NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR THE 2019 DIEHARD Awards

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   

SELF-ADVOCATE/GRASSROOTS ADVOCATE

(You may only submit a nomination for one individual per category.) 

A Diehard is an individual who has made a significant contribution to the advocacy work here in Wisconsin. A diehard is someone with a steadfast commitment to the principles of 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 October 15th at the Kalahari Resort and Conference Center in the Wisconsin Dells.
• Nomination Forms must be in the BPDD office no later than 12 p.m. on Thursday, September 5, 2019.

•  The Conference Planning Committee reserves the right to present none or multiple awards in any of the categories. 

Download Nomination Form here: http://wi-bpdd.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/2019-SDC-Diehard-nominee-form.docx

Please complete the nomination form and submit to:
BPDD/Awards, 101 E. Wilson St., Room 219

Madison, WI 53703

Or Fax to  608-267-3906

Or Email to:  fil.clissa@wisconsin.gov

Apply for an Employment First Partner Grant! 

The Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (WI BPDD) is seeking up to eight (8) organizations to engage in community outreach activities that lead to increased community, integrated employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Anyone committed to expanding integrated employment in their community can apply, including people with disabilities, family members, service providers, and schools. 

Possible activities include hosting a community conversation about employment, presenting to employer groups such as the chamber of commerce, or connecting families new to community-based employment with families who are committed to it to share experiences and alleviate concerns.  Each grantee will receive up to $2,000 plus coaching and presentation materials to engage in outreach activities. 

To learn more and apply, see the Employment First Partner application.  The deadline has been extended -- applications are due by 5:00 pm on August 30, 2019. 

Please contact Molly Cooney at 608-266-0266 or molly.cooney@wisconsin.gov with any questions.

For people with disabilities, house  hunting can be very frustrating.  Often, "accessible" houses are few and far between.  Even if a house has some accessible features, usually people have to adapt or customize thinking more to meet their individual needs.  This article explains that there are organizations that assist injured veterans and people with disabilities with making homes accessible.  It points out that injury and disability aren't the only reasons to make homes accessible; aging often creates the need to made homes accessible.

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Federal officials announced that they plan to set aside millions of dollars to help people with disabilities access housing in the community.  Through the Mainstream Housing Choice Voucher Program, public housing agencies are encouraged to partner up with health and human services organizations that can offer supports to people with disabilities.

Read more  

An updated collection of emojis intended to be more inclusive and diverse was released.  Options for varying gender, skin and hair color as well as for people who use hearing devices, prosthetics, a white cane, guide dogs, service dogs, and wheelchairs will be in the mix.The article explains why this is part of a major business trend of finding new ways for all people communicate in a way that is  reflective of their true selves.

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ACL has released a data profile using data from the Caregiver Outcome Evaluation Study of the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP). This data profile, “Family Caregivers: Examining caregiver characteristics, caregiving support, and other caregiving dynamics that differ between short term and long term caregivers,” compares caregivers who have been providing care for two or fewer years, and caregivers providing care for longer than two years. This data profile examines characteristics of caregivers including age, relationship to care recipient, level of caregiving intensity, and use of NFCSP services.

Download the new profile.

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) conducted an outcome evaluation of the Older Americans Act Title III-E National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP).The NFCSP provides grants to states and territories to fund various supports that help family and informal caregivers care for older adults in their homes for as long as possible. The Caregiver Outcome Evaluation Study of the NFCSP was released in 2018.

Learn more about the National Family Caregiver Support Program. For more materials about the Caregiver Outcome Evaluation Study of the NFCSP, see the section under "Completed Evaluations and Studies" on ACL's Program Evaluations and Reports page.

The state budget passed by the legislature and approved by the Governor will fund state programs for the next two years. Here is a link to the Survival Coalition summary of the  Governor's budget and charts with more detailed information outlining the Governor’s original request, what the Legislature passed and then what adjustments were made through the Governor’s partial veto authority.

You can read the full document here.