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Sept. 20, 2012

Election Day Is Quickly Approaching!

State and federal elections are taking place on Tuesday, Nov. 6th. Are you ready to vote? Have you already decided who to vote for? Do you know where your polling place is? Are you registered? Between now and election day, we'll be posting information and resources to help you be ready to vote.

Get Involved Online!

• Question of the Week: What issues will affect your vote for President in November? Health care? Jobs & the Economy? Public Benefits? Something else? Participate in this quick & easy poll and tell us what issues you care about!
• Discussion: What are your questions about voting? Are you wondering if your polling site is accessible? How to vote absentee? Whether you're registered? Post your questions in this discussion and we'll find resources that answer your questions.

Check Out New Opportunities

• Wisconsin Self-Determination Conference:Have you registered yet for the Self-Determination Conference? It's the biggest event of the year for everyone who wants to be charge of his or her life. A limited number of scholarships are available for people with disabilities, so apply now (deadline: Oct. 1st)
• National Forum on Disability Issues: Hear what presidential candidates have to say about issues that matter to people with disabilities. Register Now! (no cost) for this online forum.
• Telling Your Story- This app for iPad helps you put together your story to share it with local, state and federal elected leaders to let them know about issues that affect you.
• Take Your Legislator to Work Day: People with disabilities work in many different jobs in their communities. Find out how you can invite your local and state legislator to come to your workplace.

What's New?

Find out the latest news and resources on the SDS Network:

• Key Questions for State and Federal Candidates
• Toolkit: Managed Care: Doing It Right; Applying the Independent Living Philosophy"
• Six Principles to Modernize Health Care Infrastructure
• The Affordable Care Act's Impact on Citizens with Disabilities
• The Projected Image: A History of Disability in Film (October)

Welcome New Members

Stop by to welcome our newest members.

• She's a free-lance PATH facilitator(If you don't know what PATH is, feel free to ask her!)
• She's aparent of a talented young woman
• She helps youth and families makecommunity connections
• She's a new member from Delaware.
• She's aPacker fan to the bone and a tireless advocate

Upcoming Events

Here's a sample of upcoming eventslisted on the SDS Network:

• National Forum on Disability Issues, Sept. 28th. Register Now (no cost)
• 2012 Wisconsin Self-Determination Conference, Oct. 29-31. Register now!
• And many more!

Post your event on the SDS Network and it can be included in future Network News emails to members! Questions? Contact Deb Wisniewski at scgwis@gmail.com

Thanks to the sponsors of the SDS Network!Welcome to one of our new sponsors, the ADA Wisconsin Partnership.

In 2009, the National Advisory Board released a report, Declaration for Independence:A Call to Transform Long Term Services for Seniors and People with Disabilities.It included six principles necessary to modernize our health care infrastructure. These are still relevant today:

1. Enhance Self-care through improved coordination

• Transform Americas health care system from one that focuses on episodic illnesses to one that assists individuals in self-managing their whole health, with the support of providers and communities.
• Encourage the fundamental and financial investment in physicians to serve as the medical home for patients.

2. Encourage community integration and involvement

• Coordinate support services, housing, and transportation so people are able to participate in the social, economic, educational, and recreational activities available through community living.
• Promote data integration, continuity, and coordination of services through the use of health information exchange.

3. Expand accessibility of Services and Supports

• Retool programs and regulations to enable people to access the services they need to live independently without creating financial hardship for the family.

4. Uphold personal preference

• Leverage the success of long term service models that promote personal strengths and preferences and preserve dignity of participants.

5. Empower people to participate in the economic Mainstream

• Encourage the employment of people with disabilities and seniors by removing disincentives for people to work and redefine antiquated descriptions of disability.

6. Invest in improved technology

• Invest resources in the continued development of technology that improves individuals ability to self-monitor chronic health conditions and live independently.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (Friday, Sept. 14, 2012) Amerigroup Corporations (NYSE: AGP) National Advisory Board (NAB) announced the launch of a new, innovative toolkit in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday night. Consisting of 38 different resources, the collection of tools is designed to inform legislators, advocates and consumers on how to apply independent living philosophies to health care.

The toolkit, Managed Care: Doing It Right; Applying the Independent Living Philosophy, is an advancement of the NABs 2009 report "Declaration for Independence: A Call to Transform Health and Long-Term Services for Seniors and People with Disabilities" and is built upon the NABs Six Principles to Modernize the Health Infrastructure.

"These tools will empower individuals to make a difference in securing the future of independent living," said Amerigroup Chairman and Chief Executive Officer James G. Carlson. I appreciate the leadership of the National Advisory Board in promoting greater accessibility to services and supports for seniors and people with disabilities.

Recently celebrating its fifth anniversary, the NAB is a distinguished group of advocates and experts in the fields of disability and aging. The resources cover a wide range of information regarding legislation, methodology and policy recommendations on how Medicaid and Medicare members may live healthier and more independent lives.

We are hopeful this resource will encourage and inform individuals to influence public policy as it relates to health care and services," statedLex Frieden, convener of the NAB. "Our goal is to initiate change in this nation, so individuals will be able to live not only independently, but actively in their communities."

This initial presentation marks the first of several events as the NAB embarks on a national tour to raise awareness among policymakers, advocates and the research community.

Request the Toolkit.

See a copy of the report "Declaration for Independence".

Learn more about the NAB.

"Telling Your Story"is a tool that persons with disabilities, family members, and other advocates can use to compose and practice the personal story they'll present to elected public officials or other policymakers at all levels of government when seeking policy changes or increasing awareness about disability issues. The app guides users through the steps, from introducing yourself to identifying the specific issue to the best methods for presenting a compelling personal story. After entering the text of their story, an audio recording feature allows the user to rehearse their story. Users can also select and preview a photo they may wish to include.

You can view the app in the iTunes Store athttp://itunes.apple.com/us/app/telling-your-story/id541403749.

Learn more about this app.