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Wisconsin - 2013 Archives
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Please also check out Hot Off the Press! Wisconsin for the latest on current news that could impact Wisconsin Citizens with Disabilities
Please also check out Legislation: Wisconsin for the latest on important legislative issues that could impact Wisconsin Citizens with Disabilities
Hot Off the Press! Archives
2013 - October - Wisconsin is one of 11 States to receive Federal grant to improve youth employment outcomes
Via the PROMISE Initiative, 11 states will receive a share of $211 million over five years to better prepare youth with disabilities for the workforce. The chosen states include Wisconsin. They will develop demonstration projects that will support the most at-risk students and their families via the provision of career exploration, community work experience, financial literacy training, social and soft skills training, and family training on employment expectations. Ultimately, the initiative's goal is to transition youth towards economic self-sufficiency and independence, rather than reliance on SSI. Other awarded states include: Arkansas, California, Maryland, and New York in addition to a consortium of states comprised of Utah, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Colorado and Arizona.
2013 September - West Allis - New Clothing Store Accessible Wear with Unique Wardrobe for those with Physical Disabilities
An entire clothing store catering to the unique wardrobe needs of those with physical disabilities. And right here at home in good old Wisconsin! A new clothing store, Accessible Wear, will open at 11045 W. National Ave., West Allis this fall. Velcro, snaps and magnet-equipped shirts are amoungst the adaptive clothing as well as specially fashion designed clothing for women in wheelchairs. At this store you will be able to try on the clothing and feel the fabric rather than ordering on-line. For more information, visit their website at Accessible Wear
2013 - September - NHU congratulates the winners of the U.S. Disabled Sailing Championship, Milwaukee Community Sailing Center and U.S. Sailing
Sara Everhart-Skeels and Gerry Tiernan Ready to Race
Congratulations to our very own Wisconsinite, John Ruf, from Pewaukee, who won the 2.4mR class race, the U.S. Disabled Singlehanded Championship, coming in first in all 7 races of the event for the Judd Goldman Trophy this weekend at the US Disabled Sailing Championships on Lake Michigan, hosted by the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center, sanctioned by U.S. Sailing. The team of Sara Everhart-Skeels and Gerry Tiernan from Newport/Maine who won the Ideal 18 class race, U.S. Doublehanded Championship for the Chandler Hovey Trophy. This is a first for these sailors to win a U.S. Sailing Championship race although they are experienced and accomplished athletes in the world of competitive sail racing. Three days of sailing gave up just seven races due to inclement weather on Saturday, September 7th. Otherwise the sailors raced through large wave conditions and 18-20 knot winds at times on Friday, September 6th. Although they all described the waves as being exceedingly challenging, everyone seemed willing to ride them for the U.S. Disabled Sailing Championship and the coveted awards. Congratulations to all the competitors for a challenging race weekend! For more photos and to read more about this event!
2013 - Wisconsin's own Paralympic winner, John Ruf, from Pewaukee, Wisconsin has entered to compete in the upcoming U.S. Disabled Sailing Championships to be held at the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center this September.
John Ruf from Pewaukee, Wisconsin will compete with the best as he
sails in the upcoming U.S. Disabled Sailing Championships to be held at the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center, September 5-8th. This is the only national championship for disabled sailors and will be held on the Great Lakes for the first time along Milwaukee's beautiful lakefront!
Ruf finished with a Bronze Medal in the Beijing Paralympic Games in 2008 and has proven he is the best against able-bodied sailors as well, when he won the Open World Sailing Championship in 2009 and the U.S. Open National Championship in 2010. This is one sport that sailors can leave their mobility disabilities behind and compete at any level!! For more information about John Ruf, visit this 2013 article in Sailing Breezes Online Magazine. For more information about the Milwaukee Regatta, visit our article below.
2013 - September 26th - Southeast Regional Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin will sponsor Care in the Community: Embrace Diversity; Empower Yourself, Educate Your Community
Do you want to learn more about health care and health care funding for yourself or a family member with special healthcare needs? Try to make this "must attend" workshop with keynote speaker, Stevie Hopkins, of 3ELove who will share his inspirational life's work and more life experiences from the testimonials of people with disability. Several sessions will be available after lunch on how to access Medicaid and waiver funding, understand health information, how to advocate for yourself or your child and strategies and resources for people with special healthcare needs. The workshop will take place at the Radisson Hotel, 2303 N. Mayfair Road, Wauwatosa, WI from 7:30a.m. to 3:30p.m. Thursday, September 26th, 2013. For more information, check out the Care in the Community brochure. Register by September 18th, 2013 for this one day workshop and get a continental breakfast and lunch, all for just $15.
