WISCONSIN
On February 1, 2012, DRW filed an important constitutional case in Dane County Circuit Court on behalf of an expelled foster child, challenging with Wisconsin expulsion statutes as violating the Wisconsin Constitution because they do not require school districts to provide education to expelled students. The case is against the Oregon School District, and it has been assigned to Judge Peter Anderson.
Follow our Public Policy Coordinator Lisa Pugh on Twitter and get up-to-date information on all that is happening in disability policy in Wisconsin! Find out about the latest hearings, opportunities for public input and fast-moving bills and policies that affect everything from Medicaid to Long-Term Care. special education and mental health. Go to this link to get a twitter account and Follow @WisDisPolicy!
Twitter: @WisDisPolicy http://twitter.com/wisdispolicy
DRW’s Milwaukee Office Director, Barbara Beckert, spoke with Lake Effect on WUWM recently regarding the voting process and people with disabilities.
On January 24, 2012, the Wisconsin Senate passed SB 353 in a unanimous voice vote. This bill will reduce and hopefully eliminate the inappropriate use of seclusion and restraint in public schools in Wisconsin. Read this news coverage with good quotes from the bi-partisan sponsors.
Disability Rights Wisconsin and the Survival Coalition joined with dozens of other organizations in sending the attached letter to Wisconsin legislators outling concerns about changes to BadgerCare and essential health care coverage for people with disabilities. Read the letter: Preserve BadgerCare Sign-on letter and press release: Press Release.
Disability Rights Wisconsin, the state’s designated protection and advocacy agency for people with disabilities, has hired Tom Masseau as its new Executive Director, effective January 16, 2012. He replaces Lynn Breedlove, who retired after 31 years.
Tom has spent 24 years working at the Michigan protection and advocacy agency, most recently as the Director of Government and Media Relations. He is a graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in Public Administration. Well known nationally through his leadership position as the chairperson of the legislative committee of the National Disability Rights Network, the national organization of protection and advocacy agencies, Tom will bring to DRW his strong disability values and passion for people with disabilities as well as extensive knowledge and experience in legislative advocacy, coalition building, planning and policy development.
Tom may be reached at Tom.Masseau@drwi.org or 608-267-0214.
“We are excited to welcome Tom to DRW. The DRW Board conducted a national search for Lynn Breedlove’s replacement and is confident that Tom will bring strong leadership and commitment to protecting the rights of Wisconsin citizens with disabilities to DRW. The agency will continue the same level of passion for outstanding individual and systems advocacy work on behalf of people with disabilities that is expected from and for which DRW is known throughout the state and nationally,” says Jeff Timm, DRW Board President.
Disability Rights Wisconsin, a private non-profit organization, is part of the federally mandated national system of disability protection and advocacy agencies across the United States to ensure the rights of children and adults with disabilities. DRW is a statewide resource for individuals, families, service professionals, elected officials, government agencies and others concerned with disability issues and systems change. The agency operates out of 3 offices: Madison, Milwaukee, and Rice Lake. DRW helps people across Wisconsin gain access to services and opportunity through advocacy and legal expertise. We regularly challenge systems and society to create positive change and improve the lives of people with disabilities.
On January 11th the legislature began circulating a bill to lift the caps on Family Care and IRIS – long-term care programs that provide supports to adults with disabilities. Disability advocates have been asking for this legislation since long-term care programs were frozen by the legislature in July and waiting lists started to grow. The Survival Coalition, of which Disability Rights Wisconsin is a member, sent this message to the full legislature and will continue working to ensure that this bill is passed. Click here to read the message on the Wheeler Report website.
We are pleased to report that the Senate Education Committee passed SB 353, the seclusion and restraint bill, unanimously on January 11, 2012.
The Assembly Education Commitee held its hearing on AB 455, the seclusion and restraint bill on January 10, 2012. It went very well as no one testified against it, and the School Administrators Alliance testified that it “enthusiastically” supported the bill. Here is DRW’s testimony on the bill: testimony AB 455.
DRW is pleased to annouce that Sen. Luther Olsen has agreed to sponsor a bill to limit the inappropriate use of seclusion and restraint on children in schools. He will circulate it for bi-partisan co-sponsors soon. This bill is a product of collaborative negotiations with DPI and the School Administrators Alliance. Click here to read the bill.
