News

According to a new national report, Wisconsin is expected to need an additional 20,000 home care workers  by 2024.  It's widely known that there is already a serve shortage of care workers in the state.  Many blame low wages and poor working conditions for this.  A 4% increase for Medicaid reimbursement for personal care workers was approved in the recent state budget, but many  felt a 15% increase is needed to do  any good.

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In 2017, the National Association of States United for Aging Disabilities administered a survey of state agencies that deliver Long Term Services and Supports, including aging and disability agencies as well as Medicaid programs, regarding the significant policy, fiscal, and operational issues occurring within each state. During the survey, they collected detailed information about the structure of agencies, the supports provided, and the populations served by state programs.

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A first of its kind digital hub is designed to address needs of over 1 billion people facing disability, digital literacy or aging related barriers.  The unique online digital hub was launched in 2017 at a conference  in the UK.  It provides the resources needed to learn about, create, improve and market accessible products.  

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Google is looking to the public in an effort to make navigating the world easier for people with disabilities.  They're asking users to add information about wheelchair accessibility to entries on Google Maps. Wheelchair accessibility was added to Google Maps last year, and now they're making a push to add more accessibility attributes to the map.

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The American Association on Health and Disability (www.aahd.us) is accepting applications for the Frederick J. Krause Scholarship for undergraduate (junior/senior status) and graduate students with disabilities who are majoring in a field related to disability and health.  Please feel free to distribute to your colleagues.

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM CRITERIA: The AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship on Health and Disability is awarded annually to deserving students with a disability,pursuing undergraduate/graduate studies (must be at least enrolled as a Junior in college) in an accredited college or university. Preference is given to students majoring in a field related to disability and health, to include, but not limited to  public health, health promotion, disability studies, disability research, rehabilitation engineering, audiology, disability policy, special education and majors that will impact quality of life of persons with disabilities.

Applicant must have a disability Applicant must be enrolled  FULL TIME as an undergraduate student (junior standing and above) or enrolled PART TIME or FULL TIME in a graduate school Preference is given to students majoring in a field related to disability and health (see Scholarship  Program Criteria above) Applicant must be a US citizen or legal resident living in the US and enrolled in an accredited United States university Funds are limited to under $1,000

FUNDING INFORMATION: Funds are limited to under $1,000. The AAHD Board of Directors Scholarship Committee will evaluate each of the applicants and make a decision in December of each calendar year.  The 2017-2018 Scholarship Award will be awarded January 2018.  It is the discretion of the Scholarship Committee to determine how many scholarships will be awarded each year and the amount of each scholarship. 

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: 

• Applicant must provide a Personal Statement (maximum 3 pages, double spaced), including brief personal history, educational/career goals, extra-curricular activities, and reasons why they should be selected by the AAHD Scholarship Committee. This statement must be written solely by the applicant
   
  
• Applicant must provide two (2) Letters of Recommendation (One must be from a teacher or academic advisor). Letters may be sent by U. S. mail or by email attachment as pdf and should include the signature of the teacher or advisor, and the name of student should appear in the subject line of the email.
   
  
• Applicant must provide an official copy of college transcript, which should be mailed to AAHD in a sealed envelope.
   
  
• Applicant must agree to allow AAHD to use their name, picture and/or story in future scholarship materials.

Applications are due November 15, 2017.

APPLICATION FORM: PDF
Please attach your application, supporting materials, etc. and email to: scholarship@aahd.us. Place “2017-18 Scholarship” in subject line. (Please use MS Word for your personal statement and MS Word, if at all possible, and/or PDF for all other documents that are emailed as attachments).  If this is not possible, please mail documents to:

Scholarship Committee
American Association on Health and Disability
110 N. Washington Street, Suite 328-J
Rockville, MD 20850

Only completed applications will be considered and must be postmarked and/or received by email no later than November 15, 2017.

The Administration on Aging (AoA) within the Administration for Community Living (ACL) commissioned a supplemental issue of Generations through its National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center (NADRC) in an effort to advance the establishment and enhancement of dementia-capable home and community-based systems. It is titled Supporting People with Dementia and Their Caregivers in the Community. The Generations supplement is comprised of 18 articles authored by experts in a broad range of dementia care and advocacy topics.

This special issue is dedicated to the delivery of information on a range of topics of significance for people living with dementia and their caregivers.  Intended to put dementia care in context, this issue provides insight into evidence-based interventions, person-centered/directed dementia care, underserved and vulnerable populations, and other topics for providing effective home and community-based services.

