EPIC - Empowering People for Integrated Communities

08/23/2014

This is my friend Mackenzie! She is bringing awareness to what people with disabilities still struggle with in this day and age. People with disabilities should be given the same opportunities and choices as non disabled people. Just because you have a disability shouldn't mean that you should be treated differently! We have a right to live and work where we want, just like everyone else! I am glad to work along side MacKenzie in different disability advocacy groups such as Central Wisconsin ADAPT and NorthCentral Advocacy Group (NAG)! Way to go Mackenzie for spreading the word! Disability Rights are Civil Rights!

We spend too much on ‘segregated facilities’ and not enough on integration.

08/09/2014

Great to see this happen! :)

This is truly amazing! 

08/08/2014

DID YOU KNOW OUR WISCONSIN FALL PRIMARY IS AUGUST 12, 2014?

Don’t forget to get out and vote!!
Photo ID IS NOT REQUIRED to vote!

Partisan primary elections are held to select a political party’s nominees for offices elected at the general election (November 4, 2014).

You may vote via absentee ballot in-person until Friday, August 8, 2014.
Recently moved? You may still register on Election Day, but will need to bring proof of registration.

If you are uncertain of what’s on your ballot or where to vote visit https://myvote.wi.gov.

Members of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, Peace Corps, Public Health Service, NOAA, and their family members.

07/04/2014

One of our vets is spreading awareness and letting neighbors know about PTSD veterans and fireworks. This is getting much needed circulation folks, please keep it going.

We have received so many requests for these signs for Veterans, that we had these made and now the easiest way to get them is to download them Free from ATP.

Click on Free download signs links and either print it yourself or email file to a sign company to make one for you to pick up.

PTSD Yard Signs for Veterans to download:

Veteran Lives Here Please be courteous with Fireworks”http://victormarx.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/VeteranLivesHere.pdf

“Combat Veteran Lives Here:
Please be courteous with Fireworks”
VeteranLivesInArea http://victormarx.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/VeteranLivesInArea.pdf

We care and we know.

Semper Fi,
Victor Marx President, ATP

PS Check out our last trip to Iraq, ticked off isis, but help out many girls formerly held captive. Yep, some of the extremist have public praying for my beheading All I can say is stand in line..- Victor

06/24/2014

Today is a BIG Day for all Americans with disabilities!

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today introduced legislation to ensure that the choice and opportunity to live in home- and community-based settings are available to all Americans with disabilities. Harkin is the Senate author of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and is Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee.

Fifteen years ago this week, the Supreme Court ruled in Olmstead v. L.C. that the unnecessary segregation of individuals with disabilities in institutions is a violation of the ADA. “Fifteen years ago in Olmstead v. L.C., the Supreme Court held that under the ADA, individuals with disabilities have the right to choose to receive their services and support in home- and community-based settings, rather than only in a nursing home or other institutional setting. But we have yet to fully realize this promise, and many individuals with disabilities—our family members and our friends—continue to reside in institutional settings against their wishes."

More than 200,000 working-age Americans remain unfairly segregated in nursing homes! “Studies clearly show that home and community-based care is not only what most people want, but it is also more cost-effective,” Harkin added. “The choice to live in the community is one of the most important civil rights issues we face today.

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today will introduce the Community Integration Act. The Community Integration Act honors the Olmstead decision and ensures that states take the steps needed to ensure that all individuals with disabilities are given the opportunity to receive their services and supports in a community based setting, where they can work, participate in community life, and be an integral part of their communities.

The Community Integration Act would:

Eliminate the Nursing Home Bias in Medicaid by clearly allowing the provision of similar care or services in home and community based settings.

Prohibit states from making anyone ineligible for home- and community-based services based on a particular disability.

Require states that have found an individual to be eligible for nursing or institutional care to similarly find those same individuals to be eligible for care in home and community-based settings.

Set clear requirements for states regarding the provision of services in home and community based settings.

Require annual reporting by states about the number of individuals with disabilities in institutional settings and the number that have been transitioned to home and community based settings.


Lets us all learn more about the important role that the federal government and Congress can play in protecting the rights of Americans with disabilities and make sure that community-integrated living options are available!

WASHINGTON, D.C.—One year after releasing a report showing that many states have not made adequate progress in ensuring the availability of home- and community-based services as an alternative to nursing homes and other institutional settings for individuals with disabilities, Senator Tom Harkin (D-…

05/17/2014

Just a reminder to all the Central Wisconsin ADAPT Members we will be meeting from 1pm to 3pm at Marilee's House for an ADAPT Meeting! Hope to see all of you there! :)

03/19/2014

Tomorrow is Disability Advocacy Day! A bunch of us are going to the Capital to talk with our legislators about issues regarding disability rights! We will be meeting with State Senator Julie Lassa and Representative Katrina Shankland! The issues that we will be talking about this year is:

ADULT LONG TERM CARE

Survival Coalition advocates for a community-based support system that allows eligible adults to live inclusive lives in the community with individualized and appropriate services to meet their needs.

INCREASE SUPPORTS FOR CHILDREN WITH SIGNIFICANT DISABILITIES

About 3000 children and youth with significant disabilities and their families are waiting for essential supports, such as specialized equipment or home modifications. The wait for children ranges from 1 to 8 years depending on where a family lives.

INCREASING EMPLOYMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

People with disabilities can and do work and contribute in their communities. Survival Coalition thanks the Governor’s office and Legislature for the $14 million additional commitment to Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and funding of Individual Placement and Supports (ISP) to increase the number of people with mental illness in integrated employment. Survival also appreciates the Governor’s commitment to training workers with disabilities, which he announced through his Better Bottom Line initiative. Yet, the employment rate for people with disabilities in Wisconsin is less than a third of the general population. People with disabilities who do work make 30% less than the general workforce and 27% live in poverty.

Survival Coalition supports integrated employment as the first and preferred outcome of public programs for people with disabilities. We believe everyone can work in integrated jobs at minimum wage or higher with the right job fit and right supports

EDUCATING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Wisconsin and federal law guarantee children with disabilities a free and appropriate public education. Often, however, these children do not receive the supports and services they need to be successful.

Wisconsin must invest in ensuring that all students, including those with disabilities, are college and workforce ready. This means taking targeted steps to reduce achievement gaps, increasing funding to keep pace with costs, and ensuring transparent and fair accountability across all educational options.

02/12/2014

President Obama's executive order to raise the minimum wage for workers under future federal contracts includes a key provision to address concerns raised by advocates for disabled workers.

02/06/2014

Please Sign This Petition!

My name is Sara Wolff. I am a 31 year-old from Moscow, Pennsylvania, who happens to have Down syndrome but that doesn’t stop me from achieving “my”...

01/18/2014

When cerebral palsy threatened to keep Cayden in a wheelchair, his big brother, Connor, stepped in and changed everything for him. Now they compete in triathlons as the best team around.

01/14/2014

Click to watch this video [13:11]

01/09/2014

Marilee Adamski-Smith was featured in a one-pager flyer that People First sent to the Wisconsin Legislators.