New Horizons Un-Limited Inc. New Horizons Un-Limited Inc.
Individuals with disabilities can now access JobNet, a website developed by the Division of Workforce Excellence (DWE), at several locations throughout Wisconsin that are now equipped with a universally accessible PC workstation. The workstations can be accessed by those with visual and mobile impairments. For locations, please visit the Department of Workforce Development People with Disabilities Project web page.
Independence First is now offering individuals with disabilities the opportunity to participate in a number of exciting sporting activities. The schedule for each activity follows: Youth Wheelchair Basketball - Tuesday nights 6:30-7:30 p.m. and Saturday mornings 9:30-10:30 a.m., January through March; Southeastern Wisconsin Adaptive Ski Program (SEWASP) - Thursday nights 6:00 p.m., January through March; Wheelchair Football for Adults - Monday nights 6:30-8:30 p.m. March only; Wheelchair Ice Hockey - Wednesday nights 6:30-7:30 p.m. (youth) and 7:30-8:30 p.m. (adults) April and May; Adaptive Movement and Dance Class, Tuesday and Thursday nights 5:30-6:15 p.m. January through April. For more information about these activities you may contact Kathy Mohar at 291-7520 ext. 302.
The Wisconsin Coalition for Advocacy (WCA) has released the newest version of Rights and Reality, a complete guide to programs for, and rights of the disabled community in Wisconsin. Rights and Reality II will begin shipment in February and is available in CD-ROM and printed versions. For more information please contact the WCA at (608) 267-0214.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will offer summer computer camps to students with upper motor and visual impairments. Students between the ages of 14 and 19 are encouraged to apply by March 26, 2001. The camp designed for those with upper motor impairments will run from June 10 through June 15, 2001. The camp for individuals with visual impairments will take place June 17 through June 22, 2001. For more information, please email Christie Gilson at cgilson@uicu.edu or call (217) 244-6759.
Lake Country Fine Arts School and Gallery, 112 W. Capitol in Hartland, Wisconsin will offer a Day Camp with music, story telling, painting ornaments to take home, and sculpting clay. The day camp is for people of all ages that have developmental or physical disabilities. Activities are scheduled from 11:00AM to 3:00PM. The cost is $50 for the day. For more information or to register, call (262) 367-2900.
The November 2000 issue of Advocacy Action News reports that the Wisconsin State Independent Living Council (SILC) has announced the SILC cities and dates for public input into the new three-year Wisconsin State Plan for Independent Living, to be implemented on July 1, 2001. According to Dale Block, the Chairperson of the SILC, "SILC is responsible for conducting a comprehensive needs analysis of the state every three years and strives to eliminate barriers to independent living." Public input will bring focus to the plan, allowing plan administrators to better understand what programs are needed. The dates and cities for public input follow: December 6, 2000 - Green Bay and Fox River Valley, December 13, 2000 - Stevens Point, January 10, 2001 - Milwaukee, January 11, 2001 - LaCrosse, January 16, 2001 - Eau Claire, January 17, 2001 - Prairie du Chien, January 23, 2001 - Racine. You may also submit written comments until 5 p.m. February 5, 2001 via e-mail at durresb@dhfs.state.wi.us or by visiting SILC. For more information contact Scott B. Durren, II at (608) 267-2849.
The Wisconsin State Park system offers four cabins designed specifically for people with disabilities. All cabins are equipped with accessible kitchens and bathrooms. There is also a one-room, 13' X 13' cabin available, which contains a bunk, a fold down table, electric and possible air conditioning for people with respiratory problems. While the four, full-sized cabins have been designed for those with severe disabilities; the one room cabin is available to individuals with a variety of disabilities. Reservations for the 2001 season will be accepted beginning January 10, 2001. To obtain a cabin reservation form, either visit the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website or call 888-WI-PARKS (888-947-2757). You may also contact the park you wish to visit. The four full sized cabins are located in: Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit, (262) 594-6200; Mirror Lake State Park (608) 254-2333; Potawatomi State Park, (920) 746-2890. The one room cabin is located in Copper Falls State Park (715) 274-5123.
