On September 15, 2021, Governor Tony Evers redesignated the Client Assistance Program (CAP) from the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) to Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW). The CAP program will now be housed with other Protection and Advocacy Programs and will no longer be under the umbrella of state government. The CAP serves people with disabilities and assists them with advice and information about benefits and services available under the Rehabilitation Act of…
News
New Factsheet on COVID and School Safety Options
Disability Rights Wisconsin and Family Voices of Wisconsin have partnered to create a family-friendly factsheet named “COVID and School Safety: Options for Children with Disabilities or Complex Medical Conditions”. Many families of students with disabilities are struggling with decisions about school safety during COVID. The factsheet brings together options, resources, questions to ask, and whom to contact for help. View the COVID and School Safety factsheet here (accessible pdf).
DRW Testimony in Support of AB 400
DRW’s Mitch Hagopian submitted testimony in support of AB 400 to the Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety. AB 400 will respond to abuse and neglect of some of the most vulnerable people in our state and will ensure that will ensure that all allegations of abuse and neglect of at-risk-adults will be investigated. This legislation will make the adult-at-risk reporting system equivalent to the elder abuse system, which has always required that…
WisDOT ADA Transition Plan 2021 Update
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) has published the 2021 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan. There is a public comment period open from now to Thursday, September 23 at approximately midnight (11:59 pm). Learn more about the plan on the WisDOT site here. There is also an overview video presentation on YouTube and several options to provide a public comment: Online: Provide a public comment via the online form. E-mail: Submit comments to…
National Disability Voter Registration Week: Service Providers Webinar
Join the Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition and our partners for our National Disability Voter Registration Week webinar for service providers. During the webinar, we will share guidance and resources to help you support those you serve with voter registration, and obtaining photo ID. Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy, but many people with disabilities and older adults experience barriers to casting a ballot. Service providers, such as Aging and Disability Resource Centers, HMOs, IRIS…
New Guidance Reaffirms Importance of the IDEA for Children with Disabilities
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services has issued new guidance to special education and early intervention partners to emphasize that children with disabilities are still entitled to receive a free, appropriate, public education despite the pandemic and no matter whether instruction is remote or in-person. The guidance is available online as a document via the U.S. Department of Education site here or as a website page here. Below, the…
Now Hiring for New Positions at DRW
Disability Rights Wisconsin is expanding and we are currently hiring for several new positions. To view a list of all the available positions, view our Careers page here. Individual links for each position are available below. DRW’s Social Security Representative Payee Program has an opening for an Investigator. The deadline for the Investigator position is August 30st at 12:00pm CST. View further details here. DRW’s Family Care and IRIS Ombudsman Program has openings for…
National Disability Voter Registration Week: Voter Registration Webinar
Join the Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition as we present our Voter Registration Zoom Webinar as part of the National Disability Voter Registration Week! Learn everything you need to know about registering to vote, why voting matters, and how to make a plan to vote for your upcoming elections. The webinar will be hosted via Zoom on September 14th from 9:00 – 10:00 am. Registration is required. Register here to get meeting information and Zoom link….
Virtual Workshop: When We Are Challenged by our Clients
Disability Rights Wisconsin is holding a virtual workshop named “When we are challenged by our clients: Working with survivors of crime with mental illnesses” on September 22nd from 9am – 12pm. This workshop is for advocates working with survivors experiencing active mental health symptoms. Presenters will discuss: commonly experienced mental illnesses. tools for how to communicate with and support survivors. referrals including peer support as a way of assisting survivors in the long-term. View the…
US Election Assistance Commission Panel with Disability Advocates
US Election Assistance Commission (EAC) Vice Chairman Tom Hicks was joined by Voting Outreach Advocacy Specialist, Wendy Heyn, with Disability Rights Wisconsin; Senior Litigation Attorney, Lia Sifuentes Davis, with Disability Rights Texas; Staff Attorney, Paul Spencer, with Disability Rights California; Supervising Attorney for Voting Rights, Fred Nisen, with Disability Rights California; and President and CEO, Maria Town, with the American Association of People with Disabilities to discuss voting barriers as a part of the Serving…
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