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The President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID) has prioritized high-quality home and community-based services (HCBS) for their report to the president with a focus on four key areas: direct support professionals, employment, community living, and federal support. To adequately meet the growing demand for HCBS, the report suggests that HHS should offer guidance and technical assistance to support individuals in self-directing their care in Medicaid HCBS programs as part of the workforce solutions.

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Self-Determination Network News:

October 2024

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Caring Across Cultures is a learning experience focused on helping people with disabilities and their direct care workers to develop stronger, more meaningful relationships. We believe that identifying the cultural differences that exist between two people is a critical step in the relationship building process.

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View This Free Resource

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The information covered by Caring Across Cultures includes materials for direct care workers  and those considering direct care work, direct care agencies, disabled adults, and older adults. 

Course Topics

  • Overview of Direct Care Work
  • Your Beliefs About Disability
  • Understanding Our Differences
  • Resolving Differences to Build Strong Relationships

Additional Resource Topics

  • Worker Rights
  • How I Interact With People
  • Worker Responsibilities
  • Employer Legal Responsibilities
  • Employer Best Practices
  • Tips For Writing Job Descriptions and Announcements
  • Interview Tips For Employers
  • Exploring My Identity
  • Preparing For Challenging Conversations 
  • Is Direct Care Work Right For You

128 Stacy’s Journal










"I know the exorbitant amount of joy they bring to my life; I only hope that I can bring a jolt of joy to theirs!"



In this month's journal entry, Stacy discusses the challenges and triumphs of being an aunt who has a significant physical disability. Are you an aunt or uncle who has some unique circumstances? How do you overcome them?










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Check out the Latest Videos!

The Self-Determination Channel is a YouTube channel by and for people with developmental or intellectual disabilities. Unlike other channels, the Self-Determination Channel stands stand out from other channels on YouTube because self-advocates host the videos, and decide and create the content. Videos are posted a couple times a month on a variety of topics self-advocates care about such as technology, employment, caregivers, independent living, and advocacy.

Check out the newest videos on the channel:

We encourage you to subscribe to the Channel (you can do so by clicking the red Subscribe button on any of the video pages).



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Take five minutes to check out what's happening on the Self-Determination Network:

  • Updated Guidance on Housing Voucher: Recently, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has updated its guidance for the Mainstream Voucher program which creates new alternative requirements and waivers to allow public housing agencies to better utilize the vouchers by helping people with disabilities avoid institutional settings and live in the community. Learn more about the guidance.
  • Guardrails to People on Medicaid: People who receive Medicaid are regularly evaluated to determine eligibility. Read about the new guidance outlining steps states should take to make sure that people with disabilities are not accidentally dropped from Medicaid home and community-based services.
  • Voters with Disabilities Continue Battle for Electronic Ballots: Two months ago, many voters with disabilities in Wisconsin were looking forward to being able to receive and mark a ballot electronically. However, an appeals court disrupted the plan.  Learn about how advocates continue to fight for access to electronic ballots.
  • Right-of-Way Guidelines: The General Services Administration (GSA) recently published a final rule adopting the public right-of-way accessibility guidelines issued by the Access Board. Find out what the guidelines include.
  • Input Needed on AI: The Access Board is seeking feedback on the benefits and risks of artificial intelligence (AI) for people with disabilities. Comments due October 31st.
  • The Autism CARES Act of 2024: The U.S. House of Representatives has taken a crucial step forward in supporting the autism community by passing the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support (CARES) Act of 2024. Learn what this Act includes.
  • Wisconsin Medicaid Managed Care Quality Strategy: The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is seeking public comment on the 2025-2027 Wisconsin Medicaid Managed Care Quality Strategy. Comments due October 25th.
  • Free At-Home COVID Tests: The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Strategic Preparedness and and the United States Postal Service is offering free at-home COVID tests. Find out how to get yours.
  • Best Cities: The annual ranking for best cities for people with disabilities was recently released. Check out to see which cities ranked highest.
  • Wisconsin Disability Policy Internship Program: The Wisconsin Disability Policy Internship Program is a 4-6 month, part-time paid internship designed to provide an early public policy career level experience in disability policy. Applications are due on October 28th. Learn more and apply today!
  • Call for Presenters: The 2025 Circles of Life Conference is May 8th & 9th in Wisconsin Dells. Proposals to present are now being accepted. Applications are due October 25th.

128 Upcoming Events 

Here's a sample of upcoming events listed on the Self-Determination Network:

Post your event on the Self-Determination Network and it can be included in future Network News emails to members! Questions? Suggestions?  Contact Stacy Ellingen. 

