News
WKOW: ‘It’s really tough’: Disability advocates frustrated over vaccine access
By SD Network, 2021-02-27
While Wisconsin has made progress in the vaccine rollout, disability advocates say some of the most vulnerable people still face multiple challenges accessing it. Mixed messages about who is eligible has been confusing and when people are eligible, many are having problems making appointments due to not having broadband access. The Department of Health Services is working on developing an online portal for people to sign up for the vaccine when they're eligible. They also state that there is a phone option. Transportation is another barrier people are struggling with. They are having a hard time finding transportation to the appointment once it's set up.
WISCONSIN BOARD FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES: Employment First Conference: Sponsorship, Microenterprise and Save the Date
By SD Network, 2021-02-27
Wisconsin Employment
First Conference
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Virtual Format from 8:30am to 3:30pm
Registration opening soon!
This year’s Employment First conference will provide an immersion into person-centered thinking and practices. Throughout this interactive, virtual event you will have the opportunity to network with others and learn how genuine person-centeredness is essential for raising expectations, driving innovation and change, and supporting people to achieve meaningful lives and careers in the community.
Conference Sponsorship
Show your support for Employment First in Wisconsin by sponsoring the 2021 Virtual Employment First Conference! Last year, over 300 people attended the WI Employment First conference and this year we expect even more!
This year's program will feature experts on Person Centered Planning and employment from around the US, including:
Sheli Reynolds - Associate Director, Training and Technical Assistance University of Missouri Kansas City-Institute for Human Development (UCEDD) and key developer of the Charting the Life Course framework and tools
Serena Lowe - Senior Adviser to TASH and the newly established national Disability Employment Technical Assistance Center
Stacey Ramirez - Person-Centered Thinking trainer with HRS, Inc and State Director for The Arc Georgia
Nicole LeBlanc - Coordinator of the Person-Centered Advisory and Leadership Group for the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS)
Alixe Bonardi – Senior policy associate with HSRI and director of the National Core Indicators effort
Laura Buckner - Founding Partner of The Institute for Person Centered Practices and Mentor Trainer with The Learning Community for Person Centered Practices (TLCPCP)
Doug Crandall and Patty Cassidy – Senior Associates with Griffin-Hammis Associates and nationally recognized Subject Matter Experts on Customized Employment
Jennifer Bumble - Assistant Professor of Special Education at the University of Missouri St. Louis and former educational consultant with the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center and Tennessee Works
Microenterprise Vendor
Sign up to be a Microenterprise Vendor at the 2021 Employment First VIRTUAL Conference! The All Abilities Market is an online marketplace where microenterprise owners and artists can sell their products and/or services. You have the unique opportunity to join this marketplace and sell online, not only at the Employment First Conference but all year long! Support is available to help you get set up in the All Abilities Market.
If you have any questions, please contact Molly Cooney at molly.cooney@wisconsin.gov or call 608-266-0266. Conference information will be posted at https://wi-bpdd.org/index.php/employment-first/
U.S. ACCESS BOARD: U.S. Access Board Launches Online Discussion Platform on Autonomous Vehicle
By SD Network, 2021-02-26
Self-driving or “autonomous” vehicles (AVs) stand to revolutionize transportation in the U.S. and around the world. It’s important that they’re designed to be inclusive of everyone. To promote accessibility for people with disabilities in the design of AVs, the U.S. Access Board is hosting “Inclusive Design of Autonomous Vehicles: A Public Dialogue” with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Community Living, and other federal agencies.
This national online dialogue is open to the public at this time. You’re invited to share your ideas for designing AVs that are inclusive of everyone, including passengers with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities. The dialogue hosts want to hear from you about:
- Design and development of AVs to ensure accessible entering, exiting, onboard maneuvering, and securement for individuals with mobility disabilities;
- Accessible ride hailing, on-board communication, and interacting with AVs for passengers with hearing, visual or cognitive disabilities; and
- Ideas for future research needs and next steps required to ensure accessible design and development of AVs for those with disabilities.
Join the dialogue at any time now through May 5 to submit your ideas or to comment and vote on ideas submitted by others. Visit TransportationInnovation.IdeaScale.com to participate at your convenience.
Virtual Public Meetings on AVs
The dialogue is being held in conjunction with the Board's public series of four virtual meetings on making AVs accessible to passengers with disabilities. Visit the Board’s AV webpage for more information about the series.
WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES: Request for Public Comment Home and Community-Based Settings Rule: Heightened Scrutiny
By SD Network, 2021-02-23
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is opening a 30-day public comment period on its findings about home and community-based service long-term care settings that were identified for heightened scrutiny review. Review is needed to determine if these settings are truly home and community based and not institutional. This public comment period is in accordance with federal requirements.
DHS operates several home and community-based services long-term care programs under federal authority from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Medicaid waiver funding for these programs can only be used to support people living in community-based settings, and cannot be used to support someone who is living in an institution. Review is needed for settings that are located within another facility that provides inpatient treatment (like a skilled nursing facility), on the grounds of a public institution (like an inpatient facility that is financed and operated by a county, state, municipality, or other unit of government), or because of other factors that may lead to isolating some people from the broader community.
