News
2017 Wisconsin Employment First Conference
Embracing Change: Together We Make It Happen
Only four more weeks to the conference, make sure to Register Now!
See full conference program with session descriptions and presenters: 2017 Employment First Conference Program
CEU’s and CRC’s will be available!
The Wisconsin Board for Developmental Disabilities, Wisconsin APSE and People First Host the Fourth Annual Employment First Conference on April 5th at the Kalahari resort.
This year’s conference title is Embracing Change: Together We Make It Happen. The conference focuses on the changes happening at the state and federal level and how these changes will significantly increase integrated employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
Change provides both opportunities and challenges. This conference brings together individuals with disabilities, family members, state vocational rehabilitation counselors, employment providers, policy makers, and educators to learn and share creative ways to address the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities.
The conference will provide many opportunities for learning, sharing resources, and developing connections. At each breakout session, there will be topics specifically geared towards individuals with disabilities, family members, employment service providers, long-term care providers, state vocational rehabilitation counselors, and educators.
Some of the many excellent speakers include:
- Keynote speaker, Patti Killingsworth will talk about talk about how Tennessee launched the “Employment and Community First CHOICES” managed long-term care program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It is the first managed long-term care program in the country specifically designed to advance Employment First.
- Janet Estervig and a panel of key leadership from the Department of Health Services will talk about how the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Non-Residential Rule is moving forward.
- Lisa Mills, National Consultant, will talk about the growth of Integrated employment and day Services options in Wisconsin, and present examples from providers doing innovative practices
- Sara Murhpy, Transcen Inc. National Consultant, will talk about encouraging Independence, facilitating natural Supports and ways to encourage self-confidence in community settings, the dignity of risk and how to build a network of support that goes well beyond program services.
- Linda Hedenblad, will do an informative, interactive and fun session that will explore the basic concepts of Motivational Interviewing and experience a taste of how it may be applied.
- Michael Callahan, national consultant, will talk about the “Seven Phase Sequence” designed to engage natural supports from day one of the individual’s employment.
- EF Ambassadors, individuals with disabilities, will share their compelling stories and outreach efforts that are having a tremendous impact on local communities and statewide policies.
- A panel of employers and the individuals with disabilities that they hired, will talk about how they worked together to make their business stronger and get the job done!
For individuals who are not able to pay the conference fee contact Ann Sievert at ann.sievert@wisconsin.gov or 608-267-9897 for a conference fee waiver code.
Hope to See You at the Conference!
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES: Request for Public Comments re: HCBS Statewide Transition Plan
By SD Network, 2017-03-01
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is seeking public comment on its Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) statewide transition plan. DHS operates several home and community-based programs for frail elders and adults and children with disabilities. The programs operate under federal authority from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). In 2014, CMS published new regulations that changed the definition of HCBS settings. DHS must submit a statewide transition plan to CMS, to identify the steps DHS will take to come into compliance with the new settings requirements no later than March 17, 2019. DHS is seeking public comment on the statewide transition plan. The draft statewide transition plan is available on the DHS website for 30 days at: www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/hcbs/index.htm. A paper copy of the Statewide Transition Plan will be provided by mail upon request. Requests should be made by telephone at 608-267-7286, or toll-free at 1-855-885-0287, or by mail to Department of Health Services, Statewide Transition Plan-Request, P.O. Box 7851, 1 W. Wilson St., Room 518, Madison, WI 53707-7851.
Email comments to: DHSLTCPublicComment@dhs.wisconsin.gov, or write: Division of Medicaid Services, Attn: Statewide Transition Plan, 1 W. Wilson St., Room 518, PO Box 7851, Madison WI 53707-7851.
The 2017 Circles of Life Conference is May 4th and 5th, 2017.
If you know of organizations that might be interested in purchasing an ad in the 2017 Circles of Life Keepsake booklet, please send this out to them. It is a wonderful opportunity for organizations to get their information in the hands of 400-500 parents and providers who attend this statewide conference. The Keepsake form is attached.
The 2017 Circles of Life Conference brochure and online registration are now posted! Please visit the Circles of Life website at: http://www.circlesoflifeconference.com to access the brochure and link to online registration.
Again, this year the Conference will be looking for volunteers to help out on-sight during the conference. If you or someone you know will be attending the conference and would like to lend a hand, please contact Robin at rmathea@chw.org or call 715-361-2934.
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An update on a popular court case regarding the allowance of a service animal in a school. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals should reconsider whether the student and her family can sue a Michigan school district for its decision years ago to tell the student, who has cerebral palsy, that she couldn’t bring her service dog to school. In October, the family argued that they shouldn't need to exhaust administrative remedies under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act before suing under a separate law involving access to public institutions. The court agreed, and sent it back to the lower court to decide.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE: Examples and Resources to Support Criminal Justice Entities in Compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act
By SD Network, 2017-03-02
In January 2017, the Department of Justice released a guidance statement to various criminal justice entities regarding compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the their health, safety, and welfare of people with disabilities. The guidance was issued to explain that Title II of the ADA ensures that those with disabilities are treated equally and are afforded equal opportunities by state and local governments. The guidance letter includes many examples on how criminal justice entities can be more inclusive and offers various resources to achieve this goal. The document also provides opportunities to increase ADA compliance and ways to promote positive community outcomes.
DISABLED WORLD: Connect by BeWarned: Simple App Assists Deaf to Communicate
By SD Network, 2017-03-02
A new free app allows people who are deaf or hard of hearing to easily communicate with others. Connect by BeWarned is an application that converts text to speech and the other way around. Users can also use textual templates or create your own for any everyday situation.
WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL: Personal care rate hike will help but won't solve worker shortage, advocates say
By SD Network, 2017-03-02
The shortage of direct care workers is no secret in Wisconsin. Governor Walker's 2017-2019 budget calls for a four percent increase in the Medicaid reimbursement rate for personal care. While this may help ease the shortage, advocates feel it won't fix the problem. 70% of personal care agencies report that they don't have enough workers to cover their clients approved hours. Many feel there needs to more of an increase.
YAHOO FINANCE: 8 Tax Tips for People With Disabilities (and Their Caregivers)
By SD Network, 2017-03-02
Statistics show that one of every five adults living in the U.S. have a disability. Regardless if they're working or not, people with disabilities and their caregivers usually have higher daily living and medical care costs. The tax code allows some of these costs to be deductible. This article gives some tax strategies for people with disabilities and caregivers to consider:
- Open an ABLE account
- Opt for a higher standard deduction
- Obtain child and dependent care credit
- Seek the disability credit
- Claim a person with a disability as a dependent
- Deduct medical expenses