<![CDATA[Access to Independence, Inc.

<![CDATA[Access to Independence, Inc. - Staff Blog]]>Thu, 17 May 2012 14:26:33 -0600Weebly<![CDATA[Peer Mentor Training]]>Mon, 14 May 2012 11:45:18 -0600http://www.accesstoind.org/3/post/2012/05/peer-mentor-training.htmlJune 15
9am-3:30pm

Peer mentors are people with disabilities who provide emotional support and act as a role model while assisting with independent living skills, self advocacy, and coping with a disability.

If you are interested in attending, or would like more information,
please contact Jason Beloungy at 1-800-362-9877 ext. 229

]]><![CDATA[Remember to make your voice heard and get out and vote. ]]>Mon, 07 May 2012 09:45:53 -0600http://www.accesstoind.org/3/post/2012/05/remember-to-make-your-voice-heard-and-get-out-and-vote.htmlThe Recall Primary will be this Tuesday, May 8th.

If you are not registered, you can register to vote on Tuesday at your polling place
To find out where you vote see the Wisconsin Voter Public Access website at: https://vpa.wi.gov/
You do NOT need a Photo ID in order to vote for this election.
If you have questions or face problems at the polls, you can contact Disability Rights Wisconsin’s Voting Rights Hotline at 800/928-8778 OR 888/758-6049 (TTY/TEXTNET)

The Pierce County Harold had a nice summary of who will be on the ballot. The article can be accessed at: http://www.piercecountyherald.com/event/article/id/45079/

]]><![CDATA[Tell the White House to Address the Employment Crisis for Americans with Disabilities Now! (from NCIL)]]>Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:03:40 -0600http://www.accesstoind.org/3/post/2012/04/tell-the-white-house-to-address-the-employment-crisis-for-americans-with-disabilities-now-from-ncil.html Crisis Statement Many Social Security Disability Beneficiaries want jobs now, and the Administration must take responsibility to ensure that all parts of government are working together to solve the immediate crisis. The current do-nothing Congress and Social Security’s top leadership are failing Social Security disability beneficiaries who work or want to work, and the White House must act now to bring all parties together to find a solution.

The Commissioner of Social Security, Michael Astrue, recently announced that he plans to shut down Social Security’s vital employment support counseling services for its disability beneficiaries who make it into the workforce. Social Security has funded these mandated counseling services nationwide since 2000.

Social Security Commissioner Astrue to the US Congress March 9, 2012:

“Absent Congress’ reauthorization of these programs, we plan to stop them when the FY 2011 grants expire.”

These employment support counseling services will end either June 30 or September 30, 2012 because of his decision.

Just as the economy is starting to improve, the Commissioner of Social Security is shutting down Social Security's Work Incentives, Planning and Assistance counseling programs (WIPA) and its Protection and Advocacy for Social Security Beneficiaries counseling programs (PABSS).

Shutting these programs down means that thousands of Social Security disability beneficiaries who are planning to work, or who are working today, will have severely limited access to the correct federal and state rules and procedures for their work and benefits situation. With the shutdown, disability beneficiaries will have little to no help with complicated return to work rules when they encounter employment / SSA-related problems.

Background: Work Incentives Planning Assistance (WIPA) grants go to local non-profits and other agencies to support outreach, education and benefits counseling services to Social Security disability beneficiaries about work incentives and services for finding, maintaining and advancing in employment, including the Social Security Ticket to Work program.

WIPA grantees inform beneficiaries on the impact that employment will have on their disability income and medical coverage, and address real fears that individuals have about going to work at the risk of losing their health care coverage.

The Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) program was created in 1999 to protect the rights of beneficiaries as they plan to work and take jobs. PABSS provides information and advice about obtaining vocational rehabilitation and employment services; information and referral services to beneficiaries on work incentives; advocacy or other legal services that a beneficiary needs to secure, maintain, or regain gainful employment including investigation and remedy of complaints of employment discrimination and other civil and legal rights violations.

Despite this extensive set of duties and growing demand for services, the WIPA and PABSS programs have been flat funded at the same levels since 1999.

Take Action: Rapid Response! Together, we can help stop the planned national shut down of the Social Security WIPA and PABSS employment support counseling services.

We request that President Obama ask the Commissioner of Social Security Michael J. Astrue and the U.S. Congress to lead, collaborate, and stop the counterproductive closure of these programs at the wrong time for our growing economy.

There is opportunity as the economy improves to demonstrate that, as Americans with significant disabilities, we are part of the U.S. economic recovery plan. A Rapid Response Letter Template is available below for your use.

Key Request to President Barack Obama:

“Like taxes, Social Security work rules are complicated! We request that you extend the current SSA WIPA and PABSS employment support counseling services for SSA disability beneficiaries for 18 months, as the Congress deliberates and reauthorizes the WIPA and PABSS employment support counseling programs.”
Contact President Barack Obama through Gene B. Sperling, Director of the National Economic Council and Assistant to the President for Economic Policy at gsperling@who.eop.gov.

