News
June 2018
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Call for Exhibitors for the 2018 Self-Determination Conferencee
Calling all Wisconsin organizations that support self-determination and self-directed support in Wisconsin. We encourage you to submit an application. Space is limited and only applications from exhibitors that directly support self-determination and self-direction in WI will be accepted. All applications will be reviewed by a committee and selected based on interest, needs, variety and mission of the conference. We are particularly interested in having exhibitors with innovative approaches to services and supports for self- direction including health and wellness supports for people with disabilities. Exhibit tables are open Oct. 29-31.
Calling all Micro-business owners! If you are a person with a disability and own your own micro-business apply to share your gifts and talents with over 900 people this October? Be an exhibitor at the 2018 Self-Determination Conference.
Hurry! Applications must be received no later than July 10, 2018. Space is limited, and spots are expected to run out before the deadline date.
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.
For June, we shine the spotlight on Jane. This past Diehard Advocate award recipient is dedicated to helping people with disabilities find employment. She also encourages people to ask for help because we can all learn from one another. Stop by this month's Member Spotlight to get to know Jane.
“Never judge someone by the way he/she looks.“ Most people are taught that beginning at an early age. Having a disability often makes fitting in difficult. Some people are completely okay with not fitting in because of their limitations, and others work hard to hide theirs. In this month's entry, Stacy discusses how she handles the desire to fit in. We encourage you to share your thoughts and experiences as well.
Take five minutes to check out what's happening on the Self-Determination Network:
- Be Inspired: It's graduation season. Many people with disabilities will cross the stage overcoming tremendous odds Read about how one UW-Green Bay grad didn't let his disabilities or growing up in poverty stop him from achieving his dream.
- Advocacy Trainings: Parents in Partnership (PIP) and Youth in Partnership with Parents for Employment have released their 2018-2019 training schedule. Learn about these programs and get involved!
- Voting Rights: It's not widely known, but in many states people with disabilities can be stripped of their right to vote. Find out why many people feel that the law needs to be changed.
- Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition: During this important election year, the Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition (WDVC) will work to increase voting turnout and participation in the electoral process among members of Wisconsin’s disability community by hosting voting trainings and registration days, creating comprehensive resources for people with disabilities around voting rights, and working with municipalities to ensure their polling places are up to accessibility standards. Learn how you can participate.
- Technology Initiative: Microsoft recently announced a multimillion dollar initiative to develop technology that will benefit people with disabilities. Read about what the initiative will create.
- Caregiver Check-In Mandate Delayed: Lawmakers have delayed legislation a controversial Medicaid requirement that personal care providers electronically check in when caring for people with disabilities. Find out why this requirement is causing controversy.
- The Disability Integration Act: The Supreme Court ruled that people with disabilities have the right to live in the community rather than in institutions and states must provide them with the services they need to do so. However, this rule is often ignored. Learn what this Act would do to ensure that people are allowed to live in the community.
- Feedback on State AT Plan: Wisconsin's Assistive Technology (AT) Advisory Council has completed a draft of Wisconsin’s State Plan for AT 2018-2020. The Wisconsin AT Advisory Council welcomes your comments, suggestions, and feedback on the state plan. Public comment ends June 30.
Here's a sample of upcoming events listed on the Self-Determination Network:
- 2018 Aging Empowerment Conference: June 14th-15th, Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Center, Madison WI
- Disability Rights Wisconsin Informational And Listening Session: June 22nd, 4p.m. to 6:30p.m., Urban League of Greater Madison, Madision WI
- Endless Possibilities Conference: August 3rd, 8:30a.m. to 3:30p.m., UW-Whitewater, Whitewater 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.
Even though many locations claim to be accessible, people learn that they are not when they arrive. Some of these people have tried to fix this problem by creating accessibility guide apps. App makers use maps from providers like Google and data from users to create better accessibility guides. Access Earth, AccessNow, and AXS Map are some of those apps. Most of the guide apps are incomplete, but some are better in locations where users have added a lot of content. Getting people together to test an area for accessibility and sharing the results with an accessibility app is a way to improve apps and teach people about accessibility.
REWIRE NEWS: Disability Activists Fight for the Right to Live in Their Communities
By SD Network, 2018-06-05
In Olmstead v. LC, the Supreme Court ruled that people with disabilities have the right to live in the community rather than in institutions and states must provide them with the services they need to do so. However, this rule is often ignored. Part of the problem is that Medicaid makes states fund institutions but does not require them to pay for in-home services. In 2015, the Disability Integration Act (DIA) was first introduced before Congress. The DIA would give people with disabilities the legal right to choose how and where they receive the services they need. It would also make states have more accessible housing that people with disabilities can afford.
