The Appleton Area School District is expanding its sports leagues to include students with disabilities. Starting this fall, the Appleton Area School District will be joining the Fox Valley Association Adapted Sports League. To find out more about this story:
Madison, WI native Peter Liu wins silver at Special Olympics World Games!
Peter competed in Special Olympics since 2009 in snowshoeing, swimming, tennis, and volleyball. The Special Olympics World Games are the world’s largest inclusive sports event. Thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities compete together in 26 sports for nine days of exciting and inspiring competitions.
Read more about the June 2023 Special Olympics World Games and Peter in the following article:
DSAW partnership with Project SEARCH graduates five students in its program at ’The Marquardt'
DSAW (Western, WI) will be assisting with skills instruction and working as a job developer for Project SEARCH in Watertown, Wisconsin at the Marquardt starting this fall. Though the work is already well underway with Project SEARCH meetings, interviewing incoming interns, and advertising. DSAW Employment Specialist Kathy Sheridan attended the graduation for this year's interns, and she is already working on job development for these Project SEARCH grads - way to go! Kathy also co-hosted an info night in Lake Mills with the Project SEARCH classroom instructor, Tracy Widiker. For information on Project SEARCH you can contact Kathy Sheridan
Read local coverage on Project SEARCH: https://www.wdtimes.com/news/local/project-search-graduates-five-students-in-its-program-at-the-marquardt/article_41d2d824-0635-11ee-8ada-f7db6150579b.html
WXOW: La Crosse Awareness Walk on WKBT News 8000
Our La crosse 20th Annual Awareness Walk received great news coverage from WKBT News 8000. To watch the whole story, follow the link:
La Crosse Awareness Walk featured on News WXOW
Our La Crosse 20th Annual Awareness Walk received great news coverage from WXOW news 19. To watch the whole story, follow the link:
South Central Awareness Walk receives local news coverage
Down syndrome Association of Wisconsin- South Central Awareness Walk
Thank you: Our Awareness Walk received some news coverage from WMTV NBC 15. To see the whole story, follow the link:
Syble Hopp student featured in Times Square for Down Syndrome Awareness Month
Our friend Preston Taylor was featured on screens in Times Square on Sept 17, 2022, thanks to National Down Syndrome Society! The video presentation, featuring 500 self-advocates from across the country, and was live-streamed on their Facebook page at 8:30AM that same day. Our friend Norman from the Milwaukee area will be featured as well! To watch the whole story, follow the link:
Local teenager with Down Syndrome wins body building pro card!
Our friend Fiona Daniels took home second place in two categories at her first national bodybuilding competition! Fiona is also the first teenager with Down syndrome in the country to earn a pro card in bodybuilding. Congratulations Fiona!! For the full story follow the link below:
Local teenager with Down Syndrome takes 2nd in national bodybuilding competition (news8000.com)
A Message from DSAW's President/CEO
Good afternoon,
I am writing today to share some exciting news. Governor Tony Evers announced yesterday that DSAW was awarded a Workforce Innovation Grant from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.
The Workforce Innovation Grant Program is a part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds are intended to address pressing workforce development challenges related to the negative economic impacts of COVID-19.
Only 19% of people with disabilities are employed (USDL, 2022), and the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted their quality of life. But the good news is plentiful. The GDP could be boosted up to $25 billion dollars if just 1% more people with disabilities joined the labor force (Accenture, 2018). In addition, employers who hire people with disabilities consistently tout benefits like improved profitability and competitive advantage.
With this grant, DSAW will work within a 350+ partner network to launch Think Ability Wisconsin (TAW), which will address workforce issues for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (PWIDD) in counties across our state.
The project will include:
The development of the Think Ability Wisconsin online transition resource center reaching families well before middle school
The creation and expansion of digital learning platforms to teach job skills
The expansion of employer-embedded, on-the-job training and placement programs in manufacturing, hospitality, and other accessible industries
The expansion of workforce development and wraparound services in underserved regions across WI
The formation of partnerships and coalitions across the state to address barriers that keep PWIDD unemployed and in poverty
Targeted awareness campaigns to change perceptions of people with IDD in the workforce
Employer education to increase job access and expectations
We believe that this whole-person, whole-society approach to Wisconsin’s workforce issues is exactly what’s needed to forever impact and expand opportunities for all of Wisconsin’s employers and people with IDD.
We are so excited, so humbled, and so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to help elevate the employment landscape for people with disabilities in our state. Our leadership team is working to roll out plans for implementation. In the meantime, we are thrilled to share this news and celebrate with you!
Click here to read the official press release from the office of Governor Tony Evers.
Warmly,
Dawn Nuoffer
President/CEO
Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin
