MIDLAND, MI – Midland County Educational Service Agency (MCESA) Speech-Language Pathologists, Lindsey Freer and Amanda Mahler, were awarded grant funding through the Midland Service Club Alliance to install communication boards throughout Midland County. The duo received recognition for their grant award at the Midland Noon Rotary Club Meeting on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
In an effort with the Midland Rotary Foundation, Midland Kiwanis Club, and Midland Lions Club, Freer and Mahler will work with the Access to Community committee to place communication boards at Midland area parks, playgrounds, and event spaces.
“These boards are a really big help for people who find traditional communication difficult,” said Mahler. “This includes kids and adults with Autism, Down syndrome, those recovering from a stroke or brain injury, even people who are learning English as a second language–giving them a way to easily point to pictures and words like you see on the boards to express themselves.”
Freer and Mahler said that with support of the Midland Service Alliance, more people in Midland will have the opportunity to connect, join in and truly be heard.
“It positions Midland County as a leader in accessible recreation and community inclusion, ensuring full participation in our community for all. Thank you to our Service Club Alliance!”
The Service Club Alliance, an effort of the Midland Area Community Foundation, is a partnership between Midland area service clubs that coordinates efforts and simplifies grantmaking for community organizations. The Alliance simplifies the grant process by using a joint application for applicants who provide support for Midland County residents. The Service Club Alliance is not responsible, as an organization, for the grantmaking made by any of its participants. It is merely the convener of this process. Each service club is responsible for their individual grantmaking efforts.
To learn more about the Service Club Alliance, and to review the application process, visit: https://www.midlandfoundation.org/initiative/sca/
For more information about Access to Community, visit: https://www.midlandfoundation.org/initiative/access-to-community/
Midland County Educational Service Agency is one of 56 Michigan intermediate school districts that serve the educational needs of students, parents, and staff in local schools. MCESA’s mission is to provide leadership, deliver services and leverage resources to improve the education of students in collaboration with constituent districts, schools, and the community at large.
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