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U.S. News & World Report recently surveyed 2,000 U.S. adults aged 55 and older who shared why they are or aren’t using assistive health-related technologies, what their goals were of aging in place, which technologies they use the most and what their experiences were.

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 Inside a Waterford warehouse is a unique exercise class. "Uniquely Abled" is a CrossFit class for people with disabilities. It helps people feel more comfortable and confident in their own bodies.

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Already, states have disenrolled more than a million Medicaid beneficiaries, according to data from Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), a nonprofit that conducts health policy research. In many cases, people are being cut off because they didn’t complete the renewal process, KFF found, with so-called “procedural disenrollments” accounting for as many as 89% of Medicaid terminations in some states.

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SSA Funding Opportunity on Employment of People with Disabilities

Applications due July 31, 2023
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced a new funding opportunity for conducting interventional research to support its programs. They seek applications for research to be conducted under five priority areas:
  • Eliminating the structural barriers for people with disabilities in the labor market, particularly for people of color and other underserved communities, that increase the likelihood of people receiving or applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
  • Increasing employment and self-sufficiency of individuals with disabilities, including people of color and underserved communities (whether beneficiaries, applicants, or potential applicants of the SSDI or SSI programs).
  • Coordinating planning between private and public human services agencies to improve the administration and effectiveness of the SSDI, SSI, and related programs.
  • Assisting claimants in underserved communities to apply for or appeal decisions on claims for SSDI and SSI benefits.
  • Conducting outreach to people with disabilities who are potentially eligible to receive SSI.
SSA intends the projects to have a project period of up to five years, with the first year intended to put any necessary data agreements into place, recruit additional partners, and conduct any other implementation planning activities. If the project is able to meet these milestones in the first year, funding may be continued to field and evaluate the project for up to four years.
If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact Grants.gov at 800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.
Learn more about this funding opportunity
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a collection of resources designed to support state Medicaid and partner agencies in developing the supports and services being delivered to adults with I/DD and their aging caregivers. These resources detail ways that agencies can anticipate and meet the needs of aging caregivers and adults with I/DD, design person-centered planning processes across the lifespan, develop policies to support aging caregiver needs, and demonstrate innovative strategies that states are using in key focus areas. The materials can be used by state agencies, providers, and aging and disability networks to engage stakeholders and plan for the design and implementation of future services and supports using data to identify current and future service demands, develop interagency partnerships and relationships, and focus on assessment, early identification, and training to help families better navigate support as their needs change across the lifespan. 
 
The resources are especially important because the number of people with I/DD receiving Medicaid home and community-based services and living with family has increased by 143% between 1998 and 2018. An estimated 1 million households in the U.S. include an adult with I/DD living with and supported by an aging caregiver, and this number is growing. 
 
As the federal agency leading the implementation of the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers (the Strategy), ACL is pleased to share resources that can advance implementation of the Strategy and emphasize the importance of ensuring that family caregivers are appropriately recognized and supported. The advisory councils created by the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act and the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (SGRG) Act jointly developed the Strategy in collaboration with ACL and other federal partners with extensive input from the public (including family caregivers and the people they support). 
 
The ACL programs included in the set of CMS resources are:
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Self-Determination Network News: June 2023


By SD Network, 2023-06-12


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Self-Determination Network News:

June 2023

Connect Share |Learn http://sdnetworkwi.org


State Budget Advocacy: There is Still Time to Advocate!

This week, the legislative's Joint Finance Committee is making decisions on several budget items that can impact people with disabilities. Tomorrow, June 15th, the committee will be deciding on the Department of Health Services budget. This budget includes includes many disability programs and issues including Family Care, IRIS, caregiver wages, Guardianship Support Center, and Adult Protective Services. We encourage people to call or email your legislators and let them know what priorities you want in the state budget. 


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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.

This month, we shined the spotlight on Jenny. After a tragic accident changed her life, this amazing lady made the decision to be a person who aspires to live life to the fullest. She has committed her life to raising awareness for people living with paralysis and neurological disorders. Check out this month's Member Spotlight to get to know Jenny.   

Who should we shine the spotlight on next?

128 Stacy’s Journal



"Everyone has small quirks that they do to be comfortable. Most of the time, people don’t even realize that they have them, but, when you rely on others for physical assistance, those quirks need to be communicated."



In this month's entry, Stacy talks about some of the unique quirks she has and explains how they help her to be as independent as possible. What unique preferences do you have?








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Check out the Latest Videos!

The Self-Determination Channel is a YouTube channel by and for people with developmental or intellectual disabilities. Unlike other channels, the Self-Determination Channel stands stand out from other channels on YouTube because self-advocates host the videos, and decide and create the content. Videos are posted a couple times a month on a variety of topics self-advocates care about such as technology, employment, caregivers, independent living, and advocacy.

