disabilityrights WISCONSIN

Location: IndependenceFirst, 540 South 1st Street, Milwaukee, WI 53204

This is a great opportunity to meet the candidates and gain information on their perspectives on community issues including Family Care and long term care services, mental health services, transportation, housing, education and more.

For details, Click here.

RSVPs one week prior to the session are appreciated and will help with planning. Disability-related accommodations are also available. Please contact Disability Rights Wisconsin at 414-773-4646 or elisec@drwi.org.

The following opinion pieces appeared in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel on Sunday, August 29, 2010:

It’s Everyone’s Problem to Solve: click here.

To Inspire a Culture of Excellence: click here.

Steps Being Taken to Improve Services: click here.

Beginning on Sunday, August 23, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel has published a “Watchdog Report” about the ongoing investigation into the Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex. Click the links below to see the series of articles.

Walker, supervisors in accord on building new Mental Health Complex: click here.

Shakeup at Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex widens: click here.

Mental Health Complex security faulty, sheriff’s report concludes: click here.

Chianelli demoted as head of Mental Health Complex: click here.

Out of Chaos, a Baby is Born: click here.

Patient with Violent Past went Unsupervised: click here.

Budget and staff cuts, leadership questions nag outmoded facility: click here.

Lack of accountability continues, despite deaths, threats to funding: click here.

Assault suspect at mental facility competent for trial, judge says: click here.

To see links to earlier media coverage on this topic, click here.

Dr. Alan Coulter, the Independent Expert appointed by the federal district court in DRW’s longstanding class action against Milwaukee Public Schools, as part of the plaintiffs’ settlement with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), has issued his first annual report. That report described MPS as out of compliance in over 50% of the outcomes required by the settlement. Coverage of the report appeared on the front page of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. To read the coverage, click here.

DRW released an “Update to the Community” today, which includes preliminary concerns and recommendations in response to a variety of problems uncovered by state surveyors at the Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex.

To read the 2-page Executive Summary of the update, click here: Executive Summary

To read the full update, click here: Update to the Community.

Attorney Monica Murphy spoke on July 26th at the 20th Anniversary Celebration of the ADA hosted by IndependenceFirst in Milwaukee at the Riverwalk. Click here to view her remarks.

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has set the oral argument in DRW’s class action against Milwaukee Public Schools for September 7, 2010, starting at 9:30 AM. It has scheduled a total of 90 minutes for oral argument which is 3-4 times longer than most cases. Oral argument is open to the public and will take place in the U.S. Courthouse in Chicago, 219 S. Dearborn St. Check with the clerk’s office, Room 2722, for the courtroom where the oral argument will occur.

Board will issue recommendation in the interim for consideration in county’s 2011 budget

By Steve Schultze of the Journal Sentinel

Posted: June 29, 2010 |

A community advisory group on patient safety at the Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex will take a year to complete its review, leaders of the group said Tuesday at its first meeting.

The county’s mental health Community Advisory Board will also try to develop interim recommendations so they can be considered for the county’s 2011 budget, said Barbara Beckert, the board’s co-chairwoman. That would require submitting those proposed changes to County Executive Scott Walker in advance of his budget introduction in late September.

To read the full story on the Journal Sentinel website, click here.

Outreach and training coordinator (Limited term half-time) in the Milwaukee office of statewide disability advocacy agency for grant Supporting and Empowering Youth with Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities. For detailed position description and application requirements click here or call 414-773-4646. Salary: $15,000 to $21,000 depending on experience. Excellent fringe benefits available. Deadline: August 18. Members of racial/ethnic minority groups and persons with disabilities strongly encouraged to apply. EEO/AA Employer.

PUBLIC POLICY COORDINATOR will coordinate state and federal legislative and policy activities of multiple disability organizations in WI. Based in Madison. For detailed position description and application requirements click here or call 608-267-0214. Salary based on experience. Excellent fringe benefits. Deadline: August 27. Members of racial/ethnic minority groups and persons with disabilities strongly encouraged to apply. EEO/AA Employer.