Forum Activity for @sd-network

Let's Talk: The Supplemental Security Income Limit

Hot Topics and Challenges for Self-Determination

This blog from Justice in Aging entitled, Why the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Asset Limit Must Go, argues that the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program's outdated rules, specifically its asset limits and low monthly benefits, are actively trapping low-income older adults and people with disabilities in poverty. Because the asset limit has not been updated since 1989, individuals are penalized and can lose their benefits or face severe overpayment penalties if they save more than $2,000 ($3,000 for couples)—making basic financial planning or saving for emergencies impossible. Furthermore, maximum monthly benefits remain below the federal poverty line, and complex eligibility rules penalize recipients for receiving outside help. To remedy this, the author highlights legislative efforts like the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act and the SSI Restoration Act, which seek to raise resource caps, index them to inflation, and modernize the program to better support its 2.5 million vulnerable recipients.

Do you think the asset limit needs to be raised? What do you think it should be? Do you have other ideas about how to fix this? Share your thoughts and ideas below!

What does Self-Determination Look Like in Your Life?

2025 Self-Determination Conference

Self-determination looks a little different for everyone. We want to know what self-determination looks like in your life. Comment below by November 1st to be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card!

updated by @sd-network: 10/23/25 04:18:08PM

2024 Self-Determination Conference

Open Discussion

It was a great Conference again this year!  How did you like it? There were a ton of great sessions and events.  This year’s theme was A Seat At The Table: Nothing About Us, Without Us! What does that phrase mean to you? Did you learn how to share your story in a new way? What action steps are you going to take? What was your favorite part? What resources did you find particularly helpful? Did something really inspire you?

Let's keep the conversation going! Share your comments, questions, and ideas here.

2023 Self-Determination Conference

Open Discussion

Join the Conversation: The 2023 Self-Determination Conference

It was a great Conference again this year!  It was hybrid meaning people could join in-person or virtually. Did you join in-person or virtually? How did you like it? There were a ton of great sessions and events. The theme was “Be Curious: Explore the Possibilities.”  What possibilities did you learn about? Are you going to explore any of them? What was your favorite part? What were some things that you learned? What resources did you find particularly helpful? Did something really inspire you?

Let's keep the conversation going! Share your comments, questions, and ideas here.

 

updated by @sd-network: 10/16/24 11:13:37PM

2023 Disability Advocacy Day

Open Discussion

It was great seeing so many of you at Disability Advocacy Day last week. If you weren’t able to attend In-person, we hope you were able to call your legislators.  We want to keep the conversation going.

• What was your favorite part of the day?
• What topics did you talk with your legislators about? How did it go?
• Was there a particular strategy that you found worked well when talking with your legislators? Were you able to share your story? 
• Do you plan to follow you with your legislators?
• If you weren’t able to attend in-person, did you participate virtually? How did your calls to your legislators go?

Share your experience below.  By sharing our tips about tricks, we can help one another be stronger advocates! 

Let's Talk About Solutions to the Caregiver Crisis

Hot Topics and Challenges for Self-Determination

Let's Talk About Solutions to the Caregiver Crisis

During the 2022 Self-Determination Conference, InControl Wisconsin led a session about the Wisconsin Direct Workforce Crisis.  We talked about “what if, what then” situations we all face as caregivers and people with disabilities that are brought on by no available paid workers.  Everyone’s situation is different. Everyone’s story is important.

We want to hear from more people about their  “what if, what then” scenarios. More importantly, we want you to feel open to share your ideas with each other about how to make things better.

Attached is a worksheet to help you develop your story. 

Together, we can advocate for change and learn from each other.

 

updated by @sd-network: 10/23/22 09:34:10AM

2022 Self-Determination Conference

Open Discussion

It was a great Conference again this year!  It was hybrid meaning people could join in-person or virtually. Did you join in-person or virtually? How did you like it? There were a ton of great sessions and events. The theme was “everybody has a story.”  Were you able to share your story or did you get some tips about how to? What was your favorite part? What were some things that you learned? What resources did you find particularly helpful? Did something really inspire you?

Let's keep the conversation going! Share your comments, questions, and ideas here.

 

Let's Talk: What are some Unique Solutions to Help Mitigate the Caregiver Crisis?

Hot Topics and Challenges for Self-Determination

The direct care workforce shortage has been an issue for years. The pandemic just elevated the crisis for all to see. According to a report done by the Wisconsin Health Care Association in 2020, 1 in 4 direct care worker positions in nursing homes and assisted living facilities are vacant.

The Wisconsin Survival Coalition did surveys and found that 95% of people with disabilities can’t find enough in home workers and 85% reported that they don’t have enough workers to fully cover open shifts. The report was published in May of 2021.

Wisconsin isn’t alone. By 2030, nationally, there is expected to be a 151,000 shortage of caregivers. By 2040, the number grows to 355,000 (source). As the baby boomers age, increase in need will increase and the number of working age people will decrease.

There are thousands of hours of needed care are going unmet. People are not receiving the care they need. Whether you work for an agency trying to find caregivers for clients or a person who is trying to hire workers yourself, finding caregivers is almost impossible.

Lots of advocacy groups are trying to come up with a solution to this. When you need to find direct care workers, individually or with an agency, what are some unique ways it can be done? Do you have an idea of how to help improve the current situation we are in? What are some ways we can start to mitigate this issue?

If you could ask for one thing right now to fix the problem, what would it be?

Let’s brainstorm ideas here!

2021 Self-Determination Conference

Open Discussion

It was a great Conference again this year! We understand many people missed being able to attend in-person, but we were glad so many people were able to join virtually. There were a ton of great sessions and events. What was your favorite part? What were some things that you learned? What resources did you find particularly helpful? Did something really inspire you?

Let's keep the conversation going! Share your comments, questions, and ideas here.

updated by @sd-network: 10/20/21 09:41:58PM

2020 Self-Determination Conference

Open Discussion

The Self-Determination Conference was a little different this year. We missed seeing everyone in-person, but we're glad so many people could join virtually.  There were a ton of great sessions and events again this year. What was your favorite part? What were some things that you learned? What resources did you find particularly helpful? Did something really inspire you?

Let's keep the conversation going! Share your comments, questions, and ideas here!