Archive for the ‘Integration’ Category

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Series educates on Long Term Care

Friday, May 10th, 2013

By Julie Alexander, Lead Independent Living Services Coordinator

 

During the month of April and into May, the IndependenceFirst Long Term Care Advocacy Team presented the last two sessions in our Long Term Care Brown Bag Lunch Series.

 

On April 26, Hope Lloyd and Elizabeth Mamerow from Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW) spoke about the DRW Long Term Care Ombudsman Program. They described the assistance DRW can provide in appealing denials or mediating issues with Family Care providers, as well as how to work with the Include, Respect, I Self Direct (IRIS) program and the assistance DRW can provide when people are having difficulties. Twenty-nine community members with and without disabilities joined us to learn about options for navigating these programs to get their needs met and maintain their independence.

 

 Attendee in group asking question of presenter

 

On May 3, Sue Gadacz from the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division gave a presentation on “Wisconsin’s Perspective on Health Care Reform.” About 30 people with and without disabilities heard this excellent presentation and gained many insights on how Wisconsin and the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division in particular will be affected by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) when some of the pieces of this legislation are implemented in January 2014. The audience also learned how Governor Walker’s proposed budget would impact services and options for people with disabilities in our state.

 

All in all people enjoyed attending and learned a lot from our Long Term Care Brown Bag Lunch Series. We were privileged to offer CEUs for this series. The Long Term Care Advocacy Team will work on future Brown Bag Lunch offerings in the coming months. Stay tuned.

 

 

Posted in Advocacy, Disability News, Health Care, Independent Living, Integration, Medicaid, Mental Health | No Comments »

Reminder: speak up for transit on Thursday

Monday, April 1st, 2013

By Autumn Misko, Resource Specialist

 

Currently, the state budget is being worked on and there are many parts of the budget that will impact people with disabilities’ abilities to be independent.

 

Below, please find an action alert to inform people of the important actions they can take to ensure that there are reliable and affordable transportation options for people with disabilities in Wisconsin.

 

This week Thursday, April 4, is the Joint Committee on Finance Hearing at Greendale High School (details below). This meeting is an important time for the public to weigh in on the proposed budget. Please attend! If you have questions, please contact me, Autumn Misko, at amisko@independencefirst.org or at (414) 291-7520 (Voice/TTY). 

 

Woman sharing story at Dec. Transit Listening Session

 

Wisconsin Transit Crisis

Call to Action

 

The Governor’s proposed state budget will lead to significant cuts in public transit statewide. It is crucial to let your state legislators know the significance of transit to you, others who rely on public transit and to Wisconsin as a whole.

 

How can you help?

 

Share Your Story

Please print out and complete the story form – http://midwestadvocates.org/assets/resources/TELL_YOUR_TRANSIT_STORY_jan_13.pdf – and share why public transit is important to you. Then return the form to Community Response to the Transit Crisis c/o Midwest Environmental Advocates: advocate@midwestadvocates.org (preferable) or 612 W. Main St., #312 Madison, WI 53703.

 

Attend and Provide Testimony at the Joint Committee on Finance Hearings

Thursday, April 4th 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Greendale High School Auditorium

6801 Southway

Greendale, WI 53129

 

Monday, April 8th 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Lambeau Field

Legends Club Room – 4th Level

Lambeau Field Atrium

1285 Lombardi Avenue

Green Bay, WI 54304

 

Wednesday, April 10th 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Crystal Grand Music Theatre

430 West Munroe Avenue (HWY 23)

Lake Delton, WI 53940

 

Thursday, April 18th 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Baldwin-Woodville High School Auditorium

1000 13th Avenue

Baldwin, WI 54002

 

Contact the Governor and Your State Representatives

Contact Governor Walker at govgeneral@wisconsin.gov or (608) 266-1212 V/Relay.

 

Go to http://legis.wisconsin.gov/Pages/waml.aspx to locate your representatives.

 

Talking Points

Keep public transit in the segregated transportation fund

Public transit has been facing funding challenges and moving public transit out of the Transportation Fund would drastically complicate and worsen this situation. The segregated transportation fund provides a more stable funding stream for this vital service. Many people with disabilities, older adults and individuals with low incomes depend on public transit to get to work, medical appointments, school, etc. Moving public transit to the General Fund would make funding public transit even more difficult and unpredictable. 

 

Restore the cut made to public transit state operating assistance

Public transit in Wisconsin will face further cuts to service if funding is not restored. Both fixed route and paratransit services will be impacted, which could result in people being unable to access transportation. Restoring this cut from the 2011-2013 State Budget would help to maintain current transit.  

 

Stay in Touch

Like “Community Response to the Transit Crisis” on Facebook to post and receive important information.