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The Compassionate allowances list grows as U.S. Social Security expedites decisions to those with serious disabilities.  The Social Security Administration recently announced  three new Compassionate Allowances conditions: CACH Vanishing White Matter Disease-Infantile and Childhood Onset Forms, Congenital Myotonic Dystrophy, and Kleefstra Syndrome.

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Time is Running Out...Register Today!

There is still time to register for the 10th annual Self-Determination Conference. This conference ​works ​to ​empower ​people ​with ​disabilities ​in ​Wisconsin ​to ​have ​more ​control ​over ​their ​lives. ​More ​than ​600 ​people ​each ​year ​participate ​in ​the ​conference ​to ​learn ​more ​about ​self-determination ​and ​self ​directed ​supports ​so ​they ​can ​live ​independently, ​be ​members ​of ​their ​communities, ​and ​use ​public ​funds ​efficiently. ​The ​conference ​participants ​include ​people ​with ​disabilities ​and ​their ​family ​members, ​direct ​care ​providers, ​and ​professionals ​from ​Wisconsin’s ​disability ​community.  View this year's conference brochure and register today! 

Diehard Award Nominations

Do you know someone who goes above and beyond to improve community supports for individuals with disabilities? Do they support self-determination? Nominate them for a Diehard Award! A Diehard is an individual who has made a significant contribution to the advocacy work here in Wisconsin. A diehard is someone with a steadfast commitment to the principles of community integration and self-determination. Diehards go above and beyond to make sure everyone is counted. Awards will be presented at the Self-Determination Conference on November 3rd at the Kalahari Resort and Conference Center in the Wisconsin Dells. Nominations are due on Friday, October 6th. Nominate someone today!

Stacy’s Journal

Lately, it seems like all of the news coverage has been about the catastrophic storms that are happening around the world. Back to back major hurricanes in the south, wildfires in the west, earthquakes in Mexico… it seems endless. This month, Stacy discusses what extra steps people with disabilities have to take when Mother Nature throws curve balls.  We encourage you to share your experiences as well.

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

• Care Homes of the Future: As populations around the world begin to live for longer than they ever have, their individual needs related to their health become even more complex which means is that care homes need to use greater amounts of, and more intelligent, assistive technologies.  Learn what else research suggests.
• Special Needs Trust Flexibility:  Thanks to a new law, people with disabilities can establish special needs trusts for themselves.  Read how this will help people save money.
• Self-Driving Wheelchairs:  Researchers and robotics experts say they have developed cost-effective technology that would allow power wheelchairs to drive themselves. Find out what these chairs are expected to cost.
• The Eclipse in Real Time:  The solar eclipse that happened last month was viewed by millions of Americans.  Learn how thanks to technology people with visual impairments wee able to experience the eclipse.
• Automated Home:  Although initially developed by engineers to recreate sci-fi fantasies, smart homes in modern times are important tools for increasing agency and accessibility for elderly people and people with disabilities.  Read about how new technology is helping people live more independent.
• Call for Proposals:  Proposals to present at the 2018 National ADA Symposium are now being accepted.  The submission deadline is September 30th.
• Emergency Preparedness:  For older people and people with disabilities, emergency preparation is a must. The Administration for Community Living has put together resources for how to prepare for an emergency.
•  Voters with Disabilities: New data has been released on voting experiences for people with disabilities.  Learn what the data showed.
• Housing Barriers:  As people with developmental disabilities increasingly live in community-based settings, a new report finds that they face a multitude of barriers in obtaining housing.  Read about what's being done to try to resolve these.

Upcoming Events

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

• Sibshop Kickoff: September 17th, 3p.m. to 5p.m., The Building for Kids, Appleton WI
• Webinar: Section 504 Workshop: September 19th, 12p.m., Online
• Red Roskopf Day AbilityFest Celebrating Communities And Families:  October 1st, The Golf Club at Camelot, Lomira WI
• The Riot 2017 National Conversation:  October 5th, Teleconference
• Veterans' Resource Fair:  October 16th-17th, Waukesha County Expo Center Arena, Waukesha WI
• 2017 Self-Determination Conference:  November 1st to 3rd, Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells 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.

As people with developmental disabilities increasingly live in community-based settings, a new report finds that they face a multitude of barriers in obtaining housing.  The report finds that people with disabilities are less likely than others to  be told a housing unit is available.  Discrimination in the rental housing market is being investigated. The findings suggest that broader efforts are needed to educate housing providers across the country about their obligations when dealing with those with disabilities.

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Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE) has released their most recent report on Voting Experiences of Voters with Disabilities. The purpose of the Project was to investigate issues around voting for people with I/DD; increase the number of voters and, to provide technical assistance to improve their voting experiences.

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