News
COOKCOUNTYRECORD: Lawsuit: McDonald's website, mobile app not accessible to the blind, violates ADA
By SD Network, 2017-05-02
An interesting court case has recently surfaced about how the McDonald's website and mobile app violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A man from Chicago has filed a lawsuit against McDonald's claiming they have discriminated against him because they have not made their website and mobile app accessible for people who have visual impairments. The website and app are not compatible with screen readers. The plaintiff is asking the court to order McDonald's to work with a consultant to redesign the resources to be accessible for those who use screen readers. He is also seeking compensatory damages.
Registration is Now Open for the
Aging Empowerment Conference 2017:
Living a Self-Determined Life
June 6th--Conference
June 7th--Self-Determination Summit
Glacier Canyon Lodge Conference Center
at the Wilderness Resort
Wisconsin Dells, WI
Join InControl Wisconsin and other sponsors and explore self-determination and empowerment in aging. We will examine new approaches to aging that support autonomy and choice.
Who should attend?
The conference attracts a diverse statewide audience that includes older adults, caregivers, and professionals.
Please see the brochure for registration information or click here to register
Featured Programming:
Keynote Address - Powerful Aging: Changing the Stories We Tell
Helen Marks Dicks, Associate State Director State Advocacy, AARP Wisconsin.
Self-Determination Summit - Learn how all of the current health care reform proposals will affect seniors, and how you can become a more effective advocate.
Workshop Programming - Highlights include:
Emotional Intelligence: The New Success Factor
Empowering Older Adults to Maximize Their Medicare Benefit
#ShePersisted: Getting What You Want
Consumer Satisfaction: The Wisconsin Veteran Directed Services Program
Hotel Reservations
Reserve a room at conference rates by calling 1-800-867-9453 by May 19th. Ask the reservation agent to book your room under the Aging Empowerment 2017 block. Reserve early before rooms are sold out!
Sponsor and Exhibitor Opportunities are still available. Join us!
Conference registration closes June 1st!
Questions? Contact Peggy Rynearson at 608/446-4206 or prynearson@gmail.com
The process for accessing personal care services through Medicaid is changing for those who are enrolled in “fee for services” Medicaid. This impacts most children and some adults including:
- BadgerCare Plus members
- Wisconsin Medicaid members
- Include, Respect, I Self-Direct (IRIS) members who do not self-direct their personal care services
- Members enrolled in Wraparound Milwaukee or Children Come First programs
The change impacts the assessment process to determine eligibility and the numbers of hours of support a member is eligible to receive. DHS recently issued a Forward health memo called the New Personal Care Independent Assessment and Prior Authorization Policy describing the change. Attached is the fact sheet that was sent to members starting Monday April 17th. Implementation will start June 1st.
New Approval Process for Personal Care Services PCIAfactsheet4-2017.pdf, 70KB ∞
April 2017
Connect | Share | Learn | http://sdnetworkwi.org/
Let Your Voice Be Heard!
The State legislature’s Joint Finance Committee has finished most of the public hearings on the 2017-2019 state budget. There are three more public hearings remaining. The proposed budget includes small increases for some programs such as specialized transportation and the Medicaid Personal Care program. These increases do not reflect the actual need and are not guaranteed to stay in the budget. This is your opportunity to let members of the JFC know what you like and what you don’t like!
Aging Advocacy Day
Are you interested in issues affecting older adults? You’re invited to join members of the Wisconsin Aging Advocacy Network (WAAN) and others to help educate state legislators about issues affecting Wisconsin’s aging population.
On Wednesday May 17th, citizens from around the state will gather in Madison for a day of advocacy training and meetings with legislators. No experience is necessary; you’ll get the training and support you need before meeting with state lawmakers. Following the training, join others from your assembly and senate district to provide information and share personal stories with your legislators to help them understand how specific legislative policies impact older constituents. Registration closes May 1st. Learn more and register today!
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 April, we shine the spotlight on Kurt. This avid water skier is involved in a plethora of disability organizations. He believes self-determination is about lifestyle development and letting people be the best versions of themselves. Stop by this month's Member Spotlight to get to know Kurt.
Who should we shine the Spotlight on next?
For this month's entry, Stacy talks about how having a physical disability impacts a person's fashion. We encourage you to share your experiences as well.
