Wisconsin’s bi-partisan Employment First legislation recognizes community integrated employment as a priority for people with disabilities. Wisconsin families want more competitive integrated employment choices; increasing the number of people with disabilities working in the community is one of seven priority issues BPDD focuses on in our 2019-21 state budget and policy platform.

Recommendations include:

• creating a one-time grant program to help long-term care employment service providers change their policies, practices, and business models to increase the number of individuals transitioning into sustained competitive-wage community jobs
• creating individual independence accounts that provides matching dollars for youth to finance work-related expenses
• making sure people with I/DD who do not meet the nursing home level of care have access to employment supports

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People with disabilities are not able to get where they need to go on their schedule. Access to Transportation is consistently the top concern for people with disabilities in Wisconsin, and it is one of seven priority issues BPDD focuses on in our 2019-21 state budget and policy platform.

Recommendations include:

• making sure that enough transportation is included for people with disabilities in Family Care and IRIS who are working or who want to work in the community
• reforming the Non-Emergency Medicaid Transportation (NEMT) service so people get the rides they need for medical appointments
• incentivizing a regional approach to transportation to maintain and expand public transportation capacity and make sure that people can get where they need to go on their schedules no matter where they live

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In Wisconsin a shortage of professional direct care workers has created a crisis for people with disabilities, older adults, and their families. Improving worker retention and increasing the number of workers is one of seven priority issues BPDD focuses on in our 2019-21 state budget and policy platform.

Recommendations include:

• creating a Medicaid Buy-In program for direct care workers so they can work more and keep their access to health care
• making sure worker wages in border areas match pay in other states so Wisconsin workers work for Wisconsin citizens
• supporting increases in wages, coverage of transportation costs, paid time off and retirement savings plans, and training or career advancement opportunities that retain and attract quality workers into the field
  

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Meet Dave.  As a Behavioral Consultant, he helps to develop an understanding of what people are trying to communicate or achieve through behavior.  He’s pleased that Wisconsin MCOs are starting that “challenging behavior” doesn’t always solely fall on the person, so solutions addressing things such as living and work environments and family dynamics.  He believes that interdependence should be the goal of a self-determined life.  We’re so fortunate to have Dave as a member of the Network! 

How are you involved with self-determination? Why did you join the SD Network?

Dave is president of Meaningful Living LLC (www.meaningfullivingwi.com).  As a Behavioral Consultant, he works with both the service system and individual being supported by it.  His goal is to help support teams develop an understanding of what an individual may be trying to communicate/achieve through their behavior.  He explains that typically individuals get referred to me when all other options have failed and an individual is at risk of losing their job, house or freedom.  He works with individuals to help them advocate for themselves and get what they want without all the punitive consequences they may not enjoy.  “In other words, if their behavior helps them meet a need, I help create supportive environments that encourage them to explore alternative methods of getting their needs met.  In fact, I don't insist individuals change their behavior. I help them understand the connection between the decisions available to them, potential outcomes, and accountability,” he says.  Dave joined the SD Network because it consists of people providing services as well as individuals receiving them. He strongly believes those who receive services should have a voice in how services are provided and a place where they can speak to those of us who provide them.  “I wanted to be a part of that,” he explains.  

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

From Dave’s perspective, the most exciting thing happening is Wisconsin, in terms of Self-Determination, is MCO's are beginning to recognize responsibility for "challenging behavior" doesn't always fall on the individual, and therefore, ever so slowly, the landscape is shifting from interventions focused primarily on pharmaceutical solutions, to solutions that also include addressing one’s living situation, work environment, and even family dynamics. “The idea behind this is that changes that occur as a result of a more knowledgeable and understanding staff/team, and a more empowered individual, will be more meaningful and longer lasting for all involved,” he states.  He explains that medications alone may aid in reducing challenging behavior, or gaining compliance from the perspective of the service provider, but it may also threaten the voice and wellbeing of the person being supported.

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

Dave suggests that people expect these things from himself/herself as well as those supporting him/her:

-Be yourself.

-Have the courage to be imperfect.

-Accept responsibility for the choices you make.

-Learn from mistakes and use those lessons to grow as a person.

-Value what you do.

 -Be creative - there is usually more than one way to get from point A to point B.

What message would you like to share with the members of the SD Network?

In Dave’s field, their focus has always been on helping individuals achieve independence. He explains that unfortunately, one can be fully independent and still feel isolated and alone.  That’s why Meaningful Living's motto is, "Providing a foundation for interdependent pro-social community living."  He believes that interdependence, a mutual reliance between an individual and his or her community, should be the goal of a fully self-determined life.  The people he supports have a lot to offer their communities…as providers, they need to do more than implement, “support services.”  He believes they need to do a better job of helping our communities understand, appreciate, and value those they are supporting.  Then, ideally, many of the “services” will no longer be necessary. 

What are some of your hobbies?

Dave enjoys playing and coaching soccer, drawing, doing outdoor activities with his family and taking their dog for walks.

***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.

Access to Independence is in the process of looking for artists as part of the commemorations for our 40^Th Anniversary, Access to Independence Inc. is planning a celebration of artists with disabilities at the Concourse Hotel on Thursday evening, October 25. Attached you will find more information on our call for artists, and an application for artists who may wish to participate in the exhibition in October. In addition, we will be choosing twelve artist’s works for a 2019 calendar. Artists whose works are chosen to be included in the calendar will receive an award of $200 and special recognition at the October 25 event, and in the calendar. Please share the attached information with anyone who may be interested in participating, or may know of artists with disabilities whose talents we can help to showcase. Thank you.

	Call For Artists Application
	Call For Artists Application.pdf, 939KB ∞

ARCH 2019 National Lifespan Respite Conference's Call for Presentations Open through September 1, 2018

The ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center and its co-hosts, the New York State Caregiving & Respite Coalition and the New York State Office for the Aging, invite you to submit a proposal to participate in their conference on innovation and quality in respite services for family caregivers of children and adults.

The Call for Presentations is now open for the 2019 National Lifespan Respite Conference to be held in Buffalo, New York, April 30-May 2, 2019. Proposals for breakout sessions are being accepted until the deadline, September 1, 2018.

Conference coordinators welcome proposals for breakout sessions on any aspect of planned or emergency respite service delivery, streamlined access, research, evaluation, policy, best practices or innovation.

Learn more about the Conference, view/download application information, and submit a proposal on the Call for Presentations webpage.

According to a new report, people with disabilities still remain largely underrepresented in major movies.  Just 2.5% of characters had disabilities in  2017's major movies.   That's down from 2.7% in 2016.  Of last year’s most popular films, 41 included no speaking characters with disabilities and only two movies portrayed people with disabilities in proportion with their actual representation.

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Federal policy is often implemented with little consideration for how it will impact people with disabilities, but that could change under a new proposal. A new bill in the U.S. Senate calls for the creation of an Office of Disability Policy.  This would specifically review legislative and regulatory plans  the assess how they would affect people with disabilities.  

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U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention figures show 1 in 4 US adults now live with a disability, with cognitive disability most common in younger adults and mobility disabilities most common for others.  The data shows that disability is more common among women, non-Hispanic American Indians/Alaska Natives, adults with lower income, and adults living in the South Census region of the United States.

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In the past few years, Google has shifted the way that it thinks about accessibility, moving from grassroots advocacy to codified systems.  Beyond making all its products accessible, the next big challenge is finding ways for its technology to help disabled people navigate the wider world. While Google works to improve its own products and processes and launch into new domains, the Accessibility team has also ramped up its external focus

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