2013 - Wisconsin Respite Care Association of Wisconsin has developed a free online training for respite care or care providers
Wisconsin Respite Care Association of Wisconsin in partnership with Easter Seals Wisconsin has developed a free online training for respite care providers or those who would like to become care providers. The goal is to create a “Caring Network” of highly trained respite care providers who will have the required skills to provide in-home respite care for individuals with a variety of disabilities.
The ultimate goal of the training is to address the shortage of qualified in-home respite care providers in Wisconsin and expand an online referral source for families and caregivers to access these trained providers in their communities.
The comprehensive online course is designed for people providing care to individuals of varying disabilities and ages. The course covers: Disability Basics, Lifts & Transfers, Personal Care/Daily Living Skills, Medication Administration, Communication Techniques, Abuse and Neglect, Caring for Challenging Behaviors, Free Time Activities, and Making Connections (meeting/training with the family). This will allow participants to work at their own pace, with the ability to start and stop the modules as they go. The online training course makes use of videos, worksheets and quizzes to test the knowledge of participants. Upon successful completion of the online course, the participants will receive a certificate and be offered the opportunity to be added to an online respite care provider registry.
To sign up for the free online course or to learn more please visit their website or call (608) 222-2033. This programs is supported by the U.S. Administration on Aging’s Lifespan Respite Care Program, Project #90LR0022/01
2013 - U.S. Disabled Sailing Championship to be held in Milwaukee at the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center in September
The Milwaukee Community Sailing Center is proud to host the 2013 U.S. Disabled Sailing Championship on Lake Michigan this September 5-8, 2013. It is the only national championship for disabled sailors and will be held on the Great Lakes for the first time along Milwaukee's beautiful lakefront.
The U.S. Disabled Sailing Championship is expected to bring in approximately 45 registered competitors, national competitors including medalists from the previous Paralympic games. The four-day event will include a racing clinic on Thursday with races on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. An awards ceremony will be held Sunday. The Milwaukee Community Sailing Center will be hosting the event along with many other sponsors including the Milwaukee Yacht Club.
The sailing will take place out beyond the breakwater so public viewing may be difficult from shore.
This is a U.S. Sailing event. Four Days of Racing 2.4 mR (single-handed) I Ideal-18 (double-handed) I Sonar (open three-person keelboat) on Lake Michigan in pursuit of the Goldman, Hinkel and Hovey Trophies
The U.S. Disabled Sailing Championship is open to sailors with disabilities including quadriplegics, paraplegics and amputees, as well as individuals with multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, polio and ALS. Each sailor is given a rating based on the severity of his or her respective disability, which qualifies him or her for the three different categories for boat designs. Each sailor must possess current IFDS classification. Opportunities for IFDS classification may be available but prior arrangements must be made by the competitor.
For more information on eligibility, race classification, and registration, visit U.S. DISABLED SAILING CHAMPIONSHIP
Milwaukee Community Sailing Center
June 8, 2013 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Attend Managing Multiple Sclerosis: The Role of Rehabilitation Services, Free Seminar, Columbia St. Mary's
Columbia St. Mary's, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, will present this free seminar that will discuss new therapies used to treat and manage MS on Saturday, June 8, from 9:00 am – 11:45 am at Water Tower Medical Commons, First Floor Conference Room
2350 N. Lake Dr. For more information, visit their MS Seminar Flyer
June 2, 2013 - Free Pancake Breakfast, Free State Park Day, Friends of Harrington Beach State Park, Support the Accessible Cabin Project
The Friends of Harrington Beach State Park will host a free Pancake Breakfast at the Welcome Center at the park on June 2, 2013 from 8:00AM until noon. Entrance to the park is also free on that day.
At the Pancake Breakfast enjoy all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast with sausage, applesauce, coffee and milk at no charge. All donations from this year's event will be used to construct an accessible cabin in the campground. Start your day with a relaxing breakfast and afterwards enjoy this beautiful park!
