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“Remember this because I won’t be able to do this again,” I vividly remember my dad saying as he carried me all the way up the Eagle Tower at Peninsula State Park in Door County when I was seven or eight years old. At the time, I certainly didn’t recognize or appreciate the beauty of the view from the top of the tower or how much work it was for my dad to carry me up and down it. Looking back at it now, I realize how hard it must have been, and, really, how unsafe it probably was for him to do that. As I’ve discussed in previous entries, my parents do everything they possibly can to make sure I get to experience as much as possible.

A few years ago, I started hearing about how the Eagle Tower was going to be redone. It had been closed for a while because it was deemed unsafe. It was eventually taken down. There were articles going around on social media about how a group called Friends of Peninsula State Park was trying to raise enough money to build an accessible tower. They raised over $750,000 towards the new tower and canopy. It was started in 2020 and opened in May 2021.

This summer, many of my friends who use wheelchairs posted pictures on Facebook of them going up the tower. All summer, my parents were trying to find a day to get me up there, but, due to busy schedules, we never could. Finally, a few weeks ago, I couldn’t find care coverage for a Saturday night and Sunday morning. My parents decided that would be a perfect time. Because it was peak time for colors in Door County, there wasn’t a hotel room to be found. I tried saying it’s ok – we’ll get there next year--but my parents weren’t going to take that. We ended up leaving Oshkosh early on a Saturday morning and driving up there. It ended up being six hours of traveling because we had to drive back the same day, but it was worth it!

When I first saw the tower, I was simply amazed by the scaffolding and ramp. The 850 foot ramp swerves up the 60 foot tower. What caught my attention when I first approached the ramp is the width of it. I don’t know the exact measurement, but it’s wide enough to fit two wheelchairs side-by-side on it. Of course, that’s not a likely scenario, but most ramps like that are usually pretty narrow. I was extremely pleased that I had no problem driving up, and people could walk on either side of me - - that usually never happens on a ramp. There are several bench cutouts on the ramp for people who need to sit and rest on the way up and down. What I also noticed is that there are several places where the wood railing is replaced with wire, so people in wheelchairs can see out below. I thought that was really neat because part of the experience is being able to see how high up you are, and, most of the time on things like that, railings or guardrails often prevent the view for those of us who can’t see over. The view from the top is just breathtaking. There are a couple of places at the top where it’s cut out and have only wire fencing, so people who use wheelchairs can see below. The panoramic view is incredible!

At the bottom of the tower, there is a wooden wall and each piece of wood has a name of someone who donated to the project on it. It’s really neat to see how many people donated to the project. My mom went into the clubhouse to get a park sticker when we first got there, and the guy told her that the tower is actually 15 feet shorter than the old one. It was almost as if he was disappointed about that. I did some research on the Internet and found out that they made it shorter because it’s the best height to see the view.

I find it ironic that this new accessible tower is in Door County. Door County isn’t usually known for its accessibility. Many of the shops and restaurants are still inaccessible. I understand the smallness and daintiness of the places is often what makes them unique, but in my opinion, it’s time to make changes so that everyone can enjoy these places. Maybe the tower will influence owners to make necessary changes to their places so that everyone can enjoy them.

It’s really cool to experience something that you never thought would be possible, and know it was made possible due to generous people. In today’s world of so much doom and gloom, it’s refreshing to experience humanity first-hand. What a gift to be able to witness the beauty of humankind!

***The views expressed here are strictly those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of InControl Wisconsin, the Network or any of our sponsors.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) requests public comments on the Draft of Promoting Access to Voting: Recommendations for Addressing Barriers to Private and Independent Voting for People with Disabilities. Under Executive Order 14019 on Promoting Access to Voting, NIST is directed to identify barriers to private and independent voting for people with disabilities, make recommendations to remove these barriers, and evaluate the steps needed to ensure that the online Federal Voter Registration Form is accessible to people with disabilities. The Draft is available in the Federal Register.

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Meet Olivia. This determined self-advocate doesn’t let anything stop her from achieving her goals. As director of an advocacy program for high school students, she helps others learn leadership and advocacy skills. She has high hopes for herself including obtaining a driver’s license and possibly going to grad school. We’re so fortune to have her as a member of the Self-Determination Network.

What's your story? Tell us a little about yourself? 

