In Washington D.C., legislators are still working on the 2026 federal budget. But if things do not change before the fiscal year starts on October 1st, Disability Rights Wisconsin and other disability rights organizations will get cuts to their funding. These cuts will change how we offer our services for people with disabilities.
In the current budget proposal, Disability Rights Wisconsin would not get funding for three of our nine programs related to Protection and Advocacy. The three programs that are getting funding cuts help make sure that people with disabilities:
- know their voting rights and go to the polls.
- get employment opportunities and employment integration services.
- get the accommodations they need to succeed in school and the workplace.
Disability Rights Wisconsin’s Executive Director, Jill Jacklitz, spoke about the effects of the cuts. She says: “We already are not able to serve everyone who needs help. Now, the whole infrastructure is crumbling.”