Let's Talk: The Supplemental Security Income Asset Limit

Federal Fallout Update

Here are the recording and slides from the latest webinar that the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities puts on regarding the federal fallout.  Here are the topics discussed last week's webinar (we encourage you to tune into tomorrow's webinar to get the latest):

• Policy changes the administration is making:
  

  • CMS releases “prove you’re working, exempt guidance; who will fit into the exemptions (and who won’t);

  • White House proposes new rules giving political appointees final approval on all federal grants;

  • White House Blocks $2 Billion for Education;

  • 8,000 federal policy officials lose civil service protections;

  • RFK Jr. Seeks To Peek at Americans’ Medical Records for Clues on Autism and Vaccines;

  • Conservative think tank alleges widespread ObamaCare enrollment fraud.

• Continued coverage of impacts of HR 1.

  • Early trends show how states are cutting home care programs ahead of HR 1 implementation;

  • States struggle with cost to implement Medicaid prove you’re working/exempt requirements;

  • Bills in New Jersey would help volunteers prove hours to meet prove you’re working requirements;

  • Ohio latest state to propose legislation aimed at cutting home care.

• Congress
  
  • 2nd reconciliation bill moving, 3rd reconciliation bill taking form, House reveals federal 2027 Labor/DHHS/Education budget

We encourage you to continue to contact your legislators and let them know how these things will impact you and your family.     

Diehard Award Nominations

Do you know someone who goes above and beyond to improve community supports for individuals with disabilities?  Do they support self-determination?  Nominate them for a Diehard Award in one of the following two categories: 

PROFESSIONAL ADVOCATE and SELF-ADVOCATE/GRASSROOTS ADVOCATE

A Diehard is a person who has made a significant contribution to the advocacy work here in Wisconsin. A diehard is someone with a strong commitment to community integration and self-determination. Diehards go above and beyond to make sure everyone is counted.

Awards will be presented at the Self-Determination Conference on Tuesday, October 20 at 5:30 p.m. (during dinner) at the Kalahari Resort and Conference Center Wisconsin Dells. 

Nomination Forms must be submitted by August 14, 2026.

Nominate someone today!

Call for Exhibitors 

This year's Self-Determination Conference will be held October 19th-21st at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. Exhibit tables will be available on Tuesday October 20th and Wednesday October 21st. Space is limited and only applications from exhibitors that directly support self-determination and self-direction in Wisconsin will be accepted. All applications will be reviewed by a committee and selected based on interest, needs, variety, and mission of the conference. Placement at the Conference will be on a first come basis. Applications are due July 20th.

Calling all Micro Business Owners and Artists!

 Micro businesses run and created by people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Artists can sell their products and/or services. Applications are due July 20th.

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

• Shift Toward Self-Direction: The shift toward self-directed care is transforming the U.S. healthcare landscape by moving away from agency-managed services to a model where individuals take a central role in managing their own care, including selecting caregivers and setting schedules. Learn what is causing this shift.
• Debate over Long-Term Care Benefit: The debate over what to do about Medicaid's Long-Term Care benefit continues. Read about the two sides of this debate.
• Doctor Warns Cuts Will Hurt Wisconsinites: A Milwaukee-based emergency room physician, warns that Medicaid cuts in the Trump administration's budget law will have devastating consequences for Wisconsin residents. Find out how these cuts will affect people.
• Input Needed on Children's Waiver: The Department of Health Services is seeking public comments on the Children's Long-Term Care Supports waiver renewal. Comments due June 13th.
• Caregivers Need Support: According to a new report, 36% of family caregivers have disabilities themselves. Learn what kinds of supports are needed.
• Caregiver Hotline: Federal lawmakers have introduced the Caregiver Access to Resources and Emotional Support (CARES) Hotline Act, which would establish a first-ever 24/7 national hotline for caregivers of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Find out what the line would offer.
• New Tracker: A new tracker has been developed to monitor state-level cuts to Home and Community-Based Services programs. Take a look at it.
• Employment Research Study: Researchers at the University of Washington who focus on disability rights and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are looking for participants in an online research study. Find out more and participate.
• New Transportation Vendor: The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has issued its intent to award a contract to a new vendor to manage non-emergency medical transportation services for Medicaid and BadgerPlus members. Learn which vendor got the contract.
• Accessibility List: According to Forbes' accessibility list, companies are making accessibility a top priority. Take a look at the Accessibility 200 List.
• Closing the Mental Health Gap: Special Olympics is actively working to address the significant mental health care gap experienced by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Learn what they're doing.
• Project SEARCH Success: Project SEARCH is a nine-month hands-on job training program for high school students with disabilities. Read about one student's story.
• Disability Policy Fellowship: The Wisconsin Disability Policy Leadership Program, an innovative program to empower people with developmental disabilities and their family members to engage in policy advocacy and leadership launched the Internship Application. Applications due June 24th.
• Work Requirement Guidelines: The Trump administration released official guidance outlining exemptions for its new Medicaid work requirements, which take effect on January 1. Learn about some of the details of the guidelines.
• Update on Electronic Accessible Ballot Lawsuit: A Dane County judge recently heard arguments in a lawsuit brought by Disability Rights Wisconsin and the League of Women Voters, which seeks to allow voters with print disabilities to receive and fill out absentee ballots electronically to ensure their right to a secret and independent ballot. Find out where the lawsuit stands.
• Self-Direction Guardrails: This reference guide from the Self-Direction Center pushes back on fraud-driven scrutiny of Medicaid self-direction, arguing the model was built with accountability from the start. Read through it.
• Medicaid Advocacy Toolkit: The National Alliance for Caregiving and Caregiver Nation Coalition released this toolkit to help advocates protect Medicaid home- and community-based services (HCBS) amid cuts and fraud-related scrutiny. Check it out.
• Weight of Caregiving: In this Age-Friendly Health podcast episode, host Katherine Ornstein interviews Alison Barkoff of George Washington University about the growing economic and social weight of family caregiving. Listen to this podcast episode.
• Changes to IRIS Causing Problems: Recent changes to the IRIS Program are causing problems for participants and support brokers. Find out what the changes are and why they're causing issues.

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 this month, we're shining the Spotlight on David. This self-advocate has played an integral role in many of the positive changes for people with disabilities in Wisconsin. Stop by this month's Member Spotlight to get to know David.
Who should we shine the spotlight on next?

Stacy’s Journal