New Horizons Un-Limited Inc. New Horizons Un-Limited Inc.The Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities (WCDD), through their DAWN advocacy project, is making available Grassroots Advocacy Grants for 2007. The goal of the grant is to increase the number of people with disabilities and their family members doing advocacy activities in their community - activities that will make a difference in the quality of community life for people with disabilities. It provides an opportunity for people with disabilities and their family members to be leaders in the disability advocacy movement and to start local advocacy groups.
Grants of between $500 and $5,000 will be available for activities starting January 15, 2007 and ending December 31, 2007. People with disabilities and their family members are eligible for the grants. Priority will be given to people with developmental disabilities and their families as defined in federal law. Individuals, agencies and organizations are invited to work with consumers in developing and implementing a DAWN grant. Proposals are due in the WCDD offices on December 14, 2006 by 4:30 PM.
For more information about these grants and to download an application form, go to the DAWN web site at: www.dawninfo.org/grants/2007/announcement.cfm.
The Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS) recently launched a new web tool for low-income Wisconsin residents. ACCESS is a convenient, easy-to-use internet tool that can help you identify which low or no-cost health, nutrition and other programs you might be eligible for. This site also provides you with the opportunity to:
To access this useful tool visit https://access.wisconsin.gov/.
The Volunteer Center of Milwaukee has launched a new initiative aimed at increasing the employability, and therefore the economic self-sufficiency of people with disabilities in the Greater Milwaukee area. DOORS: Disability Outreach Offering Resources Through Service, links volunteers with disabilities to various volunteer opportunities, some of which have included, Financial Educator, Tax Preparer, Workshop Facilitator, Urban Greenhouse Assistant, Credit Union Teller and much more. If you have a disability and wish to take advantage of the opportunities presented by this initiative, contact Lisa Anderson of the Volunteer Center, via phone at (414) 273-7887 or via e-mail at Landerson@volunteermilwaukee.org. Transportation assistance will be available to participants if needed.
New Horizons Un-Limited is collaborating with Miller Engineering Inc., Strass-Maguire and Associates Inc., the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Friends of Kohler-Andrae State Parks to design and build an accessible cabin for people with disabilities near Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
The cabin, which would be Wisconsin's 6th fully accessible cabin for people with disabilities and their families, will be built within the family campground of Kohler-Andrae State Parks near Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Kohler-Andrae State Park "is one of the last natural preserves along the Lake Michigan shore and is the home of majestic sand dunes, miles of golden beach, shimmering blue water, whispering pines, an abundance of wildlife, and recreational activities for everyone." The park, which already features a specially designed campsite, rest room and shower facility for campers with physical disabilities, is an ideal location for an accessible cabin.
The Kohler Andrae Accessible Cabin can still benefit from your support. To find out how you can make this cabin a reality, please contact Fran Grandlic, President of Friends of Kohler-Andrae State Park at (920) 451-4080.
New Horizons Un-Limited has just been asked to join the collaboration with the the Wetosha Kiwanis, Richard Bong Recreation Area and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to design and build an accessible cabin for people with disabilities near Burlington, Wisconsin. New Horizons Un-Limited has brought on Miller Engineering Inc. and Strass-Maguire and Associaties Inc. to collaborate on the design for the project.
This cabin, which would be Wisconsin's 7th fully accessible cabin, people with disabilities and their families, plans to build within the Sunset Campground of Bong Recreational Area which is approximately 6 miles east from Burlington and 41 miles southwest of Milwaukee in Kenosha County. The Bong State Recreation Area, although "located in the most populated part of Wisconsin feels like you are out in the middle of no-where." "A recreation area differs from a state park or forest in that it offers additional activities not traditionally found in state parks. Visitors may fly model airplanes, rockets, hang gliders, and hot air balloons. The recreation area encompasses 4,515 acres of rolling grassland, savanna, wetlands and scattered woodland, is open year-round and has 41.1 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, snowshoeing, and dirt bike riding. The park, which already includes the following accessible features: an urban fishing pond, three hunting blinds, an observation platform at the wildlife refuge, five accessible campsites, and accessible picnic tables, buildings and most shelters," is an ideal location for an accessible cabin.
