March 28, 2018
People First Wisconsin Thanks Governor Walker for Signing the Employment First Bill into Law
(MILWAUKEE) - People First Wisconsin is thrilled that Governor Walker signed into law today a bill that will strengthen employment supports for people with disabilities. The employment first law will hold state departments accountable for prioritizing supports that get people with disabilities into community jobs and support them at work.
"On behalf of People First of Wisconsin, I'm very excited about the Employment First Bill. We thank our governor for supporting People First, as well as all people who benefit, especially our young people and our soon to be leaders," remarks Cindy Bentley, Executive Director of People First.
Bentley says employment is a top priority for people with disabilities, who say they want to work more and contribute in their communities. "People with disabilities are one of the few groups of people who love paying their taxes," Bentley said. We know that means that we are working and paying in. I love paying my taxes, because I'm paying back into the system." If people find meaningful work, people will need less support from the government, such as FoodShare among other welfare programs.
Members of people first Wisconsin from its 17 chapters around the state have worked hard toward passing this bill and participated in today’s bill signing in Madison.
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IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM OUR PARTNERS AT SURVIVAL COALITION
Ask Your Legislator to Support the Public Assistance Advisory Committee! Senator Kathleen Vinehout has authored a draft bill to create a Public Assistance Advisory Committee so that people with disabilities can have a say on upcoming changes to public assistance programs like housing, Medicaid and FoodShare. Survival Coalition needs your help to make sure this bill has strong support in the Legislature.
Please call or e-mail your state senator and state representative today and ask them to sign on to LRB 5516/1, the Public Assistance Advisory Committee. Here are some things you can say when you call:
“Please create a Public Assistance Advisory Committee so that people with disabilities can have a say about planned changes to these programs.”
“If the state wants to change public assistance to make it better, people with disabilities should be allowed to bring their ideas to the table.”
“People with disabilities rely on key public assistance programs to live their daily lives. Small changes to public assistance programs can have a big impact on the lives of people with disabilities. Major program changes need to be discussed with the people who use the programs.”
How to Contact Your Legislators:
To get your legislator’s contact information, go to Legislature’s website: http://legis.wisconsin.gov. In the right-hand side of the home page is a link that says Find My Legislators! Type your address in the box below that link to get the names and contact information of your state representative and senator.
People First Wisconsin Thanks Governor Walker for Signing the Employment First Bill into Law
(MILWAUKEE) - People First Wisconsin is thrilled that Governor Walker signed into law today a bill that will strengthen employment supports for people with disabilities. The employment first law will hold state departments accountable for prioritizing supports that get people with disabilities into community jobs and support them at work.
"On behalf of People First of Wisconsin, I'm very excited about the Employment First Bill. We thank our governor for supporting People First, as well as all people who benefit, especially our young people and our soon to be leaders," remarks Cindy Bentley, Executive Director of People First.
Bentley says employment is a top priority for people with disabilities, who say they want to work more and contribute in their communities. "People with disabilities are one of the few groups of people who love paying their taxes," Bentley said. We know that means that we are working and paying in. I love paying my taxes, because I'm paying back into the system." If people find meaningful work, people will need less support from the government, such as FoodShare among other welfare programs.
Members of people first Wisconsin from its 17 chapters around the state have worked hard toward passing this bill and participated in today’s bill signing in Madison.
###
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM OUR PARTNERS AT SURVIVAL COALITION
Ask Your Legislator to Support the Public Assistance Advisory Committee! Senator Kathleen Vinehout has authored a draft bill to create a Public Assistance Advisory Committee so that people with disabilities can have a say on upcoming changes to public assistance programs like housing, Medicaid and FoodShare. Survival Coalition needs your help to make sure this bill has strong support in the Legislature.
Please call or e-mail your state senator and state representative today and ask them to sign on to LRB 5516/1, the Public Assistance Advisory Committee. Here are some things you can say when you call:
“Please create a Public Assistance Advisory Committee so that people with disabilities can have a say about planned changes to these programs.”
“If the state wants to change public assistance to make it better, people with disabilities should be allowed to bring their ideas to the table.”
“People with disabilities rely on key public assistance programs to live their daily lives. Small changes to public assistance programs can have a big impact on the lives of people with disabilities. Major program changes need to be discussed with the people who use the programs.”
How to Contact Your Legislators:
To get your legislator’s contact information, go to Legislature’s website: http://legis.wisconsin.gov. In the right-hand side of the home page is a link that says Find My Legislators! Type your address in the box below that link to get the names and contact information of your state representative and senator.
Next Board Meeting - March 19, 2018
Our next board meeting will be held on Monday, March 19 in Madison, Wisconsin at the Park Hotel. We will be holding it the day before Disability Advocacy Day and encourage all of our members to attend both days of events.
For more information about our meeting, email Cindy at peoplefirstwi@gmail.com. For more information about Disability Advocacy Day, visit www.survivalcoalitionwi.org.
For more information about our meeting, email Cindy at peoplefirstwi@gmail.com. For more information about Disability Advocacy Day, visit www.survivalcoalitionwi.org.
Home and Community-Based Services Waiver
Transition Period Extended for Compliance with Home and Community-Based Settings RuleThe Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has extended the transition period for states to demonstrate compliance with the home and community-based settings criteria until March 17, 2022.
This extension will allow more time for settings to come into compliance with the provisions of the rule and give time for CMS to clarify some of the policies and procedures of the rule.
At this point, the Department of Health Services (DHS) will continue to move forward with determining compliance of residential and non-residential settings so that providers that are compliant can be assured they meet the requirements, and providers that do not meet compliance will have time to remediate any deficiency.
