This is an inspiring story done by Dave Delozier of Channel 3000/WISCTV about a man who wants to his education to help others with disabilities. He has designed several pieces of equiptment already that help people with disabilities partake in recreational activities and plans to continue to do so.

Disabled student uses education to enable others

By Dave Delozier

Twelve years ago, an accident left John Martinson paralyzed from the chest down. That day changed his life. What no one knew at the time was how many other lives would be changed as well.

Martinson, who has always enjoyed working with his hands, enrolled in the mechanical design program at Madison College. His goal was to learn the skills necessary to design equipment that could help other people with disabilities.

That means a lot to me. Ive always been a caring person and to see somebody get back to what they love to do and overcome their challenges, it is really inspiring, Martinson said.

To date he has designed a trike motorcycle that allows an individual in a wheelchair to transfer to the motorcycle. His design also has a lift system that allows the wheelchair to be put onto the back of the motorcycle.

The 54-year-old has also designed equipment that allows individuals with disabilities to ice fish. For one of his projects he designed equipment that allows an individual with special needs to hunt or trap shoot.

His instructors at Madison College said Martinsons focus on making a difference for others is evident in the classroom.

When John came into the program he was like others, coming in to learn a skill and who knows where that would take him, said Ron Olson, an instructor in the mechanical design program. Over the course of time, getting to know John it became real apparent he was here to learn that skill to help others.

Martinson said his dream job would be to work for Harley Davidson designing motorcycles for individuals with special needs. He will graduate from Madison College on Thursday.

Source: http://www.channel3000.com/news/Disabled-student-uses-education-to-enable-others/30247364

This is an interesting article inDisabled Worldabout a cool project a team at the University of Hawaii is doing. They're exploring using digital communication to provide unique experiences to people with visual impairments at national parks. This sounds like a great project!

Making National Parks Accessible for People with Vision Disabilities

By The University of Hawaii

A team of University of Hawaii at Mnoa researchers has received a $278,300 National Park Service grant for the development of new technologies to provide dynamic experiences for visitors with vision disabilities of national parks.

Led by Assistant Professor Brett Oppegaard from the School of Communications, the group will explore the use of digital communication to convert traditional "unigrid" brochures used at all national parks into an audio description-format that better serves visually impaired audiences.

"We want to make national parks more accessible to all audiences, including those who prefer audio alternatives to the traditional printed brochure," said Oppegaard. "Visually-impaired people deserve the same access to our parks as every other citizen, and audio formats enrich the media ecosystem of the parks, to include more people, in different ways."

Fostering an enriching media experience

By exploring various aspects of digital communication including media forms and storytelling styles, the research team hopes to provide a dynamic set of audio-described brochures in flexible delivery formats for pilot testing at selected park sites.

These audio files could be particularly effective for the visually impaired, especially for those who do not read braille, and for those who have other print-related disabilities, such as dyslexia.

Targeted for completion within three years, the project will involve the creation of various prototypes based at five parks throughout the nation, including one in Hawaii, complementary research studies at those parks and the development of a web tool expected to enable more audio description files to be built at even more park sites throughout the country.

Along with Oppegaard, other members of the UH Mnoa interdisciplinary research team include Assistant Professor Megan Conway and Media Coordinator Thomas Conway, both in the Center on Disabilities Studies within the College of Education. Rounding out the group is Sean Zdenek, an associate professor in the Department of English at Texas Tech University.

"The impact of this project has broader implications beyond just the National Park Service," said School of Communications Chair and Professor Ann Auman. "A successful model can be replicated at other public venues, such as museums, zoos and other state and local recreational sites, allowing individuals with disabilities to have a more engaging experience."

Source:http://www.disabled-world.com/news/america/hawaii/national-parks.php

This is a short but great article on wsau.com written by Raymond Neupert about how the elderly and people with disabilities in Wood County will have better transportation accessibility thanks to grants from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

Wood County elderly resources agencies get grants for new vehicles

By Raymond Neupert

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (WSAU) Several Wood County agencies have been awarded grants from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to help upgrade and maintain transportation services for disabled residents, and for those 55 and older.

