In this month’s Member Spotlight, we’re catching up with Jason. This amazing self-advocate has played a pivotal role in turning one of Wisconsin’s state disability councils around over the last couple of years. He also has enjoyed helping family members navigate and advocate for what supports they need to be successful. Read more about what Jason has been up to in this month’s Member Spotlight!

We last shined the spotlight on you in 2015. Can you briefly reintroduce yourself and share a little bit of your story?

Jason Endres lives in Eau Claire with his wife Julie and their service dog Pinky Jellybean.  He shares that he’s a self-advocate for himself, but he truly advocates for others that cannot speak for themselves.

What kinds of advocacy projects are you involved with these days? 

Right now, like everyone, Jason is advocating for Medicaid not to be dismantled.  “Losing just one part of Medicaid will harmful for many people in the country,” he says.  

Statewide, Jason has been working with the Independent Living Council of Wisconsin. He explains that when he was appointed to be on the Council, they were a real mess and was in jeopardy of losing money from the federal government for not sending in reports and not having the right number of people on Council. “I helped with turning the council around and made many changes, so when I have to leave the Council in July, I feel I did my part,” he tells us.

Tell me some good news – what’s the most exciting happening for you (or in Wisconsin) in terms of self-determination

It’s really hard for Jason to think of exciting news for himself—especially in the political climate we are in right now—but, if he had to choose one, it’s helping his sister find resources for his nephew, Nick. He explains that Nick was having a real hard time at school, so he helped him get tested for Autism.  It turns out that his nephew was diagnosed when he was 13 years old. “So, we are all learning what’s best for Nick,” he says.

What resource can you share with us (website or article)? Why is it useful?

A resource Jason often recommends to people is the Independent Living Council of Wisconsin website. He explains that the Council does do a great deal of collaborating between the eight Independent Living Centers in Wisconsin. They are always looking for new board members, so if you are interested in finding out more details, he suggests going to their website.

What would be your dream vacation?

Jason has two dream vacations.  The first one is going to Australia, and the second is going Hawaii.

***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.

The Education Department enforces disability rights in schools by distributing Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funds and investigating discrimination complaints. Trump plans to transfer these responsibilities to Health and Human Services (HHS), raising concerns about separating special education from general education. Recent layoffs have already reduced enforcement capacity for disability rights violations.

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Nearly half of staff at the Administration for Community Living have been terminated as part of broader Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) layoffs, disrupting funding distribution for disability programs nationwide. The agency, which coordinates aging and disability services across 2,500 community organizations, is being dismantled with functions redistributed to other departments. Disability advocates fear program closures as funding notifications are delayed and administrative capacity has been gutted, with over 450 groups opposing the reorganization.

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The Wisconsin Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health (IDD-MH) System Improvement Community of Practice launched in December 2024. The project steering committee shared plans for turning the recommendations from last year's report into actions. Now, we're excited to share a few updates.

Recommendation 5.7 is now in progress

Recommendation 5.7 aims to expand the Certified Direct Care Professional (CDCP) training program to include modules related to IDD-MH. Learn more on page 68 of the report.

Here’s what to know:

• This work will connect people who provide care to people with IDD-MH needs with free training. This includes family members and paid caregivers.
• Training topics will help caregivers:
  • Understand IDD and mental health disorders.
  • Get strategies for effective communication and crisis prevention.
  • Recognize how mental health disorders present in people with developmental disabilities.
  • Know how health conditions connect with IDD and how they affect mood and behavior.
• The Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, and members of the Community of Practice are working together to complete this work in 2025.

Visit the new Recommendation 5.7 webpage to learn more, see key milestones, and find ways to get involved.

Work on more recommendations is coming soon

The steering committee will start recruiting for two subcommittees in the next few weeks. As members of the Community of Practice, you'll have the chance to join these teams. Keep an eye on your email—we'll send information on signing up for subcommittees soon.

Voting barriers for people with disabilities in Wisconsin continue. Last year, four voters with disabilities, along with Disability Rights Wisconsin and the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, filed a lawsuit seeking access to electronic absentee voting. A lower court initially granted some voters that option, but an appeals court paused and eventually reversed that order. The case is now before the Dane County Circuit Court.

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On March 27, 2025, the FCC adopted a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) proposing improvements to ensure the resiliency, reliability, interoperability, and accessibility of Next Generation 911 (NG911) networks.  NG911 will provide improved support for the full range of 911 voice, text, data, and video communications, which will enable improved 911 access for individuals with disabilities.  

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The Trump administration has announced the dismantling of the Administration for Community Living (ACL). The ACL oversees programs helping people with disabilities access all range of services in their communities and advocates for the needs of people with disabilities, older adults, families and caregivers across the federal government.

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