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The Self-Determination Network is powered by InControl Wisconsin and supported financially by our members and Sponsors. We couldn't keep this Network going with you!  Find out how you can help support the Network.

Circles of Life is Wisconsin’s annual conference for families who have children with disabilities and the professionals who support them.

 

Our theme for 2025 is overcoming barriers. We’re starting the search for presenters with interesting stories to tell now.

 

We look forward to seeing you May 8-9, 2025 in the Wisconsin Dells for Circles of Life 2025. 

Calling All Presenters


Apply NOW to present at the 2025 Circles of Life Conference!


Parents, family members, professionals and anyone with experience and information to share are encouraged to apply. Presenters receive free registration to the conference.

All topics related to families who have children with disabilities are welcomed. 2025’s focus is overcoming barriers. Proposals on a wide variety of other topics will also be selected. (Never Presented Before? Ask about a mentor.)

Presenter Application 

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The Wisconsin Disability Policy Internship is a 4-6 month, part-time (20 hour a week) paid internship designed to provide an early public policy career level experience in disability policy. Interns will earn $20 an hour and will work within key Wisconsin policy divisions, state agencies offices, or disability organizations.

 

Submit your application by October 28,2024 at 5pm

 

Who can apply?

Required to Apply

  • Identify as a person with a developmental disability or a family member of a person with a developmental disability.
  • Demonstrated interest in disability advocacy and policy.
  • Good communication skills and ability to work as a team and get along with others.
  • Basic knowledge or interest in state or local level advocacy related to disability, long-term care, employment, education, or community organizing.

Please contact Sally Flaschberger by email at sally.flaschberger@wisconsin.gov or by phone at 608-266-5038 if you have questions or need assistance with the application. 

 

Click the button below to learn more and apply today!

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The annual ranking for best cities for people with disabilities was recently released. The ranking is based on the 33 indicators of disability-friendliness including things such as cost-of-living, employment for people with disabilities, cost of health care and in-home services as well as accessibility in over 180 cities. The data is from government agencies, disability nonprofits, and other sources.

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Starting today, every U.S. household can order free at-home COVID-19 tests through a partnership between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and the United States Postal Service (USPS). These tests will detect the currently circulating COVID-19 variants and are intended for use through the end of 2024. Each order will include four tests.
One of the available options is the Orasure InteliSwab test, which is more accessible for people who are blind or have low vision, as well as people who have low manual dexterity.
For more information, including ordering instructions and information about the features that make the InteliSwab test more accessible, please visit ACL.gov/AccessibleTests.

About the Program

This round of ordering follows six previous opportunities to obtain free over-the-counter COVID-19 tests through this program. Since the program began in the winter of 2021, ASPR and USPS have distributed more than 900 million tests, free of charge, to American households nationwide.  These efforts complement ASPR’s ongoing distribution of free COVID-19 tests to long-term care facilities, low-income senior housing, aging and disability networks, and other community organizations to support older adults and people with disabilities living in the community, uninsured individuals, and underserved communities. More than 1 billion over-the-counter tests have been provided to date through this community access program.  In addition to collaborating with USPS on ordering and distribution of free COVID-19 tests, ASPR previously invested approximately $600 million across 12 domestic COVID-19 test manufacturers to strengthen the nation’s capacity to manufacture these tests, reduce reliance on overseas manufacturing, secure millions of new over-the-counter tests for future use, and improve preparedness for COVID-19 and other pandemic threats of the future. 
Order your free tests
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You can make a difference in how the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) plans to measure and improve the quality of care for Medicaid members. Share feedback on the 2025-2027 Wisconsin Medicaid Managed Care Quality Strategy during the public comment period from September 23 to October 25, 2024.

What is the Wisconsin Medicaid Managed Care Quality Strategy?

This document will help DHS understand how well certain health plans are working for Medicaid members and how to make them better. The department developed this draft strategy using feedback from groups it works with, the latest data, and information from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

The Quality Strategy includes these managed care programs:

  • BadgerCare Plus and Medicaid Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • Family Care and Family Care Partnership
  • Care4Kids

Public comment information

Find more information and share feedback on the DHS Quality Strategy webpage.

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The U.S. House of Representatives has taken a crucial step forward in supporting the autism community by passing the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support (CARES) Act of 2024. Over the past two decades, the Autism CARES Act has been a beacon of progress, fundamentally transforming our understanding of autism and reshaping the landscape of support for individuals on the spectrum.

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