On October 31, 2023, the Justice Department announced that it has issued guidance to explain how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to state and local government’s employment and day services. The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division has issued this guidance to help state and local governments understand their nondiscrimination obligations and people with disabilities understand their rights under the federal law in this area. The guidance provides an overview of the ADA, the ADA’s integration mandate, and the types of employment and day services that are often offered to people with disabilities. It then answers nine questions about how the ADA applies to those service systems.

The guidance may be found on ada.gov here. A Federal Register notice discussing the guidance will be forthcoming.  To learn more about the ADA, call the toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 or 1-833-610-1264 (TTY), or access the Justice Department’s ADA website at ada.gov.

Meet Jen. This volleyball fanatic has faced some challenges which have kept her off the court in recent years, but she has a goal of playing again one day. She has learned to advocate for herself, and she’s excited that the condition she has is being recognized understood more. We’re so fortunate to have on the Network!

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

This 52-year-old mom, grandma and wife has faced some challenges in life, but she’s determined to make the best of life.  Jen and her husband moved to Wisconsin from Illinois back in 2019.  She shares that in March of 2015, she started having tremors in her hands, feet and face.  The tremors quickly turned to whole-body seizures.  She went to almost all the top hospitals in Illinois looking for an answer.  She was told that she had Stiff Person's Syndrome, Essential Tremors and that she needed to be hypnotized because her "past life" was causing her seizures.  It wasn't until she had over 30 seizures in one day and was hospitalized at Northwestern Hospital that she received a true diagnosis.  She explains that her diagnosis is Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) and is a rare non-epileptic seizure disorder.  She went to Mayo Clinic in Rochester for a second opinion and they confirmed my disorder.  However, most doctors or neurologists didn't take this seriously. It was believed to be caused by trauma and wasn't very well known.  Often times, she would be accused of faking her seizures or that she was just out to get some meds.  

It wasn't until she moved to Wisconsin and became a patient at Monroe Clinic that she was finally taken seriously.  She tells us that her primary doctor and neurologist were familiar with FND and best of all, they believed her!  She decided that her goal was to become the best version of herself.  She started seeing a counselor, went to PT, OMT, Massage Therapy and a chiropractor to help her physical self become stronger.  She still knows seizures, but she’s now aware of what can set them off.  She knows what to do when she feels them coming on.  “Most of all, I don't hide from the public anymore,” she says. 

She and her husband own a wheelchair company in Juda.  They help people with disabilities all day, every day.  She can’t work a regular schedule, but she tries to help out at the office as much as possible.  

 How are you involved with self-determination? Why did you join the SD Network?

Jen has just joined the Self-Determination Network, but she’s excited to see what it’s about. 

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

Some exciting news for Jen is that FND is now more recognized and doctors are taking it seriously.  “I have fought and fought for my own self and didn't take no for an answer,”  she tells us. 

What are some of your hobbies?

Before Jen was diagnosed with FND, her hobbies included playing and coaching volleyball.  She coached grade school and club volleyball.  It was her hope to one day be able to play with her sons.  Unfortunately, physical stress or emotional stress can cause her to have a seizure. “However, it is still my goal to one day return to the sport I love,” she shares. 

***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.

As Disability Employment Awareness Month comes to an end, we know that most people with disabilities want to work, but there are numerous factors that play into it. Everything from scheduling, to getting appropriate accommodations , to having to about losing needed benefits. These are all major things that people with disabilities have to consider when looking for employment.

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CBS announced the continued expansion of "The CBS Performers with Disabilities Talent Initiative." Since its launch in September last year, CBS has made significant strides, hosting 3 audition workshops, conducting a casting 101 panel, and facilitating internal disability training for network executives. This initiative coincides with Paramount's second edition of its annual day-long Summit on Disability, dedicated to championing greater disability inclusion in the media and entertainment industry.

In addition, Paramount is proud to introduce Adapt, its ninth Employee Resource Group. Adapt is formed to enhance inclusion, visibility, belonging, and to drive positive change for people with disabilities, both in the workplace and in content, by educating, engaging, and empowering while removing barriers of exclusion for all Paramount employees.

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The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is celebrating the 25th anniversary of aging and disability resource centers (ADRCs) helping older adults and people with disabilities in our state to thrive. ADRCs were first piloted in 1998 in nine counties and have since expanded to cover all 72 Wisconsin counties and 11 federally recognized Tribal Nations in the state, providing connections to resources like adaptive equipment, dementia care services, meal delivery, and more.

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