 A Quarterly Newsletter for Our Community Members with Disabilities
New Horizons Un-Limited Inc. (NHU) is a non-profit organization based in Milwaukee with a mission to make information and life experiences accessible to people with life-long disabilities, their families and caregivers. To learn more about our mission and activities, please visit the New Horizons Un-Limited website at www.new-horizons.org or e-mail horizons@new-horizons.org.
Lawmakers call for Bipartisan Medicaid ReformIn the article "Modernize Medicaid to better support people with disabilities," published on The Hill, an online legislative news source, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) suggest improving Medicaid to better serve people with disabilities in the community. The legislators believe that "our continued heavy reliance on outdated and expensive institutions to serve people with disabilities reflects inertia and politics rather than the needs of people with disabilities." Despite the significant cost savings, community services are often the first to be cut, as states work to reign in their budgets. The authors acknowledged this trend by stating, “These cuts have typically been short-sighted. Rather than taking steps to reduce wasteful spending on institutional settings, many states have cut the services that keep people with disabilities in their own homes and communities.” At a time when Medicaid is facing intense scrutiny, this bipartisan call for thoughtful, cost-effective reform is a welcome change from politics as usual. Contact your Legislators and encourage them to work with Senator Harkin and Representative McMorris in designing a Medicaid program that will deliver cost-effective community-based care! Read the article in its entirety. Locate and contact your elected officials: United States House of Representatives | United States Senate Back to TopTips for effectively communicating with your RepresentativesYour elected official is your voice, and you are their eyes and ears. Despite the common misperception, politicians do care about what you have to say. It is you, after all, who determines their fate in public office. Following are a few tips to ensure that your concerns are effectively delivered:White House Virtual Town Hall Answers Disability Policy QuestionsThe White House hosted a Virtual Town Hall on Disability.gov on Thursday, July 14th. During the meeting, White House staffers answered questions submitted by disability advocates concerning health care, housing, education, and employment. This is your chance to see how the White House plans to address the issues that impact you! The one-hour event is available for viewing via the Disability.gov website. Back to Top
Wisconsin InterestSummer fun in WisconsinLooking to get out and enjoy the remaining 2 months of sunshiny warmth in Wisconsin? Check out the following programs for some summer fun! Milwaukee Center for Independence Express L.I.F.E(414) 937-2100 Goodwill On the Move (262) 970-6042 Wisconsin Voter ID UpdateWith the recent passage of the 2011 Wisconsin Act 23, voters will see a few changes to the voting process in Wisconsin in 2012. Following are a few key changes that will take effect for the 2012 Elections:Governor Walker to reevaluate Family Care caps in coming months; delivering much needed community-based servicesThe biennial budget that Governor Walker signed into law in June includes a freeze on long-term care programs for adults with disabilities, including Family Care/IRIS. The freeze will block additional applicants and will halt the rollout of Family Care and IRIS in counties that do not yet offer the program. The freeze will force many Wisconsin citizens with disabilities onto waiting lists for essential community-based services, and analysts predict, could lead to an increase in costly and unnecessary nursing home admissions. In a recent interview posted by JSOnline, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has acknowledged that community and client-directed care are priorities for the state of Wisconsin. The Governor went on to explain that the caps on Family Care are in place while an audit reveals the program's effectiveness at delivering care in the community. The Governor contends that some counties were not meeting the objectives of the program by directing clients towards more costly institutional care rather than home-based care. The Governor supports lifting the caps so long as counties comply with the program's objectives and clients’ needs and wishes. Check out the JSOnline video interview. Contact the Governor’s office to encourage swift action: Governor Scott WalkerPO Box 7863 Madison, WI 53707 (608) 266-1212 govgeneral@wisconsin.gov Back to Top
NHU HighlightsThank You Sponsors & Golfers for Making Our 8th Annual Golf Outing a SuccessA warm June day, a championship caliber golf course, nearly 120 golfers, and a team of eager volunteers, makes for one spectacular golf outing! We are very fortunate to have dedicated corporate supporters that continue to round up foursomes and sponsor our event, year after year. As a small, grassroots organization, this support goes a long way in serving our community members with disabilities. Back to TopAnnual Fundraising with Flower Bulbs SaleBeautify your yard and neighborhood while supporting programs for your community members with disabilities through the New Horizons Un-Limited 9th Annual Fundraising with Flower bulbs Sale. Our supplier, VanBourgondien, has been providing quality flower bulbs for more than 100 years. Beauty and quality is guaranteed! Our sale will run through Friday, September 16th, with bulbs being delivered in early-mid October. Order online via the VanBourgondien website or call to request a catalogue and order form, 414-299-0124. Back to Top
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