Press Releases

Read this press release as an accessible document here. Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW) Board of Directors is excited to announce that Jill Jacklitz will become its next Executive Director, effective August 22, 2023. Jill comes to DRW from the UW-Madison Center for Patient Partnerships, where she served as Co-Director and Director of Education, leading the organization’s strategic direction, health equity, educational and advocacy programming. She holds a Master of Science in Social Work from UW-Madison…

The need for increased access to community-based mental health services is acute in every one of Wisconsin’s 72 counties. While the state budget motions approved by the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) include some positive investments in mental health, there are also many missed opportunities. As the Protection and Advocacy system for people with disabilities, Disability Rights Wisconsin urges legislators to prioritize mental health and take further action to improve access and save lives and dollars….

Disability and aging advocates thank the Joint Finance Committee for increasing funding for some key transportation programs, including an 11% increase in the Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Specialized Assistance Program (85.22) and the 4% increase to paratransit services. As the budget moves forward, advocates ask legislators to advance an increase for another essential program for nondrivers that is especially important to older adults and people with disabilities in rural parts of Wisconsin: The County…

View the accessible, full press release here (PDF). June 14, 2023 Contact: Joanne Juhnke, (608) 320-6165, joannej@drwi.org Madison, WI – The Joint Committee on Finance of the Wisconsin Legislature has rejected the opportunity to finally provide a minimally adequate level of support for Wisconsin’s 122,187 public school students with disabilities. In a budget year with billions of dollars in surplus, and public education advocates across the state united in asking for at least a 60%…

Read the accessible Disability Rights and Resources for the April 4th Elections document. Tuesday, April 4th is Election Day in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition urges voters with disabilities to cast a ballot and participate in our democracy. The Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW) Voter Hotline is available to answer your voting questions. Contact the Hotline at 844-347-8683 or info@disabilityvote.org. See our website at disabilityvote.org for Rides to the Polls, a list of transportation providers…

View the accessible and full press release here (PDF). March 22, 2023 Contact: Bob Poeschl, (608) 267-0214 bobp@drwi.org (Madison) – Disability Rights Wisconsin’s Board of Directors announces the resignation of the Executive Director, Lea Kitz. “Under Lea’s leadership, DRW has increased the organization’s capacity to reach our critical mission of advocating for people with disabilities and bringing about important systemic changes in policy. We are sorry to see her go and are very grateful for…

View and share the full press release here (accessible PDF). Tuesday, February 21, is Election Day in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition urges voters with disabilities to cast a ballot and participate in our democracy. The Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW) Voter Hotline is available to answer your voting questions. Contact the Hotline at 844-DIS-VOTE/ 844-347-8683 or info@disabilityvote.org. On Election Day, staff from DRW and Centers for Independent Living will conduct polling place accessibility reviews on behalf of…

Read DRW’s full press release as a document here (accessible PDF). Disability Rights Wisconsin, Wisconsin’s Protection and Advocacy system for people with disabilities, is heartened by Governor Evers’ attention to initiatives important to children and adults with disabilities in the 2023 – 2025 biennial budget. “We are pleased that Governor Evers has included budget proposals that are essential to children and adults with disabilities,” stated DRW Executive Director Lea Kitz. “We look forward to working…

Read the full press release as an accessible PDF here. Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW) appreciates the education funding proposals announced yesterday by Governor Evers in advance of tonight’s state budget address. The prospect of providing 60% funding for disability-related education needs in both years of the biennium would brighten the futures of students both with and without disabilities. “Wisconsin’s public schools statewide have had a funding gap of over a billion dollars per year when…

Disability Rights Wisconsin is encouraged by Governor Evers’ focus on initiatives important to children and adults with disabilities in the 2023 State of the State address including investments in mental health, education, and shared revenue. As the budget moves forward, we look forward to working with legislators and Governor Evers to address the long-term care workforce crisis, increase access to accessible transportation, expand access to community based mental health services, address the needs of youth…