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Family Voices Resources
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- Fall 2018
- Fall 2019
- Fall 2020
- Fall 2021
- Fall 2022
- Issue 1 2023
- Issue 2 2023
- Issue 3 2023
- Issue 4 2023
- Spring 2018
- Spring 2019
- Spring 2020
- Spring 2021
- Spring 2022
- Summer 2018
- Summer 2019
- Summer 2020
- Summer 2021
- Summer 2022
- Winter 2018
- Winter 2019
- Winter 2020
- Winter 2021
- Winter 2022
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- 1. Introduction and Overview
- 2. Is My Child Eligible for the CLTS Program?
- 3. Completing a Functional Screen
- 4. What to Expect After a Child is Determined Eligible
- 5. Developing Your Child's Individual Service Plan
- 6. Your Child's Service Plan: Creating Outcomes
- 7. What Services Might be Covered?
- 8. Appealing a Denial
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- Your Voice Counts #1: Introduction to Family Leadership
- Your Voice Counts #2: Being an Effective Advocate
- Your Voice Counts #3: Families Need to be at the Table
- Your Voice Counts #4: Participating in a Children’s Community Options Program Advisory Committee
- Your Voice Counts #5: Joining a Committee: Thoughts for Families
- Your Voice Counts #6: Overcome Barriers and Get Involved
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- Adult Long-Term Support Programs
- Exploring Self-Employment for Youth with Disabilities
- Financial Planning for Youth with Disabilities
- Healthcare Transition Planning
- Housing for a Young Adult with Disabilities
- Introduction to Integrated Transition for Youth and Families
- Planning for Employment
- Safety Planning for Life in the Community
- Transition for Youth with Mental Health Needs
- Youth Fully Participating and Engaged in Their Community
- A "Medical Home" - What Should I Expect From My Doctor
- ABLE Accounts: What Wisconsin Families Need to Know
- Are You Tele-Ready? Making the Most of Telemedicine Visits
- Birth to 3 Program: A Family Perspective
- Community Connections and Friendship for Children with Disabilities
- COVID and School Safety: Options for Children with Disabilities or Complex Medical Conditions
- COVID Vaccines and Children with Disabilities or Complex Medical Needs
- Creating a Vision for Your Child’s Future
- Early Choices Matter: Children Building Choice-Making Skills
- Finding and Hiring Direct Caregivers
- Finding the Right Doctor for Your Child With Special Needs
- Inclusive Child Care for Children with Disabilities
- Insurance Prior Authorizations
- Katie Beckett Program: A Doorway to Medicaid for Children with Disabilities
- Making the Most of Doctors Appointments
- Medicaid and Non-Emergency Medical Transportation
- Medicaid Coverage for Diapers and Other Incontinence Supplies
- Medicaid HealthCheck "Other Services"
- Medicaid HMO Coverage for Diapers
- Medicaid Personal Care Services
- Medicaid: Appealing a Denial
- Medicaid: Explaining and Exploring Wisconsin Medicaid
- Preparing for Emergencies
- Private Duty Nursing: A Medicaid Covered Service
- Questions for My Health Plan or Insurance Company
- Respite Services for Children with Disabilities
- School and Community Based Therapy Services: Understanding Your Options and Avoiding Insurance Denials
- Self Determination and Children with Disabilities
- Summer Camps
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Children with Disabilities
- Supported Decision Making for Transition-Age Youth
- Transition - Health Coverage Options for Young Adults
- Wisconsin’s Guardianship Training Requirement: What Families Need to Know
- Working with a Fiscal Employer Agent
- Working with an IRIS Consultant
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- 2017 Listening Session Report
- 2018 Listening Session Report
- 2019 Listening Session Report
- 2021 Listening Session Report
- 2022 Listening Session Report
- 2023 Listening Session Report
- 2024 Listening Session Report
- Advocacy for Change 2021, Evaluation Summary
- Advocacy for Change 2022, Evaluation Summary
- Shared Participation
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- Birth to 3 Program: Why is a Natural Environment Important?
- Birth to 3 Program: Why is Early Intervention Important?
