C H O I C E SC H O I C E SC H O I C E SC H O I C E SC H O I C E SVol 8 No. 3 - Fall 2007WEB VERSION

A Quarterly Newsletter about Self-Determination in Dane County

Inside This IssueDan Sez ............................................................................. 2Editor’s Note; Overture Center .......................................... 2Catholic Charities Picnic; November Date Saver ............. 3CLC Aktion Club Fund Raising Success ........................... 4Dora’s Pet Corner: Public “Pets” ...................................... 5People First Page: next meeting, picnic ............................ 6Fiddler on the Roof; October 19 Date Saver ..................... 7CCLS Clubhouse (Don’t Expect to Loaf! ); ArtWorking ..... 8Saying Goodbye; Some Good News ............................... 9On the Street Interviews - New Young Adult Group .......... 10the Oh, Yah’s ..................................................................... 11

Teaming up with AmeriCorpsCleaning Up and Having Fun!

by Nancy MolfenterVOICES staff and volunteer

People with disabilities in Dane County, The ARC-Wisconsin Disability Association, and The WaismanCenter teamed up withAmeriCorps volunteers andthe Madison Senior Coalitionin an innovative effort to helppeople see how rewarding andfun it can be to volunteer. Aterrific and dynamic group gottogether for several Saturdaysto help out at local parksaround our community.

The first designated clean-upwas at Warner park the dayafter Rythym and Booms.There was a lot of work to be done – and lots of folks tohelp get this wonderful community resource looking good

again. Additional Saturday mornings were spent at TenneyPark and Hoyt park doing a range of things from trash pick-upto prairie restoration. Groups gathered around ten a.m. andworked for about two hours.

During the work gatherings, people also had a chance to meetnew people, gain teamwork experience and show off theirskills. The AmeriCorps grant was able to provide really cool t-shirts, drinks and snacks and equipment such as gloves andextended grabbers to help people get the job done.

“AmeriCorps was afabulous experience

for everyone whoparticipated!”

Lenore, Sadler and Manny

Manny and Paul

Jill

CHOICES, Fall 200752

by Dan Rossiter, ManagerDevelopmental

Disabilities Services,Dane County

Dan Sez...

CHOICES is sponsored byDane County Dept. ofHuman Services-AdultCommunity Services Division1202 Northport DriveMadison WI 53704

Editor’sNote

Dear CHOICES Readers,

It has been great fun helpingto put together the quarterlyissues of CHOICES for thepast 2 ½ years! Thisnewsletter helps share thegreat stories and the currentnews about supports forpeople with disabilities allover Dane County, WI andbeyond.

This will be my last issue aseditor as I have accepted aposition working with WIAPSE (The Association ofPersons in SupportedEmployment)/The Networkon Employment. This jobwill take me around the statehelping to share bestpractices and strengthenadvocacy for integratedemployment and employmentchoices for people withdisabilities.

I’m sure that I will run intomany of you as the journey ofadvocacy continues. Carryon the good work and bewell!

Nancy Molfenter

It’s ShowTime!

by Nancy Molfenter, VOICESstaff

Many of you have been to theOverture Center in DowntownMadison, either to walk aroundthe beautiful building or checkout an event. I think the very firstperformance I saw there was byENCORE. I have been to a fewother shows and performancesthere, but cost is definitely anissue.

A few folks from Rise-Up havediscovered a way to see showsat Overture for a reduced cost.You can request ticket vouchersfrom the Overture Center. If theshow is not sold out, Overturewill mail you a voucher fortickets that will only cost you$3.00 per person. You do needto go to the Overture Centerahead of time to purchase thetickets,but it is a really great program.Below is the contact nameand information for the ticketvoucher program:

Beth RacetteEducation and Outreach

CoordinatorOverture Center for the Arts

201 State StreetMadison, WI 53703

608-258-4169eracette@overturecenter.com

www.overturecenter.com

I must say, this is a fun edition ofCHOICES. The first couple of reportsfrom the folks who received one of theCHOICE’s grants are included: theCatholic Charities “Ethnic DiversityPotluck Picnic” and the ProgressiveCommunity Services “Fireside DinnerTheatre Excursion”. It looks like bothactivities were a bunch of fun. In fact,there a whole bunch of things goingon where people are out there doinggreat stuff. The AmeriCorps article isreally interesting as is the article onthe Community Connections “AktionClub”, the CCLS Clubhouse and thearticle on the Henry Vilas Zoo. On a happy/not-so-happy note, we arehappy for Nancy Molfenter’s newcareer, but not-so-happy that she isleaving our County system. She willbe sorely missed by the folks atPeople First, the staff at the WaismanCenter’s VOICES program andanybody who has had the fortune ofmeeting and working with her. Bestof luck, Nancy. And finally, I need to point out that infront of every silver lining, there is ablack cloud. It appears that we aregoing to have to look for additionalefficiencies in 2008. If nothingchanges, individual budgets will needto be reduced by 4.8% just to keep oursystem going. You, your SupportBroker and provider(s) will bediscussing the necessary changes insupports in the next few months. It isnot going to be easy, but it isnecessary.