 

Posted in Advocacy, Disability News, Independent Living, Integration, Transportation | No Comments »

Input critical to public transit

Wednesday, March 27th, 2013

 

Wisconsin Transit Crisis

Call to Action

 

The Governor’s proposed state budget will lead to significant cuts in public transit statewide.  It is crucial to let your state legislators know the significance of transit to you, others who rely on public transit, and to Wisconsin as a whole.

 

How can you help?

 

Share Your Story

 

Please print out and complete the story form – http://midwestadvocates.org/assets/resources/TELL_YOUR_TRANSIT_STORY_jan_13.pdf - to share why public transit is important to you.  Then return the form to Community Response to the Transit Crisis c/o Midwest Environmental Advocates: advocate@midwestadvocates.org (preferable) or 612 W. Main St., #312 Madison, WI 53703.

 

Speakers at transit listening session

Speakers at transit listening session in Dec.

 

 

Attend and Provide Testimony at the Joint Committee on Finance Hearings

 

Thursday, April 4 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Greendale High School Auditorium

6801 Southway

Greendale, WI 53129

 

Monday, April 8  10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Lambeau Field

Legends Club Room – 4th Level

Lambeau Field Atrium

1285 Lombardi Avenue

Green Bay, WI 54304

 

Wednesday, April 10 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Crystal Grand Music Theatre

430 West Munroe Avenue (HWY 23)

Lake Delton, WI 53940

 

Thursday, April 18 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Baldwin-Woodville High School Auditorium

1000 13th Avenue

Baldwin, WI 54002

 

 

Contact the Governor and Your State Representatives

 

Contact Governor Walker at govgeneral@wisconsin.gov or (608) 266-1212 V/Relay.

 

Go to http://legis.wisconsin.gov/Pages/waml.aspx to locate your representatives.

 

 

Talking Points

 

Keep public transit in the segregated transportation fund

Public transit has been facing funding challenges and moving public transit out of the Transportation Fund would drastically complicate and worsen this situation.  The segregated transportation fund provides a more stable funding stream for this vital service. Many people with disabilities, older adults, and individuals with low incomes depend on public transit to get to work, medical appointments, school, etc.  Moving public transit to the General Fund would make funding public transit even more difficult and unpredictable. 

 

Restore the cut made to public transit state operating assistance

Public transit in Wisconsin will face further cuts to service if funding is not restored.  Both fixed route and paratransit services will be impacted which could result in people being unable to access transportation.  Restoring this cut from the 2011-2013 State Budget would help to maintain current transit.  

 

 

Stay in Touch

 

Like “Community Response to the Transit Crisis” on Facebook to post and receive important information!

 

 

Posted in Advocacy, Disability News, Independent Living, Integration, Transportation | No Comments »

Deaf History Month a chance to celebrate and learn

Thursday, March 14th, 2013

By Denise Johnson, Project Coordinator AODA Services for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf-Blind

 

March 13 through April 15 is National Deaf History Month. Let’s celebrate by learning more about Deaf Arts, Deaf Culture and Deaf information and resources. Take a moment to learn about individuals who are Deaf who have striven through difficult journeys. There are many individuals who are Deaf who are still fighting for our rights.

 

Learn more about Deaf history 

http://www.deafwebsites.com/people/deaf-history.html

http://deafpeople.com/history/index.html

 

Some basics of Deaf culture

http://www.start-american-sign-language.com/deaf-culture.html

 

Learn more to limit faux pas when communicating with people who are Deaf

http://becomingdeaf.wordpress.com/2012/07/24/10-things-you-should-never-say-to-a-deaf-person/

 

 Man communicating with sign language

 

For additional information, you can check my website: www.deafaodawi.org.

 

 

Posted in Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Disability News, Independent Living, Integration | No Comments »

Knowing how to interact with people who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing critical

Wednesday, January 9th, 2013

By Denise Johnson, Statewide Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Project Coordinator for the Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard-of-Hearing

 

Here are some guidelines related to working with people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. These guidelines are applicable to people in all professions, and are especially critical for mental health, medical, law enforcement, legal and crisis response professionals. For these professionals, these guidelines are critical in avoiding or reducing the likelihood of retraumatizingindividuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.  

 

Guidelines:

 

Do NOT assume that a person who is deaf/hard of hearing can read lips and do not ask the person if he/she can read lips.

 

DO write a simple note: “Do you need an American Sign Language Interpreter? Or what is the best way to talk to each other?”

 

Notepad and pencil

 

Do NOT ask family members, friends or your coworkers to help communicate with the client/consumer. In Wisconsin is it a law that you must request an interpreter who holds the Wisconsin Interpreter License/Certification.

 

Do NOT prolong the wait to get his/her service needs. Take care of the communication needs immediately!

