Meet Martha Oie, Northwoods gal and Community Connector Extraordinaire. She can't help herself... When she meets you, Martha immediately begins to look for connections, for places where you can share your talents and gifts. Learn more about Martha as we shine the Member Spotlight on her.

Why did you join the SD Network?

I joined the Network to share stories. People learn from each other and I try to do anything I can to widen my network of people. I use the social media that works for me, depending on what Im working on.

Tell us some good news - what's the most exciting thing happening in terms of self-determination or Self-Directed Supports?

There are a lot of cool connections happening for folks. People are starting to focus on their skills and assets to find ways of helping each other. A couple of people I know who cant read or write are providing cares to some other people. It works for everyone theyre employed and the people theyre supporting are getting great care. Another couple has a farm and are worrying that they wont be able to pay the mortgage. So were getting them connected to some folks who might want to rent out some of their land to focus on sustainable agriculture. Everyone wins that way!

Were also working to make our local timebank (http://www.timetradersnorth.org) more effective. Were learning how help it grow & develop, connecting to more networks. Were learning to ask people, What do you have to offer? Its about the person I can do this, see me for who I am, take the time to know me.

What tip or resource would you like to share with people who want to direct their own supports, or who would want to be more self-determined?

Get connected to the Internet. Look for special programs to get Internet in your home or use the computers at the public library. The Internet provides access to education, whats happening in the world, whats happening in your community.

What message would you like to share with the members of the SD Network?

Focus on what you have (not what you dont have). Join groups youre interested in local book clubs, etc. Start small and get started. Access whats local bring what you have.

What famous person have you met or would like to meet?

I know Rudi Stajduhar, whos originally from Croatia. He was spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General, Kurt Waldheim. I spend time with him every year and learn so much from him. Hes 93 yrs old and still reads a lot. He inspires me in so many ways.

Are you a dog person or a cat person?

Both! I dont know which Id pick. We have 2 dogs & 4 cats. The cats tend to hide out.

Wisconsin has lost one of our true heroes - Al Buss. The following was shared with me by his good friend, Dan Johnson.

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

On Sunday, March 17, 2013 surrounded by his family Al Buss passed away.

Al worked for the Department's Bureau of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse until retiring in 1999 on disability. He brought statewide awareness to the need for alcohol and drug programs and services to be fully accessible to people with coexisting physical, sensory or intellectual disabilities and alcohol and drug abuse. He understood firsthand as an individual with a spinal cord injury and recovering alcoholic how important it was to have inpatient treatment and ongoing AODA support programs in the community accessible to someone in a wheelchair and how important it was to have printed materials available in alternative format for people who were blind or for meetings to be interpreted for individuals who are deaf. He worked hard to incorporate into state contract language requirements and program guidance requirements for compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and later the Americans with Disabilities Act. He provided statewide training and technical systems.

When he retired he continued his advocacy work co-founding with Dennis Moore, Bob Olsen and others the National Association of Alcohol, Drugs and Disability and heading up the Wisconsin Association of Alcohol, Drugs and Disability. Al was serving as a Chairperson of the Board of Directors for Access to Independence, one of eight independent living centers in Wisconsin. His second stint on a Board of Directors for independent living center. His first was back in 1984 when he served on the Board of Directors of Society's Assets, Incorporated in Racine. A position he left to come to work in Madison as an LTE in the Bureau of Long-Term Support working with me on improving programs and services for people with physical disabilities.

We were friends for more than 35 years, Over the years we have taught and learned, cried and celebrated, failed and achieved. All of which has made our life's richer and more successful. Al's life will be celebrated on Thursday afternoon at 5 PM after visitation from 3 PM to 5 PM at the Gunderson Fitchburg Funeral and Cremation, 2950 Chapel Valley Rd.

Here is Al's obituary for further information:

http://host.madison.com/news/local/obituaries/buss-elmer-al-adolf/article_5484d0d0-9002-11e2-a1b8-001a4bcf887a.html

Connect | Share | Learn |http://sdsnetworkwi.org/

March 13, 2013

Wisconsin Disability Advocacy Day - Last Day to Register!

People with disabilities need to be heard. Tell your state legislators what you think. Today is the final day to register online for Disability Advocacy Day! Don't wait to sign up - no fee!

Learn more about this opportunity.

It Only Takes "Five"

Take five minutes to check out what's happening on the SDS Network:

• Learn:Special Needs Vouchers, which are included in the Governor's proposed budget - How will they affect education for children and youth with disabilities? What can you do about them?

• Join a Discussion:Dean and Deb are talking about whether to use SDS through Family Care or through IRIS.

• Support Timebanking: Are you a member of a Timebank? Do you know what a Timebank is? Martha shared some information about timebanking and you can join the discussion to learn more.

• Member Spotlight: In our new series, we are turning the spotlight on members of the SDS Network. Each month, we'll highlight one (or more!) of our amazing members. This will give us the opportunity to get to know each other a bit better, as well as learn about tips and resources we have to share with each other. This past month, we began by shining the spotlight on Patti Becker and Kate Parizek.

