News
BPDD's Take Your Legislator to Work Campaign is looking for integrated employment stories
By Beth Moss, 2011-09-06
Take Your Legislator to Work Campaign
Showcasing the Employ-Ability of Workers with Disabilities
An invitation to Wisconsin lawmakers to visit constituents with disabilities on the job
To celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (BPDD) is mounting a campaign to acknowledge and celebrate Wisconsin workers with disabilities. People with disabilities can be contributing members of our Wisconsin workforce.
Governor Walker has made job creation a top priority for our state. Its time to showcase the skills and talents people with disabilities make to Wisconsins economic success. We want legislators to see the employ-ability of individuals with disabilities and their valuable contribution to Wisconsins workforce.
BPDD is looking across the state for individuals with disabilities who love their jobs and employers who love them! We invite people with disabilities and their families to share their employment experiences with their legislator. By having your legislator visit your workplace, we will spread the word that people with disabilities are valuable employees with essential skills who enhance the work environment for everyone. All people want to work in a positive, engaging environment in their community. Their contributions not only benefit their own economic status but contribute to Wisconsins economy as well. Additionally, it improves the cost effectiveness of our Long-Term Care System. Everyone wants to help contribute to a brighter future for our state and our country.
To facilitate the campaign, the BPDD is looking for regional organizers who can work with individuals in their area to present their story to their legislator and host a visit to their workplace. We want to showcase the talents of people working in meaningful employment in our local communities and how they play a part in the future success of our state.
For more information on telling your story or acting as a regional coordinator for those with inspiring stories, please contact Beth Moss at the BPDD at beth.moss@wisconsin.gov. You can also call 608-266-7826 or 888-332-1677.
The WI Board for People with Developmental Disabilities is offering grants (from $500-$3,000) for projects that "SPARK"innovative methods of building community capacity in the areas of grassroots community organizing, Integrated Employment, and self-directed supports. The innovative methods SPARKS Grants ignite are intended to lead to systems change that improves the lives of people with disabilities.
Go to the link below to get more information about this great opportunity to do something in your community to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Grant application, requirements and contact information can be found on the link. Proposals are due by September 16th.
The DHS/DLTC, Bureau of Long Term Support, has updated the Guardianship Book with the excellent assistance of Roy Froemming, one of the original authors. This handbook provides an overview of guardianship of adults in Wisconsin who meet the standards for a finding of incompetence, alternative ways of providing decision-making support, and ways to tailor guardianships to individual needs. It is aimed primarily at people involved in trying to assist adults who need support in decision-making due to impairments in their ability to receive and process information, including family members, advocates, support service providers, and educators.
The handbook is now posted at a new link:
http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/P2/p20460.pdf
Feel free to download this and use it in your daily work. If you have difficulty with the link please contact Lois Mulder atLois.Mulder@wisconsin.gov
Thanks to Marcie Brost for sharing this information.
The Campaign for Disability Employment is a collaborative effort to promote positive employment outcomes for people with disabilities by encouraging employers and others to recognize the value and talent they bring to the workplace.
What can YOU do to share the message that at work, its what people CAN do that matters? Use the Campaign for Disability Employments Outreach Toolkit to promote positive employment outcomes for people with disabilities in your business and community!
You'll find sections for Employers, Family and Educators, Persons with Disabilities, YOUTH, and a "What can we ALL do" section.
I just learned about this site from the RSA Commissioner Ruttledge Update. This is a pretty cool site!
Enjoy!
Cheryl
Got Transition? is a national resource for health care professionals, families, youth, and state policy makers focusing on a young adult's transition from pediatric to adult health care. This site serves as the basis for an information exchange about health care transition, particularly as pertaining to youth with special health care needs.
Transition tools and tips and other resources are available under each of the main categories of Youth, Family, Providers and States. These resources will grow and develop so visit us often.Thanks to Dan Johnson for sharing this info with us!
Disability Integration Update
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region V
July 2011
Hello and welcome to the first edition of the FEMA Region V Disability Integration Update. This publication will be a monthly compilation of news, events and resources that affect disaster preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation activities by and for people with disabilities or access and functional needs. I hope that this publication will not only serve as a source of up-to-date information for FEMA Region V partners interested in inclusive emergency management, but will also serve as a vehicle for you to share your promising practices, events and information as well. I look forward to hearing from you regarding the value of this publication and what types of information you would like to see in future versions. My contact information is listed at the bottom of this email.
Please feel free to forward this update to anyone that may be interested.
