Contact:
Beth Swedeen, beth.swedeen@wisconsin.gov; (608) 220-2924;
Kristin M. Kerschensteiner, kitk@drwi.org; (608) 267-0214;
Patti Becker, beckerp@clanet.org; (608) 242-8335
Survival Coalition releases disability, aging priorities 8/12/2024
Access to in-home care, voting, and transportation for non-drivers impact all Wisconsinites
Survival Coalition—a cross-disability and aging coalition of more than 20 statewide organizations—has identified the top priorities affecting constituents in every district across the state.
“People with disabilities and unpaid caregivers, many of whom are family members, rely on in-home services to keep contributing to their communities and living in their own homes,” said Patti Becker, Survival Coalition Co-Chair. “Ongoing investment in care infrastructure—including the care workforce—is critical to support families and people with disabilities so they can continue to participate in the Wisconsin workforce and so people with disabilities and older adults can avoid costlier nursing homes and institutional settings. It’s not enough for children with disabilities and special health care needs to get into a program if they still can’t get the services you need, like private duty nursing, dentistry, and autism treatment,”
“Equal access to quality special education in all schools is critical. All schools receiving public dollars should be measured the same, keep records on who applies to attend and ends up attending the school, and show data on how well students with disabilities are learning,” said Beth Swedeen, Survival Coalition Co-Chair. “We must prepare students with disabilities to become part of Wisconsin’s modern workforce. We must modernize our employment supports to prepare young people with disabilities for today’s and tomorrow’s job market, and give them the tools to work, earn, and save more.”
“Fully participating in the community for anyone requires access to basics: affordable housing, accessible places and non-driver transportation. said Kit Kerschensteiner, Survival Coalition Co-Chair. “Access to accessible polling places and to Photo ID cards must be improved. Having the right to vote also means you need to be able to exercise that right.”
“Policies that improve the mobility and independence of people with disabilities help all of us,” said Patti Becker. “Statistically, all of us—whether by injury, circumstance, or age will—have disability touch our lives. We will become the helper. We will need help from someone else. These investments are a practical kindness to our future selves and Wisconsin.”
Complete Survival Coalition 2025-2027 budget priorities by issue area:
· Long-Term Care (Family Care, IRIS, paid and unpaid caregivers, institutions)
