The Wisconsin Department of Health Services Division of Care and Treatment Services has issued their annual report. This division oversees division which seven care and treatment facilities, community mental health and substance use services, community forensic treatment services, and the protection of client rights for individuals receiving services for developmental disability, mental health, and substance use.

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For many people, assembling furniture is often incredibly time-consuming and frustrating.  For people with disabilities, simply using the furniture can be just as much of a challenge .  To help with this, IKEA is offering free blueprints for attachments in hopes to make a furniture more accessible for everyone to use.  The attachments include easy to use handles for doors, cabinets, and curtains, as well as bumpers to protect furniture from wheelchair collision.  They also include a "finger brush" which allows people with hand function problems to paint, draw, and write more securely.

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The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) at ACL is announcing a funding opportunity for a  new Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) project.

Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers

The purpose of the RRTC program, which are funded through the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program, is to achieve the goals of, and improve the effectiveness of, services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act through well-designed research, training, technical assistance, and dissemination activities in important topic areas as specified by NIDILRR. These activities are designed to benefit rehabilitation service providers, individuals with disabilities, family members, and other stakeholders.

RRTC on Employment of Transition-Age Youth with Disabilities: The purpose of this particular RRTC is to conduct research, training, technical assistance, and related activities to contribute to improved employment outcomes of transition-age youth with disabilities.

Please visit the link above for more details about the grant opportunity and application process. This grant opportunity closes on May 24, 2019.

According to new data, airlines damaged at least 701 wheelchairs and motorized scooters in  a single month. Thanks to a new law, December was the first month airlines had to publicly report how many customers' wheelchairs or scooters they had broke or lost.  The numbers showed the scope of the problem for the first time.

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Federal officials have released long-awaited guidance to help states determine what living arrangements for people with disabilities are considered community-based rather than institutional.  It clarifies a  2014 rule that outlines criteria for programs through home and community based services waivers.  It calls for home and community based settings to provide access to the community as well as offer privacy, promote independence, and allow  people with disabilities to make their own choices about services and providers.

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This email is being sent on behalf of Ben Barrett, Chair, Wisconsin Council on Physical Disabilities.

Good Morning,

Today, is the two-year anniversary of the passing of Dan Johnson. Dan worked tirelessly as an advocate for people with physical disabilities both within and outside of his role as the Physical Disabilities Program Coordinator with the Department of Health Services.

The Wisconsin Council on Physical Disabilities (CPD) is pleased to announce the Dan Johnson Advocacy Award. This award is in memory of Dan and his many accomplishments and was created to recognize people with physical disabilities who are outstanding advocates.

The Dan Johnson Advocacy Award is aimed at recognizing excellence in advocacy, and public policy change for people with physical disabilities, rather than disability advocacy. Individuals nominated should be people with physical disabilities who advocate for people with physical disabilities and have had a positive impact on federal or state legislation, public policy, or programs that affect people with disabilities in Wisconsin. The advocacy work conducted should exceed normal expectations of regular advocacy practice, and should be inclusive and respectful of the values and independence of those who are affected by it.

The nomination process for the award is now open and applications are being accepted by CPD. Full award criteria and application are attached and are also available on CPD’s website: https://cpd.wisconsin.gov/dj-award.htm. The nomination deadline is June 30th. The award recipient(s) will be notified following the approval of the nomination by CPD members and presented at the award ceremony in October. The name of the awardee will be kept confidential until the award is presented.

Also the inaugural presentation of the Dan Johnson Advocacy Award will be Thursday, October 24, 2019, from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. in the Inspiration Room, Sheraton Hotel, located at 706 John Nolan Drive, Madison, WI 53713. Doug Nelson, former president of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, now retired, and good friends with Dan, will act as emcee for the event. Other honored guests will include Dan's wife, Kathy Johnson, and his children. The formal presentation will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be followed by a reception. For more information and to RSVP for this event, please visit CPD’s website at: https://cpd.wisconsin.gov/dj-award.htm. The deadline to RSVP is Friday, August 30, 2019.

I want to personally thank Kathy Johnson and CPD members for all their work on this award and event. CPD also wants to extend a thank you to the Governor’s Committee for People with Disabilities for their efforts for building the foundation for this award.

Please share this with all stakeholders who may be interested!

Sincerely,

Ben Barrett

Email: benjamin2012barrett@gmail.com

	Application for the Dan C. Johnson Advocacy Award
	FINAL_Application_Dan Johnson Advocacy Award_3-19-19.doc, 446KB ∞

	Eligibility Criteria for the Dan C. Johnson Advocacy Award
	FINAL_Eligibility_Criteria_Dan_Johnson_Advocacy_Award_3-19-19.pdf, 179KB ∞

Under current law, when two people who rely on SSI marry, their benefits can be at risk because they must jointly report their income.  They would receive 25%  less than they would if they lived together but didn’t marry.  Under  a new bill,  couples (who both rely on Supplemental Security  Income) would be  protected if they choose to marry.  The bill would also ensure SSI wouldn't be affected by marital status-- meaning if a person  receiving benefits marries somebody who doesn't, SSI benefit calculations would only be based  onthe person with the disability  income.  Their spouse's earnings wouldn't be a factor.

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In recent years, language within the disability community has to become more people friendly.  This month, Governor Evers issued an order to  remove "derogatory language" from the state administrative code.  The term "mental retardation" will be replaced with "intellectual disability"  and "handicapped" will be  replaced with "disabled."

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