News
Real Lives, Real Work and a Real Smart Wisconsin
Sponsored by Survival Coalition of Wisconsin Disability Organizations
Disability Advocacy Day is designed to connect you with your legislators so you can share your story with them. You are the expert in sharing how legislative policies affect people with disabilities in their everyday lives.
We will set up your visit and brief you before you go to the Capitol. We will provide you with information and talking points about current issues before your meeting, so choose one of the briefing times below for April 6 (9 a.m. or 11 a.m.) when filling out this form. Make sure your legislative visits are scheduled to occur after your briefing with us.
If you can attend, fill out the registration form: Disability Advocacy Day Registration Form. If you can't attend but know someone who might be interested, send this invitation to them!
Hello -
Here's a link to a great site "Think College" - College Options for People with Intellectual Disabilities.
Be sure to take a look around the site, a lot of good resources and inspiration!
Take care,
Cheryl
Hello!
Here's a link to a workbook for youth with disabilities all about disclosing their disability. It's called The 411 on Disability Disclosure.
Hope you find this helpful.
Enjoy the day,
There's a new Easter Seal study that's just been released. The information I received about the study highlighted what the study learned from parents of adults with disabilities - the challenges that people with disabilities face and the concerns of their parents. The study reported:
In every measure of comparison, we found parents of adult children with disabilities had significantly higher levels of concern for their children than parents of adult children without disabilities. There is a consistent, notable gap between the two groups across every aspect of life.
However, as I looked through the Key Findings Report of the study, I found they also included responses from 400 adults who have disabilities. These adults had higher levels of education and were older than the children of the parents who participated in the survey. They found some interesting responses:
- 59% of adults with disabilities classify the quality of their life asexcellent or good
- Strong majorities of adults with disabilities are independent in theirlife decisions, finances, and living situations, have transportation andmobility in the community, and feel adequately prepared for life
- Most adults with disabilities own/rent their own home and liveindependently (82%) and another 45% have a life partner/spouse
- The vast majority of adults with disabilities feel their educationprepared them, either a little or a lot, for gainful employment (81%)and living independently (70%)
- A strong majority of adults (85%) with disabilities mostly or alwaysattended mainstream classes when attending school
The Key Findings went on to report:
Of those surveyed, adults with disabilities are primarily concerned with their future financial well-being, health, and quality of life and less concerned with longevity, friendships, and education. And the fears most commonly cited, if any, by adults with disabilities regarding their parent or guardian dying are emotional stability (33%), quality of life (29%), receiving necessary support (27%), and living situation (27%).
Yet, given adults with disabilities education, independence, quality of life, and ability to access to transportation, only 47% of adults withdisabilities are employed, 42% are unemployed statistics far from the overall average unemployment rate. Two-thirds of adults with disabilities (66%) feel their employment situation is a good fit with their capabilities, while 34% feel they are under-employed and capable of more.
There's much more information to be found in this study. I'd like to know what you think about the findings. Do these finding reflect your experience? More importantly, do they have an effect on your hopes, dreams, and plans for your future or the future of someone you know who has disabilities? How can we use this information to build lives that include independence, choice, and a high quality of life? Please share your thoughts with us.
The report can be found at: Easter Seals Living with Disabilities Study
Hello -
If you have not yet seen this great transition resource, check it out. It's a Transition Toolkit written by youth for youth.
I hope you find it helpful.
Take Care,
Cheryl
Pennsylvania Youth Leadership Network 2nd Edition Transition Toolkit
http://pyln.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/PYLN2ndTransitionToolkit.pdf
Hello!
For those of us working with youth with disabilities who are in high school, in transition, out of school, working, in college, etc. please let them know about the Wisconsin Youth First website and Facebook page!
Wisconsin Youth First has been developed by youth, for youth as a place for youth with disabilities to come together to talk about things that really matter to them. They'll find great information about IEPs, school, college, work, youth leadership, the Speakers Bureau, how to get involved, resources, connecting to other youth and more!
Here are the links:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wisconsin-Youth-First/112551915462404.
We are searching for more youth to join us on the Facebook page so please let them know and let them know about the great information they can find on our web-page too!
Thank you and GO WISCONSIN YOUTH GO!!
Cheryl Schiltz
Co-Facilitator of the Wisconsin Youth First Practice Group
Peer Power Coordinator
Independent Living Council of Wisconsin
In Control Wisconsin is a group of individuals and organizations who aimto bring about systemic policy change in Wisconsin so that people of any age or need for support get more control over their support and their lives.
Show your support of SDS in Wisconsin by becoming a fan. Visit:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/In-Control-Wisconsin/115857761792842
The Starfish
Paraphrased From: The Star Thrower by Loren Eiseley
Once upon a time there was a wise man that used
to go to the ocean to do his writing. One day
he was walking along the shore. As he looked
down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like
a dancer. He smiled to himself to think of someone
who would dance to the day. So he began to walk
faster to catch up.
As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man
and the young man wasn't dancing, but instead he
was reaching down to the shore, picking up
something and very gently throwing it into the
ocean.
As he got closer he called out, "Good morning!
What are you doing?"
The young man paused, looked up and replied,
"Throwing starfish into the ocean."
I guess I should have asked, "Why are you throwing
starfish into the ocean?"
"The sun is up and the tide is going out. And if
I don't throw them in they'll die."
"But, young man, don't you realize that there are
miles and miles of beach and starfish all along
it. You can't possibly make a difference!"
The young man listened politely. Then bent down,
picked another starfish and threw it into the sea,
past the breaking waves and said, "It made a
difference for that one."
There is something very special in each and every
one of us and we must each find our own starfish.
We have all been gifted with the ability to make a
difference and if we throw our stars wisely and
well -- the world will be blessed!
This is the reason we help others and we find it great to be the one to
make a difference in others lives.
Hi Everyone!
Yesterday, I attended the Wisconsin Self-Directed Supports (SDS) Network Meeting in Wisconsin Dells. I was involved in a session talking about how people want to connect with each other between meetings. It was interesting hearing people's ideas on how they could use an online community like this one to stay connected with people with similar interests; share stories and experiences; and find resources and information. More on this soon!
If you attended the event, feel free to comment about your thoughts, questions, or information you would like to share. Or start your own blog entry about the event.
As always, Deb Wisniewski or I are available to answer questions you may have about using this online community.
Theresa