Direct Care Workers in the United States: Key Facts provides a new annual snapshot of the direct care workforce, including its demographics, occupational roles, job quality challenges, and projected job openings. The report includes detailed overviews of three segments of this workforce: home care workers, residential care aides, and nursing assistants in nursing homes.

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Home-based care will account for the majority of an estimated 1.2 million new jobs in the direct care workforce sector from now until 2030. That is expected to be the most new jobs for any occupation in the U.S. over that time period. A new report suggests that industry leaders will need to improve financial security and support systems in order to keep up with the growth. 

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Apply to be one of our May 2023 conference presenters! Parent, family members, professionals and others with knowledge to share are encouraged to complete an application!

Applications due OCTOBER 28

The planning committee welcomes those who are new to presenting at conferences or other public events! We can provide support and assistance and encourage parents and other family members to join us as conference presenters. If you’d like to present, but need some guidance on developing your proposal, please email Lynn at Family Voices – Lynn@fvofwi.org.

• PRESENTER APPLICATION – Please use the link to complete online form.
• PRESENTER APPLICATION (print version) – please use this form ONLY if you are not able to complete the online form above. Email your form to Lynn@fvofwi.org.
• INSTRUCTIONS – provides more details about presenting at the conference and expectations for presenters.

We recommend that presenters make their sessions highly interactive and allow time for questions and answers. Your audience will be parents, families and professionals with varying levels of understanding of presentation topics. Spanish interpreters will be available at some sessions. In addition, we will be live streaming many of the sessions for those who want to join the event virtually.

Past conference session topics have included:

• Advocacy and Family Leadership
• Community connections
• Education
• Early Intervention
• Family, Self-Care and Wellness
• Health Care, Nutrition
• Medicaid and Private Insurance
• Long-Term Supports and Services
• Transition After High School
• And many other topics!

This year, we are also looking for presentations that focus on planning for the future. This could be financial planning, legal planning, planning for a full, inclusive life in your community, or planning for the transition to adulthood.

If you have questions about submitting a proposal, please contact Lynn at Family Voices of WI at Lynn@fvofwi.org or 608-556-0375.

WisDOT has published the 2022 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan. There is a public comment period open through Friday, September 30 (approximately midnight, 11:59 a.m.). Your feedback is very important, and we encourage you to take the time to participate in this opportunity. Visit http://www.wisconsindot.gov/ada to find the plan, along with an overview video presentation and options to comment using the web, email or standard U.S. Mail.

WisTech, Wisconsin's Assistive Technology Act Program, reminds everyone that we have iPads (including a mini and an iTouch) available for short-term loans for 30 days. The iPads can be pre-loaded and customized with applications that a person may want to try out, at no cost to the individual. 

The program provides the opportunity for people with disabilities, their family members, and/or support network the ability to decide if an iPad with apps will meet their goals related to living, working, or learning independently.

To begin the process of loaning out an iPad,  please visit Wisconsin AT4ALL. After you create a free account, you can search for an iPad under the Department of Health Services (DHS) program. Once you add the iPad to your cart and click "check out," a request will automatically be sent to DHS Staff. You will then be contacted after receiving the request to gather a few more details and process the short-term loan. 

Wisconsin AT4ALL is a great way to learn about what other devices are available for loan and demonstration. An assistive technology inventory list can also be accessed through the WIAT4ALL website. This statewide inventory list includes devices that are free or for sale.

If you have specific questions please reach out to us via email.

After a federal judge ruled that people with disabilities could receive assistance returning their ballot, the Wisconsin Elections Commission issued guidance about how people can assist.  The person returning the ballot has to identify themself as an "agent".  Agents can't be the voter's employer, an agent of the employer, or an officer or agent of the voter's union.

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Wisconsin voters with disabilities recently breathed a sigh of relief when a US District Judge said that voters with disabilities can receive assistance returning their ballot despite a state Supreme Court ruling.  The judge said that the federal Voting Rights Act allows it.

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