News
Self-Determination Network News:
January 2025
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Disability Advocacy Day 2025
Save the date for the 2025 Disability Advocacy Day on Wednesday March 12th in Madison. We'll be sending out information about details and registration in early February. We hope to see you there!
Register for a BPDD virtual workshop
The Self-Determination Network includes some very talented members and we want to help you to get to know each other a little better. Member Spotlight is a great way for us to get to know each other better.
For January, we're shining the spotlight on Rose. This photography loving self-advocate is taking the Partners in Policymaking class right now and is eager to advocate for Medicaid expansion. Stop by this month's Member Spotlight to get to know Rose.
Who should we shine the spotlight on next?
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).
Take five minutes to check out what's happening on the Self-Determination Network:
- Switzer Research Fellowship: The purpose of the Switzer Research Fellowships Program is to build research capacity by providing support to highly qualified individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to conduct research on rehabilitation, independent living, and other experiences and outcomes of people with disabilities. Applications due February 3rd.
- Disability Data Collection Practices: Read about some promising practices states can use to collect disability data to improve health equity.
- Self-Direction in Medicaid: This study’s aim was to examine how states across the United States implemented self-direction in their Medicaid home and community‐based services waiver programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in fiscal year 2021. Learn about some of the interesting statistics that it revealed.
- Workforce Challenges Continue: A new survey highlighted the challenges facing America’s direct support workforce, revealing a care system in crisis due to ongoing recruitment and retention issues. Find out why this is.
- New Air Travel Rules: New rules aimed to ease air travel for people with disabilities will go into effect on January 18th. Learn what they are.
- Mom On a Mission: Going to the grocery store is not a big ordeal for most people, but for adults with disabilities and their caregivers, it can be challenging. Read about one Wisconsin mom's mission to get adult changing stations in more common places.
- Universal Design Funding Opportunity: The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research announced a new funding opportunity on universal design. Applications are due March 6th. Learn more about this opportunity.
- Disability Providers Fear More Cuts: Disability service providers across the country are struggling to maintain their services, with many reporting that they are turning away new referrals and discontinuing programs and they’re concerned that it could get worse Learn why.
- Ending Subminimum Wage: As federal officials consider ending a program that allows employers to pay people with disabilities less than minimum wage, a new study suggests that doing so has little downside. Learn the reasoning.
- Input Needed: The Department of Health and Human Services is seeking input on the impact of ageism in health care. Comments due March 15th.
- Inspiring Wrestler: For Anthony Robles, coming out of retirement from wrestling to make a about his life was exciting. Read about one Wisconsin wrestler's unique story.
- Think Differently Database Act: President Biden signed the Think Differently Database Act to create an online resource for individuals with disabilities, caregivers, and families. Find out what this law requires.
Here's a sample of upcoming events listed on the Self-Determination Network:
- Federal Medicaid Updates: What's going on and how to tell your story to policymakers: January 21st, 12p.m. to 1:30p.m., Virtual
- Webinar: Highlights from the Fiscal Year 2024 Government-wide Section 508 Assessment: January 21st, 12p.m. to 1:30p.m., Virtual
- Federal Medicaid Updates: What's going on and how to tell your story to policymakers: January 23rd, 3p.m. to 4:30p.m., Virtual
- Webinar: Innovation in the Direct Care Workforce: Unlocking Success Through Peer Learning: January 29th, 1p.m. to 2p.m., Virtual
- Webinar: Accessibility and Air Travel: February 6th, 1:30p.m. to 3p.m., Virtual
- Disability Advocacy Day 2025: March 12th, Monona Terrace and State Capitol, Madison WI
- National Symposium on Quality Employment 2025: May 20th-22nd, Memorial Union, Madison WI
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.
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.
HOMECARE MAGAZINE: New Law Requires HHS to Publish Resources for People With Disabilities
By SD Network, 2025-01-16
President Biden signed the Think Differently Database Act to create an online resource for individuals with disabilities, caregivers, and families. The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) has three years from the enactment date to establish and update the website. The website must include information about eligibility, points of contact, covered long-term services, and associated wait lists, plus information about how to contact each State’s Medicaid office.
