On My Own of Michigan

We want to hear from you!

As you may know, OMO is planning an affordable housing community for people with & without developmental disabilities - Independence Village!

As our plans for Independence Village progress, we want to hear from you to ensure we're building the right community. Please take a moment to complete our brief housing survey.

Fill | Independence Village Housing Preference Survey While we're still on the hunt for the right location to build our affordable housing community for people with and without developmental disabilities, we'd love your response to the following questions to help refine our search for the future home of On My Own of Michigan.

The calendar says July already, & Independence Prep Day Camp is underway!

It's a full house and they're off to a roaring start. Some of the campers' favorite activities so far? Working on Gratitude Journals, making lunches (grilled cheese yesterday & tacos today), going for walks, learning coping skills, making new friends, and getting everyone moving playing Mario Cart!

It's going to be a busy 3 weeks!

If you'd like to learn more about all of our programs which support people with developmental disabilities on their journeys to independence, visit www.onmyownofmi.org.

It's Halfway Day!

We're exactly 1/2 way through the year, and as of today, 73% of our Independent Living Program participants are on track to meet their annual goals!

How great is that?!!

Have you registered for Bingo yet?

There are still a few seats available & we want to see you there! It's going to be a great evening of BINGO fun, friends & fantastic prizes! We hope you'll join us!

Tickets are available at onmyownofmi.org or by scanning the QR code.

Friendship Friday!

What is Friendship?

Friendship is two or more people who enjoy each other’s
company. They trust, understand, respect and appreciate each
other. They look forward to being together. They give to each
other, maybe not in the same way, but what is given and
received is of great value to each.

While On My Own is all about preparing people with developmental disabilities for independent living, we're also about having fun and making friends!

Our Skill Building Program and Independence College are just two of our programs that provide a perfect opportunity to meet new people, make new friends and learn important skills along the way!

For more information about these & all of our programs, visit www.onmyownofmi.org

On My Own was recently awarded a grant from the Troy Community Foundation for our Skill Building Program!

We're so grateful for the support of this wonderful organization, which works so hard on behalf of the entire Troy community.

Their generosity makes this critical programming possible. OMO's Skill Building participants learn the necessary skills to build healthy peer relationships and successfully live independently.

Thank you, Troy Community Foundation!

As an organization which champions inclusivity for all, we at On My Own want to honor today, Juneteenth.

We celebrate and recognize the accomplishments of the Black community and their monumental contributions made to shaping our culture, society and the betterment of this country. We also acknowledge the bitter and painful history of racism and slavery.

We hope to foster a community open to discussion, engagement, learning, respect and appreciation, and our commitment on this and every day, is to provide such an environment where everyone can thrive.

Everyone stay safe out there, and follow these safety tips from the Troy Fire Department Troy Mich.!

Excessive Heat Warning

An extremely warm and humid air mass is taking hold today and will persist throughout the entire week. We are expecting peak heat indices of 95°F to 100°F each afternoon. With little to no overnight relief (lows staying above 70°F), this prolonged extreme heat poses a serious risk to those without effective cooling or adequate hydration.

**Safety Tips**
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
- Avoid strenuous activities during the hottest parts of the day.
- Use air conditioning or visit cooling centers if available.
- Check on elderly neighbors and vulnerable individuals.
- Never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles.

Let's stay safe and look out for one another during this heat wave.

Cooling centers available in Oakland County:
https://www.oakgov.com/community/emergency-management/need-to-know/safety/cooling-centers

Tickets are available now for Bingo Bonanza!

We hope you'll join us for this wonderful evening of fun with the On My Own community.

Funds raised will support our programs and services for individuals with developmental disabilities as they build and maintain their independence.

Visit www.onmyownofmi.org for tickets!

Many thanks to our generous sponsors, whose partnership makes our work possible!

It was yet another fun & busy weekend for our Skill Building Program participants!

OMO members love getting out into the community & enjoying great events like this weekend's JARC Carnival. They enjoyed the rides, games and spending time with friends on a sunny Saturday!

If you'd like to join in on the fun & learn more about our Skill Building program, visit www.onmyownofmi.org

If you're 18+ & looking for a fun and rewarding way to keep busy this summer & give back to your community, consider volunteering with On My Own!

Our Skill Building Program meets 4 times/week and we're looking for volunteers to help make these educational and social sessions fun, engaging and rewarding for our members. You'll be helping them learn money management skills, build healthy relationships, practice cooking skills, or play games & go bowling - we have something for everyone!

If you can help out once per month or more, we'd love to hear from you! Scan the QR code or visit www.onmyownofmi.org for more information

You can make a huge difference in the lives of people with developmental disabilities, and have a great time while doing so!

Wondering what makes our services stand out as we help neurodiverse individuals achieve and maintain their independence?

We focus on each individual's unique needs and motivations to help them thrive, avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach.

Take, for example, one of our Independent Living program participants who loves K-Pop (any fellow fans out there?). Our Independent Living Coordinator personalized their daily routine with K-Pop music as a motivating factor! Finding enjoyment in what we do often leads to better commitment.

If you're interested in advancing your independent living abilities, explore www.onmyownofmi.org for more information on our Independent Living program and how we can help you learn to successfully live on your own.