Brandon Vruwink with the countys Human Services Department says Wood County will get $117,600 to be used for two buses, including one that incorporate a new low floor design that eliminates the need for stairs or wheelchair lifts. According to Vruwink, Its an update of our current fleet. One of the buses were going to be getting is a low floor design bus thats going to make it much more accessible for folks to get in and off the bus. Opportunity Development Centers in central Wisconsin will also benefit with $25,600 for a wheelchair accessible minivan; and a $43,200 wheelchair accessible mid-sized bus is planned for The Bethel Center in Arpin to help transport area residents to health care appointments.

Residents can contact the Wood County Aging and Disability Resource Center to learn more about qualifying for transportation assistance. In Marshfield call 715-384-8479, and in Wisconsin Rapids you can call 715-421-0014.

Source: http://wsau.com/news/articles/2014/dec/11/wood-county-elderly-resources-agencies-get-grants-for-new-vehicles/

Be A Driving Force on the ADA Legacy Bus Tour

Would you like to do your part for the ADA Legacy Tour? The ADA Legacy Project is seeking a number of co-pilots to help Tom Olin reach all the stops on the ADA Legacy Tour.http://www.adalegacy.com/ada25/ada-legacy-tour

The ADA Legacy Tour bus pays tribute to the cross-disability efforts that led to the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. The ADA Legacy Tour bus is currently traveling across the U.S. to unite communities in celebrating the 25th anniversary of the ADA this comingJuly 26. To date, the bus has traveled to 18 states and more than 11,500 miles.

This bus was originally procured for the 2006-2007 Road to Freedom Tour, which sought to engage the nation on the story of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the need for amendments to further the law's impact. Both the Road to Freedom and the ADA Legacy Tours are inspired by the historic 50-state journey taken by the husband-and-wife team of Justin and Yoshiko Dart in 1988 to garner grassroots support for the yet-to-be-passed Americans with Disabilities Act.

The ADA Legacy Project & Tour (http://www.adalegacy.com/) is a collaborative effort to preserve disability rights history, generate buzz and excitement around the ADA, to educate the public, especially younger generations, on the movements leading up to the ADA and to pose the question of What will you do now to further disability rights in a post-ADA generation?

Co-pilots get great benefits. They will be traveling, sleeping, and eating on the bus with the famous social documentarian Tom Olin who, since 1985, has used photography to document disability rights history. While learning about the history of disability in the United States, co-pilots will be part of a living tour that also makes history. Co-pilots for the 35 RV and trailer must have a current drivers license, auto insurance, and a sense of humor. Experience with RV hook-ups and ability to lift boxes and attach and detach the trailer are a plus. In addition to driving the RV, duties include route navigation and set up and take down of displays at various stops. Anyone interested in marketing, media, photography, and grassroots organizing could learn amazing things from traveling with Tom Olin.

Can you be a part of that driving force to help on the ADA Bus Tour? You can sign up for sections of the tour route. Contact David Fulton, who is coordinating co-pilots atdavefulton@me.comor503-333-4288.

For more information on the ADA Legacy Project seewww.adalegacytour.com.

New Webinars on the HCBS Settings Rule Available Now

Webinar Descriptions:

A short summary by Lisa Mills, Disability Policy and Services Consulting, on the new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Home and Community Settings rule. This presentation focuses on what the rule means for IRIS, Family Care, and Legacy Waivers in Wisconsin. The rule establishes specific qualities that a setting must exhibit in order for a state to qualify for federal HCBS funding including being integrated in the community, supporting independence, and involving individual choice.Link to the short presentation:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkvEmfpQCZM

An in-depth overview by Lisa Mills, Disability Policy and Services Consulting, on the new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Home and Community Settings rule. All states are required to implement a 5-year transition plan to meet the requirements of the new HCBS rule.Link to the longer version:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMaWdeH_sh4

Link to Survival Coalition Frequently Asked Questions on the HCBS rule changes:http://www.survivalcoalitionwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Survival_FAQ_HCBS_100914.pdf

Here are the Survival Coalition's budget and policy recommendations for people with disabilities for 2015. It's interesting to read about all of the recommendations in the different areas.

http://www.survivalcoalitionwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Survival-Advocacy-Recommendations-complete.pdf

This is an interesting article inDisability Scoopwritten by Shaun Heasley about how a study finds that over half of Medicaid providers were unavailable to people on Medicaid. The reasons and statistics given in this article are interesting to ponder.