 Olivia grew up in a tiny village called Brandon, but now lives in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin. Currently, she works at Fleet Farm’s Fuel Center. She has a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Theology. Right now, she’s looking into grad school for family and marital counseling. She’s also the current director of the Wisconsin Youth Leadership Forum that is held every summer at Edgewood College in Madison, where they teach high school students with disabilities about leadership and self-advocacy skills.   

 How are you involved with self-determination?  

Olivia is a great self-advocate. “Although sometimes I do rely on close friends and family for assistance, but hey, everyone needs a little help every now and then,” she tells us.  She’s living independently in her own apartment and has a part-time job. She’s also working toward getting her driver's license.  

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

  Oliva is part of the Wisconsin Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) and she’s really excited that to have started a #WednesdayWisdom and other live chats on Facebook through the Wisconsin YLF page. This gave her the opportunity to talk to previous YLF staff and delegate members about their experience through the program and what they are up to these days. “It's been really hard to see each other and sometimes people just kind of get lost in life with what they are doing and don't really have time to meet up. It was nice to reconnect with them and hear about their memories of the program,” she says. About eight years ago, she informed the previous director that when the time was right that she would like to try being the new director. Olivia spent a lot of time talking with the previous director, and she spent two years being her assistant and learning everything that she could. She finally became director in 2016.

What tip or resource would you like to share with people who want to be more self-determined?

Olivia would like to share two resources: The YLF Facebook page and the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities website. Both provide lots of great information.

She encourages people to never give up. “Everything that you want will come to you if you work hard,” she says. 

What are some of your hobbies? 

 In response to this question, Olivia says, “Oh, boy, this is a tough but fun question to answer.” She loves to read. She explains that it's a great escape from reality and to enter a world that can fill your head with so much imagination. Another good thing about reading is that you can learn about life, learn lessons and even read to learn something new.  She enjoys watching TV and movies. A few of her favorites are “Heartland,” “Boy Meets World,” and definitely the Fall Hallmark movies!  She also loves to run. She ran cross country and track all through middle, high school, and college—she enjoys the fact that it's your own pace and you can just run for fun!  She enjoys connecting with friends--even though the last few years, it's mostly been through different apps or phone calls.  

***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.

Older people and people with disabilities often need assistance with things like going shopping, getting dressed and other things. Solving these problems often is the difference between being able to stay at home or having to go to a nursing home. In recent years, Medicaid expanded coverage of home-based services, but it's optional in some states. Recently, the federal Department of Health and Human Services unveiled every state's plan for how they'll use the funds. An estimated $12.7 billion dollars in federal matching funds are available to "encourage states to expand home and community-based services and strengthen their programs." 

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Due to the nature of the job, home care workers are at increased risk for experiencing workplace violence. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is cracking down on agencies that don't have protocols in-place for workers to report problems. 

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The U.S. Access Board has released technical bulletins on accessibility to lavatories and sinks, washing machines and clothes dryers, and saunas and steam rooms. This material addresses specifications for clear floor space, knee and toe space, forward and side reach, operable parts, height, turning space, benches, and doors in the ADA and ABA Accessibility Standards. Each bulletin clarifies common sources of confusion, answers frequently asked questions, and offers recommendations for best practice. Examples of compliant lavatories, sinks, washing machines, clothes dryer, saunas, and steam rooms are included to illustrate how various requirements can be met.

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We want to congratulate this year's Diehard Award winners who were recognized at the Self-Determination Conference. These individuals received a Diehard Award for going above and beyond in supporting the lives of people with disabilities. Please help us congratulate and thank these people for their outstanding advocacy efforts:

• Vicky Gunderson
• Maria Nogueron
• Kate Rinehart
• Maureen Ryan
• Delores Sallis
• Jordan Anderson
• Sydney Badeau
• Kathryn Burish
• Mike Hipple

A study was done about the workforce displacement and re-entry during the pandemic among direct care workers and workers other jobs. It was meant to understand whether and how new workers were recruited during the pandemic. 

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The Social Security Administration recently announced a 5.9% increase in Social Security and Supplemental Security Income in 2022. This comes after the Cost of Living Adjustment, COLA, increased due to inflation. This will be the largest increase since 1982.

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New legislation entitled, The Choose Home Care Act of 2021, was introduced to the House of Representatives. It would create an add-on payment to the traditional Medicare Home Health Benefit, allowing providers to mix in telehealth, transportation, personal care and other services. The main concept of this would be to give nursing home residents who are on Medicare more options how and where they recover following a hospital stay. 

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