News
What's your story? Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Ms. Wheelchair Wisconsin 2025, Karyn lives in Waukesha, Wisconsin. The youngest of six siblings, she was born in Nicaragua, but raised in Wisconsin. She shares that she was born with Cerebral Palsy from birth and has been navigating life with a physical and visible disability. She received my bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Human Development and Family Studies, and she works as a Behavioral Health Specialist. Now preparing to begin her master’s in social work at UW-Milwaukee, a long-term goal is to become a certified crisis clinician for a police department.
How are you involved with self-determination? Why did you join the SD Network?
As someone who is strongly self-determined, Karyn tells us that she’s always looking to learn something new educationally and vocationally. Growing up, she has faced many obstacles and society’s opinions on how someone with a physical disability should live their life. “My own self- determination has motivated me to continue breaking negative stigma about disability; to grow my voice to be the healing and guidance of many. No one is bound to their labeled disability and anything and everything is possible if you believe it,” she says.
Joining the SD Network gives Karyn the opportunity to share her platform: Disability Inclusivity and Society as the new title holder, “Ms. Wheelchair Wisconsin 2025.” It also gives her the opportunity to diminish the negative label on the disability community by showcasing that any individual regardless of their type of disability can and will achieve anything and triumph in every battle. “I am here, not so that people believe in me, but that they can believe in themselves as ambassadors to empower change in the good of all,” she says.
Tell us some good news - what's the most exciting thing happening for you (or in Wisconsin) in terms of self-determination?
The most exciting thing that is currently happening for Karyn is exploring the journey of a lifetime as the new titleholder Ms. Wheelchair Wisconsin 2025.
There is a need of a voice. A voice that speaks for the many. A voice that stands for the power within the disabled community. There is great light. There is great strength, I see it long and far. The many with the label disability will know. Know that they can stand up. They can fight for equality. They will fight for the end of stigma. There shall be no more marginalization. I stand to defend the many hearts out there with a greater fight than I. To be, to help, to deliver, to heal and to create awareness. I will not stop fighting until every voice out there is heard. -Karyn
What tip or resource would you like to share with people who want to be more self-determined?
Karyn has a couple of tips for people who want to become more self-determined. They include: setting goals for yourself, challenging yourself to try new things that may be outside of your comfort zone, and build a positive and valuable support network with those that will help with seeing your potential as well as push you to grow.
What are some of your hobbies?
In her spare time, Karyn enjoys listening to music, hanging out with friends, going on sporadic adventures, trying new foods, and nature walks in the summertime.
***We love hearing the views and opinions of Network members. We need to mention that the views and opinions expressed on this site are those of the person who is sharing them. They do not necessarily reflect InControl Wisconsin or any of our supporters and funders.
On June 16, the Senate Finance committee released proposed reconciliation language with some substantive changes to the Medicaid and Affordable Care Act provisions in the reconciliation bill that the House passed on May 22. This tracker summarizes and compares the health care provisions included in the Senate Finance and Senate HELP Committee with the House-passed version and current law.
Forbes released its first-ever Accessibility 100 list highlighting innovators and impact-makers in disability accessibility. The list spans categories including Communication, Education, Employment/Workplace, Entertainment/Arts, Influencer/Advocacy, Law/Government, Mobility, Products, Software, and Sports & Recreation.
HEALTH AFFAIRS FOREFRONT: Senate Republicans Unveil Budget Reconciliation Package: Unpacking The Coverage Provisions
By SD Network, 2025-06-26
The Senate released their version of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," making even deeper Medicaid cuts than the House version while maintaining work requirements and new eligibility restrictions. The Senate draft would permanently prohibit implementation of Biden-era rules that streamlined Medicaid enrollment and imposed minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilities. Key changes include reducing retroactive Medicaid coverage from three months to one-two months, barring lawfully present immigrants from premium tax credits, and appropriating $200 million for states to implement work requirements by 2026.
ADMINISTRATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVING: Second Round of Funding Available To States To Implement the National Strategy To Support Family Caregivers
By SD Network, 2025-06-26
ACL Announces Nearly $2 Million for Second Round of Grants To Fund State Implementation of the National Strategy To Support Family CaregiversApplications due Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET
ACL is pleased to announce the availability of approximately $2 million to support statewide implementation of the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers. ACL will award four cooperative agreements to state units on aging (SUAs) to undertake a range of activities in response to this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Each project will be fully funded for a period of 24 months with one, 24-month budget of up to $490,000. Each grantee will be expected to focus on implementing at least three of the five goals of the Strategy, as determined by the state’s needs and priorities, including:
Successfully implementing the actions and recommendations contained in the Strategy will require the grantees to break down siloes that exist through close collaboration by multiple agencies in the state. In this regard, each grantee will be required to work with their state’s developmental disabilities services agency and at least one other state agency (e.g., state Medicaid, public health, mental health, education, transportation, child welfare, labor, state universities, etc.) or tribe/tribal entity over the course of the project.
This will be the second round of State Implementation grants awarded to states. In 2024, the first round of four Advancing State Implementation of the National Strategy to Support Family Caregiver grantees were funded. Learn more about their current projects on ACL's grantee page. An informational call for 2025 prospective applicants will be held on July 1, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. ET.
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KFF: What to Know About the Older Americans Act and the Services it Provides to Older Adults
By SD Network, 2025-06-26
The Trump administration is proposing a reorganization and staffing cuts at Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that create uncertainty about the potential effects on older adults, who receive services authorized under the Older Americans Act. This brief provides an overview of programs and services provided under the Older Americans Act, the role played by the Administration for Community Living in administering these programs, and trends in program funding and service utilization by older adults.
WSAU: Wisconsin bill looks to create penalties for falsely claiming pet as service animal
By SD Network, 2025-06-26
Under a new bill being introduced in the Wisconsin Legislature, people who falsely claim their pet is a service animal in public businesses could face a $200 fine for their first violation. Future offenses could total $500 each. The Americans with Disabilities Act doesn't require proof that service animal is certified.
WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES: Medicaid HCBS Direct Care Workforce Reform and Analysis
By SD Network, 2025-06-26
Wisconsin’s direct caregiving workforce is the backbone of home and community-based services. However, the direct caregiving industry is in crisis—one in four direct caregiver positions is vacant.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is actively addressing this crisis to understand what is needed to expand, enhance, and strengthen the direct care workforce. Workforce surveys are providing the data needed to assess the direct care workforce challenges and provide insights to potential improvement opportunities.
Workforce Surveys
Wisconsin has participated in the National Core Indicators Aging and Disabilities (NCI-AD) and the National Core Indicators Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (NCI-IDD) state of the workforce surveys since 2022. Every other year, these surveys collect data about direct support professionals (DSPs) who support adults with IDD and AD. The NCI reports provide reliable data on employment metrics. This includes turnover, wages, benefits, and recruitment. Each survey helps states:
- Examine workforce challenges
- Identify areas for further investigation
- Benchmark the workforce data
- Measure improvements from policy or program changes
States can also create their own questions and can compare their data to other states and national averages. Agencies from all 72 Wisconsin counties participated in the IDD and AD surveys in 2021, while 70 participated in 2023. The most recent findings on all workforce metrics are available at the DHS Workforce Surveys webpage.
To learn more about the NCI-IDD and NCI-AD surveys, visit the DHS Workforce Surveys webpage. You can also read the national reports at NCI-IDD and NCI-AD.
To explore other DHS workforce reform initiatives, see the DHS HCBS Direct Workforce Reform and Analysis webpage.