News

NDRN Launches “Know Your Right to Be Safe at Home: Domestic Violence during the COVID-19 Pandemic” Video You have the right to feel safe at home! For some, mandatory stay at home orders can mean separation from support systems and being isolated inside with an abuser for weeks or even months. Victim advocacy experts from Disability Rights Wisconsin have a few tips on recognizing domestic violence and requesting help. Check out this video message from Nadya Rosen,…

The 7th Congressional District Special Election is scheduled for Tuesday, May 12th. This election is to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Representative Duffy. Read more about the candidates and voter registration deadlines for the special election at the Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition website. Join the Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition, Midstate Independent Living Choices and North Country Independent Living on April 28th at 1 pm to learn about important deadlines, information on registration,…

Action is needed now for Social Security Beneficiaries with dependents who do not file tax returns in order to receive $500 per eligible child payment with their Economic Impact Payments through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Title II and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients will start receiving economic impact payments soon. Individuals with eligible dependents can receive an additional $500 per eligible child. Title II and SSI beneficiaries who did…

Have questions about Medicare Part D and the coverage of your drugs? DRW’s Disability Drug Benefit Helpline is open and ready to help you. Call us at 1-800-926-4862 Monday – Friday.

Mechanisms are available to Wisconsin that would allow state officials to take action to help people with disabilities.  These are called “waivers”; with them, Wisconsin would have the ability to modify rules in our Medicaid programs to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.  To be able to use flexibility in Wisconsin’s Medicaid programs, special requests must be made to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).  So far 41 states have had these waivers approved…

Voting Rights Groups Urge Wisconsin Officials to Preserve In-Person Voting, Develop Emergency Plan to Protect Voting Rights if Outbreak Continues In friend-of-the-court brief, advocates assert that preserving in-person voting as an option is vital to avoid widespread disenfranchisement FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 31, 2020 Contact: Channing Grate MILWAUKEE – Wisconsin voting rights groups today said in-person voting must remain an option in the upcoming elections and called on state and local elections officials to develop…

As hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities develop policies that dictate allocation of scarce medical resources during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative that great care be taken to prevent those policies from adversely affecting people with disabilities.  While we recognize the need to plan and be prepared for healthcare resource shortages during these extraordinary times, the guiding principles that are adopted must be consistent with federal civil rights law and must not discriminate against…

Governor Evers issued an order on March 24th in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency requiring all people to stay at home except for: essential activities, to carry out essential government functions, to operate essential business and operations, and for essential travel. This order goes into effect on March 25th at 8:00 am. What does this order mean for people with disabilities? You can read the full order here.