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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. Nomination Forms must be in the BPDD office no later than 12 p.m. on Friday, October 6, 2017.
The Conference Planning Committee reserves the right to present none or multiple awards in any of the categories
DISABLED WORLD: Car Dealerships to Provide Hand Controls for Test Drives for Individuals With Disabilities
By SD Network, 2017-08-10
This is an interesting court case. Buying a new car is both exciting and a big decision for most people. The ability to choose the right vehicle for them can be especially meaningful for people with disabilities. Recently, the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, ruled individuals who use hand controls to operate cars and trucks have equal right to test drive vehicles before purchasing them.
How are you involved with self-determination? Why did you join the SD Network?
Barb is one of the Self-Directed (SDS) coordinators for Community Care, Inc. She joined the Network to take advantage of the pool of experience of the members of the Network. “There’s always up-to-date information coming out of the Network,” she says.
Tell us some good news - what's the most exciting thing happening for you (or in Wisconsin) in terms self-determination?
Barb explains that the good news is the fact that we have moved beyond just talking about self-determination. There are so many resources now to assist people along the way. “Whether it’s needing an advocate, information on housing options or some practical advice on hiring employees, there are people who are knowledgeable and willing to make changes happen. That’s happening on an individual person to person level as well as impacting the system as a whole,” she says.
What tip or resource would you like to share with people who want to be more self-determined?
“Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for assistance, brain storming, or just for support,” Barb says. There are people within the Network who may have run into the same issue at some time.
What message would you like to share with the members of the SD Network?
Barb would like to share that she values the diversity and knowledge the different members bring to the Network. “Especially in this time of political uneasiness, the determination and thoughtful way roadblocks are tackled is appreciated,” she explains.
What are some of your hobbies?
Barb is an avid traveler; she has been to 16 different countries. She also enjoys reading and says that mystery novels are her favorite.
***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.
PCWORLD: AbleGamers' Player Panels could make future games more disability-friendly
By SD Network, 2017-08-08
AbleGamers, a nonprofit organization that aims to make video games accessible for people with disabilities, is creating Player Panels to connect gamers with disabilities with video game developers. The panels would test games that companies are developing and offer advice on how to make them more accessible. To keep the panel members safe, AbleGamers will liaison between them and the companies. They will vet incoming requests for advice as well as make sure the panel members are paid for their work. AbleGamers is aware that many people with disabilities are on Social Security and cannot receive extra money without it affecting their benefits and is working with companies to offer alternative compensation. One idea is to give the panelists gift cards to popular stores.
Uber was recently sued by the Equal Rights Center, a civil rights nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. The suit is based on Uber's Washington, D.C., area services, and alleges that Uber is incapable of adequately providing services to customers with nonfoldable wheelchairs. And even though some cars are wheelchair accessible, there is no way for drivers to indicate that their vehicles are accessible or for riders to request it. Although Uber has introduced the UberWAV app for riders with disabilities, an investigation by the Equal Rights Center showed that riders using the app paid up to twice as much and waited on average eight times longer for rides than people who use Uber's nonaccessible service. The lawsuit alleges that Uber's vehicle requirements actively discourage Uber drivers from operating accessible vehicles.
Stacy’s Journal: The 27th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act: How Far We’ve Come, yet More Work is Needed
By Stacy Ellingen, 2017-08-07
Most people don’t think twice about stepping off a sidewalk curb or running up a flight of stairs to get to their favorite restaurant. People normally don’t think about things like making calls to companies or being able to use public transportation either. Tasks such as these seem simple to most Americans. However, for people who have disabilities, being able to accomplish these things is a sign of major progress.
July marked the 27th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Act which became law in 1990 which is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. Some of the things it does include: it ensures that people with disabilities have the same employment opportunities and benefits that those without disabilities have and that employers provide reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities, it requires that all public programs, places, and events are accessible to those who have disabilities, and it prohibits places of public accommodation (hotels, restaurants, stores, doctor’s offices, etc) from discriminating against people with disabilities. In addition, the law requires telephone and Internet companies to provide a nationwide system of interstate and intrastate telecommunications relay services that allows individuals with hearing and speech disabilities to communicate over the telephone. Among many other things, it also requires that public transportation be accessible to everyone.