Half Of Medicaid Providers Unavailable, Report Finds

By Shaun Heasley

A significant number of doctors purportedly accepting Medicaid are not actually offering treatment to the programs beneficiaries, a new investigation finds.

More than half of primary care providers and specialists polled were not able to offer appointments to patients on Medicaid, according to areportreleased Tuesday from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.

The reasons that physicians were unavailable to Medicaid beneficiaries which include many people with disabilities varied, but in 35 percent of cases investigators found that doctors werenot at the locations listed by the programs provider directory.

Callers were sometimes told that the practice had never heard of the provider or that the provider had practiced at the location in the past but had retired or left the practice. Some providers had left months or even years before the time of the call, Inspector General Daniel R. Levinson wrote in his report.

Meanwhile, 8 percent of providers indicated that they were not participating in the plan and a similar number of physicians said they were not accepting new patients.

For the report, federal investigators called a random sampling of 1,800 primary care providers and specialists that were listed as participating in Medicaid managed care plans in 32 states.

In cases where patients could schedule an appointment, investigators found that the median wait time was two weeks, though a substantial number of doctors were not available for at least one or two months.

Primary care providers were less likely to be available than specialists, though wait times tended to be longer for specialty providers, the report found.

When providers listed as participating in a plan cannot offer appointments, it creates a significant obstacle for an enrollee seeking care. Moreover, it suggests that the actual size of provider networks may be considerably smaller than what is presented by Medicaid managed care plans, Levinson said in his findings.

In a response to the report, Marilyn Tavenner, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said her agency will work with states to assess network adequacy and improve the accuracy of managed care organizations information.

Source:http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2014/12/09/half-medicaid-unavailable/19904/

Self-Determination Network News December 2014

Connect|Share|Learn|http://sdnetworkwi.org/

Share your Story!

Share your story about self-determination with us. Have you advocated for yourself or others to gain independence? Have you defied odds or proven naysayers wrong? Our stories provide opportunities to inspire and learn from each other. Check out ourStory sectionand share your story today!

It Only Takes "Five"

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

• White House Fellow: Check out this awesome chance to be a fellow at the White House. Application deadline is January 15^th.

• Be Inspired: Find out what motivated one man to pursue building an athletic and rec center for people with physical disabilities.

• Stay Informed: Learn about how Family Care is expanding in 2015.

• Celebrity Controversy: Read about how Jerry Seinfeld is causing controversy by retracting his statement he made about having autism.

• Service Animal Issue: This is an interesting blog about an issue with pet owners trying to pass off their personal pets as service animals.

• All-terrain Wheelchair: Find out which county in Wisconsin now has an all-terrain wheelchair available for people with limited mobility. This allows people with physical disabilities to partake in several outdoor activities.

• Great Resource: Check out this great resource for transportation for people with disabilities.

• Learn: This is an interesting article about the United Nations Disability Treaty.

• More Transportation Options: This is a great article about how agencies in Central Wisconsin received grants that will increase transportation options for people with disabilities.

• Get Involved: Heres a chance to present at the Multiple Perspective Conference. Proposals are due January 5^th.

• Let your Voice Be Heard: Think College is looking for input on post secondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities. The survey is available until December 20^th.

• Advances in Technology: Read about what a cable company is doing to accommodate people with disabilities.

• Call for Artists: This is a great chance for artists with disabilities to show their talent. Submissions due February 9^th.
  

• Stay Tuned: An article about how the House passed the ABLE Act. Congress is expected to vote on it soon.

• Watch: Watch this story about an incredible student athlete who is determined to compete despite having a debilitating disease.

• Post news or start a discussion: It's easy to do and a great way to share information and network with others!

New Members

Stop by to welcomeournewest members

• Shes on the board for InControl Wisconsin and adirector of a service provider agency.

• Hebegan the Disabled Division for the Wisconsin Water Ski Federationand has a passion to help people enjoy sports and recreation.

• Shes anIRIS Consultantwho wants to learn about self-determination issues.

• Shes a small business owner and alsoworks for IRIS.

• This person is a support broker whowants to join the advocacy effort.

