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
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:
Lisa Hassenstab at 608-308-2639 or lisah@drwi.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…
Public Comment Period Open through 9/1/21 for CAP Redesignation
The Governor intends to redesignate the Client Assistance Program (CAP) from the WI Division of Trade and Consumer Protection (DTACP) to Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW). DRW is the state’s designated Protection and Advocacy system, charged with protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities. DRW is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with funding from federal and state grants to provide individual and systems advocacy to ensure that Wisconsinites with disabilities can access what they need to live…
Governor Intends to Redesignate the Client Assistance Program to DRW
Yesterday Governor Evers announced his intent to redesignate the Client Assistance Program (CAP) from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), to Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW). Disability Rights Wisconsin is the state’s designated Protection and Advocacy system (P&A), with programs dedicated to protecting the rights of people with disabilities. The CAP is a natural fit, and in fact, is designated in most states with the P&A. DRW welcomes this opportunity and appreciates…
Voters with Disabilities Speak Out on Voting Rights on ADA 31st
The Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition is releasing Voting Rights Are Human Rights: In Our Own Voices. This document shares the voices of voters with disabilities and their allies who are concerned about voting bills recently approved by the Wisconsin State Legislature. The bills will create new barriers and impact the voting rights of hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites with a disability, older adults and other voters. We are releasing this new resource as we honor…
Press Release: DRW Calls for Special Education Budget Investment
Disability Rights Wisconsin is calling upon the Joint Finance Committee of the state legislature to support a state budget investment that funds 50% of special education expenses for Wisconsin’s nearly 118,00 public school students with disabilities when the committee meets on Thursday to take up education provisions in the budget. “Wisconsin has underfunded special education for years and none of the options that the JFC has proposed come close to meeting the need for our…
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