News

Two months ago, many voters with disabilities in Wisconsin were looking forward to being able to receive and mark a ballot electronically. However, an appeals court disrupted the plan. Now, advocates are continuing their battle in the Wisconsin Supreme Court. As it takes longer and longer, it appears highly unlikely that voters with disabilities will have access to electronic ballots for the November election.

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States are regularly required to evaluate the eligibility of Medicaid beneficiaries. For people with developmental disabilities, the outcome of this process can affect not only their medical coverage, but also their access to community living supports. With new guidance, federal officials are outlining steps that states should take to ensure that people with disabilities are not inadvertently dropped from Medicaid home and community-based services.

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HUD published on August 27th updated guidance for its Mainstream Voucher program that creates new alternative requirements and waivers to enable public housing agencies (PHAs) to better utilize Mainstream Vouchers, helping people with disabilities transition from – or avoid altogether – institutional settings and instead to live in community.

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Self-Determination Network News:

September 2024

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InControl Wisconsin's Caring Across Cultures Project

Take five minutes to check out what's happening on the Self-Determination Network:

• New Data: The Center for Disease Control recently released the annual update to the Disability and Health Data System. Find out what the new data revealed.
• Push for Nationwide Headcount: Disability advocates are pushing for the federal government to track the number of direct support professionals there are. Learn why this is a crucial piece of data that is missing.
• Employment Toolkit: This U.S. Department of Labor toolkit provides strategies and best practices to recruit, hire, retain, and advance workers with disabilities in good jobs in construction, manufacturing, and clean energy. Check it out!
• Proclamation: In late July, in celebration of the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the White House put out a proclamation explaining what has been accomplished and what still needs to be done. Read about the actions being taken to further make things accessible.
• State Fee Changes: The Evers administration recently announced the establishment of minimum rates for home-and-community-based services care that must be paid by managed care organizations. Learn what advocates feel is needed to ensure that the increases actually show up in workers' paychecks.
• Reflecting on the ADA: As we celebrated the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act in July, there was a lot of reflection about not only how far the country has come, but also about how much still needs to be done.  Take a look at this very informative blog that recaps everything nicely.
• Expanded Care Choices: Starting in January 2025, almost 8,000 Family Care and Family Care Partnership (Partnership) members in South Central Wisconsin will have more choices in who helps manage their long-term care. Find out which nine countries will be able to choose from two additional managed care organizations.
• Laws Simplify Equipment Repair Process: For a long time, disability advocates and those who rely on mobility equipment have said that Wisconsin laws make it harder to repair devices. However, in the past year, two bills have been passed to address these issues Learn what these laws will do.
• Updated Index: An updated online interactive tool and an accompanying report which allow users to analyze state policies and direct care workforce outcomes across the country. Learn why this is helpful to policy makers, advocates, and state leaders.
• Finding Accessible Businesses: For people with disabilities, finding businesses that accommodate their accessibility needs can be challenging. Learn about the accessibility options one popular business review company added to help people find the specific accommodations they need when looking for a business.
• Healthcare Task Force Report: Governor Evers recently announced that the Governor's Task Force on the Healthcare Workforce released its final report and advisory action plan including solutions to address the ongoing healthcare workforce shortages. Read about the recommendations the task force adopted.
• Emerging Leader Award: The American Association of People with Disabilities Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Awards recognizes outstanding emerging leaders with disabilities who exemplify leadership, advocacy, and dedication to the broader cross-disability community. Applications due October 15th. Learn more and apply today!

Upcoming Events 

Here's a sample of upcoming events listed on the Self-Determination Network:

• WisTech 2024 Training #5 Technology And Tranquility: AT For Mental Health And And Self Care: September 17th, 10a.m. to 11a.m., Virtual
• Webinar: Accessible Tech: Locked Out: Barriers to Accessible Technology Inside Prison Education Programs: September 19th, 1p.m. to 2:30p.m., Virtual
• Webinar: Creating Healthy, Safe, and Connected Communities: The Living Well Blueprint: September 25th, 2p.m. to 3:30p.m., Virtual
• FOCUS 2024 Conference:  November 20th-21st, KI Center, Green Bay WI

Post your event on the Self-Determination Network and it can be included in future Network News emails to members! Questions? Suggestions?  Contact Stacy Ellingen. 

The Self-Determination Network is powered by InControl Wisconsin and supported financially by our members and Sponsors. We couldn't keep this Network going with you!  Find out how you can help support the Network.

Governor Evers recently announced that the Governor's Task Force on the Healthcare Workforce released its final report and advisory action plan including solutions to address the ongoing healthcare workforce shortages. The 25-member task force met six times since March to hear from healthcare industry experts and leaders, analyze labor market data, and produce an advisory action plan for Gov. Evers’ review and consideration. As a result of those meetings, the Task Force adopted 10 recommendations with 26 action items representing a variety of policies and programs to address various industry issues, including education, training, recruitment, and retention of healthcare workers. The action plan represents a strategic set of policy and implementation approaches targeting the healthcare industry’s chronic challenges.

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For people with disabilities, finding businesses that accommodate their specific accessibility needs can be challenging. Earlier this summer, Yelp, a business review company, added eight additional accessibility options that can be searched. Four of the filters are mobility related, two are for hearing accessibility, and two are for people with visual impairments. These options allow people to select the accommodations they need and then the website will filter in the businesses that have them.

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The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) wants to hear what FEAs for the IRIS program are doing well, as well as how they can better serve participants.

We invite IRIS participants, families and friends, caregivers and providers, IRIS contract staff, advocates, and other partners to share their thoughts. This is a chance to share your ideas about services and improvements.

If you want to request a paper copy of this survey or want to take it in another language, email us at DHSIRIS@wisconsin.gov. 

The survey will close on September 13.

Take the Survey

Access to in-home care, voting, and transportation for non-drivers impact all Wisconsinites Survival Coalition—a cross-disability and aging coalition of more than 20 statewide organizations ( including InControl Wisconsin) —has identified the top priorities affecting constituents in every district across the state. “People with disabilities and unpaid caregivers, many of whom are family members, rely on in-home services to keep contributing to their communities and living in their own homes,” said Patti Becker, Survival Coalition Co-Chair. “Ongoing investment in care infrastructure—including the care workforce—is
critical to support families and people with disabilities so they can continue to participate in the Wisconsin workforce and so people with disabilities and older adults can avoid costlier nursing homes and institutional settings. It’s not enough for children with disabilities and special health care needs to get into a program if they still can’t get the services you need, like private duty nursing, dentistry, and autism treatment 

Read full press release.