Susan Fitzmaurice

Current

• Council Member at Michigan Rehabilitation Council
• Inclusive Arts Coordinator at VSA-MI
• Listserv Moderator at Society for Disability Studies

• ADA Coordinator at City of Dearborn
• Director at IDEAAS: Information on Disability for Empowerment Advocacy and Support

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2 more...

Past

• Managing Director at Teddy's Ts
• Director at Real Life Disability Film Festival
• Owner at Curious Child Bookstore (Sole Proprietorship)

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Education

• Syracuse University
• Grand Valley State University
• Grand Valley State University

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Recommended

1 person has recommended Susan

Connections

160 connections

Industry

Non-Profit Organization Management

Susan Fitzmaurice’s Summary

My current primary area of interest in Micro Enterprise creation and support for people with cognitive disabilities. People whose skills do not lend them self to competitive employment can find rewards in owning their own business. If the first and primary goal is to make money - it will fail. Instead the goal must be to be become an empowered member of the community through work.

Adults work. Or at least that is the assumption. Most people with disabilities do not work - an estimated 70% of them. Why?

Competitive employment generally does not offer the accommodations a person with a disability needs to be successful. The only employment opportunities are dead-end entry-level positions. Is it worth risking your SSI check and Medicaid to work at something that you do not find fulfilling? Obviously not.

Micro enterprise brings people with disabilities into the work world on their own terms. Their success is measured by what they consider success. It can be to simply get out of the house and interact with people or it can be to have enough money to save up to go on a vacation to the Caribbean or a down payment on a house.

I am working with my son on a model that is working for him. I believe it will work for others. Toward that end I have designed a computer program on paper that would allow him to be far more self-sufficient running his business than he is now.

Check out his business: http://www.teddyfitzm.info

Susan Fitzmaurice’s Specialties:

Disability civil rights law, including ADA
Accessible web design
Micro Enterprise development
Accessible Cultural Arts

Susan Fitzmaurice’s Experience

• Council Member

  Michigan Rehabilitation Council

  (Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

  2009 — Present (less than a year)

• Inclusive Arts Coordinator

  VSA-MI

  (Civic & Social Organization industry)

  September 2008 — Present (1 year 3 months)

  I help support arts organizations be as accessible to people disabilities as is possible. This relates to their physical plant - ex. do they comply with the ADA?, when considering special events are their facilities still accessible?, and what changes should they prioritize.
  
  Also are their programs accessible to people with disabilities? Can a person who is Deaf contact the organization? Are Braille materials available? Is the language you use in your promotional materials welcoming to people with disabilities?
  
  VSA was once known as Very Special Arts, but the word special is offensive to many people with disabilities who consider themselves first and foremost people and do not want special treatment - just equitable treatment.

• Listserv Moderator

  Society for Disability Studies

  (Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

  2006 — Present (3 years )

• ADA Coordinator

  City of Dearborn

  (Government Agency; 51-200 employees; Government Administration industry)

  September 2001 — Present (8 years 3 months)

  Charged with assuring the city is in compliance with the American's with Disability Act and the liaison to the city's commission on disability concerns.

• Director

  IDEAAS: Information on Disability for Empowerment Advocacy and Support

  (Non-Profit; Myself Only; Civic & Social Organization industry)

  February 1994 — Present (15 years 10 months)

  Numerous small projects that advance the culture of the disability community - a film festival, a tshirt business, micro enterprise support, sexuality education, and crisis information.

• Managing Director

  Teddy's Ts

  (Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

  2006 — 2008 (2 years )

  I provide the backbone (the finances and inventory) to Teddy's Ts. Teddy, my son, is the face and spirit. Together we are making his dream of having a quality life full of friendships and opportunities come true through micro enterprise.

• Director

  Real Life Disability Film Festival

  (Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

  2003 — 2008 (5 years )

  Founded and orchestrated a film festival focused on multiple visions of disability: drama and comedy, animation and live-interview, adult and juvenile, historical and future-thinking, musical and soundless, and more.

• Owner

  Curious Child Bookstore (Sole Proprietorship)

  (Sole Proprietorship; Myself Only; Retail industry)

  August 1990 — June 1994 (3 years 11 months)

  Bookstore specializing in therapeutic books for children, professional books for teachers & parents, and toys for kids with disabilities. Was successful as a library, but not as a profit making venture.

Susan Fitzmaurice’s Education

• Syracuse University

  1999 — 2001

• Grand Valley State University

  BA , Psychology , 1997 — 1998

  changed from Colleges to University

• Grand Valley State University

  B.Ph. , Philosophy , 1972 — 1975

Additional Information

Susan Fitzmaurice’s Interests:

Grassroots disability advocacy utilizing the internet Computer software programs for people with severe cognitive disabilities

Susan Fitzmaurice’s Groups:

ADAPT, Not Dead Yet, Center for Self-Determination, VSA-MI, United Cerebral Palsy-Detroit, National Center for Independent Living, NOW

•    Colegio Franklin Delano Roosevelt / The American School of Lima -- Alumni Network
•    RESNA
•    Entrepreneurs Transcending Disability
•    National Down Syndrome Society
•    Intellectual Disability
•    TikiWiki CMS/Groupware
•    Disability Advocates
•    Section 508 Accessibility Professionals
•    President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
•    Disability Advocate & Academics
•    Disability Advocates of Michigan
•    Community Development @ MSHDA

Susan Fitzmaurice’s Honors:

World Institute on Disability , Policy Advocate of the Year , 2006
Dearborn Commission on Disability, Advocate of the Year, 2006
Syracuse University, Education Research Scholar, 2001
La Fueza Community Advocate of the Year, 2000

Susan Fitzmaurice’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• career opportunities
• consulting offers
• new ventures
• expertise requests
• business deals
• reference requests
• getting back in touch