 

DO let the individual know in writing that an interpreter is coming.  

 

Do NOT be afraid to ask for the help of Deaf/Hard of hearing professionals.

 

If you need more information, contact me, the Statewide Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Project Coordinator for the Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard-of-Hearing, at djohnson@independencefirst.org or 414-937-5910 Direct VP.

 

Other resources:

 

Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, 608-261-7823 V/Relay or www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/sensory

 

The Independent Living Center in your area. Find a center at www.il-wisconsin.net or 608-444-3842 V/Relay.

 

Wisconsin Association of the Deaf – www.wisdeaf.org  

 

DO: be prepared and learn how to work with people who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing or DeafBlind, and be prepared for other specific issues that may come into play in your work such as: Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, mental health, how to serve client/consumer properly in hospital/treatment settings, legal work (police, probation/corrections officers, jail, etc…), assistive technologies, and other aspects related to your work with individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing.  

 

Do NOT wait to get training. Be proactive! For more information on training, contact me.

 

Thank you for your support in communicating effectively with individuals who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing or Deafblind and preventing retraumatizing them!

 

For more information, view the following document: After the Crisis Trauma and Retraumatization

 

 

Posted in Accessibility, Advocacy, AODA, Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Health Care, Independent Living, Integration, Mental Health | No Comments »

Words DO make a difference!

Friday, January 4th, 2013

  

By Kim Nerone, Fundraiser/Special Events Coordinator

National Spinal Cord Injury Association – SE Wisconsin

 

Recently while watching a local news report on a family adopting a child from overseas, the reporter described the adopted child by saying, “This young girl is wheelchair bound.” ARGH! I wanted to scream – she is NOT wheelchair bound, she just happens to USE a wheelchair! I was more than a little offended. But this heightened awareness of “People First” Language was new to me.

 

As a member of Partners in Policymaking, a group of volunteer advocates working to improve the lives of people with disabilities, I recently heard a talk on the subject of People First Language. At first I must confess I thought it was just political correctness gone amuck – but the speaker explained People First Language is simply a more respectful and accurate way to speak. Acknowledging the person FIRST and NOT their condition or diagnosis really is just the Golden Rule – treating others the way you want to be treated! This struck me like a bolt of lightening! It made perfect sense to me. 

 

 Woman using wheelchair

“People First” language makes a difference.
 

The speaker shared how many times people get caught up in describing the diagnosis, aka, the disability. I started thinking about my son and his disabilities. I am ashamed to say that more times than I would care to admit, I have put my son’s diagnosis/disability ahead of him. Thinking of the many times I have done this still makes me tearful.

 

I can recall times, when speaking to a teacher, for example, when I would say, “Well, he has a hearing loss, he is apraxic and dyslexic and he can at times, be very difficult to understand. He has a lot of trouble listening to a lecture and taking notes at the same time, and handwriting? Oh, let’s not even go there.” It breaks my heart to think he has heard me say these hurtful words and may have internalized it as me, his mother, seeing him as less than what he is when in fact it was simply MY ignorance of People First Language. 

 

Now, what if while sitting with a teacher I would have simply started with his name? What a concept! Now what if instead of framing his diagnosis as a problem, I framed it in terms of “needs”? The conversation with a teacher might go something like this: “This is my son Hayden. Hayden will need to sit at the front of the class to be sure he hears everything you are saying. He will need your notes in written format so he can follow along as you lecture. He needs his textbooks on audio and uses a voice-activated computer program to write his compositions.” What a difference a few words make!

 

Mark Twain said it best when he said, “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.”

 

 

For more information on People First language, visit:

http://www.thearc.org/page.aspx?pid=2523

 

http://www.directionservice.org/cadre/exemplar/artifacts/PA-264%20People-First-Language%20Publication.pdf

 

 

For those folks in the media who need an authority on People First language, here’s a great resource they should refer to…and often!

 

National Center on Disability and Journalism

http://ncdj.org/

 

 

Posted in Advocacy, Inclusion, Integration, Parenting, Youth | 2 Comments »

What do you know about the DVR?

Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013

By Kim Nerone, Fundraiser/Special Events Coordinator

National Spinal Cord Injury Association – SE Wisconsin

 

I had never heard of the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) nor did I have any idea what this organization did despite the fact I live near one of their offices and drive by it on a weekly basis. It was not until my son was a junior in high school and we were invited to a Youth in Partnership with Parents for Empowerment (YIPPE) Program that I learned about the DVR.

 

YIPPE is an opportunity for youth with disabilities and their parents to learn about the transition process in a unique way. During this five-week program my son and I heard a presentation from the DVR. The speaker described all the services they offer to those with a disability that impedes their ability to find work. While the program sounded great, the speaker did not talk about assisting people who had similar disabilities as my son, who has ADHD and dyslexia. I convinced myself that the services were for people with different kinds of disabilities than those my son has, and wrote it off as a program that he would not qualify for. 

