DISABILITY RIGHTS WISCONSIN INC
131 W WILSON ST NO 700, MADISON, WI 537033263 www.disabilityrightswi.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: LEGAL PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN WISCONSIN.

LEGAL PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY FOR THE RIGHTS AND INTERESTS OF PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, PHYSICAL DISABILITIES, SENSORY IMPAIRMENTS, AND PERSONS WITH LONG-TERM MENTAL ILLNESS. SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL, GUIDANCE IN SELF-ADVOCACY, INVESTIGATION, NEGOTIATION, MEDIATION, OR REPRESENTATION IN LEGAL PROCEEDINGS; SYSTEM EFFORTS TO MAKE POSITIVE CHANGES IN PROGRAMS AND POLICIES AFFECTING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES; AND TRAINING TO CONSUMERS, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND PROFESSIONALS ON A VARIETY OF DISABILITY RELATED TOPICS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2019, DRWI PROVIDED INDIVIDUAL ADVOCACY SERVICES TO MORE THAN 2,520 PEOPLE. DRWI ALSO ENGAGED IN SYSTEMIC ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IN WISCONSIN'S LONG TERM CARE SYSTEM, JUVENILES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, ADULTS INVOLUNTARILY COMMITTED TO STATE AND COUNTY RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES AND CHILDREN BEING RESTRAINED OR SECLUDED IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE FAMILY CARE AND IRIS OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM (FCIOP) PROVIDES ADVOCACY SERVICES TO ENROLLED AND POTENTIAL RECIPIENTS OF THE IRIS (SELF-DIRECTED) AND FAMILY CARE/FAMILY CARE PARTNERSHIP (MANAGED CARE) LONG-TERM CARE PROGRAMS WHO ARE UNDER AGE 60. AS PART OF ITS HOME AND COMMUNITY BASED MEDICAID WAIVER, THE STATE OF WISCONSIN CONTRACTS WITH THE ORGANIZATION TO PROVIDE PARTICIPANTS WITH AN INDEPENDENT ADVOCATE. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2019 FCIOP SERVED 844 INDIVIDUALS WITH MORE THAN 1,010 SERVICE REQUESTS. THE TOP PRESENTING ISSUES WERE SERVICE, MEDICATION, OR EQUIPMENT REDUCTIONS OR DENIALS OF NEW REQUESTS; SERVICE REDUCTION OR TERMINATION OF EXISTING SERVICES; ENROLLMENT, ELIGIBILITY, OR DISENROLLMENT PROBLEMS; QUALITY ISSUES WITH PROVIDERS; UNWANTED RELOCATIONS; AND REQUESTED RELOCATIONS NOT ACTED UPON. WHILE THE NEED FOR OMBUDSMEN TO ASSIST THROUGH FORMAL STATE FAIR HEARINGS INCREASES, INFORMAL RESOLUTION IS THE PRIMARY INITIAL ADVOCACY STRATEGY BECAUSE IT EASES THE STRAIN ON MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, SAVES TIME AND MONEY, AND ALLOWS MEMBERS AND FAMILIES TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR CARE TEAMS.

DISABILITY BENEFIT SPECIALISTS (DBS) HELP PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AGES 18-59 TO UNDERSTAND AND ACCESS SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICAID, MEDICARE, HEALTH INSURANCE, AND OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BENEFITS. THEY WORK WITH PEOPLE IN EACH OF WISCONSIN'S 72 COUNTIES AND TRIBAL NATIONS TO AVOID COMMON ERRORS BY EXPLAINING BENEFITS ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, APPEAL OPTIONS, AND DEADLINES, FILLING OUT PAPERWORK, GATHERING DOCUMENTS, AND HELPING TO FIND LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR THOSE WHO REQUIRE A HEARING. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES ONGOING TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND CASE OVERSIGHT TO ALL DBS'S. WISCONSIN CONTRACTS WITH THE ORGANIZATION TO PROVIDE A STAFF OF EIGHT PROGRAM ATTORNEYS AND ONE MANAGING ATTORNEY TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO ALL DBS'S ACROSS THE STATE EXCEPT THOSE IN TRIBAL AREAS. TRAINING TOPICS IN 2019 INCLUDED, BUT WERE NOT LIMITED TO: COORDINATION OF PUBLIC BENEFITS, WORK INCENTIVE PROGRAMS, WORKING WITH CLIENTS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER, RAILROAD DISABILITY BENEFITS, PERSONAL CARE WORKER COVERAGE, MEDICARE MARKETING GUIDELINES, VOCATIONAL ISSUES IN DISABILITY DETERMINATIONS, AND IMPAIRMENT RELATED WORK EXPSENSES. DRW'S ATTORNEYS ALSO REPRESENTED INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS IN BENEFIT APPEAL CASES.

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