For Michael Ward of Madison, art has helped him find a purpose in life. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was just five days old, Ward has speech and movement his whole life; however, that didn't deter him from finding his passion.  He started creating coloring books containing universal quotes in hopes of inspiring people with disabilities to preserve through life's challenges. Recently, Ward participated in an art festival.

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U.S. airlines got a little bit better with mobility devices in 2023. The 10 major carriers transported 835,327 wheelchairs and other aids last year, and there were 11,527 reports of damage. This article lists the top 10 best airlines for handling mobility devices.

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As part of the Biden-Harris Administration's Care Workers Recognition Month activities and in support of President Biden's Executive Order on Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that 20 states have been selected to participate in two separate technical assistance programs that together will help participating states better recruit, train, and retain direct care workers, who provide home and community-based services for older adults and people with disabilities.

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A manufacturing company in West Allis has found a great employee. Eric Gama, who is on the autism spectrum, has found his calling as a machine assistant at Allis Manufacturing. Allis Manufacturing has made a deliberate effort to provide people on the spectrum with meaningful job opportunities.

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Recently, Governor Evers signed a bill ordering the state’s Department of Financial Institutions to set up an ABLE program for residents or join one of the existing multi-state consortiums. ABLE accounts allow people with disabilities to save money for disability related expenses without losing their benefits. They are tax-free accounts. The Achieving a Better Life Experience Act was passed in Congress and signed by former President Barack Obama in 2014, and was the first piece of legislation which recognized the extra costs of living with a disability, according to the ABLE National Resource Center. Though the ABLE Act is a federal law, individual states are tasked with developing their own programs and the regulations and benefits specific to each program can vary depending on the jurisdiction, according to the ABLE National Resource Center.

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On April 18, 2024, the Department of Justice issued an updated guide of The Americans with Disabilities Act and Other Federal Laws Protecting the Rights of Voters with Disabilities | ADA.gov. This guide describes the legal protections designed to allow full access to every aspect of elections, including registration and voting, for people with disabilities. For more information on this and other new and updated guidance on voting rights, please read the press release: Office of Public Affairs | Justice Department Launches Updated Voting Rights and Elections Website | United States Department of Justice.

Disability Rights Wisconsin, the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, along with four voters with disabilities filed a lawsuit against the Wisconsin Elections Commission. The lawsuits seeks to allow voters with disabilities to cast their ballot electronically. Many people who have disabilities aren't able to physically fill out a ballot without assistance, therefore they can't vote privately. If an electronic ballot was available, many voters who have disabilities could vote independently and privately .

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