Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW) has named Lea Kitz as the disability advocacy organization’s new Executive Director. Kitz has managed DRW’s Family Care and IRIS Ombudsman Program for nearly 8 years. Before joining DRW, she served as Executive Director of Arc-Winnebago County Disability Association. Kitz brings her extensive hands-on and leadership experience in the areas of domestic abuse, employment, benefits, and disability advocacy. “We are pleased to have Ms. Kitz step into this key role,” says…
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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.
Milwaukee County Crisis Redesign
On December 13th, a proposal to redesign crisis services in Milwaukee County was presented to the Mental Health Board. DRW will be reviewing the proposal closely and encourages you to take a look. Wisconsin Health News covered initial response to the report, including comments from DRW. Here is a link to report on Psychiatric Crisis Redesign in Milwaukee County.
DRW Challenges you to Plan the Possibility during Transition
Disability Rights Wisconsin is proud to announce the rollout of the Plan the Possibility project. This project is designed to promote a positive cultural change of higher expectations among transition-age students and those who interact with them. It includes online social media clips and profiles of transition-age students, an interactive workbook, and the video, “Plan the Possibility.” Some of these items are now available on our website! Our full-length video will become available early 2019….
Extraordinary Session Puts Wisconsinites with Disabilities at Risk
Disability Rights Wisconsin is deeply concerned by the Legislature’s rush to push forward bills released late Friday in the Extraordinary Session planned for today. The proposals give oversight of Wisconsin Medicaid waivers to the legislature, leaving state agencies potentially unable to carry out their core mission. This shift has the possibility to affect services that are critical to adults and families of children with disabilities, including Family Care, IRIS, mental health services, Children’s Long-Term Waiver…
DRW Comments to Wisconsin Election Commission
The Wisconsin Election Commission met in Madison today, and provided an opportunity for comments from members of the public. DRW Voting Outreach Advocacy Specialist Wendy Heyn spoke to members of the Commission to share DRW’s observations from our voter education and outreach, and related recommendations, as well as our perspective on Extraordinary Session legislative proposals that impact voting. DRW’s comments are posted here.
Medicare Open Enrollment for 2019
Medicare’s Open Enrollment has begun. Now is the time for all Medicare beneficiaries to take a look at their coverage for 2019. Will the Part D plan continue to cover all medication? Will the Medicare Advantage plan make changes that will affect medical providers, coverage of drugs and pharmacy? For help with these questions and others call the Disability Drug Benefit Helpline at 1-800-926-4862. Here to help all Medicare beneficiaries, regardless of disability or age.
Senator Baldwins Reforms to Protect Rights of Disabled Airline Passengers Pass Congress
PRESS RELEASE By U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin worked to include a number of key measures from her Air Carrier Access Amendments Act in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 to protect the rights of disabled airplane passengers and close service gaps that passengers with disabilities frequently encounter in air travel. The reforms included in the legislation passed the House and the Senate and now head to the President…
October Is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
“America’s Workforce: Empowering All” Disability Rights Wisconsin is proud to support National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Held each October, NDEAM aims to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. To learn more about the history of the ADA and disability employment follow the link below for a great timeline put together by the United States Department of Labor. Disability and Employment: A Timeline
Voter Advocacy in the News
Advocates from voter rights groups, including Barbara Beckert from Disability Rights Wisconsin, were interviewed by Wisconsin Eye Newsmakers and Wisconsin Public Radio this week. Wisconsin Eye Newsmakers: Voter Advocacy Groups Preview the November Election On October 18, 2018, Senior Producer Steve Walters sat down with voter advocacy groups to preview the November election. Jay Heck from Common Cause, Erin Grunze from League of Women Voters and Barbara Beckert from Disability Rights Wisconsin were on the…
Victim Advocacy Program Awareness Poster
The Victim Advocacy Program, in partnership with a local marketing firm who provided donated services to our program, recently created the awareness poster shown here. It is designed to be posted wherever people with disabilities might see it such as the reception area of a service provider, bathrooms, places of worship, and local community centers. If you are interested in obtaining a poster for display, please contact info@drwi.org or call (608) 267-0214.
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