• Sheworks with people to create meaningful lives in the community.

• Shesa parent who advocatesfor better supports for adults with disabilities.

Do you know someone who should join the Self-Determination Network? Spread the word andinvitefriends, families and other interested folks!

Upcoming Events

Here's a sample ofupcoming eventslisted on the Self-Determination Network:

• Teleconference: Section 504 & the ADA: Similarities & Differences: December 16^th, 12:00 to 1:00pm

• ADA Audio Conference Series Session: Accommodating Persons with Environmental Sensitivities: December 16^th, 1:00pm to 2:30pm, Online

• Facilitation and Person Centered Planning with PATH and MAPS: February 2^ndto 4^th, Friends Meeting House, Toronto, ON

• The Survival Coalition Disability Advocacy Day: March 17^th, Monona Terrace and Convention Center, Madison WI

Post your eventon the Self-Determination Network and it can be included in future Network News emails to members! Questions? Suggestions? ContactStacy Ellingen.

We are in the process of reevaluating and possibly revamping how Coffee Breaks are done. Were hoping to start them up again soon. If you have thoughts or ideas regarding Coffee Breaks, please contactStacy Ellingen. We certainly welcome any input.

The Self-Determination Network is powered by In Control Wisconsin and supported financially by ourmembersandSponsors. We couldn't keep this Network going with you! Find out how you can help support the Network.

An interesting article inDisability Scoop by Michelle Diament about where the ABLE Act stands. The House has approved it. Congress is slated to vote on it soon.

House Approves Tax-Free Disability Savings Accounts

By Michelle Diament

The U.S. House of Representatives has voted to approve a bill that would establish a new way for people with disabilities to save money without risking their government benefits.

The Achieving a Better Life Experience, or ABLE, Act passed by a vote of 404 to 17 on Wednesday. The measure will now move to the Senate.

Under current rules, many individuals with disabilities can have no more than $2,000 in assets in order to qualify for needed government benefits. The ABLE Act would dramatically alter that scenario, allowing people with disabilities to establish special accounts at any financial institution where they could save up to $14,000 annually under current gift-tax limitations.

The accounts could accrue $100,000 without jeopardizing eligibility for Social Security and other government programs. Meanwhile, the legislation ensures that those with disabilities can retain Medicaid coverage no matter their ABLE account balance.

Funds deposited in the proposed accounts could be used to pay for education, health care, transportation, housing and other expenses. Much like 529 college savings plans, interest earned on savings in the accounts would be tax-free.

Speaking on the House floor ahead of the vote, the bills lead sponsor, Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla., said its only fair that people with disabilities get an opportunity to save tax-free much like most Americans can already do in order to pay for college, health care and retirement.

What this does is simply give individuals with disabilities a chance at the American dream, Crenshaw said. They have hopes and dreams just like we all do and this will give them the tool to open the door to a brighter future, the way to realize their full potential.

With significant bipartisan support, the bill is being called the broadest legislation centering on people with disabilities to move forward since passage of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act a quarter-century ago.

Though widely supported in the disability community, a provision limiting eligibility for ABLE accounts to individuals with conditions occurring before the age of 26 has led tomisgivingsfrom some groups including the National Council on Independent Living, the National Disability Rights Network and United Cerebral Palsy.

Meanwhile, some members of the House objected to the bill over concerns that it will be paid for in part through tweaks to Medicare.

Source: zwww.disabilityscoop.com/2014/12/04/house-approves-accounts/19891/

MADISON VSA Wisconsin, the state organization on arts and disability, is accepting submissions for its annual Call for Art.

Wisconsin residents with disabilities age 5 and older are eligible and may submit one artwork.

Deadline for submissions is Feb. 9. Guidelines and a submission form for VSA Wisconsins Call for Art can be found online via a link atLeaderTelegram.com/links.

Submissions will be reviewed by a jury of arts professionals who will look for creativity, originality, and craftsmanship. The top 10 selections will be added to Creative Power: VSA Wisconsins Traveling Exhibition.

Work from all artists who submit to the 2015 Call for Art will be on view from April 13 through May 2 at the VSA Wisconsin Gallery, 1709 Aberg Ave., Suite 1, in Madison.

More information is available atsandra@vsawis.orgor 608-241-2131.