Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW) applauds Governor Evers’ recent vetoes of bills that would have had negative impacts for individuals with disabilities in the areas of Medicaid and publicly-funded education. Regarding Medicaid, DRW appreciates Gov. Evers’ vetoes of both AB934 and AB936. AB934 would have added significantly to the burden already imposed on people who rely on Medicaid as the sole source for their health insurance. It would have required people to reapply twice as often…
Press Releases
For information on DRW news, events, or press releases, please contact:
Bob Poeschl at 920-944-2544 or email media@drwi.org.
For information on DRW action alerts, public policy, or voting efforts, please contact:
Barbara Beckert at 414-292-2724 or barbara.beckert@drwi.org.
DRW Statement on Senate Education Votes
On March 8th, the Wisconsin legislature declined to take up the opportunity to use a portion of the state’s $3.8 billion budget surplus to provide desperately-needed funding for students with disabilities. Meanwhile, the State Senate has passed a slate of education-related bills including AB970 and AB966. DRW has released a full press release on how these bills affect students with disabilities. Wisconsin’s students with disabilities deserve better. Read DRW’s full statement on the Senate Education…
DRW Statement on Today’s Supreme Court Ruling
Disability Rights Wisconsin is deeply disappointed by today’s ruling from the Wisconsin Supreme Court which will restrict practices for absentee ballot return for the April 5th election. Today’s ruling does NOT change anything for the Tuesday, February 15 election. Read the full statement here (accessible pdf).
DRW Commends Proposed Investments for Students and Families
Disability Rights Wisconsin appreciates that many parts of Governor Evers’ plan for the state surplus would help people with disabilities: a family caregiver tax credit, increased funding for special education, lead testing and remediation in schools, and expanded school mental health funding for student services staff. View DRW’s full press release here (accessible pdf).
DRW Commends Stay on Absentee Ballot Return Restrictions
Today, a State Appeals Court ruled that absentee ballot drop boxes and absentee ballot return assistance will be allowed in the February 15th primary election. Read Disability Rights Wisconsin’s statement (accessible pdf) For assistance with voting questions, contact Disability Rights Wisconsin’s Voter Hotline at 844-347-8686 or email us at info@disabilityvote.org
DRW Disappointed Judge Ignores Barriers for Disabled Voters
Today, a Wisconsin Circuit Court judge made a decision to prohibit the use of drop boxes and assistance with absentee ballot return for the upcoming spring primary and election. Read Disability Rights Wisconsin’s statement (accessible pdf) League of Women Voters of Wisconsin Statement Media coverage: Wisconsin judge keeps in place ruling that bars ballot drop boxes (jsonline.com)
DRW Lauds Newly-Signed Bills for Guardian Training and Preventing Discrimination in Organ Transplants
Today Governor Evers signed two bills that will have a positive impact on the lives of people with disabilities. DRW thanks Wisconsin legislators and Governor Evers for approving these proposals which will respectively provide training to guardians and prevent discrimination in organ transplants. View DRW’s public statement regarding the two bills here (accessible pdf). View the bills below: SB-092 Guardians (Jacque, Andre) Guardian training requirements. Signed (Act 97) SB-538 Organ Transplants (Jagler, John) Prohibiting discrimination…
Letter to Joint Finance Committee on DHS Request for ARPA Funding for HCBS
Disability Rights Wisconsin wishes to express its strong support for the Department of Health Services’ request to allocate a portion of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to increase the pay rates for home and community-based services (HCBS) delivered by paid staff by five percent. We urge the Committee to approve the request. As the Protection and Advocacy system for people with disabilities in Wisconsin, we are uniquely positioned to see how the COVID…
DRW welcomes addition of Client Assistance Program
On September 15, 2021, Governor Tony Evers redesignated the Client Assistance Program (CAP) from the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) to Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW). The CAP program will now be housed with other Protection and Advocacy Programs and will no longer be under the umbrella of state government. The CAP serves people with disabilities and assists them with advice and information about benefits and services available under the Rehabilitation Act of…
DRW Testimony in Support of AB 400
DRW’s Mitch Hagopian submitted testimony in support of AB 400 to the Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety. AB 400 will respond to abuse and neglect of some of the most vulnerable people in our state and will ensure that will ensure that all allegations of abuse and neglect of at-risk-adults will be investigated. This legislation will make the adult-at-risk reporting system equivalent to the elder abuse system, which has always required that…
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