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November 2009 - Proposed changes to Pre-Vocational Service structureIn recent weeks news has circulated concerning proposed changes to Wisconsin's Pre-Vocational Services. One such account of the changes is that the Department of Health Services plans to shut down work centers, also known as sheltered workshops. This is not true. In fact, the work centers will remain open, but participants will be encouraged to move on to other permanent work positions within the community. As it stands now, prevocational services allow individuals to work at the centers for a very low wage indefinitely. DHS believes that this is counterproductive and would like to see such workshops as a stepping stone to higher paying permanent positions.
Under the proposed changes, pre-vocational workshops will be restructured to serve as a training opportunitiy where participants can develop general work skills that will contribute to employability in paid positions in integrated, community settings. Proposed changes will be gradual and will take into account the unique situation of each individual.
To learn more about these changes, check out Facts About Pre-Vocational Services, provided by People First Wisconsin, online at www.dawninfo.org/news/docs/Pre%20Voc%20Peop%20First.pdf.
November 2009 - Advocacy available to Family Care applicants and enroleesDisability Rights Wisconsin has recently launched the Family Care Ombudsman Program to assist individuals aged 18-59 concerning eligibility for Family Care, Wisconsin's long-term care service system. Both applicants and current enrollees qualify for assistance via this program. Assistance may include:
Assistance is available throughout the state of Wisconsin. For more information, call the Madison Office at (800) 928-8778, the Milwaukee office at (800) 708-3034, or the Rice Lake Office at (877) 338-3724.
November 2009 - Milwaukee County - Program assists people with disabilities become employed with Milwaukee CountyMilwaukee County offers a program that assists people with disabilities qualify for and find Civil Service positions within County Government. The Disabled Expanded Certification Appointment (DECA) program allows people with disabilities to forego civil service examinations in order to become eligible for jobs with Milwaukee County. To qualify, individuals must complete an application and participate in an interview. Eligible applicants can then apply for positions that are announced on the Milwaukee County website. Those who are appointed to a position will serve a 520 hour trial work period prior to the probationary period. To learn more about this opportunity, call (414) 278-3936 (Voice) or (414) 278-3937 (TTY).
United Methodist Church of Whitefish Bay has announced a computer class, "Introduction to Word," for individuals of all abilities. The classes, which are $15 for a three-week session from August 6 through August 27, 2009, will be offered on Thursday evenings from 6:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. in the church computer lab. Classes are intended to provide educational development, social stimulation, and personal growth experiences. Prior to enrollment, students will have an opportunity to discuss their individual accessibility or training needs with the instructor. If you would like to learn more about this opportunity, please call (414) 964-2424.
Summerfest has long been recognized for the unique blend of entertainment and cuisine offered throughout their early summer music festival. What may have gone widely unrecognized however, is their dedication to accessibility.
In 1996, Summerfest, in an effort to meet the accessibility provisions of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), formed the Summerfest ADA Task Force. The task force is comprised of local disability advocates that are dedicated to making the home of Summerfest, Henry Maier Festival Park, more accessible every year.
In an effort to address the issue of accessibility head on, the Task Force has developed several subcommittees, each of which specializes in addressing disability specific barriers, including those related to mobility, visual, and hearing disabilities. The heads of each subcommittee, all of which have first hand experience with disability, carefully review potential obstacles and bring them to the attention of the task force.
Of course comments are also sought from Summerfest patrons with disabilities. Patrons may identify barriers via Complaint Forms, available at any information booth throughout the Summerfest grounds. Each complaint is carefully reviewed and considered in developing a plan of action.
Following are just a few of the accessible features that Summerfest has to offer their patrons with disabilities:
The following is a list of festivals, dates of festivals, location of festivals and contact information:
Therapeutic horseback riding is very beneficial in exercise and socialization for people with disabilities. To find therapeutic horseback riding programs in Southeastern Wisconsin, click on the following North American Riding for the Handicapped Association Inc.
Last Spring, New Horizons Un-Limited (NHU) had the good fortune of meeting Laura, the Campus Director of PC Pro Schools’ Brookfield campus, at a Brew City HDI chapter meeting. At the meeting, NHU expressed a need for volunteer technicians to assist with their computer refurbishing and help desk activities. Seeing this opportunity as a way to give back, while also supporting the career goals of her students, Laura quickly recruited students to help NHU.
Over this past year, NHU has welcomed nearly a dozen PC Pro Schools students as volunteers. While all of the student volunteers have had a solid technical foundation, many of them were lacking that all important professional experience to help them win their dream job. What NHU provides in experience to the students is exceeded by what they, as volunteers, have contributed to NHU's program. They have expertly refurbished dozens of computers, which, in turn, have been donated to dozens of individuals with disabilities that would not have otherwise been able to afford a home computer. Just like NHU's student volunteers, the individuals that receive the refurbished computers are trying to improve their lives through technology. A computer means more to them than most of us could ever imagine. To many of NHU's recipients, a computer is the tool they need to pursue their dream job and ultimately their own financial freedom. NHU's refurbishing program is run entirely by volunteer technicians. It simply would not be possible without the expertise and dedication of their volunteers. NHU's most recent group of volunteers will be graduating from PC Pro Schools in just weeks. It is NHU's hope that the experience the students have received will help the students reach their career goals. NHU would like to extend a special thank you to Craig, Dan, Fred, Jim and Jonathan for their dedication to seeing that all people, no matter their income, may have access to a home computer.Wisconsin's newest wheelchair accessible cabins at Kohler-Andrae State Park in Sheboygan and Richard Bong State Recreation Area near Burlington are now accepting reservations for the 2009 season. These new wheelchair accessible cabins add to the five currently available in the Wisconsin State Park System.
In addition to the Kohler-Andrae and Richard Bong cabins, modern cabins are also available at Mirror Lake, Buckhorn, High Cliff, and Potawatami state parks and Kettle Moraine State Forest—Southern Unit. Rustic, one-room cabins are available at Copper Falls and Blue Mound state parks.
The cabins are available for use exclusively by people whose physical disabilities make use of traditional camping facilities very difficult or unlikely. The rental fee is $30.00 per night plus a $4.00 reservation fee. The cabins are available from May 1 through October 15. Because of high demand, reservations are limited to 4 nights per year, per location. Preference will be given to those persons with a permanent, severe physical disability, who require a wheelchair as sole means of mobility and require assistance with personal care needs. Those with less severe disabilities will be considered after February 1st.
To view comments by those who have had the experience of staying in these new accessible cabins, go to our New Horizons Un-Limited Announcements:
Reservation applications and details about each cabin are available on the DNR website by visiting dnr.wi.gov/org/land/parks/access/bigcabin.html.
To learn more about these new cabins, contact the Kohler-Andrae State Park office at (920) 451-4080 and the Richard Bong State Recreation Area office at (262) 878-5606.
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