A joint collaboration between the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living and the University of Michigan produced this study on Women's Health and Disability. Women with disabilities shared their personal experiences and point of view about their health and interacting with health care providers. Themes related to personal and societal stereotypes, the need to educate doctors about their disability, needing for more information to make decisions, and environmental barriers were reflected their experiences.

This research partnership was made possible through the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research (MICHR); the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living and the University of Michigan.

In celebration of the 200th anniversary of The Star-Spangled Banner, UM School of Music, Theatre & Dance Professor Mark Clague talks with us about the banner and its place in the tradition of broadside ballads.

In this Bannercast, Mark discusses the lyrics of the anthem, with special focus on the verses of the original song that are no longer commonly sung.

In celebration of the 200th anniversary year of The Star Spangled Banner, UM School of Music, Theatre & Dance Professor Mark Clague talks with us about musical changes to our national anthem over time.

The celebration continues at your downtown library with Banner Moments: The National Anthem in American Life - an exhibit that illustrates through interpretive panels, historical documents and photographs, the cultural 200-year history of “The Star-Spangled Banner” from June 14, 2015 through August 30, 2015 in the Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

In celebration of the 200th anniversary of The Star-Spangled Banner, UM School of Music, Theatre & Dance Professor Mark Clague talks with us about our national anthem during wartime start with the war of 1812.

In this Bannercast edition, Mark traces the role that music, and especially The Star-Spangled Banner, played in the United States military conflicts, starting with the War of 1812, and traveling through years when the anthem and its various versions were embraced for their patriotism and message.

In celebration of the 200th anniversary, of The Star-Spangled Banner, UM School of Music, Theatre & Dance Professor Mark Clague talks with us about the controversy surrounding translations of our national anthem.

This Bannercast features a conversation about the challenges of translating a national anthem, and capturing the nuances of meaning that make The Star-Spangled Banner such an expressive song.

In celebration of the 200th anniversary of The Star-Spangled Banner, UM School of Music, Theatre & Dance Professor Mark Clague talks with us about Francis Scott Key and the writing of our national anthem.

In this Bannercast, Mark shares the story of The Star-Spangled Banner's author and his shipboard seat for the Battle of Fort McHenry, during which he wrote the anthem. Mark discusses the events surrounding the writing of the song, as well as the manner in which it was distributed and how it grew in popularity.

In celebration of the 200th anniversary of The Star-Spangled Banner, UM School of Music, Theatre & Dance Professor Mark Clague talks with us about Jimi Hendrix and his personal relationship with our nation anthem.

Mark discusses one of the most famous national anthem performances of all time in this Bannercast, recounting the story of Jimi Hendrix's rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner at the Woodstock music festival. He elaborates on the significance of this performance, its creativity and craft, as well as the intent behind it. For more from Mark on this iconic Banner moment, see his article "'This is America' : Jimi Hendrix's Star Spangled Banner Journey as Psychedelic Citizenship" in the November 2014 volume of the Journal of the Society for American Music.

In celebration of the 200th anniversary of The Star-Spangled Banner, UM School of Music, Theatre & Dance Professor Mark Clague talks with us about the unique connection between our national anthem and sports.

In this edition of Bannercast, Mark explores the reasons that The Star-Spangled Banner have become a part of professional sports in America, discusses landmark performances, and clarifies that the last two words of the lyrics are not actually "play ball."

In order for our students to succeed in the 21st century, we need to educate them and equip them with new and different skills. In this discussion of the status of education in Michigan, a panel of leading educators and business people presented issues surrounding education in our state. The event focused on the skills young people need for successful careers in the age of technology and information.

Panelists include:
• Dr. Jim Duderstadt, former president, University of Michigan 1988-96, director National Science Foundation and National Commission of the Future of Higher Education.
• David Schroeter, senior vice president sales, Gale/Cengage Learning

The discussion was moderated by Lou Glazer, president of Michigan Future, whose mission is to be a source of new ideas on how Michigan can succeed as a world-class community in a knowledge-driven economy.

An introduction was given be Larry T. Eiler CEO Eiler Communications and founder of the Re:NEW Michigan brand, and Dr. John Austin, president, Michigan State Board of Education, non-resident senior fellow Brookings Institution, directed Great Lakes Economic Initiative, gave a pre-recorded address to the group.

This event was co-sponsored by Re:NEW Michigan.

The League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area (LWV-AAA) hosted this discussion of the May 5 Ballot Proposal, “A proposal to amend the State Constitution to increase the sales/use tax from 6% to 7% to replace and supplement reduced revenue to the School Aid Fund and local units of government caused by the elimination of the sales/use tax on gasoline and diesel fuel for vehicles operating on public roads, and to give effect to laws that provide additional money for roads and other transportation purposes by increasing the gas tax and vehicle registration fees.”

Susan Smith, President, League of Women Voters of Michigan, lead the discussion, which aimed to provide information on the proposal to amend the Michigan Constitution and on new laws that would be triggered by the amendment's approval. The presentation includes information on how state revenue would be increased and how it would be spent, and discussion of pros and cons of passing the legislation.

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization and this event's cosponsor, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.