Take five minutes to check out what's happening on the Self-Determination Network:
- Supporting Wellness Resource: Here's a great resource about health and wellness activities for people who have disabilities. Check it out!
- Health and Transition Resource: PACER's National Parent Center on Transition & Employment has a new section on their website focused on health and transition for students with disabilities. Discover what information it has to offer.
- Neat Photo Exhibit: A photographer did a neat project where she took photos and interviewed people with disabilities about what they wish others understood about their condition. Check out the photos.
- 'Special Needs' Controversy: A group of celebrities are taking a stand against the term "special needs." Learn about what they are did to demonstrate that everyone has the same needs.
- Caregiver Career Program: In an effort to attract and retain more nursing home caregivers, Wisconsin is launching an innovative program called the Caregiver Career Program. Find out more about the program.
- New App: A new dating app, Glimmer, is trying to create an inclusive space for online dating, particularly for people with disabilities. Learn about this app.
- Interesting Court Case: There is an interesting court case going on about how existing 911 services are inaccessible to people who have hearing impairments. Read about the case.
- Accessible Kiosks: New kiosks are available which translates customer's selections into sign language. Find out how these kiosks work.
- Impact of Care Worker Shortage: The home care worker crisis isn't just effecting people with disabilities who live independently in their own home or apartment; it's also effecting group homes and nursing homes. Learn what many feel needs to be done to fix it.
- ABLE Act Improvements: Earlier this month, a bi-partisan group of Members of Congress introduced a group of individual bills that would better the benefits provided through the ABLE Act. Read about the proposed bills.
Here's a sample of upcoming events listed on the Self-Determination Network:
- WI FACETS Self-Advocacy Workshop: Self-Advocate Spotlight: April 26th, 6p.m. to 8p.m., WI FACETS, Milwaukee WI
- Action On The Square: Mental Health Advocacy Day: May 4th, 10a.m. to 3p.m. State Capitol, Madison WI
- 2017 Circles Of Life Conference: May 4th to 5th, Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center, Stevens Point WI
- 2017 National ADA Symposium: May 14th to 17th, Hyatt Regency O'Hare, Chicago IL
- Aging Advocacy Day: May 17th, 10a.m. to 4p.m., State Capitol, Madison WI
- 2017 Aging Empowerment Conference: June 6th-7th, Glacier Canyon Lodge Conference Center at the Wilderness Resort, Wisconsin Dells WI
- Adaptive Water Skiing: June 14th, 10a.m. to 4p.m., Brittingham Park, Madison WI
- Adaptive Water Skiing: June 28th, 10a.m. to 4p.m., Brittingham Park, Madison WI
- US Wake Sports Festival: August 15th to 16th, Traxler Park, Janesville WI
- Wisconsin Youth Leadership Forum: July 9th to 14th, Edgewood College, Madison, 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.
NATIONAL ABLE RESOURCE CENTER: Members of Congress Re-Introduce ABLE Improvement Bills
By SD Network, 2017-04-12
Earlier this month, a bi-partisan group of Members of Congress introduced a group of individual bills that would better the benefits provided through the ABLE Act. The group of bills consists of the following three pieces of proposed legislation:
- The ABLE Age Adjustment Act (S. 817/HR 1874) would raise the age limit for ABLE accounts to age 46.
- The ABLE Financial Planning Act (S. 816/HR 1897) would allow families to rollover savings in a 529 college savings plan into an ABLE account.
- The ABLE to Work Act (S. 818/HR 1896) would allow individuals and their families to save more money in an ABLE account if the beneficiary works and earns income.
THE JOURNAL TIMES: Home care worker industry in crisis, impacting group homes
By SD Network, 2017-04-12
The home care worker crisis isn't just effecting people with disabilities who live independently in their own home or apartment; it's also effecting group homes and nursing homes. The state budget has a 4% pay increase for care workers, but many feel that's not near enough. People feel there needs to be a 15% increase to be competitive with other jobs.
For most women, fashion is important at least to some extent. Whether it’s their wardrobe, hairstyle, jewelry, shoes, or another facet of beauty, ladies enjoy getting glammed up every once in a while. Women with disabilities are no different. We have the desire to look pretty too. For those of us who have physical disabilities, looking fashionable (or the way we want) comes with many obstacles that most people never even think about.
