Self-Determination Network News: December 2024
Self-Determination Network News:
December 2024
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We absolutely loved seeing and meeting so many of you at the Self-Determination Conference at the end of October. We want to thank everyone who participated in the Stewing with Stacy raffle, and we welcome all the new members who joined the Network! It was a great Conference again this year! How did you like it? There were a ton of great sessions and events. This year’s theme was A Seat At The Table: Nothing About Us, Without Us! What was your favorite part? What resources did you find particularly helpful? Did something really inspire you? Let's keep the conversation going! Share your comments, questions, and ideas here.
The session recordings and materials from the 2024 Self-Determination Conference are now available online! If you weren't able to make it this year, save the date for 2025 and join us October 20-22, 2025!
For the first time since the IRIS Program started in 2008, a group of IRIS participants, families, self-direction advocates and other stakeholders spent a day together in November 2023 to discuss what is working well in IRIS and what could be improved. In addition, the group identified a number of recommendations for how to achieve improvements in the program. A public report summarizing the consensus from that gathering has now been released and submitted to the Wisconsin Department of Human Services, along with a proposal to create a broad-based task force to work through the issues and recommendations. Read the full report.
Building strong relationships is at the heart of compassionate care! The team at InControl Wisconsin wants to hear from you: how do you foster connections with the people who support you? Have you used the resources from Caring Across Cultures? Whether it’s through active listening, shared activities, or cultural exchanges, your experiences matter! Share your tips and stories with us by going to the CAC website, and let’s inspire each other to create even deeper bonds. 
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 a few weeks. We hope to see you there!
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.
In November, we shined the spotlight on Peter. This avid Wisconsin sports enthusiast loves connecting with others and hearing them share their story. Check out this month's Member Spotlight to get to know Peter.
For December, we're shining the spotlight on Katrina. This video game obsessed self-advocate is the coordinator of the Self Advocacy Action committee at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Institute on Community Integration. Stop by this month's Member Spotlight to get to know Katrina.
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:
- Advancing Independence and Community Integration for All: The President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID) has prioritized high-quality home and community-based services for their report to the president with a focus on four key areas: direct support professionals, employment, community living, and federal support. Read the report.
- Fear of Losing Benefits: Fear of losing Medicaid benefits is a factor in debates over law allowing certain workers with disabilities to be paid lower than minimum wage — advocates urge Wisconsin lawmakers to pursue expansion. Learn why.
- Direct Care Wages Factsheet: This factsheet presents an analysis of wage disparities between direct care workers and similar occupations across the United States in 2023, as well as trends in this wage gap from 2014 to 2023. Take a look at it.
- Increase in Employment: Federal data shows that the number of people with disabilities finding employment is increasing. Find out what advocates credit the rise to.
- The Sandwich Gap: There’s a growing number of us who are Millennials or Generation X and struggle to balance the obligations of parenting school-age children, caring for elderly loved ones, and working for a living. Read about what a recent study found.
- Airline Fined over Treatment of Passengers with Disabilities: One airline has agreed to a record $50 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Transportation for violating laws that protect airline passengers with disabilities. Find out what else they are accused of.
- Experiences of Direct Care Workers and Family Caregivers: This brief includes findings from focus groups with direct care workers and family caregivers who provide home-and-community-based services. Learn what the groups found.
- Who Are the Direct Care Workers?: This analysis provides an overview of demographic information, wages, and health care coverage of direct care workers. Find out what this analysis found.
- Sponsor and Exhibitor Registration Open: Registration for sponsors and exhibitors for the Circles of Life Conference is now open. Early bird registration ends in February!
- Myths of Self-Directed Care: Enrollment and awareness of self-directed care remain low. Read about some of the myths.
- Workforce Shortages Top the List: State legislatures passed over 3,000 health policy bills in 2024, focusing on healthcare workforce shortages, Medicaid changes, and youth mental health. Learn what key actions include.
- Caregiver Impact Report: This report lists hundreds of actions that federal agencies, state and local governments, businesses, and communities that can be taken to improve caregivers' lives.. Learn what five goals the strategy includes.
Here's a sample of upcoming events listed on the Self-Determination Network:
- Webinar: From Standards to Support: Understanding the Access Board’s Role in Accessibility: January 9th, 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.