by Nancy Murphy

mund Reindahl Park Shelter was brought to life on June 14th

when the Catholic Charities Support Broker Program hosted anEthnic Diversity Potluck Picnic. What more could you ask forbesides a beautiful park, a warm day, delicious food, and excitingentertainment? Just one thing – great people to share it with.

The picnic provided an opportunity for clients, families, and staffto celebrate and share their diversity with old friends and newacquaintances. Clients brought dishes to share which reflectedtheir ethnicity or another ethnicity of interest to them (and somejust brought food they like). The past potlucks were a hugesuccess, with a vast variety of dishes including spicy chickenwings, lasagna, Hungarian stuffed peppers, potato salad, andGerman chocolate cake.

This year, thanks to an anonymous gift provided to Dane CountyHuman Services, the Catholic Charities Support Broker Programwas awarded a grant enabling us to provide beef tacos, pork andveggie egg rolls, and chicken fried rice for the picnic. Theevening started with visiting and enjoying a great meal. A varietyof ethnic music, including Native American, Latin, Calypso,Celtic, and Zydeco music was heard in the background ofconversation as everyone enjoyed the variety of ethnic tastes andeach other’s company.

Conversation quieted as Mike Alioto, a Support Broker atCatholic Charities, introduced some special guests – dancers fromthe Cashel Dennehy School of Irish Dance! Upbeat Irish musicrushed through the shelter as the costumed dancers began toperform the Irish Jig. Before long, the crowd was clapping theirhands to the catchy beat of the music. Hoots and hollers wereheard as the dancers displayed their talent. When the routine was

A

Diversity with Food and Fun

Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities Presents:

1st Annual WisconsinSelf-Determination Conference

“Organizing for Self-Directed Supports”

Increasing the presence and participation of people withdisabilities in our neighborhoods

Save These DatesNovember 5 – 7, 2007Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells

Family Care is expanding across Wisconsin, and Self-DirectedSupports are a key feature of it. Self-Directed Supports can helppeople achieve such important Family Care outcomes as “I decidewhere and with whom I live.” “I make decisions regarding mysupports and services.” “I decide how I spend my day.”

We will:* Learn together how Self-Directed Supports will work now and in the future in your part of

Wisconsin.* Organize to help people know what both Family Care and Self-Directed Supports can offer.

You will leave the conference understanding:* How self-directed supports work within and outside of Managed Long Term Care;* How to build upon the strengths of our communities to help people make and live the lives

they want;* How to organize within your part of the state to help people understand Family Care

outcomes and Self-Directed Supports;* How people can use individual budgets creatively to:

- Choose where to live and who to live with- Increase employment and income;- Contribute to others in our communities- Develop micro enterprises;- Develop employment and housing cooperatives…. And More!!!

Core Faculty include:John O’Brien & Connie Lyle O’Brien, Responsive Systems

Associates; David and Faye Wetherow, Community Works; and MikeGreen, Asset-Based Community Development.

Brochure coming September 2007Questions? Contact Steve Stanek at (608) 266-8337 or

stanesj@dhfs.state.wi.us

over, the clients congratulated and thanked the dancers for theexcellent performance, and some even took pictures with thedancers!

The rest of the evening was spent enjoying the weather, visitingwith others, playing Frisbee, and going up for second, or third,helpings of the ethnic dishes. The Catholic Charities SupportBroker Program would like to thank all of the clients, families,and staff that participated in the event and helped make it amemorable and enjoyable experience and the Cashel DennehySchool of Irish Dance for their openheartedness in traveling tothe park and performing at the Ethnic Diversity Picnic.

To the anonymous person who generously gave the donation toDane Country which provided funds necessary for the event, wegive a special thank you and would like you to know that yourgift was truly appreciated and the picnic touched many lives.Thank you.

