WISCONSINWe need volunteer counselors for our Disability Drug Benefit Helpline. Flexible schedules available but volunteers should be available October 15 – December 7, 2013. Basic computer, Internet and telephone skills helpful; a willingness to make a difference in the lives of others a MUST. Want to learn more? Contact Ginger by email at ginger.rogers@drwi.org or by phone at 414-773-4646 ext. 23.
Emotions into Art: Wisconsin’s Children and Youth Show Us Why Their Feelings Matter
Using bright colors, meaningful words and intentional depictions, over 200 children and youth in Wisconsin illustrated their thoughts on why “My Feelings Matter” to raise awareness about children’s mental health. The public voted for the top posters and fifteen children and youth Pre-K through 12th grade from throughout Wisconsin have been recognized for their art. The children were presented with their awards on Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day on Thursday, May 9 at the Overture Center for the Arts in Madison.
Secretary Kitty Rhoades from the Department of Health Services and State Assistant Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor from the Department of Public Instruction recognized the award winners and spoke about the importance of awareness of children’s mental health. In addition, local youth groups, including African Drumming by O’Keeffe Middle School students, Spoken Word by Whitehorse Middle students and Girl Power dancers from Vera Court Neighborhood Center, performed for the event.
Click here to read the rest of WISCONSIN YOUTH RECOGNIZED FOR UNIQUE ARTWORK TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH »
Disability Rights Wisconsin is pleased that the US Department of Justice confirms what we’ve been hearing about rampant discrimination against students with disabilities in Wisconsin’s Choice program, and will be taking immediate strong action.
Click here to view the letter to DPI from the US Department of Justice.
Click here to view the press release.
At this year’s Circles of Life Conference, Lisa Pugh, Public Policy Coordinator for Wisconsin’s Disability Policy Partnership, received the Elliott Shaw Distinguished Professional Award. This award is given to a professional or professional group who have “gone the extra mile to provide quality services and programs for people with developmental and related disabilities and their families.” Lisa certainly fits that description. Congratulations, Lisa!
PAIMI PUBLIC INPUT
We Want to Hear from You!
Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) PROGRAM
On Tuesday, June 18 – Thursday, June 20, 2013, representatives from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) will visit the Madison office of Disability Rights Wisconsin, the state’s designated protection and advocacy agency for persons with mental illness.
SAMHSA/CMHS invites you to send written comments about the PAIMI Program services and activities conducted by Disability Rights Wisconsin.
Please send your comments to SAMHSA/CMHS by e-mail to: PAIMI@samhsa.hhs.gov or mail – ATTENTION of : The PAIMI Program Coordinator, SAMHSA/CMHS, 1 Choke Cherry Road, Room 2-1105, Rockville, Maryland 20857.
Congratulations to DRW Milwaukee Office Director, Barbara Beckert, who will receive an “In Search of Excellence Award” from the Wisconsin Family Based Services Association at their conference in the Dells on May 2. She was recognized for her leadership in a variety of ways re: persons with disabilities, including her work on county and state budgets and policy advocacy, and her demonstrated commitment to partnering with persons with disabilities in advocating for positive policy and program changes both in Milwaukee county and statewide.
Here is a PowerPoint presentation prepared by Disability Rights Wisconsin advocates, with input from other groups, including the Survival Coalition of Wisconsin Disability Organizations. Consider using this presentation to educate advocates and other community members about issues important to people with disabilities and ways to influence funding in this budget.
Click here for the PowerPoint: 2013 2015 budget overview for disability advocates.
Click here for a pdf: 2013-2015 budget overview for disability advocates.
The Candidate Forum on Special Education: Policies and Priorities was held on Friday, March 1, 2013 at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. The moderator for the event was UW Oshkosh College of Education and Human Services Dean Fred Yeo. This strictly non-partisan forum was not part of any endorsement process. DRW has compiled a guide to the forum. To read the guide click here: DPI candidate forum booklet.
The guide is a product of Disability Rights Wisconsin and is meant to highlight the most important issues for students with disabilities and their families. Each State Superintendent candidate was asked the same set of questions about special education policies and priorities, covering the topics of funding, voucher programs, accountability and the achievement gap, mental health, teacher training, bullying, and seclusion and restraint. Each candidate was given the same amount of time to answer the questions asked at the forum.
The quotes featured in this guide are transcriptions of the candidates’ answers to the planned questions, which they were given in advance. These are the questions that are featured in this guide. The candidates also answered several questions from audience members. Only the seven planned questions are contained in the booklet.
Disability Rights Wisconsin has been working with the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities and the Waisman Center through Wisconsin’s Disability Policy Partnership to create a series of policy papers on issues important to people with disabilities. You can use these papers in discussions about issues and give them to others, including your legislator. Keep checking back for more valuable information on these and other issues as well as opportunities to influence decisions in this biennial budget. Find all six policy papers packaged together here:
More to come!
