WCDD Home > Publications

News 'n Notes from Nov 19, 2007

Please sign up for New 'n Notes to keep up-to-date with current information about WCDD activities.

WCDD Becomes BPDD

As you know the new 2007-09 State Budget was signed into law on Oct. 26, 2007. One of the provisions in the budget changes the Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities (WCDD) to the Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (BPDD). The new Board will be attached to the Dept. of Administration instead of the Dept. of Health and Family Services.

This change eliminates a potential conflict of interest and makes the new Board compliant with the Federal DD Act. It is mostly an administrative change and the public shouldn’t experience any disruption in the way we do business. Even though the Council is now called the Board, the final transition to board status won’t be complete for several months.

SDS Conference

The Self-Directed Supports (SDS) Conference was held in Wisconsin Dells the week of Nov. 5th. Nearly 400 individuals attended the conference. Many were individuals with disabilities who will be receiving services under the new Family Care expansion. Everyone came to learn more about the self-directed supports option under Family Care. The conference encouraged people to collaborate within their own care management regions.

We received many positive comments from both providers and consumers. One provider stated that "when I came I was afraid of how self-directed supports would hurt my agency, now I see how we can work together to make self-directed supports work for my agency and those we serve."

WCDD's Annual Awards

Each year the Council recognizes individuals who have made a positive difference in the lives of Wisconsin citizens with developmental disabilities. The Council awards three service awards and awards to the media. We are accepting nominations for all of the awards until January 14, 2008.

The service awards will be given in the following categories:

• Victor J. Contrucci Outstanding Service Award: This recognizes an individual who demonstrates a steadfast commitment to children with developmental disabilities in Wisconsin.
• The Jayn Wittenmyer Distinguished Achievement Award: This recognizes an individual who demonstrates an unwavering commitment to adults with developmental disabilities in Wisconsin.
• The Self-Advocate of the Year Award: This is presented to an individual with disabilities who has shown a dedicated commitment to advocacy for people with developmental disabilities in Wisconsin.

Nomination forms will be sent in mail in the coming weeks. If you don’t receive a form, you can contact the WCDD office to request one or you can make a copy from the WCDD website.

Dental Care Access Report

Access to dental care has been a major issue for many people who rely on Medicaid for their health care coverage. Even though people have coverage for dental services, often they are not able to access care for a variety of reasons. The Council has been concerned about this issue and wanted to better understand it. As a result, the Council requested an examination of the strategies employed to increase dental care access in the state for people with disabilities. A recently completed report is the result of that effort. You can read the report here or by going to the WCDD website.

Memorial for Amy Wittenmyer

As many of you know, Jayn Wittenmyer was WCDD’s Executive Director from 1976 to 1997. Jayn worked hard in Wisconsin to help shape the Family Support Program, Birth to Three Program, the Community Integration Program (CIP) and the Community Options Program (COP). On the national level she worked to make IDEA and the ADA realities.

The inspiration for Jayn’s advocacy and work was her daughter, Amy, who had Down Syndrome. When Amy was young, there were very few, if any, community services for people with developmental disabilities. Jayn sought to change that for not only Amy, but for all Wisconsin citizens with developmental disabilities and their families.

Amy passed away on Nov. 1, 2007 after a long illness. If you’d like to send a card or condolences to Jayn and her family, you can send it to: Jayn and Bill Wittenmyer, 2614 Lunde Lane, Mt. Horeb, WI 53572.