Survival Coalition’s Summary of the 2015-17 State Budget:
People with disabilities, their families and advocates across Wisconsin have spent the last several months testifying at hearings, making phone calls, and sending messages to legislators, sharing their ideas for improving the lives of people with disabilities by engaging in the state budget process. The Survival Coalition of more than 30 disability organizations in Wisconsin has assembled the following summary of the state budget’s impact on the disability community.
It includes an assessment of the impact on the lives of people with disabilities, their families, and allies across a series of issues areas. Check it out:
WisconSibs is looking for a few volunteers interested in decorating our display and greeting our guests at this wonderful community event. Contact the WisconSibs office if you are interested.
Individuals with disabilities previously risked health benefits if they saved more than $2,000. Recently, WisconSibs Executive Director, Harriet Redman, and Board Chairman Ed Ruffolo, attended an event in Green Bay celebrating the signing of the Wisconsin ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Act which will allow accounts to be created in Wisconsin.
The U.S. Congress passed it and President Obama signed the ABLE Act in December 2014. Our thanks to U.S. Congressman Reid Ribble for meeting with WisconSibs families to learn the impact this bill would have on families in WI and throughout the U.S. Each state must now approve in order to set up accounts in each state. The Green Bay event thanked WI Representative John Macco for his leadership in passing the bill in Wisconsin.
From the National Alliance for Caregiving and the Sibling Leadership Network:
Department of Labor Clarifies Leave Protections for Some Siblings Under FMLA
There are over one million aging caregivers caring for adult relatives with disabilities. When aging parents are no longer able to provide care, siblings frequently take over the primary caregiving role. However, there has been a great deal of confusion about their eligibility for leave protections under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) during this transition. In general, FMLA does not currently cover siblings. Over the past year the National Council on Aging, Sibling Leadership Network, and other disability partners worked with the Department of Labor to issue new guidance clarifying eligibility for this population of caregivers. Learn more about the new guidance, and check out the fact sheet on FMLA.
There’s exciting news to share about an immediate fundraising opportunity for our organization. Local marketing agencies Coalesce Marketing and BConnected are collaborating on a four-day online “crowdfunding” experiment as part of their 2GETHER•4GOOD initiative. They have invited nine local non-profit organizations to be part of it – including WisconSibs.
Here’s what Lisa Piikkila of Coalesce had to say: “Once again, we were amazed and humbled by all of the good work happening in the Fox Cities…to further extend the impact of 2GETHER•4GOOD, we are providing every applicant the opportunity to participate in an online fundraising effort to help raise funds for their organization.”
The campaign starts today (May 21st) and runs through Sunday (the 24th), which means that over the next four days, we have the opportunity to raise funds that will support upcoming SIBshop and the SibCamp Scholarship Program.
Donating is easy, since the campaign is based on the CrowdRise platform. Just go to https://www.crowdrise.com/2g4gsibs and give what you can. And feel free to pass this link on to your friends so they can contribute as well!
Thank you for your support. Together, we can make this campaign a success!
Please note: CrowdRise pulls in organizational information from an independent non-profit database, which still has WisconSibs listed as the Fox Valley Sibling Support Network. While you’ll see the correct logo on our fundraising page, our name is still listed as FVSSN. This does not affect where your donations go: all the money we receive will be put toward the WisconSibs programs and services you know and love.
The annual HUMAN RACE walk/run took place Saturday, May 2 and it was a great celebration of the generosity of our community and the value that nonprofits bring to our citizens. WisconSibs, Inc participated with a small team of walkers and many online donors supporting us.
You can still make your donation online (until May 18) or by sending your donation to WisconSibs, 211 E Franklin St, Appleton, WI 54911.
One of the highlights was the University of Wisconsin Marching Band performing their 5th Quarter. Click here for video.
We are so excited that you are here. Whether you are visiting us for the first time, or have followed us for years, we welcome you to our new website…and our new name!
For years we have been serving siblings, professionals and others as the Fox Valley Sibling Support Network. It was a fitting name for a new nonprofit back in 1998 who was breaking through with new ideas and wanted to create and develop high quality programs and services for siblings throughout their lifelong journey.
As those programs developed and have grown, we’ve become recognized as a unique resource throughout the state of Wisconsin and beyond with our SIBshop, Sib Camps, teen leadership opportunities and adult sibling programs. The need for such services has grown, too, as more people with disabilities grow older, and siblings find themselves dealing with issues of aging parents, growing children, and quality of life choices with their siblings.
So lets get acquainted. Look around our new site. Whether you are a sibling or other family member, a professional, or a volunteer interested in the concerns of people with disabilities, we hope you find an opportunity to get involved in WisconSibs.