DHS has conducted a heightened scrutiny review process and determined there is enough evidence to show CMS that these settings are not institutional in nature and that they meet CMS’ compliance requirements. The evidence from the heightened scrutiny review is documented in “evidentiary summaries.”
Public comment is an opportunity to support or rebut information DHS obtained from its heightened scrutiny reviews of facility-submitted documentation and onsite visits.
Find more information about the public comment period, along with a list of the settings and their evidentiary summaries, on the DHS website.
ADMINISTRATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVING: New Research Funding Opportunity for Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers Program on Blindness and Low Vision
By SD Network, 2021-02-20
The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) at ACL has opened a new funding opportunity for a Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) Program on Blindness and Low Vision.
The purpose of the RERC program is to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act by conducting advanced engineering research on and development of innovative technologies that are designed to solve particular rehabilitation problems or to remove environmental barriers. RERCs also demonstrate and evaluate such technologies, facilitate service delivery system changes, stimulate the production and distribution of new technologies and equipment in the private sector, and provide training opportunities.
RERC on Blindness and Low Vision: This particular opportunity is for an RERC to conduct research and development activities toward technologies that will promote independence and community living among people with low vision and blindness.
View more details and application instructions.
Please visit the link above for more details about the grant opportunity and application process. This grant opportunity closes on April 19, 2021.
THE HILL: Disabled people who had trouble voting falls dramatically: report
By SD Network, 2021-02-20
According to a new report, people with disabilities had far fewer problems with voting accessibility in 2020 than in 2012. The gap between disabled and non-disabled voters who experienced voting problems also narrowed significantly. About 75% of voters with disabilities used early voting or mail-in voting in 2020.
THE PLAYBOOK: Building a Culture of Person-Centered Care: Where We Are and Where We Need to Go
By SD Network, 2021-02-20
As health systems continue to test approaches to better health care quality, the delivery of person-centered care — defined as care that is guided by people's preferences, needs, and values — is key for health care system transformation. In a recent report, researchers analyzed responses to the question, “When thinking about your experiences with the health care system over the past year, how often were your preferences for care taken into account?" This will help to better understand how aging adults experience care, if their preferences are acknowledged, and whether their experiences vary by race and ethnicity, wealth and income, and/or insurance status.
February 2021
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Disability Advocacy Day of Action
Mark your calendar! Disability Day of Action is March 23rd. It's a virtual event focused on connecting Disability Advocates with their legislators to talk about issues that matter to them. Attendees are expected to participate in the morning briefing and call their legislators in the afternoon. Learn more and register today!
Check Out The Latest Videos!
The Self-Determination Channel is a YouTube channel by and for people with developmental or intellectual disabilities. Unlike other channels, the Self-Determination Channel stands stand out from other channels on YouTube because self-advocates host the videos, and decide and create the content. Videos are posted a couple times a month on a variety of topics self-advocates care about such as technology, employment, caregivers, independent living, and advocacy.
Check out the newest videos on the channel:
We encourage you to subscribe to the Channel (you can do by clicking the red Subscribe button on any of the video pages).
The Self-Determination Network includes some very talented members and we want to help you to get to know each other a little better. Member Spotlight is a great way for us to get to know each other better.
This month, we're shining the spotlight on Lynndale. As a dedicated self-advocate, she encourages people to follow the path to look forward. Stop by this month's Member Spotlight to get to know Lynndale.
Who should we shine the spotlight on next?
Take five minutes to check out what's happening on the Self-Determination Network:
- Voter Challenges Continue: While some recent legislative changes and an increased emphasis on absentee voting helped some, Wisconsinites with disabilities continue to face multiple challenges when trying to exercise their right to vote. Find out how advocates are still working to get better access for voting.
- Plain Language Guide for Person-Centered Self-Assessment: Your state is trying to make services work better for people. They want people who use support services to be listened to. Take a look at this great resource.
- New Study Shows Prevalence of Intellectual Disability: According to a new study from the Center for Disease Control, there is an increase in children with intellectual disabilities. Read more about what the study found.
- Electronic Health Records: People with disabilities often face multiple challenges when accessing healthcare services. Learn about how Electronic Health Records may help with some of this.
- Voting Resources: There's a election coming up in April. Check out these great resources from the Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition.
- The Future of the Direct Care Workforce: The direct care workforce shortage has continued across the country. Look at this detailed report which includes a current analysis of the workforce and recommendations to improve the jobs for this workforce.
- New Means of Emotional Support: Voice assistant devices, such as the Amazon Alexa, have made more things possible for people with disabilities. Learn about how a new study suggests that these devices also provide some emotional support for people.