- Care Map Instructions: Making a Care Map for Your Child
- Emergency Preparedness: Make a Plan
- Medicaid Coverage for Diapers and Other Incontinence Supplies
- Newborn Screening: What if Your Baby's Screening Results are Concerning?
- Newborn Screening: What is Genetics?
- Newborn Screening: What is Newborn Screening?
- Respite Care vs Personal Care: Is there a difference?
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Equity and Diversity
- Connecting with your Child with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities about Racism, Police Brutality, and Protests
- Racial and Social Injustice (ep. 2)
- Structural Racism, Child Health and the Need for a Racial Equity Lens
- Understanding Racial and Social Injustice (ep. 1)
- Understanding Racial and Social Injustice (ep. 3): Mama’s Circle, Part 1
- Understanding Racial and Social Injustice (ep. 4): Dads' Round Table Talk
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Family Leadership
- Advocacy for Change Institute
- DHS: Statutory Boards, Committees, and Councils
- Find Your State Legislator
- Partners in Policymaking
- Speak Up - Finding Your Voice
- State-Level Committees and Councils
- Wisconsin Family Leadership Institute (WiFLI)
- Your Voice Counts #1: Introduction to Family Leadership
- Your Voice Counts #2: Being an Effective Advocate
- Your Voice Counts #3: Families Need to be at the Table
- Your Voice Counts #4: Participating in a Children’s Community Options Program Advisory Committee
- Your Voice Counts #5: Joining a Committee: Thoughts for Families
- Your Voice Counts #6: Overcome Barriers and Get Involved
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Family Support
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- Birth to 3 Program
- Birth to 3 Program: A Family Perspective
- Birth to 3 Program: Why is a Natural Environment Important?
- Birth to 3 Program: Why is Early Intervention Important?
- Disasters and Emergencies - Keeping Children Safe
- Finding and Hiring Direct Caregivers
- Inclusive Child Care for Children with Disabilities
- Respite Care vs Personal Care: Is there a difference?
- Respite Services for Children with Disabilities
- Tips for Keeping Your Family Healthy this Summer
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- An Introduction to Special Education
- ARC Toolkit to Telling Your Story
- Children's Resource Centers
- Community Connections and Friendship for Children with Disabilities
- COVID and School Safety: Options for Children with Disabilities or Complex Medical Conditions
- Emergency Preparedness: Make a Plan
- Finding the Right Doctor for Your Child With Special Needs
- How to Tell Your Story
- Organizations to Assist Families
- Sports and Recreation
- Starting and Sustaining Family Support Groups: Sustaining a Family Support Group
- Starting and Sustaining Family Support Groups: Virtual Support Groups
- Starting and Sustaining Family Support Groups: Where to Begin?
- Summer Camps
- Wisconsin’s Guardianship Training Requirement: What Families Need to Know
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Health Care
- A "Medical Home" - What Should I Expect From My Doctor
- Care Map Instructions: Making a Care Map for Your Child
- COVID Resource List
- COVID Vaccines and Children with Disabilities or Complex Medical Needs
- Glossary: Health Care Acronyms & Abbreviations
- Insurance Prior Authorizations
- Making the Most of Doctors Appointments
- Nursing Services for Students with Healthcare Needs
- Partnering with Your Child's Provider
- School and Community Based Therapy Services: Understanding Your Options and Avoiding Insurance Denials
- TIPS: Partnering with Your Child's Health Plan
- Youth to Adult Health Transition
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Long-Term Supports
- 1. Introduction and Overview
- 2. Is My Child Eligible for the CLTS Program?
- 3. Completing a Functional Screen
- 4. What to Expect After a Child is Determined Eligible
- 5. Developing Your Child's Individual Service Plan
- 6. Your Child's Service Plan: Creating Outcomes
- 7. What Services Might be Covered?
