News

The results of the recent survey of SDS Network members are in!

Some interesting things to note include:

• You want to learn - new skills, new information, new resources - and you want to know about the events and trainings where you can learn.
• You want to connect - to experts, to each other
• You want to be informed and involved in advocacy, public policy and legislative issues.
• You're interested in using the helpful tools the Network offers, but might not be sure about how to use them.
• You're interested in a wide range of topics related to SDS and self-determination.

Check out the Survey Summaryto learn more about what you told us. Thanks to everyone who participated. The results will be used as we continue to grow and nurture this community. If you'd like to learn more about the survey, about where the Network is headed, or how you can get more involved, contact Deb Wisniewski.

Reminder: June 5^th is the Recall Election in Wisconsin. For more information about voting, check out these websites:

• Be prepared for Election Day!From DAWN, BPDD

• Voting in Wisconsin: A Guide for Citizens with Disabilities http://www.adawipartnership.org/Voting/VotingGuide.htm

• Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition http://www.disabilityvote.org/

• 2012 Wisconsin Legislative Report Card, from the Survival Coalition http://tinyurl.com/WisReportCard

• Top 10 Things a Wisconsin Voter Should Know for Election Day- from the Government Accounting Board

If you know of any other online resources for voting, please share them in the comment area below.

The Survival Coalition has issued a report card that summarizes Wisconsin state policy impact on the disability community during the past 10 months. It includes a biennial budget grade, legislative session grade, and cumulative grade on a series of topics that affect people with disabilities, their families and allies.

Read the report card.

Survival Coalition is a cross-disability coalition which works in partnership with local organizations, coalitions, consumers, advocates, and families throughout the state and makes intensive efforts to ensure that our priorities promote and advance the wishes of people with disabilities and their families. Survival Coalition promotes policies, programs, and practices that advance integrated, individualized, community-based supports and services.

The most recent question of the week focused on whether anyone who receives long-term care services should be allowed to self-direct their own supports, even if they need assistance to do so. The responses were overwhelming - 100% of the people who responded (13) said yes! I guess that settles that question....

SPARKS Grants are designed to "SPARK" innovative methods for building community capacity in the areas of (1) grassroots community organizing, (2) integrated employment, or (3) self-directed supports. The innovative methods SPARKS Grants ignite are intended to support local, grassroots efforts that involve people with and without disabilities, leading to systems change that improves the lives of people with disabilities.

Grant recipients will guide a project that addresses at least one of the areas mentioned above. Grants will be awarded on the basis of creative, effective strategies that are likely to result in systems change that will improve the lives of people with disabilities. In 2011, 15 SPARKS projects were funded throughout Wisconsin.

To apply for a SPARKS Grant, complete and submit the SPARKS Grants application packet (application form, budget worksheet and project work plan). Instructions for how to submit the application packet can be found within the forms. The deadline to apply for a SPARKS Grant is 12:00 p.m. on Monday, July 23, 2012.

SPARKS Grants are funded by the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (BPDD) and are provided to people with disabilities and families in Wisconsin. To learn more about SPARKS Grants, visit the BPDD website.

Please forward this message to parties who might be interested in applying for a SPARKS Grant. And if you plan on applying for a SPARKS Grant, dont forget to get creative!

Want to know about a hip magazine for active wheelchair users? Check out New Mobility. You can order a subscription but they also have a number of interesting articles right on theirwebsite.

Hi Everyone,

The WI Board for People with Developmental Disabilities is pleased to announce the second round of Request for Proposals through the Lets Get to Work grant. Lets Get to Work is seeking up to four Wisconsin high schools interested in a professional development project focused on improving the employment outcomes of their students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) ages 15 to 17. Successful applicants will receive a grant of up to $15,000 in the first year (with an option of continuing on a step-down payment basis for up to three years) and will work closely with a Coaching Team that provides training and technical assistance in a variety of employment-related areas.

Our first round of participants are already seeing results in community employment opportunities for their students for the summer! School transition staff, Special education directors, Special Education teachers are all encouraged to apply.

Application Deadline: May 23, 2012

For more details, please review the RFP, which is attached or can be found at

http://www.wi-bpdd.org/Docs/2012/Lets%20Get%20to%20Work%202012%20RFP.pdf

Thank you,

Beth Moss, Interim Project Coordinator

Beth.moss@wisconsin.gov

Comments:

Make It Work Milwaukee Coalition Transit Survey

At the last Make It Work Milwaukee Coalition meeting, Coalition members reviewed a proposed survey to be completed by people with disabilities and older adults in Milwaukee County who use transit services. The purpose is to better understand how the transit services in Milwaukee County meet their needs and to understand if access and quality are changing. Survey findings will be compiled and results will be shared with the disability and aging community and policy makers to help guide our transportation advocacy work.

There is an online format survey that can be filled out by clicking on the link. Make It Work Milwaukee Coalition Transit Survey

We need your help!

If you are a person with a disability or an older adult who uses transportation services in Milwaukee County, please complete this survey and return ASAP.

Please share this survey with your friends, colleagues, and clients who use transportation services in Milwaukee and ask them to complete the survey.

Our graduate student Kim Brown is coordinating the survey, and can also visit meetings, program sites, etc, to explain the survey, and, if needed, assist consumers with completing the survey - contact me if you would like to schedule a visit from Kim! barbarab@drwi.orgor 414-773-4646

Thanks for your help in ensuring we get a great response to the survey!

Thanks to Cathy Steffke from DRW for sharing this information with us!

Hi Everyone,

The WI Board for People with Developmental Disabilities is pleased to announce a Request for Proposals through the Lets Get to Work grant. Lets Get to Work is seeking up to four Wisconsin high schools interested in a professional development project focused on improving the employment outcomes of their students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) ages 15 to 17. Successful applicants will receive a grant of up to $15,000 in the first year (with an option of continuing on a step-down payment basis for up to three years) and will work closely with a Coaching Team that provides training and technical assistance in a variety of employment-related areas.

Application Deadline: May 23, 2012

A Question and Answer Call will be held on April 19^th from 3:30 to 4:30 pm.

For more details, please review the RFP, which is attached or can be found at http://www.dawninfo.org/news4/assets/content//Lets%20Get%20to%20Work%202012%20RFP.pdf

Thank you,

Beth Moss, Interim Project Coordinator

Beth.moss@wisconsin.gov