- Employment Outcome Research Funding Opportunity: A new funding opportunity from the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Center Program hopes to achieve the goals of, and improve the effectiveness of, services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act through well-designed research, training, technical assistance, and dissemination activities to benefit rehabilitation service providers, individuals with disabilities, family members, and other stakeholders. Grant applications are due March 22nd.
- Economy Recovery Agenda: National Disability Institute offers a 15-point agenda to advance economic recovery and resilience for people with disabilities who represent a most vulnerable population too often ignored in plans for the economic recovery for our nation. Learn about some of the suggestions.
- Opportunity to Provide Feedback on Web Accessibility Guidelines: The Accessibility Guidelines Working Group has published a working draft of the third version of the Web Accessibility Guidelines. Feed back is due February 26th.
- Employment for People with Disabilities Continues to Stall: According to the January Jobs Report, the pandemic continues to slow employment for people with disabilities. Find out why people are hopeful it will start to improve soon.
- New Administration Prioritizing Accessibility: The new president administration is making accessibility a priority. Learn about what steps are being made to ensure accessibility for everyone.
- Accessible COVID-19 Resources: The Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation, a part of the College of Design at Georgia Tech, has partnered with the CDC to ensure that important information about the virus is accessible for all people. Check out these great resources!
- "Nothing About Us Without Us" Call to Action: The saying, "Nothing About Us Without Us" has been used in the disability community for many years. It simply means that no decisions should be made regarding people with disabilities without their input. Read about a nationwide program that aims to increase participation of underrepresented communities in medical research.
- Television Representation: More and more entertainment companies are committing to consider actors/actresses with disabilities in their movies. Read about how a big tv network recently committed to auditions for actors/actresses with disabilities.
- Impact of the Pandemic: A recent survey done by the Wisconsin Survival Coalition revealed the impact of the pandemic is having on people with disabilities and their families. Learn what the survey found.
Here's a sample of upcoming events listed on the Self-Determination Network:
- Webinar: Financial Protection For Older Adults During The COVID-19 Pandemic: February 23rd, 12p.m. to 1p.m., Online
- Webinar: Self-Advocacy For Women Living With Paralysis: February 23rd, 2p.m. to 3:30p.m., Online
- Webinar: Medical Care And Long-Term Care Facilities: March 4th, 1:30p.m. to 3p.m., Online
- Disability Advocacy Day Of Action: March 23rd, 10a.m. to 4p.m., Online
- Virtual Advocacy For Change: March 30th and 31st, 9a.m. to 12p.m., Online
- Virtual Employment First Conference: May 13th, 8:30a.m. to 3:30p.m., Online
Post your event on the Self-Determination Network and it can be included in future Network News emails to members! Questions? Suggestions? Contact Stacy Ellingen.
The Self-Determination Network is powered by InControl Wisconsin and supported financially by our members and Sponsors. We couldn't keep this Network going with you! Find out how you can help support the Network.
Meet Lynndale. As a dedicated self-advocate, she encourages people to follow the path to look forward. She has been involved in things like People First, and she’s currently the president of her local People First chapter. We’re so fortune to have Lynndale as a member of the Self-Determination Network!
What's your story? Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Lynndale was born and raised in Appleton, Wisconsin. She attended public school and was in Special Education. “I overcame my disability,” she says. She was also involved in Special Olympics, etc. She has been living on her own since she was 18 years old. Her dad, who taught Special Education, found her her first job. She worked at a grocery store for 32 years. Unfortunately, her dad passed away from two brain aneurysms in 1996—she was 25 years old.
Lynndale shares that she had a bad incident at work last year and she has been on medical leave since.
How are you involved with self-determination? Why did you join the SD Network?
Lynndale has been involved with People First for 17 years. She currently serves as President of her local chapter. “It’s been rewarding, challenging, and fun,” she explains. She has attended the Self-Determination Conference in the Dells where she has learned to not only stand up for herself, but also for others who might not be able to.
Tell us some good news - what's the most exciting thing happening for you (or in Wisconsin) in terms self-determination?
Lynndale recently turned the big 5-0! Every year, she goes to mass and renews her baptism promises. “God has definitely blessed me,” she says.
What tip or resource would you like to share with people who want to be more self-determined?
Lynndale shares the Special Olympics oath with us:
Let me win
If I cannot win
Let me be brave in the attempt
We all can’t win all the time
We all have to be brave and trust
In this oath
She explains that she repeats this to herself. It helps her stay motivated and keeps her faith. She encourages people to go to meetings and conferences to learn how others are being self-determined. “We all have a voice—we need to stand up for ourselves. Let’s follow the path that we need to look forward,” she says.
***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.
CBS58: 'Dire impact of COVID-19': Coalition calls on Gov. Evers to prioritize people with disabilities, families in budget'
By SD Network, 2021-02-12
A recent survey done by the Wisconsin Survival Coalition (which InControl Wisconsin is part of) revealed the impact of the pandemic is having on people with disabilities and their families. The findings show significant impacts on jobs and, housing, and mental health due to the ongoing pandemic. The Coalition is urging Governor Evers to prioritize people with disabilities and their families in the budget.