Catholic Charities Support Brokers Host Deliciousand Enjoyable Potluck Celebration

3

CHOICES, Fall 20075

CLC Aktion ClubRaises $1,000for Olbrich

Children’s Garden

CLC Aktion Club members spent Tuesday nights inJune and July selling brats, hot dogs, water, chips, and cookies atOlbrich Gardens Summer Concerts. Their goal was to sell everybrat and hotdog they brought to the park each and every Tuesday.If they could do this they would surely make a profit. Well, theirgoal was realized and the group made over $1000.00 in profit!This was the 3rd year that the group has sold brats at the OlbrichGardens Summer Concerts and it definitely was the mostprofitable, doubling sales from the previous years. A one-thousand dollar check was presented to Connie Beam fromOlbrich Gardens at a Madison East Kiwanis meeting. The money

raised by the brat sale will once again be put toward theChildren’s Teaching Garden. The goal of the Children’s Garden isto raise awareness and appreciation for the world of plants withthe youth of Madison through both gardening and ecology relatedactivities. The Children’s Teaching Garden Program runs Mondaythrough Thursday, June through July.

CLC Aktion Club is a chartered member of Kiwanis Internationaland is sponsored by the Madison East Kiwanis Club. Much likethe Kiwanis, Aktion club members perform a variety of services

for the community in which they live. Aktion Clubmembers work independently and/or jointly withKiwanis Club members, as was the case with the bratsale, in providing community service and raisingmoney for needs in the community. The CLC AktionClub is now in its 3rd year. The Olbrich Gardens BratSale is their major fund-raising event of the year. Otherpast and on going service projects have included:providing a meal for Habitat for Humanity workers;passing out beverages for the “Buddy Walk”; handingout t-shirts for the Dane County Youth Skate;distributing t-shirts for Special Olympics WI PolarPlunge; making decorations for City View NursingHome; collecting pop tops for the Ronald McDonaldHouse and collecting donations for the Dane CountyHumane Society.

4

by Toni Johnson

The Cooks

Presenting the Check

Martha by the brat sign

5

By Dora Norlandand

Nancy Molfenter

ell, ok, it’s a bit of a stretch, butlet’s face it: if you live in Madisonyou can always (all four seasons) getan animal fix by heading over to theHenry Vilas Zoo. And it’s free!(although donations are alwayswelcome to help care for the animalsand the grounds). The Henry VilasZoo sits centrally located near thedowntown area and adjacent to theuniversity campus. There you can findcreatures ranging from primates toreptiles, bears to goats, and rhinos toeagles. The seals are almost alwaysplayful and those colorful flamingosstand out in a crowd. You can see raysin the aviary and Raymond the giraffethere too.

During the winter months, you canwarm up with the orangutans, tropicalbirds and those always interestingtarantulas, snakes and fish and iguana.Open year round for all of ourenjoyment, the zoo provides educationas well as entertainment. Lots of factsand animal information can be foundsall over the place – a good reminder ofthe connections between creatures(and humans) all around the world.

The aviary and carousel are someof the latest additions at the zoo, aswell as a remodeled children’s area –and soon to be tree house play area forthe kids. Not to mention, Vilas parkand the lake lie just outside of the zooarea. It really is quite a treasure tohave such a resource so close by. So,maybe it’s time for another visit to ourfavorite community pets. And dropa dollar or two in for the animalsif you can.

# # #

Animals for Everyone:Our Local Zoo “Pets”

Dora’s PetCorner

Raymond, our local giraffe

Stingrays in the aviary aquarium

Fancy Flamingos

W

CHOICES, Fall 200756

The next meeting of PEOPLE FIRSTPEOPLE FIRSTPEOPLE FIRSTPEOPLE FIRSTPEOPLE FIRST will beOn: Tuesday October 16th

At: Options, 22 N 2nd Street, Madison, WI From: 5:30 – 7 p.m.Pizza will be available for $1.00 per slice

Call: Jeff Bailey, President, 241-3116 if you have questions

PEOPLE FIRSTPEOPLE FIRSTPEOPLE FIRSTPEOPLE FIRSTPEOPLE FIRST OF DANE COUNTOF DANE COUNTOF DANE COUNTOF DANE COUNTOF DANE COUNTYYYYY

PEOPLE FIRSTPicnic and

Baseball OutingPeople First of Dane Countymembers and their friends

enjoyed a lovely afternoon ofhotdogs, hamburgers, songsby Peter Leidy and Christy

Stadele, and Mallard’sbaseball on Sunday August 5th.

It was a really good crowd

The Mallards cooperatednicely too and won the

game against the GreenbayBullfrogs. Way to go

Mallards!

