disabilityrights WISCONSIN

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 12^th 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.

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:

• Medicaid & Healthcare (color version)
• Medicaid & Healthcare (b&w version)
• Special Education Vouchers paper (color version)
• Special Education Vouchers paper (b&w version)
• Family Care/IRIS Expansion paper (color version)
• Family Care/IRIS Expansion paper (b&w version)
• Special Education Funding paper (color version)
• Special Education Funding paper (b&w version)
• Increasing Employment paper (color version)
• Increasing Employment paper (b&w version)
• Children’s Long-Term Supports paper (color version)
• Children’s Long-Term Supports paper (b&w version)

More to come!

Administrative specialist at DRW’s Rice Lake office. 20 hours/week (Mon-Fri; at least 4 days per week), with possibility of increase.  Experience/skills: General office; multi-line telephone; word processing, email & internet; data entry/data base management; client intake; excellent telephone and in-person communication and organizational skills. Personal or professional experience with people with disabilities preferred. Associate degree or 3 years or more office experience. $10-$16/hour depending on skills and experience. Excellent fringe benefits. For full position announcement click here: Admin Spec Rice Lake Position Announcement 3-13 or call 715-736-1232.  Resume and cover letter by March 25 to: Disability Rights Wisconsin, 217 W Knapp St., Rice Lake, WI  54868. Members of racial/ethnic minority groups and persons with disabilities strongly encouraged to apply. EEO/AA employer.

On Friday, March 1, 2013 a forum on Special Education Policies and Procedures was held at UW-Oshkosh.

The event was moderated by Dean Yeo and was a huge success. Both candidates – Tony Evers and Don Pridemore –  discussed their views on Special Needs Vouchers, Funding, Inclusion, Mental Health Services, Bullying, Teacher Training and other topics. It was clear from the questions asked by audience members that the topic of Special Needs Vouchers is of great interest and concern. The Forum allowed the candidates to express their viewpoints and highlight their differences in approach and philosophy on special education in Wisconsin.

You can watch what was discussed to make up your own mind on who to vote for on April 2nd. To watch the event go to: http://www.wiseye.org/Programming/VideoArchive/EventDetail.aspx?evhdid=7236.

The event was co-sponsored by Disability Rights Wisconsin, Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition, WI FACETS, WI Family Ties, Quality Education Council, Wisconsin Reading Coalition, UW Oshkosh Department of Special Education and College of Education and Human Services and Options for Independent Living.

Disability Rights Wisconsin Milwaukee Office Director Barbara Beckert is a guest on WisconsinEye discussing Gov. Scott Walker’s budget proposal to include $30 million in mental health programs. Watch: (click on the TV icon on this page) http://www.wiseye.org/Programming/VideoArchive/EventDetail.aspx?evhdid=7199