Another significant law for people with disabilities was also redone and renamed in 1990. Previously known as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (until 1990), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a piece of legislation that ensures students with a disability are provided with Free Appropriate Public Education that is tailored to their individual needs. In short, the goal of IDEA is to provide children with disabilities the same opportunity for education as those students who do not have a disability. Some of the elements it includes are Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), Least Restrictive Environment, and Transition Services. Among others, these components allow students with disabilities to receive education just like their peers do. Public schools have to provide support and services to students with disabilities to meet their educational needs. Today, more than half of children with disabilities are in general education classrooms for most of the school day.
Fortunately, for me, I was born at a pretty opportune time as far as accessibility is concerned. I was just five years old when the ADA took effect, so I really don’t have much recollection of what things were like previously. Same goes for the IDEA. The first version of it took effective in 1975, but I think students with disabilities were still pretty segregated back then. It disheartens me to think that there were so many people with disabilities that were left behind before these laws took effect. Society lost out on millions of Americans with great potential. It truly breaks my heart to think about all of the children who were institutionalized all of their lives just because they had some sort of a disability. Children weren’t the only ones effected either. Millions of adults with disabilities lost out on the opportunity to lead successful and productive lives because support wasn’t available.
Personally, I’ve greatly benefited from the IDEA and the ADA. Thanks to the IDEA, starting in Kindergarten, I was able receive the services and support I needed to be able to be in all regular education classes with my peers. I was then able to receive vocational rehabilitation services which provided me with the support I needed to earn a college degree and find employment. The ADA allows me to be able to go almost everywhere I want/need to go. It also protects me from getting discriminated against because of my disability.
Having said that, I believe that there’s a lot that should be done with the ADA. Under the law, when businesses add on or remodel, they have to make the entire building accessible; however, as I recently found out, there are some stipulations to the rule. A popular restaurant in my hometown recently added a rooftop deck. I was excited because people were saying how cool it was; I figured that since it was an add-on they had to have put in an elevator to make it accessible. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. Since they serve the same food and “have the same décor” inside the restaurant (which is accessible), they don’t have to make the upper deck accessible. To me, that’s unfair. A rooftop deck obviously has a different atmosphere than an inside of a restaurant. Another thing that really irritates me is that many older businesses choose not to remodel or add-on just because it’s too expensive to bring the building up to code. While I understand it from the economic standpoint, I also believe it’s time to put some time stipulations on those businesses. Airline regulations are another topic that should be looked at and improved. Everything from check-in desks, to security, to plane accessibility could vastly be improved in my opinion.
So, while laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act have immensely improved lives for people with disabilities, there is a lot that still needs to be done. A lot of progress has been made in the last 50 years; I’m looking forward to seeing what will be done in the next 50 years!
***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.
HUFFPOST: The International Symbol of Access and Its Redesign: One Perspective
By SD Network, 2017-08-04
This is an interesting article about the redesigned symbol of access. It explains that original the sign everyone is familiar with is a stationary figure that is sitting down. The redesigned image is moving, looks active and more capable. Some people think this new image is giving into the ableist school of thought--discrimination in favor of people who aren’t disabled. On the contrary, this is a direct result of various efforts of activism within the disability community.
The Circles of Life Conference invites interested presenters to submit a proposal (or two) for the 2018 annual Circles of Life Conference scheduled for May 3-4, 2018 at the Paper Valley Hotel in Appleton, WI. Between 400-500 individuals with disabilities or special health care needs, their families, and professionals from across Wisconsin attend the Circles of Life Conference each year. We are looking for presenters including parents, family members, youth and adults with disabilities or special health care needs, professionals, providers, volunteers, or other potential presenters with information or expertise in a broad range of topics that affect families and individuals with disabilities. Please consider submitting a proposal for the 2018 conference or share this information with other individuals who would be excellent presenters. Visit the Circles of Life web site at: www.circlesoflifeconference.com for application materials. The deadline for proposals is: October 5, 2017.
On July 26th, 2017, the Department of Justice published "27 Years of the Americans with Disabilities Act," a document that provides brief case highlights about the Department's Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) enforcement efforts this year. The document recognizes the ADA's 27th anniversary and notes the Department's role in advancing the ADA's goals of ensuring equal opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities.
MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL: Wisconsin faces critical shortage of care workers for disabled and elderly
By SD Network, 2017-08-01
Here's another article about the direct care worker shortage in Wisconsin. It reiterates that it has reached a crisis level and that advocates feel that there needs to be more than a 2% increase for long-term care and home care organizations, which is what Governor Walker recommended. Due to this shortage, people aren't getting the crucial care they need to survive. Although, grateful for any increase at all, advocates feel a rate increase of around 15% is needed to make a real impact.