Lawmakers continue to tweak ABLE Accounts (accounts  that will allow people with disabilities to save up to $100,000 without jepordizing their Social Security and other government benefits).   The changes would allow more flexibility to those using the accounts. Some of the proposed changes include:

• Allowing  people with disabilities who are employed to allocate extra money to their ABLE accounts
• Expanding eligibility to include people with disabilities that onset by the age of 46 (current requirement is that conditions must exist before the age of 26)
• Allowing families to rollover money they've saved for a person with a disability in a 529 college savings plan to an ABLE account

Read full article here

Toyota is working to develop a neat device for people who have visual impairments.  This wearable device willl provide people with information about their surroundings that other devices are unable to.   It will have  cameras that detect surroundings and then communicate the user via speakers and vibration monitors.  The user will also be able to interact with the device via voice recognition and buttons.

Click here to learn more and watch a video about the device.

A new bill is being proposed that would allow people who care for people with disabilities to receive a tax credit.  The bill is aimed towards family members who care for loved ones.  The credit would be meant to offset costs for caring for individuals with long-term care needs.  Caregivers would have to meet certain qualifications to receive the credit.

Read full article here.

Wallethub.com recently released a list of the best and worst cities for people with disabilities for last year.  Multiple factors were considered for the rankings.

Find out which two Wisconsin cities made the list of the best cities!

Do you have questions about the proposed long-term care program (Family Care/IRIS 2.0) being proposed by the Wisconsin Dept. of Health Services (DHS)? Check out their Frequently Asked Questions page.

The following information was released by the Wisconsin Dept. of Human Services (DHS) on March 31, 2016:

Click here to view the Family Care/IRIS 2.0 Concept Paper

As required by 2015 Act 55, earlier this afternoon the Department submitted the Family Care/IRIS 2.0 Concept Paper to the Joint Committee on Finance. Consistent with the current program, Family Care/IRIS 2.0 will continue to serve adults with physical disabilities, adults with developmental disabilities, and frail elders who meet financial and functional eligibility requirements.

To create this Concept Paper, the Department held 10 public hearing, met with councils, boards, and committees that advise DHS on its long-term care programs; and held additional meetings with a variety of stakeholders to collect input. We received testimony in person and in writing from more than 750 people.

Thank you to everyone who submitted feedback. We value your input and look forward to working with you as we work toward implementing Family Care/IRIS 2.0.

The Family Care/IRIS 2.0 plan outlined in the Concept Paper reflects the Department’s approach that remains centered on the fundamental principles of self-determination, empowerment, member-centeredness, quality, consumer choice, and fiscal stability.

Next Steps for Family Care/IRIS 2.0

Now that the Concept Paper has been submitted to Joint Committee on Finance, it will need to be reviewed and approved by the Legislature. After the Legislature approves the Concept Paper, the Department will begin developing the formal waiver and/or state plan authority documents to submit to federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). DHS will release these documents for public review and will conduct another formal public comment period prior to submission to CMS. 

The Wisconsin Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) is a week-long leadership training and career awareness program for high school students with disabilities held June 26- July 1, 2016 at Edgewood College in Madison, WI.

Costs of the program are covered by BPDD.

YLF is for high school students with a disability who are active in their school and/or community and would like to develop leadership and advocacy skills, explore career options, and start making valuable connections with others.

Please forward the application form and other information available at: http://www.wi-bpdd.org/projects/YouthLeadershipForum.cfm to high school students that may be interested.

Application Deadline: Monday, May 1, 2016

Please direct questions to John Shaw at – john1.shaw@wisconsin.gov or (608) 266-7707.

WI DHS implements new National Core Indicators

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is using a new system to get information on the quality of life of individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities participating in Wisconsin’s Long Term Care System (Family Care, Family Care Partnership, PACE, IRIS, and Legacy Waivers).

The new system is called the National Core Indicators (NCI). NCI uses written surveys to families/guardians, and face to face interviews with individual with disabilities to ask questions about the quality of the person’s life in areas such as: employment, community involvement, living situation, and community involvement.

DHS is beginning to implement NCI now.

You may be contacted to participate in a survey or interview. It’s your choice whether you participate or not, but we strongly encourage you to participate.

This is a very important opportunity to have your voice be heard and let DHS know how participating in LTC services is impacting the quality of your life.

If you have questions or would like more information, contact Michelle Osness, Wisconsin’s National Core Indicators Coordinator at MichelleM.Osness@dhs.wisconsin.gov .

See a sample letter here: http://www.wi-bpdd.org/docs/2016/2016-NCI-notice-of-sample-selection-letter.pdf

***We thank the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities for providing us with this information.