News

The right to vote privately and independently is in both federal and Wisconsin law. This includes access to voting equipment that allows an eligible voter to mark their ballot independently. This is especially important for voters with print disabilities such as blindness, low vision, or difficulty with fine motor skills. Earlier this month, the town of Thornapple, Wisconsin, agreed to use an accessible voting system moving forward after having been sued by the United States…

Like so many others, Sara* came to Disability Rights Wisconsin after fighting on her own for far too long. She simply needed permission to build a fence so her daughter could play safely outside. Even after pleading her case before the city council, she was denied. “I already tried on my own and failed miserably,” she said. Disability Rights Wisconsin’s legal advocacy changed that. With our staff’s expertise, the barrier that kept Sara’s children from safely playing outside…

About the Council on Special Education Forum The Wisconsin Council for Special Education wants to hear from you about special education in Wisconsin! They will use your thoughts and comments in advising the Department of Public Instruction on issues that affect education for students with disabilities. Among the public, council would like to hear from: Families School administrators Educators Community representatives Learn more about the public forum here. Read and share the flyers for more…

Delays in FoodShare Benefits Monthly benefits for FoodShare members will be delayed beginning November 1, because of the ongoing federal government shutdown. FoodShare benefits are 100 percent funded by the federal government and the shutdown will need to end before members can start getting benefits again. Benefits that are already on your card will not be removed because of the shutdown and you can continue to use your current benefits during the shutdown. For updated…

Layoffs at federal special education offices during the government shutdown have surprised many disability groups in Wisconsin. On October 10, the administration laid off 466 employees within the U.S. Department of Education, which includes nearly all employees in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. These layoffs and cuts may affect students with disabilities and their education, which has families worried for their children’s future. Along with many other disability advocates, the Milwaukee Journal…

About Our Protection and Advocacy Goals and Priorities, FY 2026 Disability Rights Wisconsin has proposed our Protection and Advocacy (P&A) goals and priorities for 2026. As part of the process, we want to hear from the public about what Disability Rights Wisconsin should focus on. Read the draft Consolidated P&A Goals & Priorities for Fiscal Year 2026 here (accessible PDF). The goals and priorities in this plan identify areas that we expect to devote our…

Defending Dignity and Advancing Justice! Read this article as an accessible PDF here. With these goals at the forefront of all we do, Disability Rights Wisconsin is excited to unveil our new mission and look that will help support our work moving forward. We would like to thank Banter Design working with us to develop our new look and identity over the past years! Come celebrate this step with us! Our New Mission Statement “Disability…

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…

Disability Rights Wisconsin is proud to support the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on its 35th Anniversary! The act was passed and signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990. 35 years later on the same day, we celebrate this important civil rights law and what it means for people with disabilities throughout the United States. The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in all areas of…

About Disability Pride Month In July, we celebrate the history of the disability community in the United States. This month is important because the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law on July 26, 1990. It prohibited discrimination based on disabilities. We honor all activism and advocacy that people with disabilities and their allies undertook to get here. People with disabilities belong in our communities! They are one of the largest minority populations in the…