News
New national rankings find states across the nation have top services for people with disabilities, but also warns that more people are facing long waiting lists for supports. The study is based on a variety of data points to assess how people with disabilities live and participate in their communities, their ability to access supports and how satisfied they are with their lives. The analysis found an increase in the number of states allowing people to do such things as self-direct their services.
Before heading to the polls on November 8, advocates for people with disabilities and older adults in Wisconsin are reminding candidates about one of the most important issues they will take a vote on if elected: long-term care.
Election Day is less than 40 days away and stakeholders are asking State Assembly and Senate candidates where they stand on issues important to the 60,000 people with disabilities and older adults who use long-term care to remain healthy and independent.
The Wisconsin Long-Term Care Coalition has released three documents to help people talk to and ask question of their local candidates about long-term care. We encourage you to look at these documents and have conversations with your local Assembly and Senate candidates regarding long-term care in Wisconsin.
LTC Question Release LTCCCandidateQuestionsRelease.pdf, 177KB ∞
Candidate Questions Questions for candidates.pdf, 385KB ∞
Do you know someone who has made a significant contribution to the advocacy work here in Wisconsin? Nominate them for a Diehard award to be presented at the 2016 Self-Determination Conference!
Download the Diehard Award Announcment and Instructions.
Download the Diehard Award Nominee Form.
DISABLED WORLD: Americans with Disabilities Financially Insecure and Their Caregivers Unprepared for Retirement
By SD Network, 2016-10-06
An American College survey of families with children with special needs found that a large majority of caregivers are concerned that they do not have enough financial resources to last their disabled relative's entire lifetime. Just as alarming, because of the time and cost required for caring for those with special needs, 30% of caregivers are not saving at all for their own retirement.
Caregivers aren't only concerned about what the future holds for their family member with a disability, they're also concerned about their own financial future. Many believe they will have to compromise their own retirement plans in order to be able to provide for their relative with special needs.
The 2014 ABLE Act allows people with disabilities can establish special accounts where they can save up to $100,000 without jeopardizing Social Security and other government benefits. Currently $14,000 per year can be deposited in an account. Under new legislation known as the ABLE to Work Act, people with disabilities who are employed would be able to save their earnings up to federal poverty level in their ABLE accounts above and beyond the current cap.
In addition, in separate legislation, the ABLE Financial Planning Act would allow families to rollover money saved for an individual with a disability in a 529 college savings plan to an ABLE account.
How are you involved with self-determination? Why did you join the SD Network?
Jennifer was asked three or four years ago by Deb Wisniewski to help her in a breakout session at the Self Determination Conference. She had a great time helping people sign up for the Network. Jennifer joined the Network so she could help others as well as herself learn about self-determination. “I have been an advocate most of my life,” she says. She has been involved in People First and the State People First of Wisconsin for over 11 years now. She wants everyone with and without a disability to have a say in how their life is ran--not to have someone else tell us who we can and cannot be with or what we do in our daily life. She has attended most of the first Self Determination Conferences. “I have seen with my own eyes how much self-determination can do to impact a person with a disability,” Jennifer explains.
Tell us some good news - what's the most exciting thing happening for you (or in Wisconsin) in terms self-determination?
Jennifer is currently attending Fox Valley Technical College pursuing her second degree. My first degree is a technical one-year Office Assistant and she’s working on getting her associates degree to be an Administrative Assistant.
In addition to her schooling, Jennifer was recently elected to the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (WBPDD). This is a huge honor that she’s extremely proud of.
Jennifer also mentioned that she has been happily married to her husband for 10 years now. They met through People First Wisconsin.
What tip or resource would you like to share with people who want to be more self-determined?
The tip Jennifer would give to people is not to give up on what you want. She was told in second grade by her special education teacher that she wouldn’t be able to do things like graduate high school, go to college, drive, live on her own and get married. She has done all of those things and then some. “I turned that thinking that this teacher had for me and used it to my benefit-- wish she could see me now,” she says.
Jennifer suggests that people use their friends and family for support. She loves how the BPDD has helped her tremendously in her life. She recommends the BPDD and Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW) for assistance.
What message would you like to share with the members of the SD Network?
The message Jennifer would like to share is go for your dreams in whatever they may be. She explains that people can do anything if their put your mind and soul into it. “I hope you don’t get discouraged and give up. I want you to succeed like I am doing,” she says.
What are some of your hobbies?
Jennifer loves being a part of the Self-Determination Network, and she’s enjoying her new position on the BPDD. In her free time, she loves to read, spend time with her husband and two animals--a cat named Sassy and a dog named Dylan. In addition to everything else she does, Jennifer also enjoys being a part of People First Wisconsin. She is the current President for People First of Wisconsin also the Vice President for her local People First group.
***We love hearing the views and opinions of Network members. We need to mention that the views and opinions expressed on this site are those of the person who is sharing them. They do not necessarily reflect InControl Wisconsin or any of our supporters and funders.
HELEN SANDRSON ASSOCIATES: Personalising Homecare: A Breath of Fresh Air for Rhona
By SD Network, 2016-10-04
A new home care approach in Scotland is making a real difference in older people's lives. Like in the U.S, increasing need along with reducing financial resources and workforce meant that achieving improvements using existing resources was key. In this pilot study, person-centered thinking tools were used to determine what really matters to people. They looked at each facet of the person's life and by thinking differently and making small changes, they found the person could get a lot more out of her staff time and greatly improve her quality of life.
NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DISABILITY: National Council on Disability Commends NHTSA Recommendations on Autonomous Vehicles
By SD Network, 2016-10-04
The National Council on Disability (NCD) recently commended the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA) for its inclusion of people with disabilities in discussions leading to the release of its “Federal Autonomous Vehicle Policy.” The NHTSA not only involved stakeholders with disabilities in discussions, they also considered recommendations from the NCD's 2015 report on self-driving cars which suggested not to impose limitations on people with disabilities through unnecessary license requirements, and to base any limitations on actual risk instead of unsubstantiated fears.