Plans for the accessible cabin will feature numerous accessible amenities, ensuring that all people with disabilities can freely use the cabin and the park's amenities without fear of hidden barriers. Features will include a fully accessible bathroom and kitchen and an accessible sleeping porch. All rooms will be large enough to allow for people in wheelchairs to move freely about the cabin from the entrance ramps, doorways, undercounter space and the roll-in shower. Furthermore, all fixtures and controls will be accessible, including the faucets, toilet, door and cabinet handles and light switches.
New Horizons Un-Limited has collaborated with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' Accessibility Coordinator, Wisconsin Telephone Pioneers, Friends of High Cliff State Park, and Miller Engineering on the design of accessible cabins in the past for several Wisconsin State Parks. Accessible Cabin projects include cabins at High Cliff State Park on Lake Winnebago, Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit (Eagle, WI), and Mirror Lake State Park (Baraboo, WI).
Dotti Krieger, Accessibility Coordinator for the Wisconsin DNR, attributes the success of these projects to the residents of Wisconsin who, through their generous donation of funds, building plans, furniture, equipment, time and talent, have made the cabins a reality.
This cabin is in the stage of raising funds and donors and is seeking your support. To find out more about this project and how to contribute, visit the Westosha Kiwanis Cabin for Disabled website.
The Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services is seeking representation from people with disabilities to serve on the statewide Assistive Technology (AT) Advisory Board. Representatives should be experienced in using assistive technology. The AT Advisory Board will provide feedback and advice to the Department on the operation of 3WisTech, Wisconsin’s assistive technology program. Interested consumers should contact Holly Laux O’Higgins by Friday, August 4th at (608) 266-8905 or lauxhm@dhfs.state.wi.us.
The Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing's UniversaLink is launching a new "boutique" featuring arts and craft items made by local residents who are deaf or hard of hearing. If you have any items you wish to be included in the boutique, contact CDHH via phone, (414) 604-7202 (Voice), (888) 742-7651 (TTY) or via e-mail, universalink@cdhh.org.
The Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities (WCDD) has released their Draft 2007-2011 State Plan for public comment. This Plan will direct Council activities and projects for the next five years. The Draft is available for comment and suggestion until Wednesday, May 24, 2006. You can read the Draft on the WCDD Web Site. You are welcome to make comments on the Draft by using the comment form found on the web site or you can submit your comments to the Council's office: WCDD, 201 W. Washington Avenue, Suite 110, Madison, WI 53703. There will also be a public hearing on the Draft on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at the Concourse Hotel, 1 W. Dayton Street in Madison. If you need accommodations in order to attend the hearing, please contact the Council's office by May 1, 2006.
The Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, at the state office of the Department of Health and Family Services is offering a Medicare Part D Hotline specifically for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing. There are several ways people can reach the hotline.
For Deaf and hard of hearing people:
For Hearing callers (who do not have a TTY or VP):
The National Spina Bifida Association has recently published the Health Guide for Adults Living with Spina Bifida. The Spina Bifida Association of Wisconsin (SBAWI) has a limited number of these guides available to give out free of charge. Due to the limited availability of the guides, they will only be given to adults 18 and over with spina bifida. To learn how to obtain your free guide, contact SBAWI at (414) 607-9061.
The Transit Plus Advisory Council (TPAC) is seeking people to advocate for a high quality transportation system. TPAC strives to ensure that the daily transportation needs of individuals with disabilities and the elderly are met. This is accomplished by educating, advising, and serving as a liaison to Transit Plus and Transit Plus providers.
To participate on the Advisory Council you must meet the following criteria:
TPAC meetings are held at the main offices of the Milwaukee County Transit System, 1942 North 17th Street and are usually on the third Tuesday of each month from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Members appointed to TPAC must be willing to make a two year commitment and attend the monthly meetings.
To request a TPAC Application form, please call the Transit Plus office at (414) 343-1700 or write to them at Transit Plus, 1942 N. 17th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53205.
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