Self-Determination Network News: January 2023
Self-Determination Network News:
January 2023
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Disability Advocacy Day 2023
Disability Advocacy Day will be Thursday March 23rd in Madison. We're excited that it will be back in-person! Registration opens February 1st, and we'll be sending out a message with information and a link. We hope to see you there!
Wisconsin Courts Matter in the 2023 Election Virtual Forum
| Join the Disability Vote Coalition on Zoom on Thursday February 9th 6:30p.m. to 7:45p.m. to hear from their panel of experts about why Wisconsin Courts Matter. On February 21 and April 4, Wisconsin voters will decide who serves on our courts, including an open Wisconsin Supreme Court seat. The winning Supreme Court candidate will be appointed for a ten year term. Depending on where you live, you may also vote for Court of Appeals or Circuit Court. |
| State courts make decisions that affect our rights and liberties. They address issues like voting rights, education, mental health, access to healthcare, employment rights, guardianships, and more. Join them on February 9th to make sure you are prepared to vote. |
| Click here to register for the Zoom event. To request disability related accommodations, include your request with your registration. |
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.
This month, we shined the spotlight on Jeremiah. With help from his support circle, this very determined self-advocat has worked his way into a great position in the federal government. Check out this month's Member Spotlight to get to know Jeremiah.
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:
- Human Rights: #9 Control Your Money
- Human Rights: #10 Free From People Hurting You
- Human Rights: #11 Decide Your Own Schedule
- Human Rights: #12 Go to School
- Human Rights: #13 Get Medicine and Help From Doctors
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:
- Disability Language Debate: New research dives into the heated debate surrounding the language of autism and finds that preferences about how to describe those on the spectrum vary substantially depending on who you ask. Find out what options are being debated.
- Watch: Watch this great video to learn more about Project SEARCH.
- Community-Based Services Should be Mandated: A report from the National Council on Disability finds that weaknesses in home and community-based services directly contributed to “needless deaths” among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Find out why community based services should be mandated.
- Strengthening Support for Family Caregivers: There are about 53 million family caregivers in the US. A new report reveals new opportunities for governments to support them.
- Boost in Rural Transit Funding: Late in December, Governor Evers' office announced $5 million in rural transit funding. Learn what the funding will be used for.
- Youth Leadership Forum 2023: The Youth Leadership Forum is a week-long, overnight leadership training and career awareness program at Edgewood College for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with disabilities to learn leadership and self-advocacy skills. This year, it's July 9-14. Applications due February 3.
- Transportation Barriers Continue: Transportation barriers continue to one of the main hurdles to employment for people with disabilities. Read about why this is.
- Resolution Approach: Instead of constantly pushing themselves, some people with disabilities embrace a more relaxed approach to goal-setting. Learn and why some people with disabilities take a different approach to making New Year's resolutions.
- Disability Activist Aims to More Inclusive: When Saphonia Purnell was told that her child had a disability, she decided to make disability rights the center of her world. Read about how she plans to pull youth and civic leaders together with the goal of making Green Bay more inclusive and welcoming for people with disabilities.
- Community Transition Services: Community transition services help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities with their move from either an institution to a community setting, or a congregate community setting to an individual community setting. Learn about what these services can help with.
- Limit Increase for ABLE Accounts: People with disabilities can put most money into ABLE accounts starting this month. Find out what the limit now is.
- Businesses Need to Hire People with Disabilities: It's estimated that more than 15% of people in the world experience disability; yet very few companies prioritize diversity and inclusion considering disability in their initiatives. Learn about the several reasons this is.
- University Awarded Grant to Help with Caregiver Crisis: Recently, UW-Green Bay was awarded a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to help with the caregiver crisis. Learn about how.
- IRIS Advisory Committee is Recruiting: The IRIS Advisory Committee is currently looking for interested persons to apply to be on the committee. Applications due February 3. Learn more and apply.
- Long-Term Care Advisory Council Seeks Applicants: The Wisconsin Long-Term Care Advisory Council is currently looking for interested persons to apply to be on the committee. Applications due February 3. Learn more and apply.
- Family Caregiver Phone Line: The National Alliance wants to hear from family caregivers. A phone line has been setup to check on the mental health of family caregivers. Find out how it works.
Here's a sample of upcoming events listed on the Self-Determination Network:
- Webinar: Assistive Technology: January 31st, 1p.m. to 2:30p.m., Online
- Webinar: Creating And Fostering Inclusive Wellness And Recreation Programs For Individuals With Disabilities: February 9th, 1p.m. to 2:30p.m., Online
- Webinar: Wisconsin Courts Matter: Wisconsin 2023 Elections: February 9th, 6:30p.m. to 7:45p.m., Online
- Advocacy For Change: March 16th, 9a.m. to 4:30p.m., Concourse Hotel and the Capitol, Madison WI
- Disability Advocacy Day: March 23rd, 10a.m. to 3p.m., Monona Terrace and the Capitol, 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.
