News
DISABLED WORLD: Adults with Disabilities Remain Outside Economic Mainstream
By SD Network, 2017-05-09
The National Disability Institute recently released a new report titled Banking Status and Financial Behaviors of Adults with Disabilities: Findings from the 2015 FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households. The report finds that, in the 27 years since the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law, ensuring all individuals with disabilities the opportunity to achieve "economic self-sufficiency," this population still faces numerous financial hurdles and roadblocks to financial inclusion.
The report highlights include:
- Among those who are banked, more than 40 percent have a checking account, but do not have a savings account.
- Only 40 percent of households with a disability save for unexpected expenses, compared with 61 percent of other households. In addition, savings are more likely to be kept at home or with family and/or friends rather than in a savings account.
- Almost half of households with disabilities have no credit and are twice as likely to lack credit as households with no disability.
- Households with disabilities face a digital divide; only half of households with a disability have internet access at home or a smart phone, compared with three-quarters of households without disability. Even among those who have access to technology, those with a disability are much less likely to use internet or mobile banking.
- Forty percent of households with a disability use alternative financial services (AFS), compared with 25 percent of those without a disability.
A new wheelchair has been invented that is lightweight, waterproof, and does not require batteries. The PneuChair, created by the University of Pittsburgh Human Engineering Research Laboratories, debuted this month and is a promising product. While traditional power chairs cannot handle wet conditions and take hours to charge, PneuChair is completely waterproof and is charged in minutes using an air compressor. The PneuChair can travel three miles before needing to be recharged. Additionally, the PneuChair weighs only 80 pounds and can travel up to five miles per hour.
Although the PneuChair is not yet commercially available, it is currently assisting the patrons of Morgan's Wonder World, an accessible theme and splash park in San Antonio. Production is scheduled to begin by the end of the year. The designer sees a future for the PneuChair in stores, parks, airports, and nursing homes, and as a primary wheelchair for some users. After mass production, the designer believes the PneuChair could change the lives of many people with disabilities around the world.
Registration is Now Open for the
Aging Empowerment Conference 2017:
Living a Self-Determined Life
June 6th--Conference
June 7th--Self-Determination Summit
Glacier Canyon Lodge Conference Center
at the Wilderness Resort
Wisconsin Dells, WI
Join InControl Wisconsin and other sponsors and explore self-determination and empowerment in aging. We will examine new approaches to aging that support autonomy and choice.
Who should attend?
The conference attracts a diverse statewide audience that includes older adults, caregivers, and professionals.
Please see the brochure for registration information or click here to register
Featured Programming:
Keynote Address - Powerful Aging: Changing the Stories We Tell
Helen Marks Dicks, Associate State Director State Advocacy, AARP Wisconsin.
Self-Determination Summit - Learn how all of the current health care reform proposals will affect seniors, and how you can become a more effective advocate.
Workshop Programming - Highlights include:
Emotional Intelligence: The New Success Factor
Empowering Older Adults to Maximize Their Medicare Benefit
#ShePersisted: Getting What You Want
Consumer Satisfaction: The Wisconsin Veteran Directed Services Program
Hotel Reservations
Reserve a room at conference rates by calling 1-800-867-9453 by May 19th. Ask the reservation agent to book your room under the Aging Empowerment 2017 block. Reserve early before rooms are sold out!
Sponsor and Exhibitor Opportunities are still available. Join us!
Conference registration closes June 1st!
Questions? Contact Peggy Rynearson at 608/446-4206 or prynearson@gmail.com
Missouri recently launched its program for ABLE accounts (accounts that allow people with disabilities to have a savings account without jeopardizing their benefits). In Missouri, the program is known as "MO ABLE." Accounts can be used for disability-related expenses that will increase and/or maintain a person's health, independence, or quality of life. This program is only available to Missouri residents.
COOKCOUNTYRECORD: Lawsuit: McDonald's website, mobile app not accessible to the blind, violates ADA
By SD Network, 2017-05-02
An interesting court case has recently surfaced about how the McDonald's website and mobile app violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A man from Chicago has filed a lawsuit against McDonald's claiming they have discriminated against him because they have not made their website and mobile app accessible for people who have visual impairments. The website and app are not compatible with screen readers. The plaintiff is asking the court to order McDonald's to work with a consultant to redesign the resources to be accessible for those who use screen readers. He is also seeking compensatory damages.
The process for accessing personal care services through Medicaid is changing for those who are enrolled in “fee for services” Medicaid. This impacts most children and some adults including:
- BadgerCare Plus members
- Wisconsin Medicaid members
- Include, Respect, I Self-Direct (IRIS) members who do not self-direct their personal care services
- Members enrolled in Wraparound Milwaukee or Children Come First programs
The change impacts the assessment process to determine eligibility and the numbers of hours of support a member is eligible to receive. DHS recently issued a Forward health memo called the New Personal Care Independent Assessment and Prior Authorization Policy describing the change. Attached is the fact sheet that was sent to members starting Monday April 17th. Implementation will start June 1st.
New Approval Process for Personal Care Services PCIAfactsheet4-2017.pdf, 70KB ∞
April 2017
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Let Your Voice Be Heard!