Fortunately, I consider myself a pretty laid back girl in terms of fashion. Unless I’m going out with family or friends, you’ll normally find me in jeans and a sweatshirt or sweats. Those are the easiest kinds of outfits to wear. When buying clothes, I have to be conscious of things that don’t even cross most people’s minds. Things such as color, style, length, size, and cut all need more consideration when I buy clothes.
Since I’m in a wheelchair, I have to be very conscientious of how shirts and dresses are cut. Because of how I sit, certain cuts are way too revealing. Low cut shirts and strapless dresses don’t work for me. Certain styles of tops are really difficult to get into because my arms often don’t bend very easily. When buying pants, I have to make sure they are not too long because otherwise I slip on them while transferring. I also have to make sure that there aren’t too many bulky buttons or rhinestones by the waist of the pants because my seatbelt on my wheelchair presses on them and irritates my skin. Length of dresses is something else I need to be aware of. Since I sit most of the time, many dresses are often too short; on the other hand, I can’t wear floor length dresses either because they would get caught in the tires of my chair. It’s a balancing act.
Color of clothes—especially tops—is another thing that I need to be conscientious of. Due to cerebral palsy, I drool. Certain colors of shirts and dresses show drool more. Of course, I can’t totally avoid wearing those colors, but I do make an effort not to wear them for special occasions. In fact, a good example of this is when my sister first started looking at colors for bridesmaid dresses for her wedding, she asked for my opinion between two colors. Of course I said it was up to her (and I’d make anything work), but I reminded her that one of the colors would show my drool less. I don’t think it was just because of that, but she did end up choosing that color.
Shoes present another whole set of issues. Most of the time, I wear tennis shoes because they’re the most comfortable and the easiest type of shoe to stand in. It’s challenging to find even tennis shoes that work for me. I need shoes that have good grip the bottom of them because otherwise I slide all over during transfers and can’t push myself in to my chair. It’s getting harder and harder to find that have good grip. I don’t wear orthotics anymore, but I did when I was younger. When I wore those, I needed to wear high-tops tennis shoes with them. Finding high-top shoes for little girls was nearly impossible. We often ended up buying boys shoes for me. It’s very rare for me to wear anything other than tennis shoes. Finding dress shoes for me isn’t easy either. I have to have something that either ties or has an adjustable strap otherwise it won’t stay on. Unlike for most ladies, shoe shopping isn’t the most enjoyable thing for me. I’d love to be able to wear all of the cute shoes that are out there, but that’s just not a feasible option.
My wardrobe isn’t the only fashion item my disability effects. When choosing hairstyles, I have to think about what would be easy for my care workers to do and what would stay out of my face. My family knows I’m an extremist when it comes to hairstyles. I like it either very long or very short. Due to my muscle movements, many hairdos tend to fall out. When I’m growing it out, we try clipping it back several ways until it’s long enough to be in a ponytail. Unfortunately, like most girls, I find growing it out to be a pain. Between my body movements and hitting my head on the headrest of my chair, I feel like my hair is never really perfect, but I think every girl feels that way!
Things like makeup and jewelry present similar challenges. I don’t wear makeup very often, but when I do, I have to have someone else apply it. Again, with my uncontrollable muscle movements, this can be hard. Eye shadow, blush, and a little mascara (on the top eyelashes only) are about all I ever wear. I also only occasionally wear jewelry. Necklaces and earrings are okay most of the time, but bracelets and rings can be hard to wear because my hands are always moving and bracelets and rings often get caught on my chair and keyboard.
Like I said, I don’t dress up very often. Part of is due to my personality, but I think part of it has to do with my disability. Would I dress up more often if I didn’t have limitations? It’s very likely I would, but it’s also likely I’d have a completely different lifestyle if that were the case. Fashion has never been a top priority in my life. I always try to look presentable when I’m out in public; however, I have never been to obsess over fashion!
***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?
Kurt’s interest in self-determination largely stems from sports, recreation, leisure, pastimes, hobbies, and therapeutic activities. “From that, I work hard to culminate a better position by leaders and decision-makers to the regard of disability ministries; for mine, I call it ability ministry,” he says. He believes that it is all about lifestyle development and letting people be at the best version of themselves. Kurt joined the SD Network in consideration of his ambition to help the disability networks and organization be closer to people at home, and for the sake of letting folks determine more for themselves what they want their days to look like.
