In today's episode we hear from Stephen Graves, a renowned national Diversity, Equity and Inclusion expert who has spent time thinking about the intersection of race and disability.  Stephen advises us not to play the "Oppression Olympics" but to get on a  journey of cultural humility and start courageous conversations, wherever we work or live. Listen in and you'll come away with concrete tips for what you can do today to make sure we don't keep repeating our history of shoving people to the side. 

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Am I eligible for the vaccine? Should I get the vaccine? Where can I get the vaccine? So many questions. And we have all the answers right here! We  are joined by a 30-year veteran registered nurse who is taking the lead getting shots in people's arms all across Wisconsin. Sue Urban is a nurse consultant with the state's IRIS program and knows more than almost anyone in the state about how, where and why people with disabilities and their caregivers can get their vaccination for the COVID-19 virus. Sue wants us all to "get stuck" and will definitely tell you to not throw away your shot! Take a listen! 

This episode was recorded on March 10, 2021 and information may have changed. Information provided here is specific to residents in the state of Wisconsin. 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Wisconsin's Vaccine Help Line:  1- (844) 684-1064  
• BPDD COVID-19  plain language fact sheets:  https://wi-bpdd.org/index.php/vaccine-information/
• COVID-19: Information for Adults in Long Term Care Programs:  https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/forwardhealth-adult.htm
• Vaccinator Map: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/vaccine-map.htm  

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"Mommy, when you die am I taking care of Phillip?" This question from a 7-year-old was the seed that planted WisconSibs, an organization that's been serving siblings of children and adults with disabilities for the past two decades. In this podcast episode we speak candidly with WisconSibs founder Harriet Redman about the secrets siblings sometimes keep, how a soccer game started it all and how a little complaining is a good thing. Harriet closes our conversation with warning that is essential for any Mom or Dad, regardless of the age of your child, to hear. 

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When a Dad wanted to save money for his daughter with a disability and realized things weren't fair, he set out to change the law. And thus the ABLE Act was born, giving people with disabilities the ability to save money without losing their Medicaid or Social Security eligibility. Today we talk to a Wisconsin Mom who has made it her life's work to answer your ABLE questions and take the confusion out of how to set up an account, while also helping you understand how ABLE can open up doors to a fantastic future! 

"As a Financial Advisor in Wisconsin who specializes in helping individuals with disabilities, and/or parents of those with special needs to plan, the ABLE Accounts have been a beneficial tool.   I have a personal connection to my professional specialty.  I have three girls, and my youngest Emily has Down syndrome.   I worked in the Financial Services industry for 10 years prior to her birth.  Although she was born in 2011, several years before the ABLE Accounts became available, I knew that I wanted to change the trajectory of my career as an Advisor to focus on families like mine. " - Kathleen Oberneder, ChSNC®

More about Kathleen: https://www.crescendowm.com/team/kathleen-oberneder
Reach Kathleen here: [email protected] 

The ABLE National Resource Center: https://www.ablenrc.org/

ABLE Resources in Wisconsin: https://arcwi.org/2018/03/12/learn-need-know-opening-able-account-special-needs-trust-wisconsin/

Kathleen's disclosure information: 
Securities offered through J.W. Cole Financial, Inc. (JWC) Member FINRA/SIPC..Advisory services offered through J.W. Cole Advisors, Inc. (JWCA). Crescendo Wealth Management, LLC and JWC/JWCA are unaffiliated entities. J.W. Cole Financial Representatives do not accept orders and /or instructions regarding your account by e-mail, voice mail, fax or any alternative method. 

For a copy of JWC’s Form CRS please visit HERE. For a copy of JWC’s Disclosure Supplement please visit HERE. By following the link, you consent to the receipt of the Form CRS electronically. For a copy of JWCA’s Form CRS please visit

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If you live in Wisconsin, the term Family Care has a pretty unique meaning. The Family Care program was known nationally as an innovative program when it was created in 1999. More than 20 years later, Wisconsin's version of managed care for people with disabilities and older adults is not without its critics, but it is hard to argue that the program has made a huge difference in thousands of lives, particularly those who spent years on waiting lists. In this episode we have an exclusive sit-down with Inclusa CEO Mark Hilliker who addresses Family Care criticisms,  talks about the evolution of managed care and reflects on Wisconsin's pioneer status. Learn why he says, "If you can dream it, you can do it."

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Wisconsin's long winters can be hard on anyone, but the pandemic is keeping us indoors more than ever.  What if we told you you could still connect with friends and favorite activities safely? You might even learn something new! 

Virtual services are popping up all over Wisconsin, giving people with disabilities the opportunity to connect with others all around the state and choose from activities that range from exercise to art, leadership and employment! It doesn't matter where you live or what program you are in, this podcast will tell you what's out there, how to get started and why virtual services are something to connect with right away! Spoiler alert: A special (noisy) guest joins our expert Sally Flaschberger in this episode. Don't miss it! 

Resources discussed
Living Well Toolkit: https://wi-bpdd.org/index.php/covid-19/

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Social isolation is impacting all of us in this pandemic, but what are we missing in our advocacy for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD)? A lot, it turns out. Prior to the pandemic, people with I/DD were among the most isolated in our communities, now they are facing even greater risks. Isolation brings on loneliness, but also mental health concerns, and even abuse. Join us as we talk to national expert Leigh Ann Davis from The Arc of the United States who shares her thinking on this, offers grim statistics and then provides ideas for how we can make things better and learn from this crisis. 

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Nicki Vander Meulen is the only openly Autistic individual in the nation to serve on a school board. Wisconsin's second largest school board, in fact! She says while there are many disability rights activists who want to get into politics,  they are rarely encouraged to run for office. Nicki  was told her whole life what she couldn’t do, and she’s proven the doubters wrong. In this episode you will hear Nicki's incredible story, how a basketball coaching philosophy can be credited for part of her success and a prediction for the future that you won't want to miss. 

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Ask any person with a disability and transportation is likely one of their top three complaints. Since many people with disabilities don't drive it is not only hard to plan your day, but hard to hold a job, see your family and friends or just plain live your life. This episode features a conversation with Tami Jackson of the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities who is heading up the state's new Non-Driver Advisory Committee. While the Committee title might sound a bit bland, the potential for some real solutions in Wisconsin is pretty exciting. Tune in to hear what Tami has to say and think about ways you can support transportation solutions, too! 

https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/about-wisdot/who-we-are/comm-couns/windac.aspx

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Presidential candidates say lots of things during an election, but what will they actually do when they get into office? In this episode of The Arc Experience veteran disability advocate Lynn Breedlove takes a deep dive into the Biden platform to tell us about his promises to people with disabilities, what is possible in a new administration and what could happen in the next four years.


 https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/08/2020-election-subminimum-wage-disabilities/615085/

https://joebiden.com/disabilities/ 

Vice President Biden responses to AAPD survey - https://www.aapd.com/learn-more-about-the-candidate/?smid=7005 

https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2020/11/10/biden-victory-brings-high-hopes-for-disability-community/29075/

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