News
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.
The State legislature’s Joint Finance Committee has finished one-third of the public hearings on the 2017-2019 state budget. There are three more public hearings remaining:
Tuesday, April 18 (10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.)Spooner high School (Auditorium)801 County Highway ASpooner, WI 54801
Wednesday, April 19 (10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)Ellsworth High School (Gymnasium)323 West Hillcrest St. Ellsworth, WI 54011
Friday, April 21 (10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)Marinette High School (Auditorium)2135 Pierce Ave.Marinette, WI 54143
Reports from the first two hearings indicate turnouts have been lower than in the past several budgets and while several people have testified on aging and disability issues at each of the hearings, more voices are needed!
Some may feel there is no need to testify (orally or in writing) on the budget as they may not see any significant budget cuts or changes proposed for aging and disability programs. Please know two very important programs funded in the last budget – healthy aging grants and the dementia care specialist program – are not funded in the 2017 – 2019 budget and will not be funded unless we ask members of the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) to add funding for these programs.
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 member of the JFC know what you like and what you don’t like!
Don’t assume somebody else will be there to advocate for the issues that are important to you and the older adults and people with disabilities in your community! YOU are that somebody! You have the knowledge, expertise and responsibility to let these policymakers know how this budget will impact older adults and how they can make it better!
The JFC testimony is being limited to two minutes, so come prepared with short remarks and leave copies of longer written testimony. For additional information, including how and where to submit written testimony if you are unable to attend a hearing, see Tips for Testifying Before the Joint Finance Committee.
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 17, 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.
Aging Advocacy Day Schedule
9:00 — 10:00 a.m.: Registration, Capitol Lakes - Continuing Care Retirement Community, 333 W. Main Street, Madison, WI 53703
10:00 a.m.: Advocate training, briefing on WAAN’s state priority issues, tips for effective communication with your state legislators
11:00 a.m.: Planning time with others from your district
12:00 p.m.: Lunch & walk/travel to the State Capitol (3 blocks)
12:45 p.m.: State Capitol, North Hearing Rm. - 2nd Floor North – Store your items during legislative visits or meet up with staff/volunteers to get any questions answered or discuss visits.
1:00 - 2:45 p.m.: Legislative visits (Senate visits will be scheduled from 1- 1:45p.m. and Assembly visits from 2-2:45 p.m.) *WAAN will be scheduling all legislative visits.
2:15 - 3:00 p.m.: Check-out and debriefing, State Capitol, North Hearing Room—2nd Floor. Turn in your Advocacy Day feedback sheets and evaluation.
Your voice can make a difference! For more information or to register, visit http://gwaar.org/waan or contact your local aging unit or ADRC. Registration deadline is May 1, 2017.
CHICAGO TRIBUNE: Dating app Glimmer wants to help folks with disabilities find love
By SD Network, 2017-04-06
A new dating app, Glimmer, is trying to create an inclusive space for online dating, particularly for people with disabilities. The app is not exclusively for the disability community but provides options to disclose disabilities easily. It aims to connect people "based on similar interests and lifestyles," unlike mainstream dating apps. Glimmer wants people to feel comfortable talking about all areas of life and hopes to change the culture of online dating. Glimmer not only aims to connect people romantically but also provides an opportunity for people to create friendships based on a of variety of discovery settings.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES: Wisconsin Launches Caregiver Career Program
By SD Network, 2017-04-05
In an effort to attract and retain more nursing home caregivers, Wisconsin is launching an innovative program called the Caregiver Career Program. The program is designed to add up to 3,000 nurse aides to the workforce. DHS is working together with nursing homes, LeadingAge Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Health Care Association, and the Wisconsin Technical Colleges to develop the program which will offer things such as free training and testing to students and a $500 retention bonus for aides after six months on the job at a nursing home. It will also include a marketing and recruitment plan.
Late in March, a proposal to overhaul the nation's healthcare system and revamp Medicaid was voted down. Advocates feel it's good news for people with disabilities. There were simply not enough votes to pass the legislation.
Many celebrities are going after the term "special needs." Actresses and actors from popular tv shows dubbed a video clip entitled, "Not Special Needs." The clip suggests that people who have Down syndrome don't have special needs. It explains that they have the same needs as everyone else.
HUFFINGTON POST: Artist’s Stunning Photos Shatter Misconceptions About Disabilities
By SD Network, 2017-04-04
This is a neat project that was done in North Wales. In hopes to change people's perspective, a photographer took photos and interviewed people with disabilities about what they wish others understood about their condition. The photos highlight the unique abilities of those who have disabilities.