FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Richard Knechtges
723-1162

National Association of Physically Handicapped Adds Newest Chapter in Manistee

Manistee, Michigan – If you’re interested in addressing barriers, issues and needs involving people with disabilities in Manistee County, you’ll want to attend a meeting of a new Manistee Chapter of the National Association of Physically Handicapped (NAPH), scheduled for Friday, April 25, 2008 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Senior Center, located at 457 River Street in Manistee. The new chapter was founded last month by Richard Knechtges, acting Chapter President.

The Manistee Chapter is the outgrowth of an initiative led by the State and National Easter Seals organization during 2007. The purpose of the new organization is to provide a focus in Manistee County for responding to needs and opportunities involving people with disabilities that are local and national in scope. The organization will also serve to support fund development and technical assistance to support special initiatives, such as the “Access to Freshwater” project spearheaded jointly by the Manistee County Community Foundation and Alliance for Economic Success.

The Manistee Chapter of NAPH originated during the final Report of Envision Accessible Manistee in the Fall of 2007. In January of that year, Easter Seal’s national office and Easter Seals Michigan staff selected Manistee County as the second site in the nation in which to pilot test a program aimed at integrating the goals of Easter Seals with a county-wide visioning effort. This project was funded by a grant from the USDA Office of Rural Development. The project goal was to engage the community in developing an action plan for addressing the needs of people with disabilities.

The project was tasked to define barriers, issues, and needs related to universal access. The group then established priorities for initiating universal access based upon Envision Accessible Manistee priorities and work group discussions. Finally, they developed recommendations and action plans for the community to respond to universal access needs.

During the Fall 2007 Final Report, the President of NAPH, Albert Ost, offered to waive the first year membership dues, if Manistee residents were interested in forming a new chapter. It is the intent of this new chapter to establish itself as an arm of the national organization, which is a non profit with 501 (c) 3 status that primarily advocates for the physically challenged, but welcomes all populations to participate.

The new chapter in Manistee will be under the umbrella of the National Non-Profit which will allow them to apply for and potentially receive grant dollars.

At the April 25 meeting, participants will discuss officer positions, identify possible projects from the Final Report of Envision Accessible Manistee and address chapter administrative details.

More information on NAPH can be found via the website at www.naph.net or by calling Richard Knechtges at 231-723-1162.