HHS's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) has a new online training on older adults and disasters that is designed to improve public health and emergency medical responders’ capability to address the access and functional needs of community-dwelling older adults in disasters.

This new training complements ASPR's previously-released Access and Functional Needs (AFN) web-based training defines the concept and requirements for addressing the AFN of at-risk individuals, and provides tools and resources to help you address the AFN of at-risk individuals in your community during disaster preparedness, response, and recovery activities.

The trainings are at-your-own-pace and free, although participants will need to create an account in the TRAIN system to access training. 

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:

• Pam Runge Malin
• Erica Andres
• Pam Jenson
• Monica and Francisco Javier Lopez Sr,
• Ashley Mathy
• Philip Temme
• Cindy Bentley
  

Parents of children with disabilities are facing difficult decisions about how to keep their children safe and learning. To help, Stanford University has developed a Back-to-Safe Communities of Learning (SCOL) Decision Guide in English and Spanish. The tool was designed with and for parents of children with special healthcare needs based on input from public-health experts, parents, and health providers. It is meant to serve as a conversation starter and to guide discussion between a parent and a trusted advisor, such as a pediatric health provider.

The Social Security Administration recently announced that there will be a 1.3% increase in Supplement Social Security Income and other Social Security benefits in 2021. The increase is a result of the annual cost-of-living adjustment due to inflation. It's slightly lower than last year's increase.  

Read more

Wisconsin Assistive Technology Council launches new YouTube channel

The channel will offer videos of past WisTech trainings.

Wisconsin’s Assistive Technology Advisory Council (AT Council) has launched a YouTube channel in order to share videos of WisTech assistive technology trainings. All of our past trainings, dating back to 2017, are available to watch, and new videos will be added as trainings occur.

We encourage you to use these trainings as on-demand learning opportunities. Please feel free to share and subscribe to the AT Council YouTube Channel to learn about various topics and to be notified when new content is added.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has developed several dashboards to provide information regarding how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting members and participants in the following adult long-term care programs: Family Care, Family Care Partnership, IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct), and PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly). DHS is collecting the information from managed care organizations and IRIS consultant agencies and will be updating the dashboards each Wednesday by 2 p.m.

View dashboards

For many people with disabilities, finding accessible housing is very challenging. There is a significant shortage of accessible housing in Wisconsin. One lady in Merill has been given notice that her place she's renting from is going up for sale, so she has to find somewhere else to live. She is having a very hard time finding an accessible place. She doesn't want to be in an assisted living place, so she is taking matters into her own hands. She is trying to fundraise to be able buy an accessible house.

Read more

The quality of life of persons living with all types of disabilities is closely tied to the services they receive in home- and community-based settings. Among these services are residential supports, personal care services, and community living supports. Despite its importance, the quality of home and community-based services (HCBS) has historically been difficult to define and even more difficult to measure. 

By working with researchers, measure developers, policymakers, and advocates, the NIDILRR-funded Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on HCBS Outcome Measurement is committed to:

• Validating and refining a national framework of HCBS outcomes for persons with disabilities (National Quality Forum); and
• Implementing the framework to refine and develop measures to assess the impact of HCBS on the lives of people with disabilities in the community.

In order to assist stakeholders in understanding key aspects of quality measure development, the RRTC on HCBS Outcomes has developed the following issue briefs:

• Brief 1: Involving Stakeholders to Address Challenges in HCBS Measure Development: Toward Person-Centered Measurement
• Brief 2: HCBS Outcome Measurement Tools and Current State Approaches to Measurement
• Brief 3: Development of HCBS Outcome Measures

Forthcoming briefs will focus on:

• The psychometrics of HCBS outcome measurement;
• Developing HCBS measures that are responsive racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity;
• Person-centered measurement;
• Measurement in HCBS: Best practice versus current implementation;
• Functions and uses of RTC/OM HCBS Outcome Measurement Instrument databases; and
• Use of HCBS outcome data for policy-making decisions.

RRTC on HCBS Outcome Measurement staff from the University of Minnesota are collaborating with Temple University, the Ohio State University, the University of California - San Francisco, and  Brandeis University’s Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, as well as other partners, supporters and stakeholders from around the country to study and support development of HCBS quality measures. The RRTC also offers technical assistance and consultation to organizations serving people with disabilities around the country to assist with selection and application of measures in different contexts.

For additional information please email rtcom@umn.edu.

Self-Determination Network News:

October 2020

Connect | Share |Learn | http://sdnetworkwi.org/ 

Last Chance! Register Today! 

There's still time to register for the 2020 Self-Determination Conference. Registration will stay open until October 23rd. The conference will be held virtually October 26th-28th. Learn how to live more independently, participate more in your community, and direct your public funds efficiently. Registration is free! Register now!

