Disability Rights Wisconsin is very pleased to announce that its Victim Advocacy Program (VAP) will be able to expand its legal representation in the areas of family law, victim’s rights, and immigration. The United States Department of Justice announced Thursday that it would award the VAP a 3-year Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) grant to provide comprehensive civil legal services to survivors with disabilities who have experienced domestic violence, sexual abuse, dating violence, or…
Press Releases
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.
Communication to Wisconsin Clerks from Disability Rights Wisconsin
Disability Rights Wisconsin has sent the following communication to Wisconsin Municipal and County Clerks regarding the protections and accommodations afforded by federal and state law to voters with disabilities. It is the responsibility of election officials to provide reasonable accommodations in voting procedures for voters with disabilities, given the protection afforded for voters with disabilities in federal and state law. View DRW’s Communication to Wisconsin Clerks here (accessible PDF). View DRW’s Statement on Absentee Voting…
DRW Statement on Absentee Voting Protections
Absentee voting protections for people with disabilities after the Supreme Court of Wisconsin Teigen decision Updated: July 18, 2022 Following the Supreme Court of Wisconsin ruling on Teigen v WEC, Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW) has received many questions from voters with disabilities who vote absentee. Federal law protects the right of people with disabilities to have assistance mailing their ballot, and also to have a person of their choice deliver their ballot to their clerk…
DRW Applauds Vetoes: AB934, AB936, AB966 and AB970
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…
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…
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