Lawmakers have delayed legislation a controversial Medicaid requirement that personal care providers electronically check in when caring for people with disabilities. A new bill calls for a delay until 2020 of "electronic visit verification" Which hopes to decrease fraudulent billing. Supporters of the EVV system say that the delay would give people time to develop a system based on input from caregivers an stakeholders. Many people feel that a lot more work needs to be done. There are many concerns about things such as privacy.
Microsoft recently announced a multimillion dollar initiative to develop technology that will benefit people with disabilities. The five year program will create "accessible and intelligent" solutions. The initiative which is called "AI for Accessibility," will include seed grants, universities and other inventors and investments in projects.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: State Plan for Assistive Technology (AT) 2018-2020
By SD Network, 2018-06-04
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration on Community Living (ACL) requires states that receive federal funding from the Assistive Technology (AT) Act to submit a State Plan for Assistive Technology every three years. The State Plan outlines goals for the state’s AT program and tracks progress towards these goals based on federal performance measures.
Wisconsin's AT Advisory Council has completed a draft of Wisconsin’s State Plan for AT 2018-2020. The Wisconsin AT Advisory Council welcomes your comments, suggestions, and feedback on the state plan. This plan aims to improve access to assistive technology devices and services for people of all ages in order to continue to live independently in the community with dignity and respect. Attached to this email and available at: https://atc.wisconsin.gov/atcfiles/p-02162_State_AT_Plan_18-20.pdf.
Public comments and feedback received on the State Plan for AT will be reviewed and addressed in the plan as appropriate. The AT Advisory Council is committed to using the comments and feedback received on the plan in multiple ways—including implementation of the State Plan.
Please submit your responses via the feedback survey or in writing by Saturday, June 30, 2018 at 5 pm (CST). If you have any questions about the public comment process or need assistance completing this survey, please contact Mason Aumanstal at (608) 266-3118 or via email at MasonE.Aumanstal@dhs.wisconsin.gov.
The State Plan for AT Feedback Survey link will be active on the State Plan AT webpage (https://atc.wisconsin.gov/state-assistive-technology-plan.htm) the week of 6/4/2018.
You may also submit comments via mail or email:
WisTech Program
ATTN: State Plan
1 W. Wilson Street, Room 551
PO Box 2659
Madison, WI 53701-2659
MasonE.Aumanstal@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Thank you in advance for your feedback on the 2018-2020 State Plan for AT!
“Never judge someone by the way he/she looks.“ Most people are taught that beginning at an early age. While we all know it’s not right to judge one another, everybody does—it’s human nature. Regardless of age, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, economic status, or disability, as a society, we are taught to believe that everyone is equal and nobody is the better than anyone else. Theoretically, this means that everybody should feel like they “fit in” everywhere all the time; however, it’s not realistic. Most people experience feeling “singled out” negatively more than once in their life. Often, it’s unintentional and purely situational, but, regardless, “sticking out” usually isn’t something to be desired. People with disabilities often “stick out” more than most—it’s just a fact.
My disability is pretty noticeable. Some people have very mild cerebral palsy and the effects often go unnoticed by many. I happen to have a pretty severe form of cerebral palsy. In addition to using a power wheelchair, I can’t verbally speak clearly and because of my fluctuating muscle tone, my arms and legs often move unintentionally. My head often droops and sometimes my mouth hangs open or my tongue sticks out. I also drool. There’s no way around hiding the fact that I’m “different.”
As I’ve explained in previous journal entries, I accept that I have a disability, but it doesn’t define who I am. Unless a situation presents itself, I don’t think of myself as being disabled. Growing up, I guess I became accustomed to “sticking out.” Since I was in regular classes, classmates got used to having me in class and understood what I was capable of. It wasn’t a big deal. College was unique. UW-Whitewater specializes in serving students with physical disabilities, so I certainly didn’t stick out on campus. In classes, sometimes I felt like I stood out because I was the only one with visible limitations, but again, after people got to know me, it wasn’t an issue.