Direct Care Workforce Survey 

InControl Wisconsin is partnering with The Wisconsin Long Term Care Workforce Alliance, Wisconsin Personal Services Association and Survival Coalition on this Direct Care Workforce survey. This survey is to learn more about direct care worker experiences in Wisconsin. As the backbone of long term care in Wisconsin, it is important for decision makers to learn about worker experiences from workers directly. Our organizations advocate on behalf of the workforce and people with disabilities and older adults who need care. Names and responses to this survey WILL NOT be shared with employers and all answers are confidential. Survey results will be used in communications with policymakers in future advocacy activities. There's an opportunity to provide your email at the end of this survey if you would like to stay in touch about future advocacy opportunities. This survey will close October 23, 2020.

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:

• What My Day Looks Like
• Back Off

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.

In October, we're shining the spotlight on Dean. This fun-loving grandpa loves to volunteer and help people in any way he can. He’s been involved in disability advocacy for many years and doesn’t let his health conditions stop him from living life the way he wants to. Stop this month's Member Spotlight to get to know Dean.

Who should we shine the spotlight on next?

Stacy’s Journal

Take five minutes to check out what's happening on the Self-Determination Network:

• Impact of COVID-19: The American Association on Health & Disability recently released an analysis of the impact of COVID on people with disabilities. Find out what their study revealed. 
• Adaptive Mountain Bikes: After an accident left him paralyzed, a man found he can help others when he designed adaptive mountain bike for himself. Read about how he realized that he could design bikes for other people with similar limitations. 
• Voting Information: The November Presidential election is going to be like no other. Find out what the Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition is doing to educate people. 
• Transition Parents in Partnership: Transition Parents in Partnership (TPIP) will prepare families for the transition process for their youth with disabilities ages 14-21 in the areas of employment, education, living and health. All sessions will be virtual this year. Learn more and register today! 
• Emerging Leader Award: Through the AAPD Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Awards, the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) recognizes outstanding emerging leaders with disabilities who exemplify leadership, advocacy, and dedication to the broader cross-disability community. Applications due October 28th. Learn more and apply today. 
• 2021 AAPD Summer Internship Opportunities: The American Association on People with Disabilities announced they are now accepting applications for summer internships for 2021 in Washington DC for college students and recent graduates with disabilities. Applications are due October 28th. Read more and apply today! 
• Voting Resources: Check out information and resources from the Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition. 
• Voting Challenges: With any election, people with disabilities face a variety of challenges. Add a pandemic in the mix and more problems arise. Read about the several issues issues people with disabilities face when trying to vote. 
• Disparities in Healthcare: The Americans with Disabilities Act turned 30 this summer in during the pandemic. Read about why many people think the pandemic emphasized the disparities in healthcare. 
• Voting and COVID-19 Report: The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) has published a nonpartisan policy report COVID-19 and the Disability Vote, urging federal, state, and local governments to take immediate action and ensure that voters can cast a ballot safely, accessibly, and securely in the 2020 general election. Learn how the pandemic has made it more difficult for people with disabilities to vote. 
• Governor's Task Force on Caregiving Report: A report from the Governor’s Task Force on Caregiving, presenting their policy recommendations, is now available.  Find out what was recommended. 
• Best and Worst Cities: Each year, WalletHub publishes a report ranking the best and worst cities in the US for people with disabilities. Learn which Wisconsin cities made the top 100.
• Be Inspired: It's hunting season in Wisconsin. Read about a man from Prairie du Chien doesn't let his limitations stop him from doing something he loves! 
• COVID-19 Resources for Adults in Long-Term Care Programs: The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has created a plain language resource webpage for adults in the long-term care programs. Check out the information! 

Upcoming Events

Here's a sample of upcoming events listed on the Self-Determination Network:

• AbilityMKE Now! With Dave Stevens: October 15th, 6:30p.m. to 7p.m., Online
• ADA Audio Conference Session: Accommodations For Hiring And Work: October 20th, 1p.m. to 2 p.m., Online
• Did You Know? Now You Know!: October 20th, 3p.m. to 4:30p.m., Online
• NBDC’s Virtual Disability Inclusion Summit: October 21st, 10a.m. to 1p.m., Online
• What’s After High School?: October 22nd, 12:30p.m. to 2p.m., Online
• What’s After High School?: October 22nd, 6p.m. to 7:30p.m., Online
• What’s After High School?: October 28th, 5p.m. to 6:30p.m., Online
• AbilityFestUSA: October 26th to November 1st, Sheraton Hotel, Brookefield WI

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.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has created a plain language resource webpage for adults in our long-term care programs: Family Care, Family Care Partnership, IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct), and PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly). This webpage provides information about how members and participants can stay healthy, safe, and connected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals will find resources on accessing program services, increased contact with care teams and consultants, and helpful information to consider during the pandemic.

View webpage