News
WISCONSIN BOARD FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES: SPARKS Grant Applications are now open
By SD Network, 2022-08-03
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Do you have an idea to make your community a better place for people with disabilities? Organize your grassroots group and apply for funding to help make it happen! Individuals with developmental disabilities and family members may apply. Spark grant applications due September 10, 2022. The 2022-23 Sparks grants of $500 to $5,000 are designed to:
We are looking for groups or individuals who want to be more inclusive of people with disabilities but are not sure how to do it. Traditionally underserved groups are especially encouraged to apply. Examples include:
Examples of what you can do with the grant.
If you have questions, you can contact Jenny Neugart at jennifer.neugart@wisconsin.gov or 608.266.7707.
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WISCONSIN BOARD FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES: Partners in Policymaking applications are open for the 2022-2023 class.
By SD Network, 2022-08-03
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Partners in Policymaking will be a hybrid this year! Participants can choose to attend in person or virtually. Choose the option that works best for you. This workshop will train you how to advocate for policies and initiatives that support full participation and inclusion of people with developmental disabilities. Who can participate?
Applications are Due September 30th 2022 What is the cost? Partners is funded by BPDD and covers costs associated with the training, lodging, meals, and materials. Dates for the Class of 2022/2023 are: October 28 & 29, 2022 (Madison or Virtual) December 2 & 3, 2022 (Madison or Virtual) January 13 & 14, 2023 (Everyone will be Virtual) February 17 & 18, 2023 (Everyone will be Virtual) March 31 & April 1, 2023 (Madison or Virtual) May 5 & 6, 2023 (Madison or Virtual) Questions?Contact Jenny at jennifer.neugart@wisconsin.gov or 608.266.7707. |
ADMINISTRATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVING: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Releases Two Reports on Long COVID
By SD Network, 2022-08-03
- The Services and Supports for Longer-Term Impacts of COVID-19 Report (Services Report) outlines federally funded support and services that can help individuals experiencing the longer-term effects of COVID-19, including Long COVID and its associated conditions, mental health, substance use, and bereavement.
- The National Research Action Plan on Long COVID (the Research Plan) proposes a comprehensive and equitable research strategy to inform our national response to Long COVID.
The Administration for Community Living (ACL) partnered with 13 other federal agencies in developing these reports, which together describe the wide range of services and supports available nationwide and lay out a research strategy going forward. ACL’s programs, and the disability and aging networks that provide them, offer a wide range of services and supports to help people with disabilities—including disabilities caused by Long COVID—and older adults live independently and fully participate in all of life’s activities.
“Many people with Long COVID are experiencing disabilities, often for the first time,” said Alison Barkoff, ACL’s Acting Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging, Administration for Community Living. “Those who are newly disabled may not know how find help with things like getting needed healthcare, maintaining housing, finding accessible transportation, or obtaining assistance with the daily activities of life. They may not even know these services and resources exist. Developed with extensive input from people experiencing Long COVID, these reports provide a one-stop starting point for people who need assistance, as well as critical information to guide our national response. The Administration for Community Living and our networks stand ready to connect people with Long COVID to the help they need now, and to working with them to ensure their unique experiences and needs are represented in federal policies and programs going forward.”
For more information and to help spread the word, visit COVID.gov/LongCovid.
Meet Rachel! Between working for the state and being involved in different advocacy activities, this busy lady doesn’t have much free time. She enjoys being able to share stories and learn from others. She encourages everyone to speak up for themselves. We’re so fortune to have her as a member of the Network!
What's your story? Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Rachel was born in Miami Beach Florida and then moved to Los Angeles CA in 1998. She did all of my schooling in Los Angeles CA and then moved to Madison WI in 2014. Her favorite thing about living in Wisconsin is being able to go to her boyfriend’s parents’ cabin in the Northwoods.
How are you involved with self-determination? Why did you join the SD Network?
Rachel is one of the hosts on the Self-Determination YouTube channel. Her favorite thing about being a host is being able “share stories and learn from others,” she tells us. She’s also involved in a program called Bridge Builder through LOV Inc. which helps her set goals to be independent in life. She joined the SD network to make friends and socialize with people.
Tell us some good news - what's the most exciting thing happening for you (or in Wisconsin) in term of self-determination?
Rachel enjoys going to work and being independent in the community. She works for the Wisconsin Department of Revenue as a revenue tax assistant. She explains that she likes her job because it varies day to day and she learns lots of new things.
What tip or resource would you like to share with people who want to be more self-determined?
The tip that Rachel would give is to speak up and let your voice be heard. “The reason it’s important for people to speak up for themselves is to let their voices be heard for what they believe in and what is important to them,” she shares.
What are some of your hobbies?
When Rachel isn’t working, she enjoys doing things like playing on her computer, swimming, and hanging out with friends and family including her dog.
***We love hearing the views and opinions of Network members. We need to mention that the views and opinions expressed on this site are those of the person who is sharing them. They do not necessarily reflect InControl Wisconsin or any of our supporters and funders.
HOME HEALTH CARE NEWS: CMS Announces Unprecedented Quality Measure Set for Home- and Community-Based Services
By SD Network, 2022-08-02
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently announced its first ever quality measure set for Home-and-Community-Based Services. The measures will promote “consistent quality measurement within and across state Medicaid HCBS programs.” The measures are built around three pillars: access, a rebalancing of HCBS spend versus institutional care spend and community integration.
ADMINISTRATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVING: New Brief: Research Supporting Competitive, Integrated Employment
By SD Network, 2022-08-02
Competitive, integrated employment (CIE) – working in the community, alongside people with and without disabilities, at competitive wages – offers a direct pathway to greater independence and self-sufficiency for people with disabilities. CIE is increasingly becoming the expectation across the country.
ACL is committed to expanding employment opportunities for people with disabilities. In addition to funding programs that provide direct employment support services to people with disabilities and advocating for policies and practices that prioritize and support CIE as a key element of community living, ACL also is investing in research to increase knowledge about the benefits of employment of people with disabilities – both for the individual and for the employer – and to increase the availability of effective interventions to support employment.
Last week, as the country celebrated the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Disability Pride Month, ACL's National Institute on Disability Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) is released a new issue brief summarizing the research supporting CIE.
Four voters with disabilities recently filed a lawsuit against a federal court. The lawsuit asks the court to ensure that voters can get assistance returning their ballot. This comes after the Supreme Court ruled that unsupervised drop boxes are illegal. However, the Court did not clarity whether voters could get assistance returning ballots by mail.
WHITEHOUSE.GOV: FACT SHEET: The Biden-Harris Administration Marks the Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act
By SD Network, 2022-07-26
To mark the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Biden-Harris Administration released a fact sheet. It details several different topics such as civil rights, education, voting, employment, and healthcare. This provides some interesting statistics.
WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO: What protections exist under the Americans with Disabilities Act?
By SD Network, 2022-07-26
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says people with disabilities are unemployed at more than double the rate of people without disabilities. On the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we learn about the state of protections and where progress is still needed.
MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL: State program helps people with disabilities remain in the workforce
By SD Network, 2022-07-26
The Department of Vocational Rehabilitation helps people with disabilities and health conditions find and maintain employment. Even after an life-changing medical diagnosis, a farmer in Price County was able to get back to doing what he loves. The Department of Vocational Rehabilitation helped get him the accommodations and technology he needed so that he could continue farming.