The State legislature’s Joint Finance Committee has finished most of the public hearings on the 2017-2019 state budget. There are three more public hearings remaining. The proposed budget includes small increases for some programs such as specialized transportation and the Medicaid Personal Care program. These increases do not reflect the actual need and are not guaranteed to stay in the budget. This is your opportunity to let members of the JFC know what you like and what you don’t like!
Aging Advocacy Day
Are you interested in issues affecting older adults? You’re invited to join members of the Wisconsin Aging Advocacy Network (WAAN) and others to help educate state legislators about issues affecting Wisconsin’s aging population.
On Wednesday May 17th, citizens from around the state will gather in Madison for a day of advocacy training and meetings with legislators. No experience is necessary; you’ll get the training and support you need before meeting with state lawmakers. Following the training, join others from your assembly and senate district to provide information and share personal stories with your legislators to help them understand how specific legislative policies impact older constituents. Registration closes May 1st. Learn more and register today!
The Self-Determination Network includes some very talented members and we want to help you to get to know each other a little better. Member Spotlight is a great way for us to get to know each other better. For April, we shine the spotlight on Kurt. This avid water skier is involved in a plethora of disability organizations. He believes self-determination is about lifestyle development and letting people be the best versions of themselves. Stop by this month's Member Spotlight to get to know Kurt.
Who should we shine the Spotlight on next?
For this month's entry, Stacy talks about how having a physical disability impacts a person's fashion. We encourage you to share your experiences as well.
Take five minutes to check out what's happening on the Self-Determination Network:
- Supporting Wellness Resource: Here's a great resource about health and wellness activities for people who have disabilities. Check it out!
- Health and Transition Resource: PACER's National Parent Center on Transition & Employment has a new section on their website focused on health and transition for students with disabilities. Discover what information it has to offer.
- Neat Photo Exhibit: A photographer did a neat project where she took photos and interviewed people with disabilities about what they wish others understood about their condition. Check out the photos.
- 'Special Needs' Controversy: A group of celebrities are taking a stand against the term "special needs." Learn about what they are did to demonstrate that everyone has the same needs.
- Caregiver Career Program: In an effort to attract and retain more nursing home caregivers, Wisconsin is launching an innovative program called the Caregiver Career Program. Find out more about the program.
- New App: A new dating app, Glimmer, is trying to create an inclusive space for online dating, particularly for people with disabilities. Learn about this app.
- Interesting Court Case: There is an interesting court case going on about how existing 911 services are inaccessible to people who have hearing impairments. Read about the case.
- Accessible Kiosks: New kiosks are available which translates customer's selections into sign language. Find out how these kiosks work.
- Impact of Care Worker Shortage: The home care worker crisis isn't just effecting people with disabilities who live independently in their own home or apartment; it's also effecting group homes and nursing homes. Learn what many feel needs to be done to fix it.
- ABLE Act Improvements: Earlier this month, a bi-partisan group of Members of Congress introduced a group of individual bills that would better the benefits provided through the ABLE Act. Read about the proposed bills.
Here's a sample of upcoming events listed on the Self-Determination Network:
- WI FACETS Self-Advocacy Workshop: Self-Advocate Spotlight: April 26th, 6p.m. to 8p.m., WI FACETS, Milwaukee WI
- Action On The Square: Mental Health Advocacy Day: May 4th, 10a.m. to 3p.m. State Capitol, Madison WI
- 2017 Circles Of Life Conference: May 4th to 5th, Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center, Stevens Point WI
- 2017 National ADA Symposium: May 14th to 17th, Hyatt Regency O'Hare, Chicago IL
- Aging Advocacy Day: May 17th, 10a.m. to 4p.m., State Capitol, Madison WI
- 2017 Aging Empowerment Conference: June 6th-7th, Glacier Canyon Lodge Conference Center at the Wilderness Resort, Wisconsin Dells WI
- Adaptive Water Skiing: June 14th, 10a.m. to 4p.m., Brittingham Park, Madison WI
- Adaptive Water Skiing: June 28th, 10a.m. to 4p.m., Brittingham Park, Madison WI
- US Wake Sports Festival: August 15th to 16th, Traxler Park, Janesville WI
- Wisconsin Youth Leadership Forum: July 9th to 14th, Edgewood College, Madison, WI
- 2017 Self-Determination Conference: November 1st to 3rd, Kalahari 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.
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.
NATIONAL ABLE RESOURCE CENTER: Members of Congress Re-Introduce ABLE Improvement Bills
By SD Network, 2017-04-12
Earlier this month, a bi-partisan group of Members of Congress introduced a group of individual bills that would better the benefits provided through the ABLE Act. The group of bills consists of the following three pieces of proposed legislation:
- The ABLE Age Adjustment Act (S. 817/HR 1874) would raise the age limit for ABLE accounts to age 46.
- The ABLE Financial Planning Act (S. 816/HR 1897) would allow families to rollover savings in a 529 college savings plan into an ABLE account.
- The ABLE to Work Act (S. 818/HR 1896) would allow individuals and their families to save more money in an ABLE account if the beneficiary works and earns income.