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The Independent Living Council of Wisconsin is developing its new State Plan for Independent Living. To guide the plan's priorities, they are conducting an anonymous community survey to gather feedback from Wisconsin residents. People with disabilities and their family members are highly encouraged to participate.
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NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO: They grew up with disability rights. Now, they're fighting to keep them
By SD Network, 2026-08-20
A brother and sister who grew up with visual impairments navigating life under federal accessibility protections are facing an uncertain future as legal and policy challenges threaten the enforcement of the integration mandate. This long-standing civil rights policy requires states to provide community-based support services for disabled individuals rather than placing them in institutional settings. Community-integrated programs allow individuals to gain independence through social activities, life-skills practice, and job training—such as food preparation—at a fraction of the cost of institutional care. However, recent legal challenges, shifting Department of Justice enforcement policies, and federal funding cuts to Medicaid are threatening the availability of these programs, raising fears among disability rights advocates and families about a potential return to institutionalization and segregated care.
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BIPARTISAN POLICY CENTER: A Look at Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services: Background and Policy Landscape
By SD Network, 2026-08-18
Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services provide essential medical and nonmedical support—such as personal care, transportation, and respite—to help older adults and individuals with disabilities live independently rather than in institutional settings. As Medicaid’s primary long-term care offering, these services have gradually eclipsed facility care in popularity while offering critical support to millions of family caregivers. However, because states deliver these benefits through optional authorities, programs remain vulnerable to state budget cuts, administrative complexity, workforce shortages, and lengthy waitlists. Recent federal legislative spending reductions have further strained state budgets, prompting local governments to restrict service hours, cut provider reimbursement rates, or implement spending caps, even as policymakers attempt to balance fraud oversight with preserving essential care access.
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: Wisconsin Department of Transportation seeks public comment on 2026 ADA Transition Plan
By SD Network, 2026-08-18
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) has published the 2026 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan. There is a public comment period open through September 17. Your feedback is very important, and we hope you’ll take the time to participate in this opportunity. Visit http://www.wisconsindot.gov/ada to find the plan, along with an overview video presentation and options to comment using the web, email or standard U.S. Mail.
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DISABILITY SCOOP: Healthcare Providers Hit With New Accessibility Requirements
By SD Network, 2026-08-17
Under twin federal rules issued by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services, healthcare providers face new accessibility requirements to ensure medical diagnostic equipment—such as examination tables, weight scales, and X-ray machines—is accessible to patients with disabilities. Taking effect under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the ADA, the regulations mandate that hospitals and doctors' offices maintain accessible equipment for each type used, with accessible gear making up a specific proportion of total equipment in general clinics and a higher percentage in mobility-specialized facilities. Additionally, medical staff must be qualified to operate the machinery and assist patients with transfers, addressing longstanding health disparities and systemic discrimination in healthcare accessibility.
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U.S. NEWS: People With Disabilities Say Medicaid Income Limits Stifle Career Advancement
By SD Network, 2026-08-17
Strict Medicaid income and asset caps create a financial barrier for working individuals with disabilities, forcing them to choose between career advancement and retaining essential healthcare coverage. While federal buy-in programs were designed to incentivize employment, low earning thresholds penalize workers who accept higher-paying roles, pushing them onto private insurance plans that often exclude vital coverage for in-home assistance, specialized equipment repairs, and vehicle modifications. Although some states have moved to eliminate or raise these limits to encourage workforce participation and boost tax revenues, political debate and budget concerns continue to stall reform efforts, leaving many disabled workers paying tens of thousands of dollars out-of-pocket or deliberately capping their income to remain covered.
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WBAY: Social Security adds 14 health conditions to fast-track list. Here’s what they are
By SD Network, 2026-08-17
The Social Security Administration has added 14 new health conditions—including Aicardi syndrome, Lafora disease, and primary cardiac sarcoma—to its Compassionate Allowances list, a program established in 2008 to fast-track disability benefits for individuals with severe, rare, or life-threatening medical conditions. With these additions, which focus heavily on severe genetic disorders, cancers, and pediatric neurological conditions, the fast-track program now encompasses 314 qualifying conditions to help eligible applicants receive decisions and support more quickly.
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MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTiNEL: Deer season for hunters with disabilities has more flexibility in 2026
By SD Network, 2026-08-17
Wisconsin's 2026 deer season for hunters with disabilities features a new hybrid format that expands opportunities across the state. Under updated Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources regulations, the full October 3–11 season permits hunters with Class A, B, C, or D disability permits to hunt on enrolled sponsored properties, provided they confirm their spot with a sponsor by September 15. Additionally, on October 10–11—held concurrently with the statewide youth deer hunt—eligible hunters can hunt on any public or private land open to deer hunting statewide without needing an enrolled property sponsor, eliminating travel and lodging burdens for many participants.
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