• Learn: We keep hearing about sequestration. What is it and how will it affect people with disabilities?

• Access Resources: Dean shared information about a service for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and the ADA Wisconsin Partnership told us about the Campaign for Disability Healthcare Justice. Find out what other resources might be available!

• Watch a Video: Join the fun at "Tim's Place" and promote the end of the R-word.

Support the Network with "Five":

• We rely on contributions to keep the SDS Network in business. If you are finding it valuable to be a member,consider making a donation of five dollars or more, orbecoming a sponsor. For more information, contactDeb Wisniewski.

Join Us for a Coffee Break

Coffee Break: Connections and Contributions. April 17th, from 8:30-9:00 am CDT. The Coffee Break gives us an opportunity to participate in a live chat about a topic related to self-determination, SDS and having a good life. It's not a presentation, but an opportunity for all participating members to share ideas, questions and resources. It's easy to participate and all are welcome to join the conversation.

You can join this live chat in April as we talk about Connections and Contributions.How do you get connected in your community? What contributions do you make? How can we support people to find meaningful ways to be contributing members of their community? There is no cost to participate in the Coffee Break.

Welcome New Members

Stop by to welcome our newest member.

• She works at MCFI and isdevoted to helping persons achieve their greatest level of independence.
  

Do you know someone who should join the SDS Network? Spread the word and invite friends, families and other interested folks!

Upcoming Events

Here's a sample of upcoming events listed on the SDS Network:

• Wisconsin Disability Advocacy Day 2013, Wed., Mar. 20th- Register today! No fee.
• Youth Transition Conference, Mar. 21st.
• If I Had Known... Trauma-Informed Ethics and Boundaries, April 2nd.
• Wisconsin Self-Determination Conference, Submit a proposal by April 30th. Conference will be held on Oct. 30-31, 2013
• And many more!

Post your event on the SDS Network and it can be included in future Network News emails to members! Questions? Contact Deb Wisniewski at scgwis@gmail.com

Thanks to the sponsors of the SDS Network!

Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (BPDD) is seeking Session Presentations for Wednesday, Oct. 30 and Thursday, Oct. 31.

• Proposals by citizens with disabilities are encouraged.
• Conference sessions support SDS principles, activities, and outcomes.
• Presentations should focus on practical, take home strategies that people can implement in their work and lives.

Handouts: Presenters are responsible for providing 50-75 copies of their handout materials.

Equipment: One Screen, AV/Cart, LCD Projector and Microphone will be provided in each breakout session room. (Presenters are responsible for providing their own laptop.)

Conference details:
2013 Wisconsin Self-Determination Conference
Kalahari Resort
Wisconsin Dells, WI
October 29-31, 2013

Please complete the proposal form and submit it to: Fil Clissa atfil.clissa@wisconsin.govor mail to:

BPDD
101 E. Wilson St., Room 219
Madison, WI 53703

All proposals are due by12 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30, 2013.

• Presenter Proposal Form- Word
• Presenter Proposal Form- PDF

Resources From Previous Conferences

Check out information about previous conferences, including resources and videos.

• 2011 Conference
• 2010 Conference

Updates

As the conference draws closer, check out theBPDDs Facebook Pagefor up-to-date details and information.

I thought I might share a service that I am using myself and I foundhelpfulto people who are hearingimpaired. I have one phone number and the tty functions on my computer no matter the phone I am using. It is wonderful.

Hamilton CapTel Call Me #

Now you can pass out a single phone number for family, friends, colleagues and businesses to call you using your Hamilton CapTel account!

"I'm at this number" is the number where you can be reached, such as your home phone or mobile phone. This number will be stored in your account and can be updated at any time. Now, you won't have to enter your telephone number every time you log into Hamilton CapTel on your PC/Mac.

Your Hamilton CapTel Contacts

In the Main Menu, you will see a tab labeled Contacts. This is your personal phone book where you can add and edit your personal telephone numbers for one-click dialing.

So, if you talk on the phone, have a computer and surf the Web you're ready to place and receive calls using Hamilton CapTel for PC/Mac.

http://www.hamiltoncaptel.com

Dean Choate

Thanks to Theresa Kulow for sharing the following information with us.

Check out this informative article about how the series of automatic, across-the-board cuts to federal government spending totaling $1.2 trillion over the course of 10 years are set to take effect this Friday, March 1. Dubbed sequestration these cuts, if implemented, will be split between defense and domestic discretionary spending.

The National Council on Disability (NCD) outlines how these cuts wouldimpact people with disabilities and their families. Read more aboutwhat sequestration would mean for people with disabilities.

The following news release is forwarded to you for your information:

Campaign for Disability Healthcare Justice

NewHEALTHCARESTORIESFeaturing People with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families

Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) is pleased to announce the release of new HEALTHCARESTORIESthat illustrate, as no policy paper can, the obstacles and barriers that stand in the way of getting appropriate, effective health care for many people with developmental disabilities.

These short video stories feature people with developmental disabilities and their families, and an intrepid primary healthcare provider who has defined the field of developmental medicine.

Watch a Preview!