Comments, questions and requests for alternate formats can be directed to Jessica Mitchell, Region V Disability Integration Specialist, at 312-408-5499 or Jessica.mitchell@dhs.gov.
Table of Contents
Stay Safe When its Hot Outside
Planning for the Whole Community Video
Integrating Disability Access and Functional Needs Efforts in Grant Applications
Upcoming Events
Getting Real II Promising Practices in Inclusive Emergency Management for the Whole Community
National Preparedness Month 2011
Resources
DOJ Best Practices Toolkit
DOJ Service Animal Document
World Health Organization: World Report on Disability
Functional Needs Support Services Toolkit
Feeling Safe Being Safe
HHS Toolkit of Public Health Emergency Text Messages
Stay Safe When its Hot Outside
Know what to do during a heat emergency. Many parts of FEMA Region V have experienced very high temperatures this summer, and will be experiencing them again in the next few days. The combination of high temperatures and high humidity creates a dangerous situation in which heat illnesses are likely.
To avoid heat illnesses, drink plenty of fluids, spend time in air-conditioned locations, stay out of direct sunlight, limit strenuous physical activities and check on relatives, friends and neighbors. Please visit FEMAs Are You Ready- Extreme Heat web page- http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/heat.shtm for more information and tips.
Planning for the Whole Community Video
On June 22, 2011 St. Petersburg College's National Terrorism Preparedness Institute (NTPI), a division of the Center for Public Safety Innovation, hosted a Webcast/Satellite Broadcast on the FEMA/DHS initiative, Planning for the Whole Community. This broadcast can be viewed by visiting the http://terrorism.spcollege.edu/Broadcasts/LRBroadcast0611.aspx" rel="noreferrer noopener">Live Response website. The program highlighted FEMAs Office of Disability Integration and Coordination (ODIC) and explained the importance of including people with access and functional needs in emergency and disaster planning. Guests included Marcie Roth, Director of the ODIC; Richard Devylder, Senior Advisor for Accessible Transportation at the U.S. Department of Transportation; and June Isaacson Kailes, Disability Policy Consultant/Associate Director at Western University in California.
Integrating Disability Access and Functional Needs Efforts in Grant Applications
This Information Bulletin (IB) emphasizes the importance and heightens the awareness of integrating those with disabilities, and others with access and functional needs into local and state government homeland security and emergency preparedness programs. Last year marked the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). As required by the ADA, Homeland security and emergency managers at all levels are to plan for the whole community by integrating and coordinating emergency preparedness, response and recovery for children and adults with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. The Grant Programs Directorate supports FEMAs Office of Disability Integration and Coordination (ODIC) efforts in this area. Please visit the following link in order to access the information Bulletin (http://www.fema.gov/pdf/government/grant/bulletins/info361.pdf).
UPCOMING EVENTS
Getting Real II Promising Practices in Inclusive Emergency Management for the Whole Community
On September 12-14, 2011 join FEMAs Office of Disability Integration and Coordination for Getting Real II Promising Practices in Inclusive Emergency Management for the Whole Community. This 3 day training conference will focus on building partnerships and sharing promising practices. The application period to attend or present at the conference is open from July 8, 2011 to August 1, 2011. Applications submitted after this date may still be considered depending on availability. See the conference application for more details. Application (PDF 210KB, TXT 21KB)
National Preparedness Month 2011
This September marks the 8th annual National Preparedness Month, sponsored by the Ready Campaign, Citizen Corps and the Ad Council. The purpose of National Preparedness month is to encourage individuals, businesses and communities to be prepared for disasters and emergencies. This September will serve as an especially potent reminder of the need for preparedness because it is also the 10th anniversary of the September 11th, 2011 terrorist attacks. This years theme is This September: A Time to Remember. A Time to Prepare.
Visit www.ready.gov and click on the National Preparedness Month banner to become a National Preparedness Month Coalition Member. Members are able to share preparedness information and find events and volunteer opportunities where they can spread the preparedness message. There is also information about how to create a preparedness event of your own.
RESOURCES
The following links are provided for reference purposes only. FEMA does not endorse any non-Federal Government websites, companies or applications.
Department of Justice Best Practices Toolkit
July 26, 2011 is the 21st anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). To mark this anniversary, go online and learn more about how the ADA applies to emergency management practices. The Department of Justice publishes a toolkit for state and local governments on how to comply with the ADA. Chapter 7 of this toolkit focuses on emergency management activities. Visit this link (http://www.ada.gov/pcatoolkit/toolkitmain.htm) to learn more.
