Me a Family Leader? Yes. You!
Extend the advocacy you do every day for your family to benefit all community families. History is filled with important moments when family leaders and advocates came forward to use their voice and improve the programs families depend upon every day. Family Voices of Wisconsin supports family leadership through legislative advocacy and leadership preparedness learning opportunities. Start your advocacy journey!
Start Your Advocacy Journey:
WiFLI is a leadership experience for families who have children with disabilities or special health care needs. Sessions build your leadership, communication and teamwork skills to improve the programs and services families depend upon.
Our annual advocacy event will increase your advocacy skills and connect you with your state legislators.
As part of a statewide network of disability organizations, we monitor changes in state and federal law and advocate for policies that benefit families with disabilities.
Budget and Policy Items that We're Tracking
May 2022 • 2022 Policy Priorities
March 2021 •Disability Resource Center for Children and Families Proposal
March 2021 • Family Voices Budget Summary for Children’s Issues
January 2021 • Survival Coalition Budget Priorities 2021-2023
January 2021 • State Budget Update
August 2020 • Issues that Impact People with Disabilities (background for Nov 2020 Election Candidates)
June 2020 • The Impact of School Closures on Families and Students with Disabilities
March 12, 2020 • Supports for Children with Disabilities
March 12, 2020 • Policy Priorities for Children with Disabilities and Their Families
July 19, 2019 • Impact of 2019-2021 State Budget on People with Disabilities
June 6, 2019 • Important Budget Updates for Children with Disabilities
March 1, 2019 • Statement on Governor Evers Proposed Budget for Children with Disabilities.
March 2, 2019 • State Budget Summary – What’s In the Governor’s Budget?
Survival Coalition
The Survival Coalition of Wisconsin Disability Organizations is comprised of more than 40 state and local disability organizations. For more than 20 years, Survival has focused on changing and improving policies and practices that support people with disabilities of all ages to be full participants in community life. See current updates here.
Children's Long-Term Support Council
Over 15,000 children in Wisconsin have disabilities requiring long-term support. The Council for Children with Long-Term Support (CLTS) Needs is charged with providing recommendations to the Secretary regarding the needed infrastructures, accountability measures and mechanisms, financing systems, training programs, program design elements, efficiencies and statewide equity and consistency necessary to implement service delivery systems in communities throughout the State. Read More about this advisory council to DHS, including past (and future) discussion topics, priorities, and opportunities to apply for a role on the committee.
Disability Resource Center for Children and Families
Families benefit when there is one reliable, statewide source for trustworthy and accurate information. Wisconsin’s Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) offer this for adults, but there is no statewide, coordinated effort to connect families who have children with disabilities to the supports and services they need.
Materials to Use in Your Advocacy
Telling Your Family Story
Use your story to make a positive impact in your community.
Families as Advocates and Change Agents (video 15 minutes)
Your Voice Counts! Advocacy and Storytelling
Working with Elected Officials
Learn how to build lasting partnerships with your legislators.
Who represents me at the State Capital?
How can I Connect with Members of Congress?
Developing Your Message for Legislators (video, 9 minutes)
Serving on Committees
Take your advocacy journey to the next level by becoming part of a team to create change.
Ways to Engage in Systems Change
Advisory Roles Families Can Play