Story tellers speak candidly about their experiences accessing health care. The obstacles they face range from lack of accessible equipment such as CAT scan tables, to encounters with medical professionals who have little or no disability literacy or training, to outright substandard care. Such persistent barriers to health care affect not only our health and wellbeing, but also the quality and length of our lives.

Their stories add an essential human dimension to the large body of research showing that people with disabilities experience health disparities and healthcare inequality. The stories also shine a bright light on the need for longoverdue reforms that are needed if we are to achieve disability healthcare justice.

Use the Videos to Make Change!

We encourage advocates and others to use these free, downloadable video stories to focus attention on these common barriers to care and on how we can eliminate them.

The videos, along with other resources and links, can be found at our HEALTHCARESTORIESwebsiteathttp://www.dredf.org/healthcare-stories/

In this SD Network Member Spotlight, we'll meet Patti Becker.

1. How are you involved with the SD Network?

I am involved with SDS in both my work and personal life. My work life has always included working with individuals using services to find the community supports they wanted, not what others thought they needed. Currently, I work with individuals using long-term care supports in both Family Care and IRIS in my role of supporting the work of InControl Wisconsin. InControl has a fantastic group of consultants and dedicated board of directors who do an excellent job of keeping the ideas and resources of self-determination present in Wisconsins landscape. I also work as a consultant to the IRIS program, providing technical support and resources to the IRIS Community Living Initiative. We are working hard to get the message out to Wisconsin IRIS participants that they can have control of where and with whom they live.

In my personal life, I have two third graders at my house, one who uses special education supports and one who uses gifted and talented supports. This year my son began leading his own IEP meetings. Both realized they did not appreciate the segregation their learning styles were creating and have advocated with us for them to return to a more inclusive self-determined school schedule. We are proud of both of them and their school district for keeping up with the paces of change.

2. Tell us some good news - what's the most exciting thing happening for you (or in Wisconsin) in terms self-determination or Self-Directed Supports?

What is most exciting about SDS and self-determination is the momentum it has had in growth these past few years. Wisconsin has gone from a state where SDS was active in a few counties, but now almost 10,000 people use IRIS and more folks are choosing self-determination in managed care than ever before in its history. This growth brings challenges for communities, providers and individuals using services. Challenges bring opportunity and it is exciting to think of the creative changes that are on the horizon.

3. What tip or resource would you like to share with people who want to direct their own supports, or who would want to be more self-determined?

People who want or use SDS need to know that creativity and community connections are their best ally. SDS isnt about how to make the most of your public dollars. Rather it's about how to make the most of your life in the community, accessing public dollars as needed. This can be a difficult paradigm shift to make for many whove lived a system-driven life. But once the shift happens, lives really do get better.

4. What message would you like to share with the members of the SD Network?

I have a number of quotes I hold on to when things get rough. I think everyone should have some. I will share two with the SDS network:

• If you arent living on the edge, you are taking up too much space. ~Lou Whittaker, famous mountainclimber.
• Put your helmet back on and keep marching forward.~self-advocate and SDS leader in Wisconsin, Steve Verriden.

5. Are you a dog person or a cat person?

I have had both dogs and cats in my life. I would say I am more of a dog person. Oddly, our newest dog Herbie a lab/bassett hound mix, is a bit like a cat in his demeanor and behavior.

6. What's your favorite movie or book or song/musician?

This is the hardest question to answer. My favorites vary throughout time, but I consistently am a fan of the blues.

Improve and enhance health, education and human services by integrating TimeBanking.

There are not enough public, private or philanthropic funds to pay the cost, at market prices, for all the educational and health care services needed to make good on President Obama's Inaugural promises.

For decades, the TimeBank community in the United States and thirty four other countries has been learning how to record, recognize and reward labor from a work force that is not recognized or valued by the GDP. What money does not value, TimeBanking does.

TimeBanking provides a tax-exempt, local medium of exchange that uses Time as a currency. One hour helping another (regardless of mainstream market value) equals one Time Credit. TimeBanking has proven capable of harnessing vast untapped capacity that the market does not value to address vast unmet needs.

Sign this petition:

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/improve-and-enhance-health-education-and-human-services-integrating-timebanking/Fxkw7V8f?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl

Special needs school vouchers are likely to be part of the 2013-2015 state budget discussions.

A new fact sheet about school vouchers is available.School Vouchers: Ensuring Quality Education Choices for Wisconsin Families of Children with Disabilities: Concerns About Special Needs Scholarshipsprovides important information that will help disability advocates educate themselves and their legislators about how this issue could affect students with disabilities in Wisconsin.

The fact sheet contains the following information:

• Background on school vouchers
• What families and students give up when they accept a voucher
• What has happened in other states
• Concerns about school vouchers for Wisconsin
• Recommendations on ways to improve school choice for students with disabilities

Thisfact sheetis part of the 2013 Priorities for People with Disabilities in Wisconsin series and was created jointly by the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities and Disability Rights Wisconsin.

Please share this important advocacy resource with others.

Thank you for being a disability advocate!

This information was shared by the DAWN, the Disability Advocates Wisconsin Network, which is an initiative of the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities.