2018 Wisconsin Self-Determination Conference

October 29-31

Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells

The Wisconsin Self-Determination Conference works to empower people with disabilities in Wisconsin to have more control over their lives. More than 600 people each year participate in the conference to learn more about self-determination and SDS so they can live independently, be members of their communities, and use public funds efficiently. The conference participants include people with disabilities and their family members, direct care providers, and professionals from Wisconsin’s disability community.

Registration Now Open for the 2018 Self-Determination Conference!

To register or apply for a scholarship online, visit: HERE

To download a paper registration follow the link: HERE

To download a paper scholarship application visit: HERE

Registration deadline is October 12, 2018

Catch the Early Bird savings by August 30, 2018

Conference Scholarships will be available until September 7, 2018 or until funds run out. There are a limited number of scholarships available and they are determined on a first come, first serve basis. We will try to approve as many requests as possible, but we may run out before the deadline. If you are looking to apply for a scholarship, follow the link below to download the application.

If you have questions about scholarships or registration Please contact Michelle Roach at 920-723-5571 or email at selfdetermined@incontrolwisconsin.org.

Exhibitor Applications are now available for the 2018 Self-Determination Conference.

Calling all Wisconsin organizations that support self-determination and self-directed support in Wisconsin. We encourage you to submit an application. Space is limited and only applications from exhibitors that directly support self-determination and self-direction in WI will be accepted. All applications will be reviewed by a committee and selected based on interest, needs, variety and mission of the conference. We are particularly interested in having exhibitors with innovative approaches to services and supports for self- direction including health and wellness supports for people with disabilities.  Exhibit tables are open Oct. 29-31, 2018.

Calling all Micro-business owners! If you are a person with a disability and own your own micro-business apply to share your gifts and talents with over 900 people this October? Be an exhibitor at the 2018 Self-Determination Conference!

Exhibitor Application

Application Deadline: July 10, 2018

Sponsorship Applications are now available for the 2018 Self-Determination Conference.

We are accepting sponsorship to the 2018 Self-Determination Conference. Conference sponsorships are used to increase the  number of scholarships we can provide to  people with disabilities and their families and help to keep  conference fees are low as possible.

Your contribution will help us continue to empower self-advocacy and self direction in Wisconsin.

For additional information please contact  Fil Clissa at fil.clissa@wisconsin.gov or call 608-266-5395.

Sponsorship Application

Transportation is consistently identified as a top concern for older adults and people with disabilities. Survival Coalition wants to hear how your transportation options—or lack of options—impact your life.

Take our short survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2018SurvivalCoalitionTransportationSurvey

The results of this survey will be used by Survival Coalition to inform policymakers on how Wisconsin can improve transportation for older adults and people with disabilities.  Please share this survey with your family, friends, and others interested in improving transportation for older adults and people with disabilities, and encourage them to take this survey by July 30^th, 2018.

According to a recent report, there has been a major increase in government spending on  home and community based services.  It has nearly doubted as funding for institutions has declined. The shift is believed to be largely due to changing expectations for people who have developmental disabilities.

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Family caregivers often experience significant financial burdens while also facing the challenges of managing the financial affairs of their loved ones. To help address these issues, ACL intends to award one cooperative agreement to undertake activities to improve the financial literacy and preparedness of family caregivers in two key areas: 1) for family caregivers to ensure their own financial well-being, and 2) to better equip them to undertake “financial caregiving” tasks on behalf of a care recipient. Objectives for this project include advancing the understanding of the need for and the available interventions to improve the financial literacy of family caregivers; develop and test new interventions to improve/strengthen financial literacy among family caregivers; and, broadly disseminate project findings, new interventions, and best practices that emerge from the project.

Funding opportunity number: HHS-2018-ACL-AOA-FLFC-0309

Estimated total program funding: $250,000

Proposals due: August 10, 2018

View the full funding announcement on grants.gov

Older adults overwhelmingly prefer to stay in their homes and communities as they age, but millions live in homes that lack accessibility features that support doing so safely and independently. Home modifications and repairs can help older adults age in place and maintain their independence. In many cases, home modifications can also help to prevent falls and other accidents. ACL intends to award one cooperative agreement designed to address barriers to optimal access to and use of home modifications that support aging in place. The project will be expected to provide technical assistance and serve as a repository for home modification best practices and innovations that can be replicated at the local level.

Funding opportunity number: HHS-2018-ACL-AOA-HMOD-0308

Estimated total program funding: $250,000

Proposals due: August 13, 2018

View the full funding announcement on grants.gov

A recent survey found that the majority of family caregivers are stressed out by the demands of their family members with developmental disabilities and have deep concerns about the future.  Family caregivers spend an average of 57 hours per week supporting relatives with disabilities.  Caregivers report that these obligations are taking away time to address their personal needs, tend to other family needs, and keep a job.  

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The U.S. Department of Transportation is seeking public comment on amending its Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) regulation on transportation of service animals. In the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Traveling By Air with Service Animals the Department seeks comments on: 

1. treating psychiatric service animals similar to other service animals;
2. distinguishing between emotional support animals and other service animals;
3. requiring emotional support animals to travel in pet carriers for the duration of the flight; 
4. limiting the species of service animals and emotional support animals that airlines are required to transport;
5. limiting the number of service animals/emotional support animals required to be transported per passenger;
6. requiring service animal and emotional support animal users to confirm that their animal has been trained to behave in a public setting; 
7. requiring service animals and emotional support animals have a harness, leash, or other tether with narrow exceptions;
8. limiting the size of emotional support animals or other service animals that travel in the cabin and the potential impact of such a limitation;
9. prohibiting airlines from requiring a veterinary health form or immunization record from service animal users without an individualized assessment that the animal would pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others or would cause a significant disruption in the aircraft cabin; and
10. no longer holding U.S. airlines responsible if a passenger traveling under the U.S. carrier’s code is only allowed to travel with a service dog on a flight operated by its foreign code share partner.

Comments can be submitted via Regulations.gov thru July 9, 2018.