MADISON, WI — People with disabilities, families, and advocates have grown increasingly concerned about leaders using public platforms to advance outdated and dangerous ideas that portray as people with disabilities as burdens, question whether individuals have value if they do not match metrics of success defined by able-bodied people, and suggest “involuntary lethal injection” as a policy solution for homeless people who also have mental health issues.
Federal policy changes and funding cuts jeopardize who in the future will be able to live in their homes and the community. For 50 years Wisconsin has been a leader in supporting people in their homes and avoiding the outcome of too many people warehoused in expensive state DD Centers, mental health institutions, and nursing homes. Advocates fear that is about to change. Indifference may result in a return to old, outdated, and dangerous ideas that put people in places that are not where anyone wants to live.
The following changes and proposals have the disability and aging communities of Wisconsin speaking out now about the dangers and additional costs resulting from:
n The Largest Cut to Medicaid in History
n Harmful Actions to the Direct Care Workforce
n Reversal of Inclusive Initiatives
n Misinformation on Autism and other disabilities
n Threats to “round up” homeless people and open new “insane asylums”
n Drastic cuts to SNAP, subsidized housing, and energy programs
n Elimination of Administration for Community Living that provided needed programs and quality oversight on disability and aging programs.
Learn how these cuts and changes will ripple through Wisconsin communities and impact Wisconsin health care, workforce, and quality of community life.
Speakers at this press conference will say what these cuts and changes mean to:
- People with disabilities already facing the dire shortage of caregivers and are worried their next stop is a nursing home or other facility.
- Family caregivers who are leaving, have left or have reduced employment because of eroding public supports.
- Aging and mental health advocates worried about where people will live and potential resurrection of failed congregate approaches from the past.
- Businesses that already are seeing economic impacts.
We urge everyone in Wisconsin to prepare to check on your neighbors, loved ones and friends.
SPEAKERS
n Stacy Ellingen has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from UW-Whitewater. As a business owner, she works several different disability advocacy organizations doing a variety of things to advocate for people with disabilities. Living with a significant physical disability herself, she uses her personal experiences to advocate for others who may not be able to. She believes that people with different abilities should have access to the supports and services they need to be able to live life to the fullest.
n LaKisha Hudson is a staff member at Independent Living resources and the lead staff of RAVE, a peer run recovery center serving the LaCrosse area. Previously she worked as part of a street team focused on housing security and intersections of homelessness and disability. As a Certified Peer Specialist, LaKisha brings her lived experiences to the forefront meeting people’s needs.
n Cindy Bentley is Executive Direct of People First Wisconsin and lives independently in the Milwaukee area. She spent much of her childhood until age 26 in a state in institution where she had no control of her life. Since leaving the institution, she has held many competitive jobs, has been an International Spokesperson for Special Olympics, and has risen to become one of the only statewide leaders of a disability advocacy program who has a developmental disability. She is a passionate champion for people with disabilities to be able to make their own choices and live in the community.
n Lori Karcher is the parent, co-guardian and live-in caregiver of a young adult with several disabilities. Her daughter, who uses a wheelchair, is affected by cerebral palsy, a significant cognitive delay and a seizure disorder, all which impact her ability to live in her home and community without assistance 24-hours a day. Lori has navigated complicated healthcare decisions, the Birth to 3 program, Early Childhood, Special Education through age 21 and transition to adulthood alongside her daughter. Lori is grateful for programs that support people with disabilities to live the life they choose and hope to see them continue.
n Lynn Meshke lives in Northeast Wisconsin and is the parent of a young adult son with autism and cerebral palsy. She is deeply concerned about the growing use of dehumanizing language and false narratives from governmental and societal leaders when discussing people with disabilities. Lynn believes that every individual is deserving of respect and compassion, and that our communities are stronger and more vibrant when people with disabilities have the support they need to live safe, healthy, and fully engaged lives.
