For Immediate Release March 16, 2017
Contact: Lisa Pugh, State Director (608) 422-4250
The Arc Wisconsin Supports Residents to Tell Their Story in Washington, DC
Madison, WI – The Arc Wisconsin is inviting passionate disability rights advocates to apply to join a team of Wisconsinites who will meet their Congressional members, perhaps for the first time, this April in Washington. D.C. Last fall Congress tried but failed to pass legislation that would have dramatically changed the Medicaid program which funds critical supports for people with disabilities in Wisconsin. The Arc Wisconsin is encouraging people to apply for a $1,000 stipend to join other disability rights advocates at the Disability Policy Seminar (DPS) held from 23-25 April in Washington, DC and share their personal stories with the Wisconsin Congressional Delegation.
DPS is the premier opportunity to cultivate champions on Capitol Hill and advance the grassroots movement for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). For 40 years, this unique platform has offered the opportunity to come together with passionate advocates, self-advocates, experts, and professionals in the field to learn about key issues affecting people with I/DD in communities across the country.
“We are already hearing from people from Superior to Janesville who are interested in going to Washington for the very first time to tell their story,” says Lisa Pugh, State Director. “It is important for policymakers to meet people with disabilities and their families before they make big changes to programs people rely upon or their daily life.”
During DPS, participants will learn about the latest from Capitol Hill, best practices in direct services and care for people with disabilities, and get exclusive insight on what the future holds for state and federal disability policy. The Seminar will culminate with an opportunity for attendees to travel to Capitol Hill to speak with their Senators and members of Congress on the information that they gathered over the previous two days.
The Arc Wisconsin invited all interested individuals to enter this competition to win a chance to network with disability rights experts and bring your ideas to Senators Johnson and Baldwin, Speaker Paul Ryan and all Wisconsin members of the House of Representatives on how to promote and protect the rights of people with disabilities in Wisconsin and the nation. Find more information here: www.arcwi.org
The Disability Policy Seminar event is hosted by The Arc, the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), the Association of University Centers on Disability (AUCD), National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE) and United Cerebral Palsy (UCP).
About The Arc Wisconsin
The Arc Wisconsin advocates for and serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including Down syndrome, autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, cerebral palsy and other diagnoses. The Arc Wisconsin has a network of 15 chapters statewide, joining a network of over 650 chapters across the country promoting and protecting the human rights of people with I/DD and actively supporting their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes and without regard to diagnosis.
Editor’s Note: The Arc is not an acronym; always refer to us as The Arc, not The ARC and never ARC. The Arc should be considered as a title or a phrase.
###