Summer is just around the corner! Have you made your plans yet?

Join our summer camp for a chance to keep learning, gain new experiences, and practice independent living skills, all while having fun with friends both old and new!

We have just a few spots left, & they'll fill up quickly!

Visit www.onmyownofmi.org today for more information on Independence Prep Summer Camp!

Mark your calendars for our upcoming Bingo Bonanza! Trust us, you will NOT want to miss this great event! It's open to everyone and promises to be a lively evening!

We'll be sending out more details soon, and you can visit www.onmyownofmi.org to find out all the ways you can support our work.

We want to shout out a HUGE congratulations to our Independence College students on this, their final day of class for the inaugural year of the program!

To say it's been successful is an understatement!!

The students have grown SO much in their independence levels! The skills they're learning in this unique program are personalized to each of their individual needs and allow them to live, work and thrive on their own. They've spent the last 9 months living in their own apartments, learning life skills, money management, employment skills, the safe use of public transportation, and so much more!

If you or your loved one is looking to prepare for independent living in a safe, supported environment, you can find more information and apply to Independence College at https://onmyownofmi.org/. Join us for a transformational year!

Our Skill Building group had a blast this weekend checking out Detroit's River Walk!

They enjoyed the sunny day, a stroll along the water & of course, riding the carousel!

If you or your loved one is looking for fun social opportunities like this, our Skill Building Program may be just right for you! There are 4 activities each week, with sessions such as bingo, game nights, reading group, Men's & Women's groups, information sessions on topics such as money management and healthy relationships in addition to outings and community events. It's a great way to meet new people, experience new things and learn new skills!

Visit https://onmyownofmi.org to learn more!

Talk about a go-getter!

Peggy, a member of our Independent Living Program, is an avid scholar and loves to read. She set a goal for herself to complete 6 college-level courses through Hillsdale College. She far surpassed her self-determined goal, successfully completing 8 courses!

And, wow, what challenging classes: 'The Great Principles of Chemistry', 'An Introduction to C.S. Lewis: Writings & Significance,' 'The Rise & Fall of the Roman Republic' and 'Introduction to the Constitution,' just to name a few!

Way to go, Peggy!! Congratulations on such an inspiring achievement!

Another Independence College success story!

Have you met Clayton? He absolutely loves animals, and specifically, penguins.

In his first year in Independence College, he learned vocational skills and was able to decide what kind of opportunities he'd be interested in.

After an internship where he got his feet wet working with animals, Clayton landed his perfect volunteer opportunity at the Detroit Zoo!

He greets visitors and best of all, works at the Zoo's Polk Penguin Conservation Center! He's an absolute wealth of knowledge and guides people through the exhibit and answers all their questions!

The next time you visit the zoo, make sure to say hi to Clayton!

Only a few spots left!!

Are you looking for something fun and productive for your teen or young adult to do this summer?

Register today for our summer camp, where they'll have fun learning independent living skills including meal prep, practicing functional math & reading, & attending field trips with friends!

Visit onmyownofmi.org for more information.

Last night's visit with Ron Sandison is not to be missed!

It was fun, informative and indicative of the experience of so many of our members!

If you were unable to join us live, you can watch the session on our YouTube channel here:

Launching Adults Into Independence: An Evening with Ron Sandison

As Teacher Appreciation Week begins, we want to highlight the rockstar teachers on our staff who make a difference every day in the lives of our students & members!

Lead Instructor Kayla, Independent Living Coordinator Amanda, and Director of Education Emily are all highly-credentialed special educators who bring a wealth of experience, knowledge, compassion, energy, skill, and yes, fun as they help our members learn to live independently.

Thanks for all you do!

We have been absolutely bowled over by your generosity!

The new Independence College classroom is really coming together, apartments have been outfitted, & many of our educational supplies have been replenished thanks to your fantastic response to our wish list! Thank you!

There are still some essential items available, if you're looking for a way to help support our students and members on their journey towards independence!

tinyurl.com/onmyownwishlist

Have you heard? SMART Bus Route 492 is now in service!

This new route makes connecting with friends, activities and job sites in the Greater Rochester area much more accessible.

OMO members (& prospective members!) can more easily travel between Troy, Rochester Hills, Rochester & Auburn Hills, allowing more independence & increased opportunity.

Visit SMART to learn more about this new route at: https://www.smartbus.org/About/News/new-route-492-starting-april-22nd

This weekend, members of our Skill Building Program enjoyed a trip to Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum! While everyone had fun, there were two VERY big winners! Check out Nick with all of his prizes, and Taylor's haul of 1,000 tickets! What a great afternoon of fun & friends!

Are you looking to experience adventures like this and other learning opportunities? Our Skill Building Program is a great way to meet new people, enjoy outings & educational sessions! We'd love for you to join us! Learn more at www.onmyownofmi.org

Be sure to register for the May 8 free session for families, which will feature Ron Sandison, autism expert, as he shares his remarkable story and tips for parents on preparing their children for independence and employment.

This virtual program is free, RSVP is required.

RSVP at www.onmyownofmi.org

Even with a busy afternoon, some of our Independence College students were able to get outside to enjoy the sunshine & celebrate Earth Day!