Self-Determination Network News:

March 2017

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The keynote speaker for the 4th annual Aging Empowerment Conference: Living a Self-Determined Life, sponsored by InControl Wisconsin, will be the Associate State Director State Advocacy from AARP Wisconsin, Helen Marks Dicks.   The keynote address is titled, "Powerful Aging: Changing the Stories We Tell."  Relationships between generations, just like those between individuals, are often based on perceptions, both positive and negative. How powerful we are and how powerful people perceive us to be can be limited or enhanced by attitudes about aging.  On one hand, those perceptions can be empowering and enriching.  They can enable and embolden people to stand up for their beliefs in the face of fear.  They can cultivate passion and meaning out of the pursuit of lifelong goals and dreams.  On the other hand, negative perceptions, if left unchecked and unchallenged, can construct barriers that limit our possibilities and define us in terms of deficit, particularly when it comes to aging.  The challenge for each of us is to rewrite the narrative of aging and tell a story that we have written and the one we want to live.  Helen Marks Dicks will share her thoughts on how we can all express our own power as the author of our own life story and how together we can reshape perceptions of aging.

Watch for registration information for this year's Aging Empowerment Conference coming soon! 

State Budget Summary

The voices of people with disabilities and their families are so important in shaping public policy at the local, state and federal levels. Here's a great new document from People First WI that shows what's in the Governor's proposed budget for the WI disability community, along with questions you can ask your legislators and the Governor. You can also use this at Disability Advocacy Day on March 21st in Madison.  Let your voice be heard!

Changes to Medicaid and the ACA

The House Health Subcommittee of the Energy & Commerce Committee introduced the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare) replacement bill last week. A markup is the process by which congressional committees and subcommittees debate, amend, and rewrite proposed legislation. In addition, according to The Hill, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis of the bill is not ready. A CBO analysis shows items like how much the bill would cost and how many people could lose coverage.

The ACA contains many protections important to people with disabilities, including protections for people with pre-existing conditions, making sure that coverage people with disabilities need cannot be denied, and ensuring there is no lifetime limit on the amount of or cost of coverage you can receive.  This ACA bill contains major changes to Medicaid in the form of  Per Capita Caps--that will reduce funding and could result in changes to Wisconsin Medicaid funded programs like Family Care/IRIS, Katie Beckett, Children's Long-Term Supports, school and autism therapies and more. Medicaid makes it possible for people with disabilities and older adults to live in the community instead of nursing homes or institutions.  The Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities has put together this presentation about how these changes would impact people with disabilities.  This article lists the top threats that these changes would pose to children and families.  Also, this video by the Kaiser Family Foundation does an excellent job of explaining how Medicaid currently works and what the proposed changes would mean for people. We encourage people to ask questions and share their thoughts about this proposal with their Representatives.  

 Stacy’s Journal

In this month's entry, Stacy discusses how, just like everyone else, people with disabilities strive to be independent. She shares how a recent change in her life has been stressful, but, yet, has made her as independent as possible! We encourage you to share your experiences as well.

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

• HCBS Statewide Transition Plan:  DHS is seeking public comment on its Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services statewide transition plan.  Let your voice be heard!
• 2017 Employment First Conference:  The Employment First Conference focuses on things such as integrated employment.  Register for this year's conference today!
• Tax Tips:  Regardless if they're working or not, people with disabilities and their caregivers usually have higher daily living and medical care costs. Learn about how some costs could be deductible. 
• Worker Shortage:  Governor Walker's next budget calls for a four percent increase in the Medicaid reimbursement rate for personal care, but advocates say this won't solve the problem.  Find out why.
• New App:  A new free app allows people who are deaf or hard of hearing to easily communicate with others.  Read about how this new app works.
• Criminal Justice Entities:  The Department of Justice recently released a guidance statement to address various criminal justice entities regarding compliance of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  Find out what the statement ensures.
• Update on Service Dogs:  Here's an update on a popular service dog case.  Learn how the U.S. Supreme Court ruled.
• 2017 Circles of Life Conference:  There are several opportunities to participate in this year's Circles of Life Conference.  Find how you can get involved.
• Disability Services Rating Site:  There's a new website where people can rate disability care and support options.  Read about how this website works.

 Upcoming Events                                    

Here's a sample of upcoming events listed on the Self-Determination Network:

• State Budget Training:  March 14th, 3p.m. to 5p.m., Independence First, Milwaukee WI
• State Budget Training:  March 14th, 6:15p.m. to 8p.m., Watermark Community and Senior Center, Beaver Dam WI
• State Budget Training:  March 15th, 10a.m. to 11a.m., Law Enforcement Center, Portage WI
• Conference Call With Senator Bob Casey Re: Medicaid:  March 15th, 11a.m. to 11:30a.m., Phone
• State Budget Training:  March 16th, 1p.m. to 3p.m., The Arc of Racine County- Gateway, Racine WI
• State Budget Training:  March 17th, 3p.m. to 5p.m., Options for Independent Living, Green Bay WI
• Special Needs Resource Fair: March 18th, 10a.m. to 12p.m., St. Luke Church, Brookfield WI
• Disability Advocacy Day:  March 21st, 9:30a.m. to 3:30p.m., Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, Madison WI
• Wisconsin Able Accounts, Policy & Employment Initiatives Round Table:  March 22nd, 10a.m. to 12:30p.m., GE Research Park Auditorium, Wauwatosa WI 
• State Budget Training:  March 22nd, 6p.m. to 8p.m., Orchard Ridge Church of Christ, Madison WI
• State Budget Training:  March 23rd, 1p.m. to 2:30p.m., Red Cliff Band of Chippewa Legendary Resort, Bayfield WI
• State Budget Training:  March 23rd, 6p.m. to 7:30p.m., Red Cliff Band of Chippewa Legendary Resort, Bayfield WI
• State Budget Training:  March 28th, 7p.m. to 8p.m., The Arc of Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac, WI
• Webinar: Can You See Me Now? Authentic Representation Of People With Disabilities On Television:  April 5th, 11a.m. to 12p.m., Online
• 2017 Multiple Perspectives Conference:  April 12th to 13th, Blackwell Hotel & Conference Center, Columbus OH
• 2017 Wisconsin Employment First Conference:  April 17th, 8:30a.m. to 4p.m., Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells WI
• 2017 National ADA Symposium: May 14th to 17th, Hyatt Regency O'Hare, Chicago IL
• Aging Advocacy Day:  May 17th, Madison WI
• 2017 Aging Empowerment Conference: June 6th-7th, Glacier Canyon Lodge Conference Center at the Wilderness Resort, Wisconsin Dells WI
• Wisconsin Youth Leadership Forum:  July 9th to 14th, Edgewood College, Madison, WI
• 2017 Self-Determination Conference:  November 1st to 3rd, Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells 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.