As I get older, I notice I feel I stick out more at social gatherings. Whether it’s a retirement dinner for my mom, a friend’s wedding, or a cousin’s graduation party, I feel like I stick out like a sore thumb. I think it has a lot to do with meeting new people who are unaware that the person that the event is for has a relative or a friend who has a disability. Now, obviously, in all three of those scenarios, I was invited because the person wants me there and they see past my disability. Often, at such events, the harder I try not to stick out (besides being in wheelchair), the more my muscles tense up which causes unintentional movements and noises. Unfortunately, it’s just how my body works. My mom, dad, and sister know not to tell me to try to fix it because it only makes it worse when I try harder. I also need to be fed at these events. Being fed automatically draws attention to oneself. Again, the harder I try not to make a scene, the more my body will react while eating causing me to cough and food to drop.
Admittedly, I also have some social anxiety when attending events where there are people my age. While I know most people don’t expect me to get married and have a family, it doesn’t mean I don’t crave that. I realize most people probably don’t even think about it (which is good), but I often feel singled out because I don’t have that. Seeing friends and cousins with significant others and children at events can be pretty hard. As happy as I am for them, it makes me wonder if it will ever happen to me. The older I get the less likely it is and that’s not an easy thing to accept. I try my best to experience happiness through other people’s eyes, but, sometimes, when everyone else around you seems to have what you desperately want, it can be hard. As hard as it can be, I’m eternally grateful that I have amazing friends and family who always include me despite my circumstances. I’m one lucky girl!
I’d love nothing more than to actually walk down the aisle and stand with the other bridesmaids at my friend’s wedding this weekend; however, I have a different path in life. Instead, I will proudly roll down the aisle thinking about how lucky I am to have the bride as one of my best friends for over 25 years. Will I stick out? Definitely, but I’m honored to be in my friend’s wedding. She obviously doesn’t have a problem with my circumstances, so why should I?
Having a pronounced physical disability often makes fitting in difficult. Some people are completely okay with not fitting in because of their limitations, and others work hard to hide theirs. I think I’m somewhere in between. While usually I don’t have a problem with being seen as different, there are times where I desperately want to fit in. It’s during those times that I need to remember that I was chosen to have a different path in life. My purpose in life is different than most; I’m here to show people what is possible despite the curve balls life throws at you!
***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.
How are you involved with self-determination? Why did you join the SD Network?
Jane got involved in self-determination through her place of employment which is Portal, Inc. in Grafton. She started four years ago as a Prevocational Mentor and worked with getting people out in the community and beginning to experience jobs. Currently, she work as a Job Consultant and Job Coach with Portal. I also work with WIOA students two days a week teaching them self-determination and living skills.
Jane also helped restart the People First Chapter in Ozaukee County and became and advisor. It was then that she heard of the Self-Determination Network and decided to join to make community connections and have a source to help her. She has attended the Self-Determination Conference the past four years and in 2015, she was awarded the Diehard Advocate award. “It was pretty exciting,” she says.
Tell us some good news - what's the most exciting thing happening for you (or in Wisconsin) in terms self-determination?
Jane is excited to see is all of the jobs available today in our community that are being filled by people with disabilities.
What tip or resource would you like to share with people who want to be more self-determined?
A tip Jane would like to share is that if you do not vote or do not know how, ask for help. She encourages people to register to vote and head to the polls on voting day. She says, “your voice matters.” She explained that they had a member of their People First Chapter get back her right to vote which was really exciting.
What message would you like to share with the members of the SD Network?
“Many hands make light work,” Jane says. She explains that we don’t always have to reinvent the wheel. She encourages people to ask for help--more times than not someone wants to help and can.
What are some of your hobbies?
Jane is a lady with many hobbies. In addition to sewing, quilting, and painting, she loves to wall paper. She also is an avid reader—she reads a book (mostly fiction, biographies, or cookbooks) every 10-14 days. She also loves to people watch.
***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.
- Participate in monthly planning meetings to move the work of the Coalition forward.
- Identify outreach and training opportunities and serve as an ambassador for the Coalition in your community.
- Join a subcommittee dedicated to one of the many important goals of the Coalition.
- Share the work of the Coalition with your colleagues and friends via social media and other creative ways.
It's not widely known, but in many states people with disabilities can be stripped of their right to vote. For adults with a developmental disability or mental illness, a guardian may be chosen to assist with management of their loved one’s finances and health care decisions. Judges are also empowered to make decisions regarding voter participation competency during these guardianship proceedings. During this process in many states the person's right to vote can be taken away. This opinion blog explains why many people feel that the law needs to be changed. Many people feel that everybody should have the right to vote.