The U.S. is facing a growing crisis of unfilled job openings and high staff turnover that puts the safety of older, frail residents at risk. In a tight labor market where job options are plentiful, long-term care jobs that are poorly paid and physically demanding are a tough sell. Experts say opening pathways for care workers to immigrate would help, but policymakers haven’t moved.

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President Joe Biden used his State of the Union address to double down on his plan to reinvigorate the nation's home and community-based services system. During the speech, Biden called on Congress to invest in services that allow people with disabilities to receive care in their homes.

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Self-directed care undeniably has a place in the future of home-based care. How big that place is, however, is still up in the air. There are many benefits to offering self-directed or consumer-directed care, especially for patients who would rather be cared for by a caregiver of choice. States see it as a win-win because it lowers the cost of care and gives families their preferred option. Others are concerned about potential fraud and lack of resources. 

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RRTC on Community Living and Participation Among People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: The purpose of this particular RRTC is to conduct research, training, and related activities to contribute to optimal community living and participation outcomes of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including those with co-occurring disabilities. 

View more details and application instructions.

Please visit the link above for more details about the grant opportunity and application process. This grant opportunity closes on April 3, 2023.

Meet Amy.  As both former Miss Wheelchair Wisconsin and Miss Wheelchair USA, this teacher has a passion for education and making policy changes that benefit all people.  She encourages people to never give up and not to let others speak for you.  We’re so fortunate to have her as a member of the Network! 

What's your story?  Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Amy has a master's degree in special education and school social work. In the past, she was a 504 coordinator. Currently, she’s a special education teacher at an elementary school. “I have a passion for education and working with kids and making policy changes that make positive changes for all people,” she says.

She has a two-year-old service dog named Beans. She was Miss Wheelchair Wisconsin and Miss Wheelchair USA.

What does Self-Determination mean to you? Why is it important? 

To Amy, self-determination means living life to the best of her ability. She explains that it's important because it's a weight that everyone has and she thinks we need to do a better job with attendant care, transition, jobs and education for people with disabilities. “The possibilities are limitless when given opportunity but, unfortunately, we are not given opportunities,” she says.

Tell us some good news - what's the most exciting thing happening for you (or in Wisconsin) in terms of self-determination?

The most exciting for Amy is that, even though it’s a struggle sometimes, every day she’s able to live in my own apartment and work a job as a special education teacher--while nagging over 13 specialists, needing attendant care, and not being able to drive.

What tip or resource would you like to share with people who want to be more self-determined?

Amy encourages everyone to never give up and don't let people speak for you. “It’s not who you think you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not,” she explains. 

What are some of your hobbies?

During her spare time, Amy enjoys hanging out with friends, being with her service dog Beans, volunteering, water skiing in the summer, and watching and playing wheelchair basketball. “I’m always an advocate,” she exclaims!

***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.

One in four U.S. adults have a disability that affects major life activities. Yet transportation networks, from missing stretches of sidewalk to legacy train systems built long before the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, often lack features like elevators that are necessary for people who use wheelchairs, crutches, and other mobility aids. The secretary of transportation talks mobility justice, missing sidewalks and elevators, and billions in federal grants currently up for grabs.

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U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, and U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell have introduced legislation to expand access to home and community-based services (HCBS) for adults, people with disabilities and injured workers, while increasing pay and improving benefits for in-home caregivers. 

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 StatsRRTC at the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability will release key findings from the Annual Disability Statistics Collection. The annual report addresses critical gaps in national and state data related to people with disabilities by synthesizing complex data from numerous U.S. federal agencies into accessible formats.

"We're getting our first look at post-COVID statistics for many indicators because the collection of 2020 data was corrupted by the COVID lockdown."
– Andrew Houtenville

The ADSC is designed to make finding and using disability statistics easier for individuals working on legislative and other matters relating to persons with disabilities. 

Key findings from this year's Compendium include:

• The Annual Disability Statistics Compendium
• Annual Disability Statistics Supplement
• State Reports for County-Level Data
• New and Updated Infographics