 

Woman at computer

The DVR helps people become and stay employed.

 

It was three years later when the thought of DVR once again crossed my mind. Although my son had obtained a job, he was REALLY struggling to keep it. In order to fully do the job he would need some minor accommodations. He struggled with communicating with his supervisors and coworkers. He was unable to read all the training materials and comprehend them in a way that permitted him to pass the necessary tests.

 

He was feeling discouraged and hated his job. He needed help. With nowhere else to turn and feeling a bit desperate, I went to DVR’s web page. There was a brief questionnaire to see if one would qualify for services. My son and I filled out the page and the results indicated he was a good candidate and was encouraged to apply.

 

The application process was EASY. We sent in the paperwork and within a few weeks we met with a counselor to determine eligibility. I was delighted to learn he qualified! We left that meeting and my son turned to me and said, “Mom, she totally gets me – and I think she can help.”

 

Within weeks, DVR sent my son for an evaluation of his ADHD and dyslexia. He received vocational testing. Upon reviewing the test results, a plan was put into place to help my son chose a career field he was interested in. Soon he went on some job shadows where he was able to meet with someone in that career field. Plans are now in place for my son to go to college. In the meantime, the DVR counselor is helping to mediate some of the issues my son was dealing with at work. Now my son is functioning well at work, looking forward to his future and to heading off to college – all thanks to DVR! Don’t make the same mistake I did: If you think you MIGHT qualify for services, apply. You’ll never know if you don’t try!

 

For more information visit:             

http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dvr/               

 

 

Posted in Employment, Independent Living, Integration, Youth | No Comments »

Reminder: SEWRPC housing study public meeting tomorrow

Tuesday, December 4th, 2012

By Brian Peters, Housing Policy Advocate


I previously discussed SEWRPC’s housing study public meeting, which will take place tomorrow, Wednesday Dec. 5, at IndependenceFirst, 540 S. 1st St., 4-6 p.m.  Please review the previous blog on this and come!  There are also new materials you can preview before coming to the meeting—a presentation and the displays.


See you tomorrow at 4!


houses - clip art


Posted in Advocacy, Affordable Housing, Disability News, Independent Living, Integration, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Oct. 19 Transit Plus hearing CANCELLED

Thursday, October 18th, 2012

The Oct. 19 appeal hearing regarding Transit Plus provider contracts has been CANCELLED.

 

The hearing was scheduled when it was announced that Transit Plus had contracted solely with First Transit for Transit Plus services.  The Milwaukee County Transit System has reconsidered the idea of having only one provider, and is entering into an agreement that calls for a three-year contract with each of the two current contractors maintaining their existing zones.

 

independencefirst logo - person

 

Posted in Advocacy, Disability News, Independent Living, Integration, Transportation | No Comments »

SEWRPC completing first regional housing plan since 1975

Monday, October 15th, 2012

By Brian Peters, Housing Policy Advocate

 

The Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC) is the official metropolitan planning organization and the regional planning commission for the seven-county southeastern Wisconsin area—Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha counties. Four of those seven counties are in IndependenceFirst’s service area; the other three are in the service area of our sister agency, Society’s Assets.

 

SEWRPC is currently in the process of wrapping up their regional housing plan, which was last done in 1975. As a member of the advisory committee for this regional housing plan, I have been very involved in submitting suggestions and feedback, along with other advocates, legislators, and government officials.

 

houses - clip art

 

But now it’s your turn to give some feedback! SEWRPC has scheduled public meetings in November and December to talk about the regional housing plan. One of those meetings will be on Dec. 5, 4 p.m.-6 p.m. here at IndependenceFirst. If you can’t make it, there are also two other meetings in Milwaukee County on Dec. 3 and Dec. 6, as well as a meeting scheduled for every other county in the SEWRPC service area.

 

So what should you do—read the draft regional housing plan before the meeting? Well, yes, that’d be ideal, but…it’s a big plan. Gigantic, even. You can start with a powerpoint (PDF), and then go on to the summary brochure. Then you can focus on the specific chapters that you’re interested in. SEWRPC staff will also be there at the public meeting to explain details and answer questions. It will be in open house format with informational displays set up around the room. I’d also be happy to answer any questions—just contact me at 414-937-5912  or, preferably, bpeters@independencefirst.org.

 

Remember, Dec. 5, 4 p.m.-6 p.m. here at IndependenceFirst, 540 S. 1st Street, Milwaukee. See you there! 

 

 

Posted in Accessibility, Advocacy, Affordable Housing, housing, Inclusion, Independent Living, Integration | No Comments »

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