Tell us some good news - what's the most exciting thing happening for you (or in Wisconsin) in terms self-determination?
Kurt is very involved in adaptive water skiing. He would like to share that if individuals determine for themselves that they want to water ski, watch water skiing, or be involved other opportunities around water skiing, that there are some fantastic programs out there. He explains that five years ago, Wisconsin had five inclusive programs to water skiing; today, there are 27. Kurt hopes to convert that number to 72. He says, “my commitment is that I am reaching out to a million people in Wisconsin to see that in the year 2020 that there will be a sit ski available out of every county of Wisconsin - 72 counties.” It is collaboration with other sports/rec. options out there like Access Ability Wisconsin is doing with Action Track Chairs.
What tip or resource would you like to share with people who want to be more self-determined?
Kurt believes that self-determination can easily miss one's aspiration with church. “It is so important that if someone wants more spiritual experiences that we help each other receive more of what we intend for ourselves on a faith level,” he explains. Kurt wants to join together to see what we can do to make membership to community groups more realistic, achievable, and welcomed. He thinks that clubs such as Lions, Kiwanis, Rotary, and Optimist are big examples of community groups that tend not to really organize around the plausibility of people with disabilities being in their membership. He believes that there are some exemplary exceptions to that observation, but it would be great if it were the norm. He explains that we need to think what we can do in education from kindergarten to doctorate degrees, what we can do to prepare the workforce, professionals, volunteers, and so forth to play a role in integration like never ever before. He also believes that we need to find out more ways that community can respond to individual interests when it is not as available by agencies. He thinks that all off this needs to connect more to the labor force and with employers to bring great increase to inclusive hiring; all individuals are a vital component in this as it is with reaching legislators.
What message would you like to share with the members of the SD Network?
Kurt wants everyone to remember that people with disabilities are the largest minority group, and no other minority group is excluded from the disability minority group. He explains that people with disabilities represent the only entirely/completely inclusive group on Planet Earth. He encourages everyone “to work towards claiming the clout deserved by every individual with a disability in the numbers of the minority group that carries the enormity in getting it right with every single individual with a disability.”
What are some of your hobbies?
Kurt enjoys water skiing and volunteering with disability organizations. Currently, he’s Vice-Chair of the Wisconsin Council on Physical Disabilities, a board member of Snappin' Ministries, a board member of Madison Spinal Cord Injury, a board member of Water Skiers with Disabilities Association, and Vice-President of the Lynzay Legois Free Water Ski Club.
Kurt wants spread the word about the U.S. Wake Sports Festival in Janesville August 15th to 19th. There is a specialized program and welcome to water ski for people with disabilities August 15th and 16th. For all who don't have interest in the water skiing, he welcomes them to come to the Festival anyway to be a spectator and have a chance to make new friendships.
***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.
GLOBENEWSWIRE: Kiosk translating in sign language assist deaf customers and help restaurants reduce risk of ADA lawsuits
By SD Network, 2017-04-07
Self-order kiosks are becoming more and more commonplace at restaurants. A new wrinkle to this type of technology, from manufacturer Juke Slot, includes the ability to set the language on the device to sign language. The new kiosk, called Oublié, features a virtual avatar, which translates customer's selections into sign language.
Kiosks in general provide a significant aid between the deaf community and the restaurant community. Members of the community hope the days of miscommunicated, handwritten orders are soon gone.
This is an interesting court case about three Arizona residents, who are deaf, as well as the National Association for the Deaf (NAD) won an early victory in their case against state and local governments in which they seek implementation of text to 911 capabilities. In February, just over a year after the suit was filed, a judge in the Arizona District Court denied the defendants' motion to dismiss the case.
The suit alleges that the existing 911 services available to deaf individuals are inadequate. The options are to use either obsolete "text-telephone" devices (TTY devices), which most people who are deaf do not have, or use telecommunications relay services (TRS), which requires high-speed internet connections. This decision allows the plaintiffs to proceed in their attempt to establish that the law requires accessibility to 911 services -- through text to 911.