News
PROTECT OUR CARE: On this national caregivers day: Who are the families caught in the GOP health care crisis?
By SD Network, 2026-03-01
Across the country, caregivers are sounding the alarm about what Medicaid cuts mean for the people they love. For families caring for children with complex medical needs, adults with significant disabilities, and aging parents with Alzheimer's, Medicaid pays for home aides, specialized equipment, therapies, and community-based services that private insurance often refuses to cover. Without it, many say their loved ones would be forced into institutions, pushed into medical bankruptcy, or left without life-saving care. Their stories make clear that for millions of Americans, Medicaid is not optional — it is survival.
MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTiNEL: Wisconsin's IRIS program changes contractor. Will care workers face payment delays?
By SD Network, 2026-02-20
Wisconsin's IRIS program is transitioning to a single contractor to manage payroll and background checks for caregivers, a move that has sparked significant concern among enrolled adults with disabilities. Participants worry that the administrative shift could lead to payment delays for their care workers, potentially making it harder to retain the staff they rely on for essential daily needs like showering and mobility. Because the program allows individuals to live independently rather than in institutional settings, any disruption in caregiver pay is seen as a direct threat to their ability to remain in their own homes.
PR NEWSWIRE: Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Face Critical Mental Health Care Gaps, New Study Finds
By SD Network, 2026-02-20
A new study from Special Olympics Health published in JAMA Network Open reveals that adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) face a significant mental health crisis, being over nine times more likely to report anxiety or depression than those without disabilities. Despite having a higher symptom burden and being more likely to take medication, these individuals face massive systemic barriers to therapy, including high costs, a shortage of trained providers, and "diagnostic overshadowing." However, the research also highlights a path forward: participation in Special Olympics programming was found to reduce the likelihood of a depression diagnosis by 49%, underscoring the vital role of social connection and physical activity in closing these care gaps.
U.S. ACCESS BOARD: U.S. Access Board Seeks Public Comment Regarding Approach to Technical Requirements for Universal Changing Stations
By SD Network, 2026-02-20
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The U.S. Access Board has published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) asking for public comment on its approach to developing technical standards for universal changing stations required to be provided by sponsors of medium and large hub airports seeking airport development project grants. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 requires the Access Board to issue these standards, and the ANPRM proposes multiple approaches to developing them. The Board requests general information and comments on whether to incorporate by reference an existing industry standard or develop a new standard, elements that should be included within the room where a universal changing table is located, and associated costs. To view the ANPRM, staff contact information, or instructions on providing comments, go to the docket webpage. |
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WISCONSIN BOARD FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES: Call for Presenter Proposals for the 2026 Self-Determination Conference
By SD Network, 2026-02-18
Are you interested in presenting at the 2026 Self-Determination Conference? We are seeking session proposals for Tuesday, October 20 & Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
Click here to fill out the presenter form online. presenter portal.
This year’s theme: The Power of Self-Determination; Technology, Community and You will help people with disabilities lead more Self-Determined lives by offering tools to plan the life they want to live in the communities they choose!
Things to know when submitting a proposal:
- Proposals must include a self-advocate(s) as a lead or co-presenter.
- Panels should be limited to no more than 3 people.
- Conference sessions must support Self-Determination and Self-Directed principles.
- Sessions will be all in-person. Presenters must attend the conference
in-person.
- Presentations should focus on practical, take-home strategies that people can implement in their lives.
- Sessions should not promote specific agencies or products.
- Repeat or similar sessions from previous conferences will not be considered.
- Sessions will be 1.25 hours in length. Self-Advocate sessions will be 30 minutes in length.
- A typical session has an audience of 50-75 attendees.
If your session is accepted:
- Handouts: Presenters agree to submit the PowerPoint and other materials through the online portal by September 23, 2026. You are responsible for providing 50-75 copies of your materials for your in-person session. Please use plain language.
- Equipment: A screen, A/V cart, LCD projector, laptop, and microphone will be provided in each breakout room. Bring your presentation on a flash drive or use your own laptop.
- Presenters must register for the conference. Presenters must attend the conference in-person.
*By completing this form, presenters agree to turn in all materials and information by September 23, 2026.
Submissions are due by noon on May 5, 2026.
The Project Eugenics report by New Disabled South documents what it describes as a systemic and coordinated rollback of disability rights in the United States, framed through three strategies: dismantling legal protections and accessibility infrastructure, punishing disabled individuals through criminalization and benefit cuts, and dehumanizing them via eugenic-based misinformation. The report highlights specific federal actions, such as the elimination of DEI programs, significant staffing cuts to civil rights enforcement agencies, and the imposition of Medicaid work requirements, which collectively make disabled lives more precarious and surveilled. By tracing these policies across sectors like healthcare, education, and immigration, the authors argue that the current governing logic treats disability as a "burden" or "threat" rather than a lived reality deserving of dignity, effectively reviving historical regimes of exclusion and institutionalization.
About 1 in 6 US children has a developmental disability. People with IDD face waitlists spanning years for home and community-based care, forcing them into institutional settings. The social model of disability states that disability arises from societal barriers, not individual deficits. Supported decision-making, where individuals with IDD make choices with guidance, leads to greater autonomy and satisfaction.
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORTS: Does Medicaid Cover In-Home Care? A 2026 Guide to Benefits and Eligibility
By SD Network, 2026-02-17
Medicaid covers in-home care through baseline benefits, HCBS waivers, and Community First Choice programs. Family members can get paid through "self-directed," "consumer-directed," or "participant-directed care" where recipients act as employers hiring family members within state rules. The 2024 80/20 rule requires 80% of HCBS funds go directly to caregivers. The One Big Beautiful Bill (2025) cuts Medicaid spending $1 trillion over 10 years, threatening HCBS programs.