Technical Assistance Document on Service Animals
A new technical assistance document on the http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm" rel="noreferrer noopener">2010 revised ADA requirements for service animals has been added to ADA.gov and is now available. The document is http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm" rel="noreferrer noopener">available in HTML and http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener">in PDF.
World Health Organization (WHO): World Report on Disability
The first ever World report on disability, produced jointly by WHO and the World Bank, suggests that more than a billion people in the world today experience disability. For more information and to download the report, visit the World Health Organization's website (http://www.who.int/disabilities/world_report/2011/en/index.html).
Functional Needs Support Services Toolkit
To provide planning guidance to local emergency management and shelter planners, the State of Texas FNSS Integration Committee has created a toolkit that can be incorporated into existing shelter plansto meet access and functional needs in general population shelters. This toolkit provides guidance to assist planners in understanding the requirements related to sheltering children and adults with and without disabilities who have access and functional needs in the state of Texas.FNSS and provided guidance are designed to assist in planning and resource allocation for sheltering operations whether government, Non Governmental Organization (NGO), faith- or private-based to meet the access and functional needs of children and adults. This toolkit is designed to provide first responders and emergency management professionals basic information about interacting with Texans with disabilities during a disaster and to identify disability leaders in the local communities.Questions or comments regarding the State of Texas Functional Needs Support Services Tool Kit can be sent to TDEM.FNSS@txdps.state.tx.us
Feeling Safe Being Safe
The Feeling Safe Being Safe program, developed by the State of California Department of Developmental Services Consumer Advisory Committee includes tools developed by people with disabilities for the whole community. Resources include a workbook that will help individuals to make an emergency plan, a video that demonstrates how to complete the workbook and put together a home emergency kit, and a printable magnet to post important emergency contact information on the refrigerator for first responders. More information can be found at http://www.dds.ca.gov/consumercorner/EmergencyPreparedness.cfm
HHS Toolkit of Public Health Emergency Text Messages Now Available
A new toolkit of prepared cell phone text messages advising people how to protect their health after a disaster is available now through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Cell phone usage and texting is widespread in the United States and many communities have text alert systems for emergency notification. During a disaster, the state or local agency can download and distribute the new public health messages using their existing cell-phone emergency message distribution systems. Community residents should contact their local emergency management agency to learn whether text message alerts are available in their community and to register if available. These messages support state and local emergency managers in disaster response and are available online at http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/psa" rel="noreferrer noopener">http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/psa.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Jessica Mitchell
Regional Disability Integration Specialist
FEMA Region V
536 S. Clark St., 6th Floor
Chicago, IL 606065
312-408-5499 (office)
312-576-2624 (cell)
FEMA's mission is to suport our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
Still have an opportunity to let Governor Walker Know How You Feel About Caps on Long Term Care Services
By Barbara Katz, 2011-06-21
Help participate in a state advocacy efforts that have a *direct
impact* on our loved ones! Join Wisconsin Families Forward in a
statewide action to call & email Gov Walker to VETO the Cap on
longterm community care programs for our loved ones with disabilities!
Call, email, fax Governor Scott Walker: email: govgeneral@wisconsin.gov
phone: (608) 266-1212
fax: 608-267-8983
It's not over until the budget is signed--so keep calling & emailing
Gov Walker. If you've called or emailed once, call/email again!
Tell Gov Walker: "VETO the cap on longterm care bc it's fiscally &
morally responsible and this is NOT how we treat Wisconsin's most
vulnerable!"
Friday's Journal Sentinel Editorial, A Cap Is Not A Fix, calls on
Governor Walker to veto the cap.
(http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/124039264.html)
It's important that the Governor hear from hundreds of people asking
him to veto the cap, especially those families and consumers who rely
on community supports or are desperately waiting for help. Your calls
& emails will make it clear that there is broad opposition to the cap
& an urgent need for community services and supports.
As County Exec and as a state legislator, Governor Walker was a strong
supporter of community services, so let's give him another chance to
do he right thing: "If I did nothing else, I wanted to make sure
Milwaukee County expanded Family Care to people under the age of 60
with developmental and physical disabilities, so that they in turn
could see that waiting list eliminated like we did for older adults in
this community." County Executive Scott Walker, August 2010
Spread the word & thank you for linking arms for WI children & adults
with disabilities!! Soooooo many lives will be impacted by this: they
are our neighbors, they are US!
Governor Scott Walker: govgeneral@wisconsin.gov (608) 266-1212
As the public comment period draws to a close on a federal proposal detailing what qualifies as community-based housing for people with disabilities, the issue is sparking controversy.
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2011/06/14/community-living-divisive...
What do you think?