Self-Determination Network News: April 2024
Self-Determination Network News:
April 2024
Connect | Share |Learn | http://sdnetworkwi.org
2024 Self-Determination Conference Call for Presenters
Are you interested in presenting at the 2024 Self-Determination Conference? Session proposals for are now being accepted for Tuesday, October 22nd and Wednesday, October 23rd, 2024. This year’s theme: A Seat at the Table: Nothing About Us Without Us! will help people with disabilities have a voice in supports they need to lead a more Self-Determined life. Proposals due by on May 10th. Submit an application today!
Please Help InControl Wisconsin's Caring Across Cultures Project
Are you someone who hires direct care workers? Are you a family member of someone who receives support from a direct care worker? Are you a direct care worker? If so, InControl Wisconsin would like you to share a short video, audio clip, or written story of your personal experiences to help others understand the relationships between direct care workers and the people who hire them. We will give you questions to answer, to make it easier for you.
Your stories will be used in online learning courses and/or other resources hosted on InControl Wisconsin’s website as part of the Caring Across Cultures learning platform. (See this link for more details about the project.)
Why are we asking for your help? Caring Across Cultures is a project with a goal of helping direct care workers and the people who hire them to build strong relationships. We want to help them connect and build trust across cultural differences.
What better way for someone who is thinking about hiring direct care workers to hear directly from people who are already doing it? The same is true for someone thinking about becoming a direct care worker. There’s nothing like hearing from someone first hand about what it’s like.
You can record a video or audio clip yourself with your phone (or other device) or you can ask us for help.
Here is a document to help you record your own video or audio. This document will also tell you how to send us your finished recording: CLICK HERE
Need some help?
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You can work on this at home. If you need some help, Contact Sarah Godfrey, at sarah@promotelocal.com / (262) 349-1968, and she will schedule a phone or video call with you.
- Are you coming to Circles of Life on May 16h in Stevens Point? How about Employment First in Wisconsin Dells on May 21st? We will have recording equipment on site at both conferences.
Ready to Do This?
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Questions for you to answer when you record yourself
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 Rosie. This Diehard Award winning very determined survivor and author travels around the world sharing her story of hope and perseverance. Her story has helped medical professionals, researchers, and advocates create needed changes to practices in medical facilities. Check out this month's Member Spotlight to get to know Rosie.
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:
- Investment in Disability Services: President Biden is pushing to improve support for people with disabilities living in the community. Learn about what's being done to strengthen services.
- Funding Opportunity for Technology for Deaf and Hard of Hearing: The Administration of Community Living announced a new grant opportunity for research, development, and evaluation activities toward understanding and optimizing technologies and services used by people who are deaf and hard of hearing. Proposals are due May 6th.
- FOCUS Conference Call for Proposals: The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is now accepting proposals to present at the 2024 FOCUS Conference. Proposals due on May 1st.
- Flying with Dignity: The U.S. Department of Transportation is seeking public comments on a new proposed rule designed to ensure airline passengers who use wheelchairs can travel safely and with dignity. Public comment due by May 13th.
- Disability Advocacy Day: Hundreds of disability advocates gathered in Madison for Disability Advocacy Day in mid March. Find out what advocates talked with legislators about.
- New Employment Resource: The US Department of Labor recently released a new resource in hopes of increasing integrated employment opportunities for people who have disabilities. Learn how the Competitive Integrated Employment Transformation Hub will help people with disabilities, their families, employment service providers, and state agencies.
- Advocates Continue to Push for More Accessible Voting: Voters with disabilities continue to advocate for better voting accessibility. Read about some of the challenges voters continue to face.
- New Cafe: A new cafe in Racine is giving people with a chance to show off their skills and learn new ones. Find out more about this unique cafe.
- Disability Issues Should be a Priority: Over 38 million people with disabilities voted in the 2020 election, so many people feel that key disability issues should be a priority in the upcoming election. Learn about what issues people think should be priorities.
- Partners in Business Request for Proposals: The Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities wants to partner with high schools to improve their employer engagement practices and employment outcomes for young adults with disabilities. Grant funds and technical assistance are available. Applications are due May 17th. They are also interested in partnering with businesses that want to hire and support individuals with intellectual disabilities. Applications for those grants are due May 31st.
- Flat Funding in Federal Budget: A $1.2 trillion deal for to fund the federal government includes more money for special education and disability employment, but doesn't include money for other disability programs. Read about why disability advocates feel like many programs that people rely on were essentially cut from the federal budget.
Here's a sample of upcoming events listed on the Self-Determination Network:
- Webinar: Emergency Preparedness For Organizations Serving People With Disabilities And Older Adults: April 18th, 10a.m. to 11a.m., Virtual
- Know Your Rights Webinar For Family Members: April 24th, 12p.m. to 1p.m., Virtual
- 7th Annual Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day Symposium: May 2nd, 9a.m. to 4p.m., Virtual
- Circles Of Life Conference 2024: May 16th-17th, Holiday Inn, Stevens Point WI
- Employment First Conference: May 21st, Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells WI
- Community Conversation: May 23rd, 10a.m. to 1p.m., Independence First, Milwaukee 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.
