News
Meet Rachel! Between working for the state and being involved in different advocacy activities, this busy lady doesn’t have much free time. She enjoys being able to share stories and learn from others. She encourages everyone to speak up for themselves. We’re so fortune to have her as a member of the Network!
What's your story? Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Rachel was born in Miami Beach Florida and then moved to Los Angeles CA in 1998. She did all of my schooling in Los Angeles CA and then moved to Madison WI in 2014. Her favorite thing about living in Wisconsin is being able to go to her boyfriend’s parents’ cabin in the Northwoods.
How are you involved with self-determination? Why did you join the SD Network?
Rachel is one of the hosts on the Self-Determination YouTube channel. Her favorite thing about being a host is being able “share stories and learn from others,” she tells us. She’s also involved in a program called Bridge Builder through LOV Inc. which helps her set goals to be independent in life. She joined the SD network to make friends and socialize with people.
Tell us some good news - what's the most exciting thing happening for you (or in Wisconsin) in term of self-determination?
Rachel enjoys going to work and being independent in the community. She works for the Wisconsin Department of Revenue as a revenue tax assistant. She explains that she likes her job because it varies day to day and she learns lots of new things.
What tip or resource would you like to share with people who want to be more self-determined?
The tip that Rachel would give is to speak up and let your voice be heard. “The reason it’s important for people to speak up for themselves is to let their voices be heard for what they believe in and what is important to them,” she shares.
What are some of your hobbies?
When Rachel isn’t working, she enjoys doing things like playing on her computer, swimming, and hanging out with friends and family including her dog.
***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.
HOME HEALTH CARE NEWS: CMS Announces Unprecedented Quality Measure Set for Home- and Community-Based Services
By SD Network, 2022-08-02
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently announced its first ever quality measure set for Home-and-Community-Based Services. The measures will promote “consistent quality measurement within and across state Medicaid HCBS programs.” The measures are built around three pillars: access, a rebalancing of HCBS spend versus institutional care spend and community integration.
ADMINISTRATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVING: New Brief: Research Supporting Competitive, Integrated Employment
By SD Network, 2022-08-02
Competitive, integrated employment (CIE) – working in the community, alongside people with and without disabilities, at competitive wages – offers a direct pathway to greater independence and self-sufficiency for people with disabilities. CIE is increasingly becoming the expectation across the country.
ACL is committed to expanding employment opportunities for people with disabilities. In addition to funding programs that provide direct employment support services to people with disabilities and advocating for policies and practices that prioritize and support CIE as a key element of community living, ACL also is investing in research to increase knowledge about the benefits of employment of people with disabilities – both for the individual and for the employer – and to increase the availability of effective interventions to support employment.
Last week, as the country celebrated the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Disability Pride Month, ACL's National Institute on Disability Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) is released a new issue brief summarizing the research supporting CIE.
Four voters with disabilities recently filed a lawsuit against a federal court. The lawsuit asks the court to ensure that voters can get assistance returning their ballot. This comes after the Supreme Court ruled that unsupervised drop boxes are illegal. However, the Court did not clarity whether voters could get assistance returning ballots by mail.
WHITEHOUSE.GOV: FACT SHEET: The Biden-Harris Administration Marks the Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act
By SD Network, 2022-07-26
To mark the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Biden-Harris Administration released a fact sheet. It details several different topics such as civil rights, education, voting, employment, and healthcare. This provides some interesting statistics.
WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO: What protections exist under the Americans with Disabilities Act?
By SD Network, 2022-07-26
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says people with disabilities are unemployed at more than double the rate of people without disabilities. On the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we learn about the state of protections and where progress is still needed.
MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL: State program helps people with disabilities remain in the workforce
By SD Network, 2022-07-26
The Department of Vocational Rehabilitation helps people with disabilities and health conditions find and maintain employment. Even after an life-changing medical diagnosis, a farmer in Price County was able to get back to doing what he loves. The Department of Vocational Rehabilitation helped get him the accommodations and technology he needed so that he could continue farming.
KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION: Medicaid Public Health Emergency Unwinding Policies Affecting Seniors & People with Disabilities: Findings from a 50-State Survey
By SD Network, 2022-07-26
The Kaiser Family Foundation recently released a report on a study done on how unwinding public health emergency policies are affecting people with disabilities. A survey was done in all 50 states and the main issues brought up were enrollee confusion and staffing shortage. This report includes lots of interesting statistics.
HOME HEALTH CARE NEWS: Majority of States Lacked Caregiver Hazard Pay, Sick Leave During Pandemic
By SD Network, 2022-07-18
More than half of U.S. states did not support direct care workers with hazard pay or paid sick leave policies during the first 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new study from the New York-based direct care worker advocacy organization PHI revealed. Researchers with PHI also advocated for the need to develop a national compensation strategy for direct care workers that creates a “livable, competitive wage” for this workforce.
GREEN BAY PRESS GAZZETTE: The pandemic only worsened the quality of life for family caregivers. It's an ongoing problem with no end in sight, experts say.
By SD Network, 2022-07-18
The pandemic only made the caregiver shortage worse. Family caregivers are forced to sacrifice their ambitions to take care of loved ones. This has taken a major toll on people. Older adults are having to take care of their parents. Facilities that provide some relief are closing because they can't find enough workers. Experts say unfortunately there's no end in sight.