Independence First has a monthly newsletter Advocacy Action News and a quarterly publication Breaking Away that are free of charge to Wisconsin residents and available on-line. Both of these publications contain news from around Wisconsin on issues concerning the disabled.
National Newsline for the Blind Network, a service of the National Federation of the Blind allows people who are blind the access to newspapers through the use of their telephones. The service has expanded its coverage throughout the state and added 2 more newspapers with plans for additional newspapers. For local telephone access in Wisconsin to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Wisconsin State Journal, Chicago Tribune, New York Times and the Washington Post, write to the National Federation of the Blind, or call (608) 224-6161(Madison), (414) 286-3010 Milwaukee or (877) 775-5901 (Wisconsin statewide) for an application. Fill out the application and return it to the National Federation of the Blind, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21230. Allow them 2 weeks to process your registration. You will be issued an identification number and a security code. Then call (608) 224-5345, if you live in the Madison, Wisconsin area and (414) 286-0600 in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area or (877) 775-5901 Wisconsin statewide to use the service.
Milwaukee Public Schools has announced its Fall 2000 Recreation Program schedule for exceptional people. Programs include bowling, dancing, cooking, dancing, sight seeing, swimming, and martial arts. Individuals must register by September 8, 2000. To register, or for more information, contact Milwaukee Public Schools at MPS-Recreation Division, Programs for Exceptional People, 2414 West Mitchell Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53204-3025 or by telephone at (414)647-6065.
Independence First is offering Life Skills Classes for individuals with disabilities beginning in October. For registration and other information, contact Lonnie McFadden at (414)291-7520, ext. 1203.
The Milwaukee Admirals, Bucks and Wave are offering free tickets for selected regular season home games to individuals with disabilities. Reservations will be made based on a random drawing of all requests received using the form located the advertisements of Handi-NEWS & NOTES each month. To make reservations and to obtain more information, contact the Milwaukee County Commission for Persons with Disabilities at 901 North 9th Street, Room 307-B, Milwaukee, WI 53233, by phone (414)278-3932 (voice), (414)278-3937 (TDD) or by fax (414)278-3939.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) offers Wisconsin residents with disabilities a discounted annual fishing license. The discounted license must be renewed each year, in addition to the purchase of required fishing stamps. If you are interested in obtaining more information on the discount, or to receive a Reduced Rate Fishing License Application #9400-287, contact the Wisconsin DNR at (414)263-8500.
Abilities Expo will hold its annual event for the Chicago area on August 11-13, 2000 at Rosemont Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. Abilities Expo provides people with disabilities, senior citizens, and healthcare and education professionals access to products and services that can enhance their lives and the lives of their patients and students. The event includes exhibitors for mobility products, home accessibility devices, daily living aids and assistive technology. In addition, Abilities Expo has conference and lecture programs, a computer resource center, and arts, entertainment and sports activities.
For more information on the Chicago event or other events held around the nation, you may visit the Abilities Expo website. Otherwise, contact Barbara Glinsky, Show Coordinator at by e-mail at bglinsky@advanstar.com, by USPS mail at Advanstar Communications, Inc., 440 Wheelers Farm Road, Box 3812, Milford, Connecticut 06460, by phone at (203) 882-1300, ext. 114, or by fax at (203) 882-1800.
Independence First will hold programs throughout the Southeastern Wisconsin Area on voter registration, how a bill becomes a law, finding out who represents you, and learning about government. Presentations are scheduled between June and September, 2000. For more information, contact Stacy Ritt at (414) 291-7520, ext. 323.
EFUNDS sponsors a charitable event focusing on art and visual impairments on Saturday, August 5, 2000 at 400 West Deluxe Parkway, Glendale, Wisconsin. The event will include a standard art show, a tactile art show, demonstrations of assistive technology and discussions with the artists. For more information, contact Volunteer Services for the Visually Handicapped at (414) 286-3039.
The following is a list of festivals, dates of festivals, location of festivals and contact information:
Many of the festivals offer discounts on admission for individuals with disabilities. Please contact the festival by telephone or via their website to learn more.
Great Rivers Independent Living Center's ADA 2000 committee is organizing an event for July 26, 2000. It will be held at the Western Wisconsin Technical College La Crosse campus. More details will be released closer to the date. For more information e-mail advocacy@greatrivers.org or call (608) 787-1111 Voice, (888) 474-5745 toll free, (608) 787-1148 TTY or (888) 378-2198 toll free TTY.
