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
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.
Survival Coalition Makes Plea to U.S. Department of Education to Disallow Funding Reductions
The Survival Coalition of Wisconsin Disability Organizations representing more than 40 member groups issued a letter today urging the U.S. Dept. of Education to uphold the law and deny local Wisconsin School District requests to reduce special education funding.
The letter reiterates that current law allows sufficient flexibility for local school districts and underlines congressional protections that are intended to ensure students with disabilities are not harmed by funding reductions.
The Survival Coalition asked that Wisconsin not be granted additional flexibilities in response to the unfortunate choices it made to reduce public school funding by $1.6 billion. Advocates state that flexibility should not harm the most vulnerable students in our schools—those with disabilities.
Read the letter from the Survival Coalition to OSEP Director Melody Musgrove here: Local IDEA letter.
Read the letter from Wisconsin School Administrators to Congresswoman Gwen Moore here: Rep. Moore letter.
Education Week coverage of this story:
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/speced/2011/12/some_wisconsin_school_district.html
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel coverage of this story:
http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/disability-rights-advocates-warn-of-special-education-cuts-p139avg-134907033.html
(80 – 100% time) in Madison office of Disability Rights Wisconsin. Provide Medicare Part D counseling on phone Helpline to persons with disabilities, coordinate volunteers and training. For Position Announcement and application requirements, click here or call 608-267-0214. Salary $27,000 – $45,000 DOE. Excellent benefits. Deadline: January 13. Members of racial/ethnic minority groups and persons with disabilities strongly encouraged to apply. EEO/AA Employer
In their recent annual dinner program, the Equal Justice Fund included a tribute to Lynn Breedlove. The Equal Justice Fund raises monies for 3 WI legal service providers: DRW, Legal Aid Society, and Legal Action of WI. Lynn has served on the Equal Justice Board since 1997. Click the following link to read the tribute: EJF Tribute to Lynn.
