The Evers administration recently announced the establishment of minimum rates for home-and-community-based services care that must be paid by managed care organizations. The hope is that this will raise wages for direct care workers. Advocates feel that transparency is needed with higher rates so that increases actually show up in workers' paychecks.

Read more

To celebrate the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the White House put out a proclamation explaining what it has accomplished. It also talks about what still needs to be done.

Read proclamation

This U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) toolkit provides strategies and best practices to recruit, hire, retain, and advance workers with disabilities in good jobs in construction, manufacturing, and clean energy. This document can be used by many different groups but is primarily intended for public and private employers working to build equitable pathways to good jobs for people with disabilities in these industries. The toolkit provides a menu of strategies and practical advice, and shares examples and resources from government agencies and other entities.

View toolkit

The federal government is deciding whether or not to track the number of direct support professionals there are. Currently, DSPs are usually lumped in with home health care aides, certified nursing assistants, and other job categories that don't describe their true roles. This means that the data is missed to really address the shortage of workers who provide home-and-community-based services.

Read more

The Center for Disease and Control recently released the annual update to the Disability and Health Data System (DHDS), providing quick and easy online access to state-level health data on adults with disabilities. The latest data reveal that more than 1 in 4—over 70 million—adults in the United States reported having a disability in 2022.

Read more

Self-Determination Network News:

July 2024

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InControl Wisconsin's Caring Across Cultures Project

Join an Upcoming Lunch & Learn Webinar about Voting 

Join the Wisconsin Disability Vote on Tuesday July 23rd from 12-12:45p.m. for another Lunch & Learn webinar. Learn about voting rights for people living in residential settings like a nursing home, adult family home, or community based residential facility (CBRF). Plan to attend if you are a voter in a residential setting, staff from residential facilities, or anyone interested in this topic. Join Janet Zander, Advocacy and Public Policy Coordinator at the Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources, and the Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition to learn about your voting rights for people living in a residential setting. Register here.

Opportunity to Give Feedback about the IRIS Program 

The Wisconsin Department of Health is in the process of renewing the IRIS waiver. This happens every five years. The department is requesting feedback from participants, family members, and caregivers about what's working well in the program and what needs to be improved in order to make things easier for people to live the lives they want. The department is holding public listening sessions on Tuesday July 30th from 6-8p.m. (register) and Wednesday July 31st from 1-3p.m. (register). There is also a survey you can fill out if you can't attend the listening sessions. It closes on August 2nd. This is really a great opportunity to let your voice be heard about what needs to be changed in IRIS.

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 InControl Wisconsin board member, Cindy. She has been involved in self-determination in various ways for many years, and she loves seeing self-advocates speak up about what's really happening. Check out this month's Member Spotlight to get to know Cindy.   

Who should we shine the spotlight on next?

Stacy’s Journal

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

• The Caravan for Disability Freedom and Justice: Marilee has posted information and the schedule for the Caravan for Disability Freedom and Justice. Find out when it's going to be in your area.
• Accessible Absentee Ballot: A Dane County judge has ruled that voters who self-identify that they are unable to read or mark a ballot without assistance can be issued absentee ballots electronically.  Learn about this temporary injunction is part of a bigger lawsuit.
• Voters Rights:  The Partisan Primary Election is August 13th and the General Election is November 5th. Read about the many important that voters with disabilities should know in an article that the Wisconsin Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired published.
• Caregiver Survey: The Wisconsin Family and Caregiver Support Alliance wants to hear from family caregivers and professionals. Take this survey.
• Accessibility Improvements to Google: Google recently a lot of new accessibility features for people who have vision impairments, cognitive delays, and physical limitations.  Find out what's being added.
• Most Prevalent Disabilities in Wisconsin: A technology company working on solutions for web accessibility challenges collected disability statistics in Wisconsin. Learn what the data is being used to do.
• Ballot Dropboxes: The Wisconsin Supreme Court recently overturned a previous ruling that banned dropboxes for returning absentee ballots. Learn why dropboxes are especially important for voters with disabilities.
• Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines: The General Services Administration issued a final rule adopting the Access Board's Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines. Find out what these standards include.
• Wisconsin Author: A lady from Rice Lake has found a way to turn the tragedies in her life into a life-long career of writing novels. Read about why she incorporates a character with a disability into each book.
• Input Needed: The Office of Management and Budget is seeking input on a possible revision of the Standard Occupation Classification Manual. Comments are sought on a variety of topics, including whether OMB should consider adding “care workers” as a detailed occupation. Comments are due August 12th.
• Disability Equality Index: The Disability Equality Index documents the growing importance of data in global business culture. Learn what companies use this information for.

Upcoming Events 

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

• Lunch And Learn: Voters Living In Residential Settings-- Make Your Plan To Vote And Know Your Rights!: July 23rd, 12p.m. to 12:45p.m., Virtual
• Webinar: Climate Change, Health, And Disability: July 25th, 11a.m. to 12p.m., Virtual
• Disability Pride Festival: July 27th, 12p.m. to 5p.m., Warner Park, Madison WI
• Webinar: Beyond Section 508 Digital Accessibility Requirements: July 30th, 12p.m.to 1:30p.m., Virtual
• IRIS Waiver Renewal Listening Session: July 30th, 6p.m. to 8p.m., Virtual
• IRIS Waiver Renewal Listening Session: July 31st, 1p.m. to 3p.m., Virtual
• WisTech 2024 Training #4 Towards Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence: August 20th, 10a.m. to 11a.m., Virtual
• State Plan For Assistive Technology Public Hearing: August 21st, 1p.m. to 2p.m., Virtual
• State Plan For Assistive Technology Public Hearing: August 21st, 4:30p.m. to 5:30p.m., Virtual
• State Plan For Assistive Technology Public Hearing:  August 22nd, 10a.m. to 11a.m.,  Virtual
• WisTech 2024 Training #5 Technology And Tranquility: AT For Mental Health And And Self Care: September 17th, 10a.m. to 11a.m., Virtual

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. 

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.