WI Board for People with Developmental Disabilities: Announces first-year Wisconsin Disability Policy Fellows for 2024-2025

The Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (BPDD) in collaboration with the Inclusa Foundation is excited to announce the selection of two outstanding Wisconsin Disability Policy Fellows for the 2024-2025 term, Jenny Price of Verona and Nicki Vander Meulen of Madison. These remarkable candidates were chosen from a highly competitive pool of applicants for their expertise, passion, and commitment to disability policy and advocacy.


Jenny Price will serve her Fellowship at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services in the Division of Medicaid Services, where she will focus on children and adult long-term care projects. Her work will support program operations.


Nicki Vander Meulen will serve her Fellowship at the Department of Workforce Development, working in the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. She will contribute to key projects aimed at improving employment opportunities and outcomes for individuals with disabilities, continuing her dedication to disability rights and empowerment.


Beth Swedeen, BPDD Executive Director praised the quality of the fellows, saying, “We are thrilled to welcome Jenny and Nicki as our first Wisconsin Disability Policy Fellows. Among a highly competitive statewide pool of candidates, both Jenny and Nicki bring an exceptional understanding of public policy, along with lived experience of the programs and policies they will be working on. Their contributions will surely have a meaningful impact on the communities we serve.”


BPDD’s Fellowship program is made possible through funding from the Inclusa Foundation, which supports initiatives aimed at advancing services and policies for individuals with disabilities. Their commitment to fostering leadership and advocacy has been instrumental in bringing this program to life and ensuring its success.


The program will launch the next round of Internship applications on October 1, 2024. Interested applicants can find more information at WI Disability Policy Leadership Program – Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (wi-bpdd.org)


For more information about the Wisconsin Disability Policy Program, fellowship and internship opportunities, and application details, contact Sally Flaschberger at sally.flaschberger@wisconsin.gov