Rapid Response Letter Template:
Edit and use this template to send your personal messages to President Obama (via Gene Sperling).

[Date] Dear Mr. Sperling,

Our improving economy must be accessible to Americans with a significant disability like me.

I ask you to act now to stop the shut down, and to help continue Social Security’s Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program. Please work with Social Security and Congress to promote and ensure the program’s Congressional reauthorization.

Social Security Commissioner Astrue alerted Congress March 9, 2012 that he will shut down the WIPA Program on June 30, 2012 unless Congress acts to reauthorize the WIPA program. Commissioner Astrue added he will shut down the Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) program on September 30, 2012.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) sent a draft bill to the House of Representatives and the Senate early in January, 2012; no bill has been formally introduced to date. Without Congressional action, SSA plans to shut down the WIPA program, although SSA may have Administrative funds to extend the program while Congress takes action to reauthorize the program.

Social Security work rules remain complicated! Social Security disability beneficiaries need the WIPA program when they pursue their employment and economic self-sufficiency goals. WIPA Community Work Incentive Coordinators (CWICs) provide beneficiaries with accurate information to enable them to obtain employment, and reduce dependence on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) cash benefits.

CWIC counseling can ease a beneficiary’s fears of unsuccessful work attempts, loss of necessary health care, and can help with other case specific issues during transitions to employment and self-sufficiency.

As an American with a disability [or as a consumer of the WIPA program],

[Insert your Personal Comments / Experiences Here].

I request you to please help stop the shutdown of the WIPA and PABSS programs. Collaborate with Representatives and Senators to approve legislation that continues these invaluable programs that support employment and add taxpayers to our workforce.

Thank you for your time, review, and consideration of this matter.

Respectfully Submitted:

[Your Name]
[Your Home Address]
[Address Line 2]
[Phone Number (Optional)]
[E-mail address (Optional)]]]><![CDATA[Cooking Class May 1, 1:30-3:30pm]]>Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:20:27 -0600http://www.accesstoind.org/3/post/2012/04/cooking-class-may-1-130-330pm.htmlWhat you will learn:

How to keep a well-stocked pantry! Be prepared
when you need quick and easy meals that are also easy
on your food budget!
How to prepare a tasty, nutritious one-dish meal!

We will make Enchilada Casserole, a delicious and
adaptable recipe that you’ll want to make a regular part
of your menu!

There will be a charge of $5.00 per person, just to cover the
cost of the food we will be preparing (and enjoying!)
To RSVP: Contact Tracy Miller at (608)242-8484 Ext 227

Access to Independence
3810 Milwaukee St, Madison]]><![CDATA[Are you ready to WRAP?]]>Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:29:39 -0600http://www.accesstoind.org/3/post/2012/04/are-you-ready-to-wrap.htmlWellness Recovery Action Plan

WRAP is a self-management and recover system developed by a group of people who had mental health difficulties and who are struggling to incorporate wellness tools and strategies into their lives.

WRAP is designed to:

Decrease and prevent intrusive or troubling feelings and behaviors
Increase personal empowerment
Improve quality of life
Assist people in achieving their own life goals and dreams

Flier and Registration]]><![CDATA[Make a Difference - Become a Peer Mentor Today!]]>Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:00:50 -0600http://www.accesstoind.org/3/post/2012/04/make-a-difference-become-a-peer-mentor-today.htmlPeer mentors are people with disabilities who provide emotional support and act as a
role model while helping with independent living skills, self advocacy, and disability adjustment.

Access to Independence will be training new mentors!

When?
April18
9:00am-3:30pm (Lunch will be provided)

Where?
Access to Independence
3810 Milwaukee Street
Madison, WI 53714

If you are interested in attending or would like more information please contact
Jason Beloungy at 1-800-362-9877, ext. 229 or by e-mail at jasonb@accesstoind.org

The complete flyer is

peer_support_training_flyer_4-2-12.doc
File Size:	56 kb
File Type:	doc

Download File

]]><![CDATA[ALERT: WIPA and PABSS Set to Expire This Year - What YOU Can Do]]>Thu, 05 Apr 2012 11:25:31 -0600http://www.accesstoind.org/3/post/2012/04/alert-wipa-and-pabss-set-to-expire-this-year-what-you-can-do.htmlWork Incentive Planning & Assistance (WIPA) and Protection & Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) programs are in danger of ending. Congress must work with the SSA Commissioner to re-authorize both of these vital programs now.

Background: Work Incentives Planning Assistance (WIPA) grants go to local non-profits and other agencies to support outreach, education and benefits counseling services to Social Security disability beneficiaries about work incentives and services for finding, maintaining and advancing in employment, including the Social Security Ticket to Work program.

