News
January 2017
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The 4th annual Aging Empowerment Conference: Living a Self-Determined Life will be held June 6th (full conference) and June 7th (Self-Determination Summit) at the Glacier Canyon Lodge Conference Center at the Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells. Sponsored by InControl Wisconsin, this unique event gathers older adults, their families, and the professionals who support them and explores self-determination and empowerment in aging. Presentation proposals and exhibitor applications are now being accepted. Submission are due February 15th. Apply today!
Medicaid Block Grants
The future of Medicaid will be a big issue in 2017. Federal efforts are underway to change Medicaid to a block grant program that states would administer. This could have a major impact on programs such as Family Care, IRIS, BadgerCare, SeniorCare, and many other programs that older adults and people with disabilities rely on. The Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities/The Arc have put together this presentation that explains in detail what block grants are and how this would effect people with disabilities. Additionally, the Wisconsin Long-Term Care Coalition has launched a survey for adults and children with disabilities, older adults, their families, care providers, and low income adults to take about how these changes would effect them. They have also created a document to help people talk to policymakers about how block grants would effect them. We encourage you to take a few minutes to learn about Medicaid block grants and to share your thoughts and opinions with your legislators.
ABLE Accounts
The second anniversary of the signing of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act is approaching. It allows people with disabilities to setup tax-free saving accounts for disability related expenses which won't jeopardize their government benefits. Wisconsin legislation repealed the law, so we won't have an ABLE program. However, several other states have enacted the law and have setup programs for ABLE accounts. Many of the programs allow people who reside in other states to setup accounts as well. In our ABLE account section on the Network, we're posting information about states creating new programs as they become available. Additionally, the ABLE National Resource Center recently released an Accomplishments and Outcomes Report. It includes lots of interesting statistics and success stories about how ABLE accounts have helped people so far. Learn more about how these accounts could help you or people you know lead a better life!
Here's a sample of upcoming events listed on the Self-Determination Network:
- Webinar: Top ADA Cases of 2016: January 18th, 1p.m. to 2:30p.m., Online
- Dating Workshop: January 20th, 5p.m. to 8p.m., ADRC of Sheboygan County, Sheboygan WI
- Wisconsin Council on Physical Disabilities Quarterly Meeting: January 26th, 9a.m. to 4:30p.m., Skype, Telephone, or Crowne Plaza, Madison WI
- Advocacy for Change: March 2nd, 8:30a.m. to 4:30p.m., Concourse Hotel, Madison WI
- 2017 Multiple Perspectives Conference: April 13th to 17th, Ohio State's Columbus Campus, Columbus OH
- 2017 Aging Empowerment Conference: June 6th-7th, Glacier Canyon Lodge Conference Center at the Wilderness Resort, Wisconsin Dells WI
Post your event on the Self-Determination Network and it can be included in future Network News emails to members! Questions? Suggestions? Contact Stacy Ellingen.
For this month's entry, Stacy discusses how the New Year brings different types of new hope and opportunities for people with disabilities. We encourage you to share your experiences as well.
Take five minutes to check out what's happening on the Self-Determination Network:
- Wisconsin AAC Network: Mike is looking for people to join the Wisconsin Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) Network. Find out what this Network is about.
- TellMe TV: The first online movie service for people who have visual impairments is now available. Learn about how it works.
- Airplane Accessibility: The Department of Transportation is trying to improve accessibility of airplanes for those with disabilities. Read about the rule proposal.
- Updated ADA Guidelines for Buses and Vans: The US Access Board recently updated accessibility guidelines for transportation vehicles covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Learn what the guidelines address.
- Hotel Accessibility: A report reveals that hotel accessibility is right on track. Find out what's improving.
- Special Needs Trusts: A new law makes it possible for people with disabilities to create their own special needs trust. Read about this law.
- Home Health Care Worker Shortage: It's pretty well known that Wisconsin has a shortage of direct care workers. Learn about how some high schools in southwest Wisconsin are trying to help.
- Accessible Medical Diagnostic Equipment: New accessibility standards were recently released for medical diagnostic equipment. Find out what these standards mean.
- Information and Technology Accessibility: A new rule was recently released updating accessibility requirements for information and technology in the federal sector. Read about how the new requirements will help people with disabilities.
