Wisconsin's Self-Directed Supports Program
IRIS Newsletter • Autumn 2011
IRIS Employment Initiative
Disability Employment Awareness Month brought about the perfect time to share updates on the IRIS Employment Initiative. The purpose of the employment initiative is tosupport and expand the employment goals of IRIS Participants. The IRIS program held several outreach events for IRIS Participants this summer, covering topics such as creative employment strategies and work incentives benefits counseling.
Participants around the state are working with IRIS to improve employment outcomes. Over the summer, many interesting people shared their stories about wanting to work in their communities. Everyone had something to say: Tim is interested in starting a snack business; Joe wants to find a job so he can develop friends; Amy is working part-time and going to college so she can work with children; Debbie wants to find a part-time, afternoon job outside of the work center for the first time; Jason wants to find a second job so he can do more than seasonal restaurant work.
The IRIS program also launched a learning series forIRIS Consultants in two regions of the state about integrated employment issues and planning strategies. Stay tuned forthe release of the IRIS Employment Toolkit that will guide IRIS Participants and IRIS Consultants through the employment planning process.
Participants around the state are working with IRIS to improve employment outcomes. Over the summer, many interesting people shared their stories about wanting to work in their communities. Everyone had something to say: Tim is interested in starting a snack business; Joe wants to find a job so he can develop friends; Amy is working part-time and going to college so she can work with children; Debbie wants to find a part-time, afternoon job outside of the work center for the first time; Jason wants to find a second job so he can do more than seasonal restaurant work.
The IRIS program also launched a learning series forIRIS Consultants in two regions of the state about integrated employment issues and planning strategies. Stay tuned forthe release of the IRIS Employment Toolkit that will guide IRIS Participants and IRIS Consultants through the employment planning process.
Tom Gierke: An Employment Story
Tom Gierke grew up in a small Wisconsin town as the youngest of six children, with a supportive mother and a father who expected a lot from him. Tom says he had a fairly typical childhood; going to school, making friends, and getting a driver's license.
Unlike other kids, doctors were trying to "fix" Tom through a series of painful surgeries. Physical tasks were difficult for him and he had no accommodations at school. Completing his coursework required great physical endurance and determination. At the time, Tom believed that ignoring his disability was the right thing to do. He thought that the bruises, scars, and tears made him strong.
Tom's dream was to be an architect. He pursued mechanical engineering, having come from a family of mechanics. After college graduation, Tom worked with a placement specialist to find a job in his career field. Eventually, Tom used his skills and qualifications and found a job on his own.
Tom's first job was a full-time position with benefits, but his workplace was not fully accessible to him. Although his employer created a makeshift work area for him in the cafeteria of an adjacent building, the nearest accessible restroom was at a convenience store down the street. Tom found it was challenging to get his coworkers to see him as a person–not just the wheelchair–and realize he was not "contagious".
As Tom approaches 40, he states that he has learned to put life's difficulties in perspective. Rather than seeing his disability as something to overcome, Tom learned to see it as a gift. This insight has given him the courage to change his employment path in order to use his experiences and pursue his dreams.
In addition to Tom being a participant in the IRIS program, he has also taken on the position of IRIS Consultant, which he says enables him to fully use his challenges as his strengths. Tom also works as the Executive Director of Hearthstone, Inc. – a self-help, advocacy organization for people with disabilities – and is an aspiring motivational speaker.
Tom hopes to inspire others to use their gifts and experiences to reach their goals.
Unlike other kids, doctors were trying to "fix" Tom through a series of painful surgeries. Physical tasks were difficult for him and he had no accommodations at school. Completing his coursework required great physical endurance and determination. At the time, Tom believed that ignoring his disability was the right thing to do. He thought that the bruises, scars, and tears made him strong.
Tom's dream was to be an architect. He pursued mechanical engineering, having come from a family of mechanics. After college graduation, Tom worked with a placement specialist to find a job in his career field. Eventually, Tom used his skills and qualifications and found a job on his own.
Tom's first job was a full-time position with benefits, but his workplace was not fully accessible to him. Although his employer created a makeshift work area for him in the cafeteria of an adjacent building, the nearest accessible restroom was at a convenience store down the street. Tom found it was challenging to get his coworkers to see him as a person–not just the wheelchair–and realize he was not "contagious".
As Tom approaches 40, he states that he has learned to put life's difficulties in perspective. Rather than seeing his disability as something to overcome, Tom learned to see it as a gift. This insight has given him the courage to change his employment path in order to use his experiences and pursue his dreams.