Metropolitan Center for Independent Living is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the ADA and the 25th anniversary of IDEA on July 26, 2000 at 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Sullivan Communication Center, 3100 East 28th Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota. For more information call (651) 603-2022 (voice) or (651) 603-2006 (TTY).
Independence First is offering a job club to help individuals in gaining skills to improve his or her job hunting. The Job Club will meet on Tuesdays from 1:00PM to 3:30PM, July 11, 2000 through August 22, 2000. Deadline for registration is June 13, 2000. Contact Lonnie McFadden at (414) 291-7520 for more information.
Mobile Independent Living Center has moved to 690 S. High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43206, 443-5936 (Voice), 443-5954 (Fax) and 443-5957 (TTY).
Programs that are offered are Art Creations at Marshall High School, Family Game Nights at Beulah Brinton, Green Thumb Club at Fifty-five Plus Center, Striving for Independence at Gaenslen School and Tae Kwon Do at Beulah Brinton. Fees range from FREE to $30.00 and the programs are held during the week in the evening. For more information on dates and times or to receive a registration form call (414)647-6065 or visit 2414 West Mitchell St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53204-3025. Registration forms and fees are due by April 7, 2000.
AB 942 would increase the personal care funding from $1.00 per hour to $3.50 per hour. The bill was brought to the Wisconsin State Assembly and the vote was 99 to 0 in favor of passage. Governor Thompson signed the legislation on May 26, 2000.
Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin (DSAW) announced a statewide conference celebrating their 10th Anniversary. The conference will be held in Stevens Point, Wisconsin at the Holiday on Saturday, May 20, 2000 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The registration fee is $25.00 before May 1st and $35.00 after May 1st. Topics will include transition planning, health maintenance, behavioral challenges and more. Please call (414) 355-1404 to register or for more information.
Public Services Commission has updated the TEPP rules as follows according to Independence First:
Transit Plus has changed its location to the Milwaukee County Transit System Administration Building due to the change in administration to the Milwaukee County Transport Services. The new location is at 1942 North 17th Street and the new telephone numbers are: Main number (414) 343-1700 Voice, Complaint/Commendations (414) 343-1703 Voice and (414) 343-1704 TTY.
MPS Special Olympics is searching for individuals to be involved in this year's event. They are looking for volunteers, participants and support through financial donations. For more information or to sign up for the event e-mail jasnaem@mail.milwaukee.k12.wi.us or call (414) 475-8572.
Independence First offers a session on March 21, 2000 at 1:00PM and it is free of charge. The session will be conducted by Mark Charmatz, Director, National Association of the Deaf Law Center. Issues addressed will include regulations concerning effective communication, laws surrounding the topic, and more. For more information or to reserve a seat, contact Karen Avery at (414) 291-7520.
Wisconsin Coalition for Advocacy (WCA) and Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities requested that comments be submitted no later than March 10, 2000 to WCDD, P.O. Box 7851, Madison, Wisconsin 53707-7851. These comments will help in the development of statewide plans for people with disabilities. Also, public hearings that are still to be held are on March 2, 2000 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and March 8, 2000 in Appleton, Wisconsin. For more information contact WCDD at (608)266-7827 (voice) and (608)266-6660 TTY.
The Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing will hold a meeting in Madison, Wisconsin on March 9, 2000. Copies of the minutes and agendas are posted at their website, or for more information e-mail lauxhm@dhfs.state.wi.us.
Independence Highway website is now shutdown due to a cut in funding in the State Independent Living Council's budget. The website was a good resource for individuals to learn more about disability related issues around the state and learn more about access through the Internet.
Independence First closed their ICS due to a lack of volume of business and financial losses between $30,000 and $50,000 over the past few years. The staff of this program has moved to the Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Independence First is looking for persons with disabilities that reside in Milwaukee County, are eligible for the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, receiving SSI or SSDI benefits and can earn $700 a month. Selected individuals will receive job development services targeting the removal of employment barriers. For more information on becoming a Pathways to Independence participant contact Kathy Meisner at (414) 291-7520.
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