WIPA grantees inform beneficiaries on the impact that employment will have on their disability income and medical coverage, and address real fears that individuals have about going to work at the risk of losing their health care coverage.

The Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) program was created in 1999 to protect the rights of beneficiaries as they plan to work and take jobs. PABSS provides information and advice about obtaining vocational rehabilitation and employment services; information and referral services to beneficiaries on work incentives; advocacy or other legal services that a beneficiary needs to secure, maintain, or regain gainful employment including investigation and remedy of complaints of employment discrimination and other civil and legal rights violations.

Despite this extensive set of duties and growing demand for services, the WIPA and PABSS programs have been flat funded at the same levels since 1999

Shutting these programs down means that thousands of Social Security disability beneficiaries who are planning to work, or who are working today, will have severely limited access to the correct federal and state rules and procedures for their work and benefits situation. With the shutdown, disability beneficiaries will have little to no help with complicated return to work rules when they encounter employment / SSA-related problems.

WHO AND HOW TO CONTACT: If you are concerned about WIPA and PABSS ending, communicate your support to reauthorize both programs.

Email both of your U.S. Senators and your representative from the U.S. House of Representatives. The links below help you find your congressional member and their web-based email forms. There is also a link to an email template you can use as-is or personalize.

1. Click here to find your representative and their web-based email form.
Click here to get an email template you can copy and paste into the email.

2. Click here to find your senators and their web-based email form.
Click here to get an email template you can copy and paste into the email.

]]><![CDATA[Learn about how Maple Syrup is made!]]>Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:15:50 -0600http://www.accesstoind.org/3/post/2012/03/learn-about-how-maple-syrup-is-made.htmlLearn about how Maple Syrup is made!

Trained staff and volunteers will guide visitors through the
program, which demonstrates and explains the history and
process of making maple syrup; beginning with winter tree
identification, continuing with tapping a tree, and ending with a
sample of some pure MacKenzie maple syrup!
To RSVP, especially if you need a Sign Language interpreter or
any other accommodations to participate in this program,
please call Tracy Miller at Access to Independence Inc. by the
end of the day on Friday, March 30. (608)242-8484 (Voice) or
via TTY at (608)242-8485.

Where: MacKenzie
Environmental Education Center
W7303 County Highway
CS & Q Poynette,
Wisconsin
When: Wednesday, April 4,
11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Cost: $5.00 per person
(Transportation is on your own.)
SPRING OUTING:
JOIN US TO SEE HOW MAPLE SYRUP IS MADE!

Flier ]]><![CDATA[Youth Leadership Forum 2012]]>Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:45:30 -0600http://www.accesstoind.org/3/post/2012/03/youth-leadership-forum-2012.htmlThe 10th Annual WI Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) is a FREE program for high school students with disabilities who would like to take part in a unique and fun week long leadership development program. Participants will sharpen their leadership and self-advocacy skills, develop their career awareness, experience college life, meet successful speakers from across the state with similar disabilities as theirs and develop their own Personal Leadership Plan that they will implement when they return home.

The YLF will be held June 17 – 22, 2012 on the Edgewood College campus in Madison, WI.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 16, 2012

The YLF is a competitive process. Applicants must complete the application, submit a brief response to 2 essay questions and obtain 3 letters of recommendation.
Please direct questions to Joe Mielczarek at empowerment711@gmail.com.
]]><![CDATA[Info Sheet for DHS Town Hall Meetings.]]>Fri, 09 Mar 2012 08:44:02 -0600http://www.accesstoind.org/3/post/2012/03/info-sheet-for-dhs-town-hall-meetings.html Info Sheet for DHS Town Hall Meetings The Department of Health Services (DHS) is holding a series of town hall meetings across the state. The town hall meetings are designed to gather public input on its Long-Term Care proposals to create sustainability within Family Care, IRIS, PACE, and Partnership.

The town hall meetings are a great opportunity for advocacy on disability issues. Check out Survival Coalition’s new information sheet that provides message points and questions for people who want to share their ideas with DHS.

Town halls info:

Green Bay
Thursday, March 8
3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center
1315 Lime Kiln Road
Multi-Purpose Room
Green Bay, WI 54311

La Crosse
Friday, March 9
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
UW-La Crosse
1725 State Street
Cartwright Center, Room 339
La Crosse, WI 54601
Free Parking: Lot C-2

Madison
Monday, March 12
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Goodman Community Center
149 Waubesa Street
Evjue Room D
Madison, WI 53704

Milwaukee
Tuesday, March 20
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Milwaukee Center for Independence
Conference Center
2020 West Wells St.
Milwaukee, WI 53233

Wausau
Friday, March 30
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Northcentral Technical College
Auditorium
1000 W. Campus Drive
Wausau, WI 54401

Feedback also be submitted by completing an online survey.
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