In addition to Tom being a participant in the IRIS program, he has also taken on the position of IRIS Consultant, which he says enables him to fully use his challenges as his strengths. Tom also works as the Executive Director of Hearthstone, Inc. – a self-help, advocacy organization for people with disabilities – and is an aspiring motivational speaker.
Tom hopes to inspire others to use their gifts and experiences to reach their goals.
Feedback in Action
Thank you to the IRIS Participants, families, guardians, and others who attended the IRIS Consultant Agency's Listening Sessions this summer. Your suggestions and comments are important. The IRIS program will be using your feedback to guide improvement efforts at the IRIS Consultant Agency.
IRIS Program Quality
The IRIS program has grown quickly since it began in 2008 and it now serves over 4,800 participants in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services oversees the IRIS program and wants to learn from IRIS Participants about their experience with the program in order to help determine what changes or improvements are needed as the program continues to grow.
Several opportunities are now underway to gather input from IRIS Participants. These opportunities are all voluntary, so you may decline if you do not want to participate. The feedback provided by IRIS Participants will be summarized by the activity and no personal or confidential information will be shared or distributed. You may be asked to participate in one or more of the following activities:
September – October 2011
An independent researcher hired by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services gathered feedback in two ways:
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has contracted with MetaStar, a quality improvement organization, to interview people who are enrolled in Wisconsin's long-term care programs. These interviews will start in western Wisconsin in mid-October and continue throughout the state until next June. IRIS Participants will be randomly selected to participate in an interview to talk about what is important to them and how the IRIS program is assisting them to have the life they want.
IRIS Program Quality
The IRIS program has grown quickly since it began in 2008 and it now serves over 4,800 participants in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services oversees the IRIS program and wants to learn from IRIS Participants about their experience with the program in order to help determine what changes or improvements are needed as the program continues to grow.
Several opportunities are now underway to gather input from IRIS Participants. These opportunities are all voluntary, so you may decline if you do not want to participate. The feedback provided by IRIS Participants will be summarized by the activity and no personal or confidential information will be shared or distributed. You may be asked to participate in one or more of the following activities:
September – October 2011
An independent researcher hired by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services gathered feedback in two ways:
- Through phone interviews with randomly selected IRIS Participants and/or their guardians or legal decision-makers.
- Through focus groups in three regions of the state. IRIS Participants selected to take part in a focus group are also randomly selected and will have the chance to provide feedback, along with other IRIS Participants in a group setting.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has contracted with MetaStar, a quality improvement organization, to interview people who are enrolled in Wisconsin's long-term care programs. These interviews will start in western Wisconsin in mid-October and continue throughout the state until next June. IRIS Participants will be randomly selected to participate in an interview to talk about what is important to them and how the IRIS program is assisting them to have the life they want.
Disability Mentoring Day
Disability Mentoring Day is a national job-shadow and career exploration program designed to link students and job seekers with disabilities to employers that are interested in hiring people with disabilities.Disability Mentoring Day is recognized nationally on the third Wednesday of every October, which is also National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The national coordination of DMD is through a network of more than 350 volunteer coordinators.
The theme for the 2011 Disability Mentoring Day National Launch was Transition to Independent Futures, focusing on the importance of education, employment, and independent living for people with disabilities. For information about this and other programs visit http://www.DisabilityMentor.net.
What is Disability Mentoring Day?
Students with disabilities (mentees) are matched with workplace mentors according to expressed career interests. Mentees experience a typical day on the job and learn how to prepare to enter the world of work. Employers gain an increased awareness that people with disabilities represent an overlooked talent pool. Disability Mentoring Day is a program of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD).
What are the goals of Disability Mentoring Day?
- To enhance internship and employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
- To promote disability as a central component of diversity recruitment for a more inclusive workforce.
- To dispel employers’ fears about hiring people with disabilities.
- To increase confidence among students and job seekers with disabilities.
- To launch a year-round effort to foster mentoring opportunities.
Who participates?
Employers (educational, government, private, and non-profit), students with disabilities, and educators participate in Disability Mentoring Day.
Where can I get more information?
For more information about Disability Mentoring Day, visit the American Association of People with Disabilities online at http://www.aapd.com/dmd.
This article was adapted from the American Association of People with Disabilities website.
Supportive Home Care
How do I determine hours and wages for my workers?Two new tools are available for you to help determine the hours of assistance you need and an appropriate wage rate for your supportive home care workers.
How do I decide how many supportive home care hours I need?
