Public Hearing on Two New Bills On Thursday, November 6th, the Assembly Education Committee is having a Public Hearing on two bills: AB 613 and AB 614. Disability Rights Wisconsin is concerned that students with disabilities would lose out on even more education than they already do. Meanwhile, schools would get no new resources to handle the new processes the bill would require. This legislation would let teachers decide which students they keep in class….
Action Alerts
For information on DRW news, events, or press releases, please contact:
email media@drwi.org.
For information on DRW action alerts, public policy, or voting efforts, please contact:
Lisa Hassenstab at 608-308-2639 or lisah@drwi.org.
Public Comment: Children’s Long-Term Support Program Renewal
About the Public Comment Period Are you a current or past member of the Children’s Long-Term Support Program? Or are you family of someone in the program? The Wisconsin Department of Health would like to hear from you! The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is starting the renewal process for the Children’s Long-Term Support (CLTS) program. They will review the program and see where they can improve it for the years of 2027 to 2031….
Action Alert: Essential Funding for Our P&A Programs
Disability Rights Wisconsin needs your voice today! Essential funding for our nation’s Protection and Advocacy (P&A) agencies, including Disability Rights Wisconsin, is at risk! About this Action Alert The President’s proposed budget for 2026 would cut or eliminate several grants that support the work of these agencies. If these cuts move forward, people with disabilities will face greater danger and fewer supports to live and thrive in their own communities. For countless individuals, P&As are…
Survey: Wisconsin’s Mental Health and Substance Use Services
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services and UW-Madison’s Population Health Institute would like to hear from you this month! They want your feedback about your experiences with Wisconsin’s mental health and substance use services. State health officials will use the information from the survey to guide how they’ll improve services and policies for people with mental health and substance abuse issues. They will release a public report of the answers they’ve received later this year….
Public Comment Period: WisDOT’s 2025 ADA Transition Plan
About the ADA Transition Plan The public comment period opens today for the 2025 ADA Transition plan by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The plan aims to make accessibility better throughout the state’s highway systems. Some of the upcoming changes in the plan are: building accessible restrooms and adult changing stations when rebuilding Safety Rest Areas building curb ramps making sure that train stations and other Department of Transportation facilities are accessible and follow the…
Action Alert: Save the Protection and Advocacy Network!
Protection and Advocacy agencies are facing cuts to critical funding for programs that protect people with disabilities and older adults. These programs make sure that they can live in their communities and be self-reliant. For many people with disabilities and older adults, protection and advocacy agencies are the only places they can turn to when they need help. Act now! Tell Congress that these programs are important to you and that you oppose these cuts!
Public Comment Period: IRIS Waiver Renewal
About the IRIS Waiver Renewal The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is renewing the Include, Respect, I Self-Direct (IRIS) waiver. During the renewal process, they’d like to hear from participants about ways they can make services and policies better in the program. Learn about the waiver renewal and planned changes to the program here. Send Your Comments The public comment period is open from July 9 to August 8, 2025. Send in your comments by:…
Accessibility in Federal Buildings
Send your thoughts now on a new rule that would take away accessibility requirements for new federal buildings! About the New Rule The federal Department of Energy (DOE) has made a new final rule that will eliminate a long-time requirement of Section 504. The requirement says that new buildings that are constructed with federal funds must be accessible to people with disabilities. The Department now calls this rule “unnecessary” and “burdensome”. Removing this rule would:…
Your voice is needed: Tell Congress to save disability and aging programs!
About this Action Alert Last week, we learned about a federal budget proposal that would cut or eliminate federal funding for programs that protect the health, safety, and well-being of people with disabilities and older Americans. On the list of programs slated for cuts or elimination are those that fund: Protection and Advocacy agencies the Councils on Developmental Disabilities the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Long-Term Care Ombudsmen These programs are among others…
Make Your Voices Heard: The 2025-2027 Wisconsin Biennial Budget
About the State Budget Governor Evers has introduced the 2025 to 2027 Wisconsin biennial budget. The budget will decide how Wisconsin funds state programs and services for the next two years. These state programs and services include mental health services, special education, long-term care, transportation, voting, and many more. Learn about the biennial budget with the following resources: 2025 to 2027 Executive Budget, Wisconsin Department of Administration 2025 to 2027 Budget in Brief (PDF) Watch…