Registration Open

Registration for the 2026 Self-Determination Conference is now open. It will be held October 19th-21st at the Kalahari Resort in the Wisconsin Dells. This year's theme is  The Power of Self-Determination; Technology, Community and YOU!

Find out more and register today!

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 20th at 5:30 p.m. (during dinner). 

Nomination Forms must be submitted by August 14, 2026.

Nominate someone today!

Call for Exhibitors 

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

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:
  

  • U.S. DOJ opinion argues people with disabilities don’t have a right to home care,

  • Special Education moving to DHHS/U.S. DOJ,

  • U.S. DOJ & states highlighting Medicaid fraud enforcement,

  • Supreme Court rulings impact voting, home care labor market;

  • USPS, OMB, CMS rules impacting people with disabilities. 

• Continued coverage of impacts of HR 1.

  • Wisconsin has Medicaid shortfall;
  • Report calculates economic impact of HR1 on jobs/states;
  • HR 1 creates incentives for states to err on side of not providing SNAP benefits
• Congress
  • House committee grills states on Medicaid fraud;
  • House stalls on Reconciliation 3.0;
  • annual federal appropriation process stalled out

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

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

• Astronaut With Physical Disability: The U.K. Space Agency is partnering with Vast to fund a 2027 mission to the Haven-1 station, where John McFall will become the first astronaut with a physical disability to study prosthetics and human adaptation in orbit. Learn more about the mission.
• Construction to Begin: Construction will begin this month on a new ramp and staircase at Apostle Islands' Meyers Beach to help visitors with mobility challenges easily access the shoreline and sea caves by October. Find out more about this project.
• Being Human: After struggling with restrictive agency care, a Wisconsin woman successfully transitioned to self-directed funding to manage her own 24/7 care team and now works nationally and co-founded a nonprofit to support others doing the same. Read about her story.
• Join the Care Conversation: This nationwide initiative invites everyone to share their personal experiences through a short survey for "1 Million Care Conversations" to help expose systemic flaws and shape the future of healthcare and caregiving support. Learn how you can participate.
• Rural Health Transformation Grants: Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin DHS have opened applications for $40 million in grants to improve rural care coordination, community health workers, and dental clinics. Read more about the grant opportunities.
• AI Bias: A major new study found that popular AI models show built-in bias against people with intellectual disabilities, consistently portraying them as dependent or childlike and prompting calls for tech developers to fix these automated stereotypes. Learn more about this study.
• Caregiver Shortages: Wisconsin health leaders report that severe worker shortages in the Family Care program are leaving residents without necessary services, triggering calls for increased funding, policy reforms, and improved caregiver support. Find out what is needed to improve this.
• AI in Home Care: A new three-part report examines how artificial intelligence can safely support older adults and people with disabilities at home without overburdening their caregivers. Check them out!
• Accessible Museum: The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia has launched guided "touch tours" of its life-size bronze statues to make history more accessible for blind and low-vision visitors. Learn about what unique opportunities this museum offers.
• Bill to Protect Airline Passengers: U.S. lawmakers introduced the Air Carrier Access Amendments Act to protect passengers with disabilities by allowing them to sue for discrimination and penalizing airlines that damage wheelchairs or delay assistance. Find out more about this bill.
• New Opinion Causes Concern: A 2026 Justice Department opinion, which reinterprets Olmstead v. L.C., concludes that federal law does not require states to provide home- or community-based care for individuals with disabilities, sparking concerns over increased institutionalization and a rollback of civil rights. Read about some of the concerns advocates have.
• Wisconsin's Medicaid Work Requirements: Starting January 1, 2026, Wisconsin will implement new federal Medicaid work requirements that could cause about 63,000 BadgerCare Plus recipients without dependents to lose their healthcare coverage if they do not complete 80 monthly hours of work or qualifying activities. Learn more about the state's plan.
• Funding Opportunity to Strengthen Respite Care: The federal government is offering over $4.4 million in grant funding over three years to state agencies to help them build stronger respite care systems, train workers, and expand support services for family caregivers. Applications due July 22nd.
• Support for Family Caregivers: The federal government is offering up to $490,000 for a two-year project to help state agencies work together and improve support for family caregivers based on national goals. Applications due July 22nd.
• Award-Winning Artist: A 30-year-old autistic eco-artist from Wisconsin creates intricate, award-winning mixed-media art from discarded materials to reduce waste, having raised over $500,000 for disability charities. Read more about this artist.
• Infrastructure Instability: America's elder care infrastructure is facing severe instability due to stagnant federal funding, Congressional gridlock, and a 40% staff reduction at the federal agency overseeing senior programs, leaving the country struggling to support its rapidly aging population. Learn why this is happening and what is needed to improve this.
• Watch: Disability advocates are criticizing a recent Justice Department memo and proposed changes to special education oversight, warning these actions could force individuals into institutions and limit access to mainstream education. Watch this segment to learn more about advocate concerns.
• Wisconsinites Concerned: A new Department of Justice opinion and federal fraud warnings are raising concerns that states will restrict Medicaid funding, threatening the autonomy of disabled individuals by risking forced institutionalization and shifting heavy care burdens onto families. Read about real fears advocates have.
• Funding Opportunity for Peer Support: The Administration on Disabilities is offering up to $2.3 million to create a national, peer-led network aimed at improving access to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for individuals with speech-related disabilities. Applications due July 22nd.
• Ballot Rule Upheld: The Supreme Court ruled that states can count mail-in ballots received after Election Day if postmarked on or before it, a decision praised by disability advocates for protecting voting accessibility. Find out why advocates were pleased about this.

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 July, we're shining the Spotlight on Jenna. This mom of four boys recently made a major life change and started her own coaching business for parents with children with disabilities. Stop by this month's Member Spotlight to get to know Jenna.
Who should we shine the spotlight on next?

Stacy’s Journal