CHANNEL 3000: Disability didn't keep Anthony Robles from attaining wresting goals
By SD Network, 2025-01-16
For Anthony Robles, coming out of retirement from wrestling to make a about his life was exciting. Robles was a wrestler in high school and college. What makes his story unique is that he was born without a leg but had no stump to attach a prosthetic leg to. With using strength of his other body parts, he was able to win state and national championships.
ADMINISTRATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVING: Funding Opportunity for Research on Communication Technologies
By SD Network, 2025-01-16
Funding Opportunity for Research on Communication TechnologiesApplications due Friday, April 4, 2025
ACL's National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) is announcing a new funding opportunity for a Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERCs) program on communication technologies. The purpose of the RERCs program is to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act by conducting advanced engineering research and development of innovative technologies designed to solve particular rehabilitation problems or remove environmental barriers. RERCs also demonstrate and evaluate such technologies, facilitate service delivery system changes, stimulate the production and distribution of new technologies and equipment in the private sector, and provide training opportunities.
The grantee must conduct research and development activities toward new technologies and products that facilitate communication among people with disabilities who cannot rely on speech alone to be heard and understood. This grant will have a 60-month project period, with five 12-month budget periods. Contact Thomas.Corfman@acl.hhs.gov at NIDILRR if you have questions about this funding opportunity. |
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ADMINISTRATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVING: Input Needed on the Impact of Ageism in Health Care
By SD Network, 2025-01-08
Input Needed on the Impact of Ageism in Health CareComments due Saturday, March 15, 2025
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is seeking information regarding the impact of ageism in health care. This request is open to the public and is part of an effort to better understand and quantify the impacts of ageism on health care quality, including aspects related to safety, timeliness, patient-centeredness, equitable distribution, and care outcomes. They are also seeking to understand how the effect of ageism differs across population groups and are interested in identifying efforts and innovative strategies and programs that address and mitigate ageism to optimize older adults' health.
Details on how to submit comments are available in the Federal Register notice. For additional information, email Jose.Plascenciajimenez@ahrq.hhs.gov or call 301-427-1364. |
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DISABILITY SCOOP: After Ending Subminimum Wage, States See Workforce Gains
By SD Network, 2025-01-03
As federal officials consider ending a program that allows employers to pay people with disabilities less than minimum wage, a new study suggests that doing so has little downside. A new study published in the journal JAMA Health Forum, researchers looked at what happened in New Hampshire, which passed legislation in 2015 to do away with subminimum wage employment, and Maryland, which approved a phaseout of the program in 2016.
DISABILITY SCOOP: Already Battered Disability Providers Say More Cuts Could Be Coming
By SD Network, 2025-01-03
Disability service providers across the country are struggling to maintain their services, with many reporting that they are turning away new referrals and discontinuing programs and they’re concerned that it could get worse. A recent survey finds that 90% of providers serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have faced moderate or severe staffing shortages in the last year.
What's your story? Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Rose shares that she wouldn’t be surprised if she was misdiagnosed with having an intellectual disability at a younger age, but she was diagnosed with ADHD when she was 13 and Asperger’s when she was almost 15. She works at Water Performance Products in Mukwonago, but what keeps her busy is going to the gym, taking care of her pets, streaming movies and TV on Chromecast, playing computer games, and running and biking outside when it’s warmer.
How are you involved with self-determination? Why did you join the SD Network? .
Rose is currently taking the Partners in Policymaking class. She is advocating for Medicaid expansion, but knows that it’s going to be a really hard battle due to the incoming administration.
Tell us some good news - what's the most exciting thing happening for you (or in Wisconsin) in terms of self-determination?
Rose was really excited to join the Network because it’s a way for her to connect with others in the disability community virtually. She tells us that sometimes interacting with people with disabilities scares her, so the network gives her the opportunity to connect virtually.
What tip or resource would you like to share with people who want to be more self-determined?
Rose encourages self-advocates to take the Partners in Policymaking class. “If people with disabilities want to make a difference for the better of all types of disabilities, then, yes, absolutely take this course,” she says.
What are some of your hobbies?
In her spare time, Rose enjoys doing photography, playing computer games, and scrapbooking.
***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.