Come support the accessible cabin with a donation and enjoy a walk on the beach after breakfast! For more information and a map, visit Friends of Harrington Beach Free Pancake Breakfast
2013 - May - Camping in Accessible Cabins of Wisconsin featured in New Mobility Magazine
In the May issue of New Mobility Magazine there is a featured article on Camping in Accessible Cabins by Mike Ervin. Art Miller, Anthonette Gilpatrick and Bryan Casper from the Wisconsin cabin projects were interviewed and quoted in the article. One has to prescribe to New Mobility Magazine to read the article at Camping in Accessible Cabins
March 6, 2013 - NAMI's "Pieces: In My Own Voice"
NAMI Greater Milwaukee and Milwaukee Public Theater are putting on Pieces: In My Own Voice, an original production by Brenda Wasley, as part of their effort to educate the community about mental illness, dispel stereotypes and provide ongoing informational resources. The teen and adult cast brings to light the people behind the labels of Schizophrenia, ADHD, Depression, Anxiety, Bi-polar Disorder, and Suicide.
The one hour long show will be held at Roosevelt Middle School (800 W Walnut St.) Wednesday, March 6th 10:10am. As the former President of NAMI Greater Milwaukee, I know that events like this are key in building our community's understanding of mental health. To reserve seats and for more information call the Milwaukee Public Theater at (414) 347-1685.
March 2013 - Guitars for Vets to heal ailing and injured military veterans
Guitars for Vets, Inc. is a non-profit organization that enhances the lives of ailing and injured military veterans by providing them with guitars and music instruction. Through self-expression and the healing power of music, it is our intent to restore the feelings of joy and purpose that can be lost after suffering trauma.
In 2007 Patrick Nettesheim, a Milwaukee-area guitar instructor, was introduced to Viet Nam Era Marine, Dan Van Buskirk. Dan wanted to play guitar, but felt that the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) had left him with the inability to coordinate the hands and the mind. What Dan soon discovered was that the same strong heart and spirit that got him through Viet Nam was all that he needed to make music and learn guitar.
It was a few months into these lessons that Dan suggested the two of them bring this modality to the Veterans at the VA in Milwaukee. The idea was born, and Patrick coined the name and slogan: GUITARS FOR VETS - The healing power of music in the hands of heroes. Since 2007, Guitars for Vets has provided over 1,200 new guitars and 8,000 lessons to our Nation's Veterans. Chapters have been established in over 25 cities in 15 states across the country, with more being added as resources are available.
March 2013 - Wisconsin's State Parks 8th Fully Accessible Cabin to be built at Harrington Beach State Park
The Friends of Harrington Beach State Park, a local citizen support group, in partnership with the Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources are planning to build Wisconsin’s 8th
wheelchair accessible cabin for people with disabilities at the family campground of Harrington Beach State Park
near Belgium, Wisconsin.
The cabin will be built in memory and honor of Jim Schendel, an active member of Wisconsin’s disability community, and a tireless advocate for increased accessibility within the park, who unexpectedly passed away in January 2008. Jim also volunteered for New Horizons Un-Limited
as a computer trainer at various computer labs and workshops for people with disabilities across Southeastern Wisconsin.
The Friends Group has asked New Horizons Un-Limited, Miller Engineering Information Technologies Group Inc., and
Strass Maguire and Associates Inc., architects, to coordinate accessibility issues and donate the design for
Jim's cabin for the State of Wisconsin.
For more information about the accessible cabin project, see our NHU press release at 8th Accessible Cabin to be built at Harrington Beach State Park
You can help make this accessible cabin available to the many campers who might not otherwise be able to enjoy
the experience of camping in the great outdoors.
The Harrington Accessible Cabin is in the stage of raising funds and is seeking your support. To learn more about
this project, how you may be able to assist with their fund raising efforts, see the Friends of Harrington Beach State Park Letter. To make a tax-deductible, 501(c)(3)
donation to FHBSP/Accessible Cabin, call the park at (262) 285-3015 or e-mail us at New Horizons Un-Limited at
horizons@new-horizons.org.
March 2013 - Milwaukee Community Sailing Center to host U.S. Disabled Sailing Championships September 5-8th, 2013
The Milwaukee Community Sailing Center will be the site of the U.S. Disabled Sailing Championships, September 5th-8th, 2013. The Championships are still in the planning stage, information to be forthcoming.
March 20, 2013 - Survival Coalition of Wisconsin Disability Organizations will host Disability Advocacy Day in Madison
The Survival Coalition of Wisconsin Disability Organizations will host Disability Advocacy Day in Madison on March 20, 2013. A day for you to connect with your legislators and share your story with them, tell them how legislative policies affect people with disabilities. The survival coalition will give a briefing and will set up your legislative visit. You can register online or by submitting the registration form. The deadline to register is Wednesday, March 13. See the article at Disability Advocacy Day. Article no longer available.
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