- 8. Appealing a Denial
- Children’s Community Options Program (CCOP)
- Early Choices Matter: Children Building Choice-Making Skills
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Medicaid
- Children's Long-Term Supports Program
- Find Your Federal Representative
- Forward Health - Health Care Programs
- Katie Beckett Program: A Doorway to Medicaid for Children with Disabilities
- Medicaid and Non-Emergency Medical Transportation
- Medicaid Coverage for Diapers and Other Incontinence Supplies
- Medicaid Coverage for Diapers and Other Incontinence Supplies
- Medicaid HealthCheck "Other Services"
- Medicaid HMO Coverage for Diapers
- Medicaid Personal Care Services
- Medicaid: Appealing a Denial
- Medicaid: Explaining and Exploring Wisconsin Medicaid
- Private Duty Nursing: A Medicaid Covered Service
- SSI Child Disability Starter Kit
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Mental Health
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Money Matters
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Recursos en español
Family Voices hojas informativas y boletines en español
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- 1. Introducción y descripción general
- 2. ¿Mi hijo es elegible para el programa de exención para CLTS?
- 3. Completar una evaluación funcional
- 4. Qué esperar después de que se determina que un niño es elegible
- 5. Desarrollando el Plan Individual de Servicios de su Hijo
- 6. Plan de servicios de su hijo: Creando resultados
- 7. ¿Qué servicios se podrían cubrir?
- 8. Apelando una denegación
- Programa de Apoyoa Largo Plazo para NiñosHojasInformativas-Enero de 2019
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- Su vos cuenta #4: Participación en el Comité Asesor del Programa de Opciones Comunitarias para Niños de Wisconsin
- Su voz cuenta #1: Introducción al liderazgo familiar
- Su voz cuenta #2: Cómo ser un defensor eficaz
- Su voz cuenta #3: Las familias necesitan estar presentes en la mesa
- Su voz cuenta #5: Únase a un comité, Ideas para las familias
- Su voz cuenta #6: Supere barreras y participe
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- WITPP 10: seguridad en una vida en comunidad
- WITPP 1: Introducción a Una Transición Integral Para Jóvenes y Familias
- WITPP 2: Jóvenes participando e involucrándose plenamente con su comunidad
- WITPP 3: Transición para jóvenes con necesidades de salud mental
- WITPP 4: Planificación para Conseguir Empleo
- WITPP 5: Programas de apoyo a largo plazo para adultos
- WITPP 6: Vivienda para un joven adulto con discapacidades
- WITPP 7: Planificación para la transición de cuidados de salud
- WITPP 8: Planificación financiera para jóvenes con discapacidades
- WITPP 9: Exploración del trabajo independiente para jóvenes con discapacidades
- Apelación de un rechazo de Medicaid o BadgerCare
- Aprovechar al máximo las citas médicas
- Asociándose con el proveedor de su hijo
- Autodeterminación
- Autorizaciones Previas del Seguro
- Búsqueda de personal para respiro y cuidados personales
- Búsqueda y Contratación de Cuidadores Directos
- Cobertura de Medicaid HMO para pañales
- Cobertura de Medicaid para pañales
- COVID y la Seguridad Escolar
- Cuentas ABLE - Lo Que Las Familias de Wisconsin Necesitan Saber
- Cuidado Infantil Inclusivo para Niños con Discapacidades
- Cuidados de relevo para niños con discapacidades
- Decisiones Hechas con Apoyo
- Eligiendo Al Doctor Correcto
- Enfermera privada: Un servicio cubierto por Medicaid
- Hogar Médico
- Katie Beckett Medicaid
- Los Servicios de Cuidado Personal Y Medicaid
- Medicaid HealthCheck “Otros Servicios”
- Medicaid: Explicando y Explorando Wisconsin Medicaid
- Medicaidy el transporte a citas médicas
- Opciones de cobertura de la salud para jóvenes
- Organizaciones de Wisconsin que ofrecen recursos para familias con niños y jóvenes con necesidades de cuidados especiales de salud
- Preguntas para mi plan de salud o compañía de seguros
- Preguntas para una agencia de salud mental
- Preparación para emergencias
- Programa desde el nacimiento hasta los 3 años: Una perspectiva familiar
- Requisito de capacitación para la custodia en Wisconsin: Lo que las familias deben saber
- Seguro de ingresos suplementario y niños con discapacidad
- Servicios do terapia
- Soñar e imaginar el futuro de su hijo
- Trabajar con un agente fiscal del empleador
- Trabajar con un Consultor de IRIS
- Vacunas de COVID y Niños con Discapacidades o Necesidades Médicas Complejas
- ¿Estás tele-listo/a?