Lenore R, Margie S, Jeff B sing with Peter Leidy, picnic entertainer

Grillmaster, Pete Molfenter

People gathered at Warner Park Shelter

7

Special Grant Funds Fireside Dinner Theatre Tripby Charity DeVoe-Brekken

hanks to an anonymous donor,nine Dane County consumers

enjoyed a fun-filled trip to the FiresideDinner Theatre in Fort Atkinson onMay 20, 2007. They wereaccompanied by two support brokersfrom Progressive CommunityServices, Mindy Connors and CharityDeVoe-Brekken, along with manyfamily members who chose topurchase tickets and come along aswell. Mindy and Charity applied for a$500 grant earlier in the year when itwas announced in an issue of Choices.They asked some of their clients whatkind of community outing the moneycould be used for, and the idea wasborn! This was a rare opportunity formost of the people participating, whomay not be able to afford anextravagant dinner and theater ticketswithout the help of the grant. Andnow they had the chance to attend theworld-famous musical, Fiddler on theRoof, for no cost!

After months of anticipation andplanning, the excited group traveledfrom all over Dane County and arrivedat the Fireside early in the afternoon.They first spent some time browsingin the many gift shops before beingseated in the elegant dining room.Dinner was served shortly, andeveryone enjoyed the many uniqueand delicious dishes, especially thedessert! With their appetites satisfied,they moved on to the intimate theater,where they saw a spectacularperformance of Fiddler on the Roof.The musical was very emotional, withlots of humor, as well as a touching

message. The audience laughedthroughout the show, and a few tearswere shed as well.

When asked what their favorite thingwas about the trip to the Fireside,some of the participants commentedon the good food and drinks, the giftshops, and the restaurant. Greg Burrilldescribed the day by saying, “I went tosee the play Fiddler on the Roof. It

was a really good play. I really gotinto it. It took place in the olden days,and the song that almost made me crywas Sunrise, Sunset.” Rocky Handleysummed it all up by exclaiming, “itwas fun - I liked it!” As you can see,all of the theater-goers left with fondmemories of the entire experience.Thank you to the generous person whomade it all possible!

T

CHOICES, Fall 200758

What’s Up at the CCLS Clubhouse?by Nancy Molfenter, VOICES staff

n the last issue of CHOICES, we gave you a some information about the Club Housethat Creative Community Living Services is operating. Now, we want to share a littlebit more about the types of things that people there are doing, and to stress that this isnot intended to be a drop-in center or a place for people to go when they do not havestaff at their home. The Club House is intended to be a center for activity and astarting point for people to meet up and then go out into the community. Everyone whosigns up to come to the Club house has opportunities to give input to the activities anddecide what they want to do. Currently, people involved with the Club House arethinking about new things to try and new places in the community to get connected.

During my latest visit there, I had the chance to meet a man named Michael Brown.He works part-time at Valley Packaging Industries and spends time each week at theClub House. Michael enjoys his time at the Club House. He has worked on the raisedflower beds there, plays games such as chess and prepares dishes in the kitchen. Helikes to be active and go out, but he does not have an interest in volunteering. Michaelis looking for a job in the community, but feels that the Club House is a good option for

him on his days off right now.

One thing that the Club House is working on right now is keeping Michaeland everyone else who comes there active. The Club House is dedicated tobeing a dynamic and interactive place where people can enjoy doing things –not just sit around. People get out to various community locations likeOlbrich Gardens, Farmer’s Markets, the library and coffee shops. The ClubHouse would also like to offer people more opportunities to volunteer andengage in community efforts of their interest. That is a next step.

# # #

To keep active on his days off, MichaelBrown enjoys building a bird feeder,

gardening, playing chess, cooking, andtrying new activities at the Clubhouse

Lance Owens, CoordinatorFountain Resource Center1945 West Broadway Suite 100Madison, WI 53713(608) 442-9254 x 221Email: lancebug@hotmail.com

WORC, Inc. is pleased to announce that“ARTWORKING” has commenced operation inthe new Fountain Resource Center. Artists withcognitive disabilities can participate ina variety of services and opportunities. Peoplewith an interest in art should go towww.artworking.org for further information.You can see our whole array of services on ourwebsite: www.fountainresourcecenter.com

I

9

SomeGood News...

From Progressive Community Services

For people who primarily rely onpublic benefits such as SSI and SocialSecurity Disability, home ownershipmay have some significant advantages,if home ownership is affordable.Solving the affordability puzzle takeslots of planning, learning and teamwork—and sometimes some goodfortune such as a benefit back pay-ment, legal settlement, inheritance, orfamily contribution.

Here is an additional piece of goodfortune. In partnership with DaneCounty Human Services and Movin’Out, the Dane County CDBG Com-mission budgeted $50,000 to bereserved as extra down paymentassistance for people served by AdultCommunity Services. For two house-holds, this means adding more fundsto the subsidies already available tohouseholds qualified for down pay-ment assistance. The extra fundingmeans that as much as $70,000 indown payment assistance could beleveraged to purchase a home.

Such an amount may make the differ-ence in determining the affordabilityof purchasing a home. To learn moreabout the affordability of homeownership and the availability offunds, contact a Movin’ Out housingcounselor at 251-4446 x7.

While home ownership may not beachievable by everyone on a fixedincome, there are nearly 900 Movin’Out home owners across Wisconsinwho show us that home ownership canbe both affordable and sustainableover the long haul.

# # #

DCHS expanded PCS’s contract to include a Systems Transition Coordi-nator position in 2007. Molly Reineck has joined PCS in this role. Shewill work with students with disabilities 18-20 years, their schools andadult vocational providers to find efficiencies in supporting high schoolgraduates enter the adult system. Kurt Svennson continues in his role asthe Transition Coordinator who works with students their last year in highschool.

# # #

... Dane CDBG HelpsMake Home

Ownership Affordable

New Transition Coordinator

PCS was awarded a grant throughWisconsin Pathways to Indepen-dence, a division of the WisconsinDepartment of Health and FamilyServices. Shannon Munn, has beentaking her knowledge and experi-ence of supporting people tobecome self employed in DaneCounty around the state. She isproviding training and technicalassistance on the process of personcentered business planningthroughout Wisconsin, primarily incounties that are part of the FamilyCare pilot project. ShannelTrudeau-Yancey started with PCS

Supported Self-Employment (SSE) ProgramGoes Statewide!

in February as the Dane CountySelf Employment Coordinatorwhich is funded in part by DCHSand DVR. Shannel formerly wasinvolved in the SSE pilot programthrough a former employer. Theprogram has proven its achieve-ment over the past year by provid-ing supports to several businesseswho have successfully completedthe program.

Shannel Trudeau-Yancey 608-837-1205 or shannelt@pcsdane.org

Shannon Munn 608-318-0700or shannonm@pcsdane.org

CHOICES, Fall 20075

At the Park At the Park At the Park At the Park At the Park with Young AdultsPeople are meeting and new friendships are growing

through a recently formed social group. On the evening of

August 30th, this group of young adults got together for a

picnic at McGee Farms Park. At the start of the picnic

everyone was asked to share their name and something

that they like.

Here’s what some of them said:

10

ON THE STREEON THE STREEON THE STREEON THE STREEON THE STREETTTTT

Max - Likes to Travel

Steve – I like movies

Steven – Likes to gobowling

Shelley – I like to do karate

by Nancy MolfenterINTERVIEWS

Sarah – I like e-mailing

Jennifer – I like shoppingfor tattoos

If you are

20-something and

interested in checking

out this group,

contact Amanda Bell

at

bell@waisman.wisc.edu

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage PAID

Permit #658Madison, WI

Please SendYour Stories,Comments &Suggestions

Contributions, comments andsuggestions are encouragedand may be directed to:Amber M. Jensen, Interim EditorThe Waisman Center122 E Olin Ave STE 100Madison WI 53713Telephone: (608) 263-0271Fax: (608) 263-4681Email: jensen@Waisman.Wisc.Edu

CHOICES newsletters areavailable on-line athttp://cow.waisman.wisc.eduWeb versions do not includeConnections ads or Transitionsinformation.

the Oh, Yah’s... CHOICES Newsletter is published semi-quarterly toprovide information to consumers, families, guardians,and service providers about Self-DeterminationServices in Dane County. Contributions, comments andsuggestions regarding CHOICES are encouraged andmay be directed to:

Amber M. Jensen, Interim EditorThe Waisman Center122 E Olin Ave STE 100Madison WI 53713Telephone: (608) 263-0271Fax: (608) 263-4681Email: jensen@Waisman.Wisc.Edu

Layout.............. Nan ClineContributors.....Nancy Molfenter, Dan Rossiter, Nancy

Murphy, Toni Johnson, Dora Norlund,Charity Devoe-Brekken, JanetEstervig, Lance Owens, HowardMandeville

The University of Wisconsin-MadisonWaisman CenterRoom 1541500 Highland AveMadison WI 53705

CHOICES Newsletter

To place aConnections Ad

Submit Connections Ads to:Amber M. Jensen122 E Olin Ave STE 100Madison WI 53713Phone: (608) 263-0271Email: jensen@Waisman.Wisc.Edu

Announce a Transition

Tell us about a new job, anengagement, a marriage, anew place to live, or saygoodbye to someone who haspassed away.

Amber Jensen has agreed to serveas Interim Editor until posting andselection of a permanent editoroccurs in the near future.