News
DISABILITY SCOOP: Apartments Pair People With Developmental Disabilities, Older Adults
By SD Network, 2019-10-02
A new housing development in Minnesota is intended to help people with disabilities mingle with others outside of their own group. Bethesda, a Watertown, Wis.,-based nonprofit, is building the $18 million, 52-unit complex of apartments and townhouses for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and people 55 and older. People will live independently in their own apartments, but mingle in common areas to socialize, take classes, exercise and practice yoga.
Thanks to a new rule, all 50 states and Washington, D.C. have mandates that require some level of insurance coverage for the treatment of autism. Insurance companies are now required to cover treatment for autism that is “medically necessary and appropriate and is not experimental,”
WHITEHOUSE.GOV: Presidential Proclamation on National Disability Employment Awareness Month, 2019
By SD Network, 2019-10-02
President Trump proclaimed October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month.. In the proclamation, it talks about how we need to reaffirm a commitment to fostering opportunity for people with all abilities to use their skills and talents in the workplace.
CHANNEL 3000: Disability Rights Commission votes not to support Madison plastic straw restriction proposal
By SD Network, 2019-10-01
The city of Madison is considering fining restaurants that give out plastic straws unless a customer asks for one first. This proposed ordinance's whole purpose is to cut down on the amount of waste, particularly of single-use plastics, in the city, but the proposal is drawing criticism from a number of groups. The Disability Rights Commission doesn't support it claiming many people with disabilities rely on straws.
MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL: These motorized outdoor wheelchairs can handle any terrain, are free to borrow and come with a trailer to haul them
By SD Network, 2019-10-01
Hiking is a common outdoor in Wisconsin. Now people who have mobility issues can experience the beauty of the outdoors like never before. Thanks to an organization called Access Ability Wisconsin, there are now 15 all-terrain outdoor wheelchairs and 12 trailers that people can borrow for free (with a $50 deposit) at eight locations around the state. These wheelchairs can go almost anywhere — up hills, over mud, through forests, even on 12 inches of fresh Wisconsin snow.
- Adults, 18 and over, with any type of disability, mental or physical health condition are encouraged to participate
- The survey should take about 20 minutes to complete
- Responses are anonymous
C NET: Comcast's Internet Essentials delivers low-cost broadband to people with disabilities
By SD Network, 2019-10-01
According to a recent study, people with disabilities are less likely to use the Internet than any other group. Of the more than 56 million people in the US who have a disability, many haven't been able to afford service or have lacked the digital training to access the internet. What this means for people with disabilities is that they often miss out on the benefits and opportunities that high-speed internet connectivity affords the rest of the population. That's where Comcast's expansion of its Internet Essentials program comes in. The program has been modified several times over the years to include low-income veterans and people receiving public housing benefits.
WISCONSIN BOARD FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES: Annual Report 2018-2019
By SD Network, 2019-10-01
Every year BPDD puts together an Annual Report detailing our grants, projects, conferences and policy work outcomes for the previous year. Our federal charge in the Developmental Disabilities Act is, identifying the most pressing needs of people with developmental disabilities and developing innovative and cost-effective ways to meet these needs in a manner that upholds human and civil value. Councils (Boards) must include, at minimum, 60% people with developmental disabilities and their family members.
The BPDD State Plan, informed by statewide input from the disability community, focuses primarily on
two areas: Full Participation in the Community & Advocacy Efforts. During 2018–2019, we have made
significant progress in all our goal areas.
You can find a link to our 5-year state plan here: https://wi-bpdd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/2017-2021-State-Plan-Final.pdf
Starting in 2020 we will be hosting a number of Community Conversations around the state to gather input for our next 5-year state plan. Please read through our current state plan and our annual report so you can help us develop our new state plan to address the needs of the disability community.