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Telehealth
- Are You Tele-Ready? Making the Most of Telemedicine Visits
- Internet Connectivity Program in Wisconsin
- Internet Resources for Wisconsin Residents during Public Health Emergency
- Telehealth Glossary
- Telehealth Security
- Telehealth Webinar 1: Are You Connected?
- Telehealth Webinar 2: Do You Have a Device?
- Telehealth Webinar 3: Can You See Your Provider?
- Telehealth Webinar 4: Your Family's First Telemedicine Appointment
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Transition to Adult Life
- Adult Long-Term Support Programs
- Creating a Vision for Your Child’s Future
- Exploring Self-Employment for Youth with Disabilities
- Financial Planning for Youth with Disabilities
- Healthcare Transition Planning
- Housing for a Young Adult with Disabilities
- Introduction to Integrated Transition for Youth and Families
- Planning for Employment
- Safety Planning for Life in the Community
- Self Determination and Children with Disabilities
- Supported Decision Making for Transition-Age Youth
- Supported Decision Making Guide - BPDD
- Transition - Health Coverage Options for Young Adults
- Transition for Youth with Mental Health Needs
- Working with a Fiscal Employer Agent
- Working with an IRIS Consultant
- Youth Fully Participating and Engaged in Their Community
- Youth to Adult Health Transition
- Show all ( 3 ) Collapse
Print – English / Print – Spanish
While typically developing children have everyday experiences that get them ready for their future and teach them to advocate for themselves, children with disabilities have fewer chances to practice these skills.
As families we need to be intentional about planning for our children’s future, including dreaming broadly about possibilities. We need to find ways for our children with special needs to build independence that can help prepare them for their future.
Building Skills
Think about using teachable moments and role playing to support your child’s independence. Consider breaking down chores around the house into smaller steps for your child. Do the same with self-care. Realize that it may take a long time for your child to become independent with these tasks, but the important thing is that you keep offering opportunities. Showing your child that you have high expectations for him/her is a good way to grow independence.
Encourage your child to participate in activities such as school clubs, team sports or faith groups. Consider community connections that you already have that can give your child with new experiences. These opportunities will build friendships and teach advocacy skills.
As your child gets older, consider leadership training so he/she can learn along with other teens with disabilities about self-advocacy and self-determination.
Find Role Models
Talk to other families that have an older child with a similar disability. You can also contact agencies that work with older children or adults with disabilities, like an Independent Living Center, to see if they can connect you to someone who has similar challenges in your community. Go to Independent Living Centers or call 800-362-9877.
A few questions to think about when starting this process:
- If your child was living the best life imaginable, what might that include?
- What makes your child smile and what frustrates him/her?
- What are your child’s talents and interests?
- What needs to happen for your child to have a great life?
What Do You Worry About?
As parents or guardians, we have to consider our tolerance for risk and which areas of our child’s life we might be willing to let go. While we may feel comfortable letting a typically developing child participate in a team sport, take the bus or stay overnight at a friend’s house, we may not feel comfortable letting a child with special needs do the same.
We want our children to be safe, and we don’t want to set them up for failure. Think about smaller steps they can take to support their independence and give them opportunities to be involved in the community.
Tools for Future Planning
Having a conversation with the important people in your child’s life (care providers, teachers, friends and family members) can be a helpful step in the visioning process.
Some families find that using a more formal tool, like the Discovery Process, or developing a PATH or MAP can help move this process forward. These are all examples of person-centered planning tools and they provide a process for thinking about your child’s interests, gifts and talents as well as their long-term goals. They help you think about all of the supports, both formal and informal, that will be available to help you and your child reach those goals. And, these tools can be used at any time during a child’s life; some parents find it really helpful to use them at periods of transition. Information gathered from these tools can also be introduced during the IEP process.
Resources for Visioning and Person Centered Planning
- PATHS and MAPS (and other future planning tools) – inclusion.com/planningtools.html
- The Discovery Process: A Path to Employment for All fmhi.usf.edu/docs/FCIC_FactSheets/FCIC_FactSheet_Discovery.pdf
- Person-Centered Planning Resources – pacer.org/transition/learning-center/independent-community-living/person-centered.asp
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