News

Accessibility continues to be a challenge for many Wisconsin voters with disabilities. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel took a look at the some of the barriers experienced by Wisconsin voters with disabilities. Check out their story. If you are a voter with a disability who has experienced a barrier to casting your vote or registering to vote, DRW would like to hear from you. Contact us via email at info or call the DRW Voter Hotline…

Disability Advocates gathered at the Capitol today to delivery testimony supporting the changes to the current seclusion and restraint law.  These changes to the law will create greater transparency on the use of seclusion and restraint across the state, provide better reporting to families, focus on better de-escalation strategies, and require school to debrief after each incident.  We look forward to a hearing in the Assembly Education Committee and quick approval to move this bill…

We invite you to take a look. In this issue you will hear about the achievements of some of our clients, get updates on changes in the organization, and learn about the impact of our programs. You will also find our financial information and list of donors who help support the critical work of Disability Rights Wisconsin. View DRW’s 2018 Annual Report (accessible pdf)  

The Center for Children and Families (CCF) has released a new report that finds that the number and rate of uninsured children rose across the nation between 2016 and 2018, reversing long-term progress. More than 4 million U.S. children lacked health coverage in 2018, up by more than 400,000 from two years prior. These coverage losses are widespread, with 15 states showing statistically significant increases. The rates of uninsured children are higher and growing faster…

Fox 6 News has posted a story about a mother who tried to warn the Wauwatosa School District about a teacher who had assaulted her daughter, but the district failed to remove him.  Months later, he assaulted another student and was criminally charged. Read or view the news story. Disability Rights Wisconsin has been working on improvements to the Seclusion and Restraint law which would include reporting annual statistics to the Wisconsin Department of Public…

Congratulations to Disability Rights Wisconsin’s Shirin Cabraal and Lisa Foley, who were both honored with the Distinguished Service Award at the Wisconsin Equal Justice Fund’s Howard B Eisenberg Lifetime Achievement Award Dinner in Milwaukee on Saturday, November 2.  Legal Action of Wisconsin’s David Pifer received the Howard B. Eisenberg Lifetime Achievement Award.  At the dinner, keynote speaker Don Verrilli, former U.S. Solicitor General, gave a stirring speech about the importance of ensuring all people in…

The Assembly Committee on Family Law is holding a public hearing regarding bills from the Speaker’s Task Force on Adoption. Disability Rights Wisconsin provided informational testimony for the committee. In reviewing these bills, DRW has assessed the impact these proposals will have on parents who have disabilities, families of children with disabilities who are at risk of child welfare intervention, children with disabilities in out of home placements, and children with disabilities adopted through the…

The National Disability Rights Network joined over 20 national organizations including disability rights, civil rights, education, and privacy groups to express concerns about the Restoring, Enhancing, Strengthening, and Promoting Our Nation’s Safety Efforts (RESPONSE) Act, legislation introduced by Senator Cornyn. In the letter sent to Senator Cornyn, the coalition applauds the recognition of the need for a federal effort to address mass violence, but expresses serious concern about focusing that effort on people with mental…