers it for 319.

00;38;02;24 – 00;38;10;09
Ryan Buck
Oh, yeah. Press three. Wow. Yeah, go for it. Yeah. Okay. We’ll get that number now.

00;38;12;12 – 00;38;16;05
Demarie Jones – Disability Network Northern Michigan

2319220903.

00;38;17;05 – 00;38;28;18
Ryan Buck
Maybe we can put some effects under that to make that. Yeah, absolutely. Well, wonderful. Thank you both so much for being our guests today. And to all of our listeners, thank you so much for listening and thank you for pursuing the positive.

00;38;32;14 – 00;39;04;12
Mark Wilson
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us again on the Pursuit of podcast with the pursuit of the disability network Northern Michigan. We want to thank Marie Jones and a lot of Leahy for taking the time to join us today. For more information and to get involved, please visit disability Network dot org news and events, Volunteer opportunities and to donate please Disability network dot org and always for all things audio, video and podcast production related.

00;39;04;17 – 00;39;07;09
Mark Wilson
Look us up at newleonard.com