The Self-Determination Network is powered by InControl Wisconsin and supported financially by our members and Sponsors. We couldn't keep this Network going with you! Find out how you can help support the Network.
Survival Coalition has launched an important survey for adults and children with disabilities, older adults, their families, care providers, and low income adults. You can take this survey, share the link, and ask everyone you know to take it. Many people are unaware that the health care, supports, services, and programs they are familiar with (Family Care, IRIS, CLTS, Katie Beckett) are funded by Medicaid. Policymakers in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C. are proposing big changes to Medicaid, including Medicaid Block Grants. These changes could happen quickly and could have big impacts on the disability community. The survey asks about the Medicaid services and supports that you or your loved ones use to help you live your life and stay healthy, and how important these supports are to your life. Deadline to fill out the survey is Jan. 31.
ABLE NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTER: ABLE National Resource Center Publishes Accomplishments and Outcomes Report
By SD Network, 2017-01-12
The ABLE National Resource Center recently released an Accomplishments and Outcomes Report. We're nearing the second anniversary of the signing of the ABLE Act which allows people with disabilities to setup tax-free saving accounts for disability related expenses. These accounts won't jeopardize their government benefits. The report includes lots of interesting data and success stories.
Policymakers in Washington and Wisconsin are discussing changing Medicaid to a block grant program. This will change the way Wisconsin delivers many Medicaid services to people with disabilities, older adults, families, and children. Medicaid block grants are intended to reduce federal Medicaid spending and reduce future growth in Medicaid budgets. The Wisconsin Long-Term Care Coalition has created a document to help people talk to policymakers about how block grants would effect them.
WLTCC Questions for Policymakers about Medicaid Block grants WLTCC Questions for Policymakers about Medicaid Block grants.pdf, 310KB ∞
The future of Medicaid will be a big issue in 2017. Federal efforts are underway to change Medicaid to a block grant program that states would administer. This could have a major impact on programs such as Family Care, IRIS, BadgerCare, SeniorCare, and many other programs that older adults and people with disabilities rely on. Check out this presentation for information on what block grants are all about. Thank you to the Board for People with Developmental Disabilities and The Arc/Wisconsin for this helpful explanation.
WPBDD Medicaid Block Grants Presentation Medicaid Block grants.pdf, 1.3MB ∞
Discussions taking place at the federal level about Medicaid block grants, which cap funding for the program, would have a major impact on the 1.2 million Wisconsinites, including people with disabilities and older adults, who use Medicaid programs (Family Care, IRIS, MAPP, BadgerCare, SeniorCare, CCS, CRS, Katie Becket and more). This op-ed piece written by Barbra Beckert of Disability Rights Wisconsin explains in detail about how these block grants could effect many people.
InControl Wisconsin invites you to submit a proposal to be considered for presentation at the 4th annual Aging Empowerment Conference: Living a Self-Determined Life.
Scheduled June 6 (full conference) and June 7 (Self-Determination Summit) at the Glacier Canyon Lodge Conference Center at the Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells, this unique event gathers older adults, their families, and the professionals who support them and explores self-determination and empowerment in aging.
Sponsor and Exhibitor opportunities available, invitation attached!
Click here to register online: https://www.regonline.com/AECsponsor2017
The deadline for proposal submission is February 15, 2017.
Please contact Peggy Rynearson, Conference Planner, with any questions, at608/446-4206 or prynearson@gmail.com
2017 Aging Empowerment Call for Sponsors/Exhibitors SponsorExhibitorOpportunities2017Fillable (1).pdf, 1.2MB ∞
InControl Wisconsin invites you to submit a proposal to be considered for presentation at the 4th annual Aging Empowerment Conference: Living a Self-Determined Life.
Scheduled June 6 (full conference) and June 7 (Self-Determination Summit) at the Glacier Canyon Lodge Conference Center at the Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells, this unique event gathers older adults, their families, and the professionals who support them and explores self-determination and empowerment in aging.
We are seeking proposals for both the conference workshops and summit programming.
The Call for Presentations deadline for submission has been extended to March 1st.
See attached brochure for more information.
2017 Aging Empowerment Call for Presentations Call for Presentations_2017 2 AEC Fillable (1).pdf, 7.7MB ∞
Please contact Peggy Rynearson, Conference Planner, with any questions, at608/446-4206 or prynearson@gmail.com