Check out the newest videos on the channel:

We encourage you to subscribe to the Channel (you can do so by clicking the red Subscribe button on any of the video pages).

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Take five minutes to check out what's happening on the Self-Determination Network:

  • Wheelchair Elevation:  The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently announced that Medicare will now cover seat elevation devices for power wheelchairs. Learn more about this decision.
  • Health Data Report: Reliable health data is important to supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Being counted is a health equity and civil rights issue. Although data collection about people with disabilities generally has improved in recent decades, there is still not enough information on how many people with I/DD live in the U.S., how healthy they are, and what things affect their health. Take a look at the report that the Administration for Community Living put together from a summit they put together in 2022 focused on health equity, remaining gaps, and priorities for the future.
  • The Wait for Services: More than half a million Americans with intellectual and developmental disabilities are currently waiting for government funding for long-term care in their homes. Find out what some states are doing to clear waitlists.
  • Advocates Advocate for Significant Pay Increases for Caregivers: It's no secret that Wisconsin advocates for people with disabilities and the elderly have been tiredlessly advocating for better pay for caregivers.  Learn what advocates are asking for in the state budget.
  • Inclusive Stock Photos: Generally, stock photos often don't include people with disabilities. Read about how the Consumer Product Safety Commission is working to change that.
  • Public Comment Needed on Diagnostic Equipment: Medical diagnostic care is essential to everyone, including people with disabilities, and often requires people to transfer onto diagnostic equipment. The U.S. Access Board has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking on standards for accessible medical diagnostic equipment. Public comments are due July 24th.
  • Project SEARCH: Project SEARCH provides vocational training for people with disabilities. Learn about how the program helps high school students transition into the workforce.
  • Google Maps are More Accessible: With a minor change, Google is making it more obvious to users whether businesses and other public places are accessible to people with disabilities.  Find out what small change made this possible.
  • WisCaregiver Connection Workforce Platform: In partnership with UW-Green Bay, the Wisconsin Department of Heath Services have developed a training program to help 10,000 caregivers become certified direct care professionals. They also have developed a new workforce platform that will connect employers and job seekers. Find out more about these new programs.
  • Protype of Wheelchair Seat on Planes: Delta has introduced a prototype of a new seat that would allow airlines to let passengers to stay in their wheelchairs in the cabin. Learn more about the design.
     

128 Upcoming Events 

Here's a sample of upcoming events listed on the Self-Determination Network:

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. 

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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.

 

A prototype of the new seat debuted this week at the Aircraft Interiors Expo, an annual gathering of airline leaders and suppliers in Hamburg, Germany. The new seat allows airlines to maintain the design of their aircraft cabin while providing access to headrest, center console tray tables and cocktail table that adjust to serve passengers with wheelchairs in place. It also offers passengers with disabilities an easier time getting on and off airplanes.

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New! Free direct caregiver training and professional designation

In partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, we are developing a free standardized training program to help up to 10,000 caregivers become certified direct care professionals (CDCP). The curriculum will be available in summer 2023.

Here’s how it works.

  • Participants will complete a free training and testing program online at their own pace. It will take about 30 hours, and they will gain valuable skills in 14 core competencies.
  • After successfully completing the program, they will automatically join the Certified Direct Care Professional Registry to connect with employers throughout Wisconsin.
  • New CDCPs will receive a $250 bonus upon hire or by continuing to work with an eligible provider/agency.* When they stay employed by an eligible provider/agency* for six months, they’ll get an additional $250 retention bonus.
 

New! WisCaregiver Connections workforce platform

Our new workforce platform will be a one-stop career resource for employers and job seekers. We are now recruiting providers and agencies to be included in the employer component of the platform. Your presence will make it easy for CDCPs to find and connect with you after completing their training. The platform will allow you to:

  • Post job openings
  • Automatically match with job seekers
  • Screen candidate profiles and credentialing details

When you sign up, we will confirm your eligibility* to participate in the CDCP bonus program. As an eligible provider,* your current staff can pursue CDCP designations and receive bonuses, too!

 

Join WisCaregiver Connections today!

*The certified direct care professional (CDCP) program and WisCaregiver Connections were developed with American Rescue Plan Act funding for home and community-based services (HCBS). Eligible providers/agencies are those that serve HCBS participants enrolled in programs such as Family Care, Partnership, IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct), PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly), Children's Long-Term Support, and fee-for-service providers who serve HCBS participants.


Contact us

We look forward to partnering with you on these efforts to strengthen Wisconsin's direct care workforce.

  • Contact us at cdcp@uwgb.edu if you have questions or would like to learn more about the CDCP program and workforce platform.
  • Sign up for general updates on Wisconsin’s plans to leverage American Rescue Plan Act Home and Community-Based Services funding.
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