The IRIS Supportive Home Care Assessment Tool will help you figure out how many hours are needed for someone to do things like clean your house and shovel snow. You can complete the tool by yourself or with your IRIS Consultant or Orientation Consultant when you have significant changes to your supportive home care needs.
This tool has many different questions about how long it takes your workers to perform different tasks. Your answers will calculate a suggested total number of supportive home care hours to meet your needs. You may find that you need to adjust the suggested hours to meet your needs. If this number exceeds 18 hours per day, IRIS staff will review the plan. Supportive home care may not exceed 24 hours per day. The use of this tool is optional, but participants should consider it as a helpful guide for planning services.
The Supportive Home Care Hours Tool is now available on the Handbooks and Forms page of the IRIS website.
How do I decide how much to pay my workers?
The new IRIS Supportive Home Care Respite Wage Tool provides guidance on what to pay your workers.
The IRIS Supportive Home Care Respite Wage Tool provides a pay range targeted to the area in which you live. You may choose to pay your worker any amount within the selected range. This tool was designed for you to pay your worker in line with what a local agency would pay them for similar work.
The addition of this tool affects new workers hired after August 1, 2011 and participants who have an annual review after August 1. If you wish to pay your worker outside of the wage range, additional information may be required. Your IRIS Consultant or Orientation Consultant can work with you to help obtain the necessary documentation.
IRIS Self-Directed Personal Care wages should not be calculated with the IRIS Supportive Home Care Respite Wage Tool. These workers have their own, separate amount that you may pay them as well as their own wage limit.
The IRIS Supportive Home Care Respite Wage Tool is available from your IRIS Consultant or Orientation Consultant.
Showcasing the Employ-Ability of Workers with Disabilities
To celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (BPDD) mounted a campaign to acknowledge and celebrate Wisconsin workers with disabilities. People with disabilities are contributing members of our Wisconsin workforce.Governor Walker has made job creation a top priority for our state. It’s time to showcase the skills and talents of people with disabilities in Wisconsin. We want legislators to see the employability of individuals with disabilities and their valuable contribution to Wisconsin’s workforce.
The BPDD is looking across the state for individuals with disabilities who love their jobs and employers who love them! We invite people with disabilities and their families to share their employment experiences with their legislator. By having your legislator visit your workplace, we will spread the word that people with disabilities are valuable employees with essential skills who enhance the work environment for everyone. All people want to work in a positive, engaging environment in their community. Their contributions not only benefit their own economic status but contribute to Wisconsin’s economy as well. Additionally, it improves the cost-effectiveness of our long-term care system. Everyone wants to help contribute to a brighter future for our state and our country.
The BPDD is also looking for facilitators to work with individuals in their region to coordinate visits.
For more information on telling your story or acting as a facilitator for those with inspiring stories, please email Beth Moss at the BPDD. You can also call 608-266-7826 or 1-888-332-1677.
The IRIS Website
The new IRIS website is available to IRIS Participants, their families, and the public. The site has a new look, but keeps all the important information you need. There are also several new features available:- Blogs – a place where you may share information with website members
- Groups – online communities
- Events – listings include conferences, meetings, payroll schedules, etc.
- My Page – a personal section to highlight your interests
With over 500 members, the website has several interesting groups to join in which you can learn about fighting fraud or discover more about supported living.
It is not necessary to register on the site in order to access program information. However, you will need to register as a member if you want to participate in the online groups, create a personalized page, or start a blog. IRIS wants to maintain a safe, friendly, and informative online community. We ask our visitors and members to be considerate of others and to follow the Code of Conduct.
Your local public library can provide free access to the Internet. Information available on the website is also available through the IRIS Information Center at 1-888-515-4747.
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
The Department of Workforce Development houses and administers the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). The DVR provides individualized job services and vocational counseling to people with disabilities to assist them in achieving their goals for employment. The DVR also provides information and training to employers about disability employment issues.You are eligible for these services if you have a disability that makes it hard for you to find or keep a job. To find out if you are eligible or to learn more, please visit: http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dvr.
The Wisconsin Star Raft Project
A star raft is a sailing pattern for boats to gather safely. The Wisconsin Star Raft Project is a training model to assist people to develop creative, connected, and enduring circles of support by creating their very own “star raft”. The Wisconsin Star Raft Project held seminars in several communities around the state this summer to teach families and their communities how to use tools and strategies to create sustainable communities of social support.To learn more about the Wisconsin Star Raft Project or to sign up for an online training (webinar), please visit http://www.wistarraft.com.
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