The Survival Coalition hosted a virtual aging and disability policy forum Oct. 13 to discuss the upcoming election, caregiver support, special education and affordable housing.
The panel was hosted by Jenny Price, executive director of the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities and Tami Jackson, the co-chair of Survival Coalition. Advocacy groups like Wisconsin Aging Advocacy Network (WAAN) hosted the forum after community members said political candidates were not directly addressing disability and aging issues.
Across the panel, the necessity of incoming policy makers and politicians to support and recognize disability rights was at the forefront.
“It’s shocking that so far, the candidates for governor right now have not spoken directly on any of these issues,” Carl Schulze, a disability rights advocate said, referencing gubernatorial candidates Democrat Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany.
Both candidates have made general comments on disability issues in the state, but activists like Schulze are looking for more clear plans and action.
Schulze also referenced weakening of federal enforcement surrounding disability rights, which could threaten access to community-based care, employment support and independent living.
“It’s really bureaucratic imprisonment,” Schulze said.
The panelists were asked what interactions they have had with Crowley and Tiffany. Schulze shared he had been on a Zoom call conference with Crowley.
“He seemed rather new to these issues and ideas, but receptive,” Schulze said.
WAAN reached out to both Tiffany and Crowley to participate in the forum during the planning stages. They also asked to meet to discuss policy priorities, and advocates met with the Crowley campaign. There has not been a meeting between WAAN and Tiffany.
Lisa Schneider, executive director for the Respite Care Association of Wisconsin, highlighted challenges caregivers face and her own experience as a caregiver for her daughter.
Schneider said the most common calls the association receives from caregivers are mental health related, while other calls deal with medical crises and care recipient safety issues for people at risk of abuse and neglect.
In regards to her family, Schneider worries about what the future landscape of policy and society will look like for people with disabilities.
“I can’t plan for the dealing with unstable policies, shrinking services and a workforce that just might not be there,” Schneider said. “My deepest fear — paralysis — is not whether funding and community care will survive, but whether society will continue to honor [my daughter’s] full rights, dignity and humanity.”
The panel also emphasized the importance of accessible and affordable housing for people with disabilities.
“It’s not a new problem. It’s something that we’ve been working on for housing advocacy for the last 25 years. We knew this would become worse and worse over time,” said Brian Peters, the Independent Living Services Assistant Program Director at Independence First.
He added as it becomes increasingly more difficult to find homes, people will attempt to make modifications independently which may be unsafe. Over half of all housing in Wisconsin was built before 1980 and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Communities also may also plan disability services around the welfare system and Medicaid funding over a system that supports independence for people with disabilities.
“Housing is really the cornerstone of people’s ability to live independently in the community,” Jason Glozier, executive director for the Network of Independent Living Centers, said.
Another issue during the panel was special education funding. Megan Hulton, director of Community Education and Training at the Autism Society of Wisconsin and the mother of children receiving special education, shared both a parent and policy perspective.
She said school policies are often reactive instead of proactive for students with disabilities, and schools are struggling with resources, time and staffing.
“Schools are doing the best they can, but they don’t have the funding and they don’t have the resources,” Hulton said.
