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.

School Resource Officers Do Not Belong in Wisconsin’s Schools

Belt of police officer with handcuffs hanging off
Disability Rights Wisconsin has issued a statement recommending that Wisconsin schools stop relying on school resource officers (SROs) as a response to school violence and invest instead in appropriate school personnel and programs to address the needs and safety of students with disabilities. DRW Press Release: SROs Do Not Belong in Wisconsin Schools Full Statement: School Resource Officers Do Not Belong in Wisconsin Schools  
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DRW Happy to See Recommendations from Governor’s Task Force on Caregiving

Man pushing child in a wheelchair - both smiling
DRW is pleased with the recommendations put forth by the Governor’s Task Force on Caregiving. The recommendations cover a wide range of issues that affect the availability of caregivers in Wisconsin. Read our press release here.
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DRW Statement on Treatment of Jacob Blake

Protesters marching, one holds a sign that says "Justice for Jacob"
Disability Rights Wisconsin condemns the law enforcement treatment of Jacob Blake. After a racially charged incident in which Mr. Blake was shot in the back by police, he was shackled to his hospital bed. Though the shackles have now been removed, his treatment after being rendered paralyzed from the waist down put his health at further risk and violated his right to a disability accommodation. Read the statement here.
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Press Release: PUA Benefit Now Available to SSDI Recipients

Newspaper with words "press release" in the center
Disability Rights Wisconsin applauds DWD Secretary Frostman, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin and Representatives Ron Kind, Mark Pocan, and Gwen Moore, for their work to secure Pandemic Emergency Unemployment relief (PUA) for Wisconsin SSDI recipients out of work due to COVID-19. Read the full press release about the PUA benefit that is now available to SSDI recipients in Wisconsin.
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Disability Rights Wisconsin Commends Funding for Disability Services

Wisconsin Capitol with "CARES Act" written next to it
Disability Rights Wisconsin thanks Governor Evers for allocating CARES Act funding to provide financial assistance to providers who serve people with disabilities, including home and community based-services and long term care providers.  Read DRW’s statement. The Governor will use $100 million of the federal COVID CARES Act funds provided to Wisconsin to target support for Long-Term Care in Wisconsin, including support for providers of home and community based services.  Read Governor Ever’s Press Release.
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DRW Joins in Lawsuit to Ensure Safe, Accessible Elections

Long line of voters, many wearing marks, outside of South Division High School
Disability Rights Wisconsin joined Black Leaders Organizing for Communities (BLOC) and several individuals with disabilities in filing suit in the Federal Court of the Western District of Wisconsin against the Wisconsin Election Commission, to make voting in upcoming elections safer and accessible for people with disabilities and other at risk communities. The lawsuit asks the court to remedy Wisconsin’s shortcomings of the recent April election and ensure that all Wisconsin voters will be able to…
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DRW Concerned about Supreme Court Decision

Interior of Wisconsin Supreme Court
Disability Rights Wisconsin was disappointed to see that the Wisconsin Supreme Court has struck down Secretary-Designee Palm’s Safer at Home order. DRW filed an amicus brief in this case, in collaboration with a number of national and local disability advocacy organizations, to provide the Court with insight into the heightened risk COVID-19 poses for people with disabilities and concerns for opening up the state too soon or suddenly. Read DRW’s statement about the Supreme Court…
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DRW files Amicus Brief warning WI Supreme Court

Safer at Home written over Wisconsin map
Disability Rights Wisconsin, in partnership with 32 state and national disability advocacy organizations, filed an Amicus Brief with the Wisconsin Supreme Court on Wednesday warning the WSC about the potential catastrophic risk to life for people with disabilities and older adults if the Safer at Home emergency order is lifted at this time. Follow this link to the press release. Read DRW’s press release about this amicus brief.
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DRW Petitions to Release Vulnerable People from Jails/Prisons Amid COVID-19

hands holding prison bars
Disability Rights Wisconsin, along with state criminal defense lawyers and two incarcerated individuals with pre-existing conditions, filed a petition in the Wisconsin State Supreme Court today seeking the release of elderly and vulnerable people from state prisons in order to avoid a dangerous outbreak that would further strain the state’s health care capacity and put public health at risk. The lawsuit filed by ACLU Wisconsin asks the court to order Governor Tony Evers and state…
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DRW Applauds Assembly for Passing SB 527 Seclusion and Restraint Law

WIsconsinEye passing of senate bill 527
Disability Rights Wisconsin applauds the full Assembly for passing SB 527 which makes common-sense changes to Wisconsin’s seclusion and restraint law.  We especially thank Representatives Quinn and Considine for their leadership in the Assembly on this bill.  Please see our Release on the Passing of SB 527. In February 2016, Wisconsin Family Ties (WFT), Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW), and WI FACETS produced a report Miles to Go detailing the distressingly high data on restraint and…
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