Accessibility
Accessibility is more than being able to enter a building.
- About the issue
- Why does this matter to people with disabilities?
- Are there any proposals that would make a change in this issue?
- Who can I contact with my questions?
- Background Information For This Issue
About the issue: (Top of page)
People with disabilities traditionally have had a lot of trouble being able to access public buildings and public sidewalks. With the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1992 this aspect of accessibility was supposed to improve or go away. Public buildings now must have wheelchair ramps, easy to open doors, wider halls and doorways, brailed signs, accessible restrooms, etc. to ensure equal access for people with a variety of disabilities. Sidewalks need to have curb cuts for wheelchairs. Progress has been slow, but steady in this regard.
The ADA also addressed access for people with disabilities in other ways. It states that equal access has to be ensured in services, employment, education, communications, public housing, and public transportation. Employers now need to provide workplace accommodations for people who need them. This might mean specialized computer programs or keyboards, higher or wider desks, or interpreters for those who have hearing impairments.
Besides the ADA there are other laws or court decisions that ensure equal access. The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) ensures that elections are accessible to people with disabilities. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act ensures that people with disabilities are not discriminated against. The Olmstead Supreme Court decision ensures that people with disabilities do not have to live in institutions.
Why does this matter to people with disabilities? (Top of page)
Without access to the basics of society, you are not included or connected to society. In order for people with disabilities to fully participate in society, they must have equal access to all of the same things that non-disabled people often take for granted.
Of all of the minority groups in this country, people with disabilities continue to be the most unemployed or underemployed. They continue to live in institutions with little or no access to the community. People with disabilities often are not allowed to make decisions in their lives or live with the consequences of their decisions. They still lack equal access to the community which makes them more like second class citizens.
Are there any bills that would make a change in this issue? (Top of page)
- Assembly Bill 108 - Parks and Trails Access
This bill allows free access to state parks and state trials by certain disabled veterans and former POWs. [More on Assembly Bill 108 ]
Outcome: Hearing held in the Assembly. Passed out of committee and referred to Joint Finance Committee. Failed to get out of that committee. But this issue was addressed in SB 49. SB 49 passed both houses and was signed into law on 3-24-08. It became Act 165. - Assembly Bill 169 - Disabled Parking Plates
This bill would expand who can certify a person as disabled and in need of a disabled parking license plate or temporary tag. This bill would allow a public health nurse to provide the necessary certification information. [More on Assembly Bill 169 ]
Outcome: Hearings were held in both the Assembly and Senate. Passed out of committees in both houses. Passed in both the full Assembly and Senate. Signed into law on 3-20-08 and became Act 120. - Assembly Bill 173 - Council on Mental Health
This bill would change the membership of the Council on Mental Health. It currently has 15 members, but under this bill it would expand to at least 21 members but not more than 25. It also changes the representation of groups and agencies on the Council [More on Assembly Bill 173 ]
Outcome: Hearings held in both the Assembly and Senate. Passed out of committees in both houses. Passed in both the full Assembly and Senate. Signed into law on 3-18-08 and became Act 113. - Assembly Bill 237 - Soft Drink Tax
This bill creates a tax on the sale at wholesale of soft drinks sold in this state and creates the dental access trust fund. The revenue generated from the tax is put into the dental access trust fund. Moneys put into the dental access trust fund are us [More on Assembly Bill 237 ]
Outcome: Referred to the Assembly Health and Healthcare Reform Committee. Failed to get out of committee. - Assembly Bill 287 - Service Animals
This is a companion bill to Senate bill 111. It would change the definition of a service animal for purposes of discrimination against a person using a service animal in a public facility. It also expands the harassment provision in current law to inclu [More on Assembly Bill 287 ]
Outcome: Referred to the Assembly committee on Public Health. Failed to get out of committee. - Assembly Bill 298 - Assisted Suicide
This bill permits an individual who is of sound mind, is not incapacitated, is at least 18 years of age, is a resident of Wisconsin, and has a terminal disease to request voluntarily, in writing, medication from his or her attending physician for the purp [More on Assembly Bill 298 ]
Outcome: Referred to the Assembly committee onJudiciary and Ethics. Failed to get out of committee. - Assembly Bill 323 - Conservation Congress Voting
This bill requires the Dept. of Natural Resources in conjunction with the Conservation Congress to provide a way for people with disabilities to vote at home on matters being considered by the Conservation Congress. [More on Assembly Bill 323 ]
Outcome: Referred to the Assembly committee on Natural resources. Failed to get out of committee. - Assembly Bill 466 - Accessible Instructional Materials
This bill requires the state's UW system and Technical Colleges to develop policies and procedures to ensure that students with disabilities have access to instructional material in appropriate alternative formats. [More on Assembly Bill 466 ]
Outcome: Referred to Assembly committee on Colleges and Universities. Hearing held. Failed to get out of committee. - Assembly Bill 586 - Disabled Parking
This bill increases fines for violating and misusing a disabled parking identification card. The bill also amends 2005 Wis. Act 455 relating to disabled parking. [More on Assembly Bill 586 ]
Outcome: Referred to Assembly committee on Transportation. Failed to get out of committee. - Senate Bill 40 - Biennial Budget
This bill is Gov. Doyle's proposed budget. It covers all state spending and revenue. [More on Senate Bill 40 ]
Outcome: This bill was signed into law on 10-26-07 and became Act 20. - Senate Bill 49 - Parks and Trails Access
This bill allows free access to state parks and state trials by certain disabled veterans and former POWs. [More on Senate Bill 49 ]
Outcome: Hearing held in the Senate. Amended and passed out of committee. Sent to Joint Finance committee. Passed out of that committee. Sent to the Assembly. Passed by the Assembly. Signed into law on 3-24-08. Became Act 165. - Senate Bill 111 - Service Animals
This bill would change the definition of a service animal for purposes of discrimination against a person using a service animal in a public facility. It also expands the harassment provision in current law to include all service animals, not just dogs a [More on Senate Bill 111 ]
Outcome: Referred to a Senate committee. Failed to get out of committee. - Senate Bill 117 - Soft Drink Tax
This bill would tax the sale of soft drinks and soft drink syrups at the wholesale and manufacturing points. This tax would create a dental access trust fund. This fund would be used to increase fees paid to dentists serving patients using Medical Assis [More on Senate Bill 117 ]
Outcome: Failed to get out of Senate committee on Health and Human Services. - Senate Bill 144 - MA Eligibility Changes
This bill makes a number of changes to assets and divestment rules to conform Wisconsin law to federal law when determining eligibility for Medical Assistance (MA). [More on Senate Bill 144 ]
Outcome: Failed to get out of the Senate committee on Health and Human Services. - Senate Bill 151 - Assisted Suicide
This bill permits an individual who is of sound mind, is not incapacitated, is at least 18 years of age, is a resident of Wisconsin, and has a terminal disease to request voluntarily, in writing, medication from his or her attending physician for the purp [More on Senate Bill 151 ]
Outcome: Public hearing held. Failed to get out of the Senate's Public Health, Senior Issues, Long Term Care, and Privacy committee. - Senate Bill 153 - Protective Services
This bill makes minor changes to correct incorrect references, etc. to 2005 Wisconsin Acts 264, 387, and 388. These Acts addressed protective placements and protective services, involuntary administration of psychotropic medication, guardianships, conse [More on Senate Bill 153 ]
Outcome: This bill passed both houses and was signed into law. It became Act 45 in early January 2008. - Senate Bill 200 - Photo ID - Optional
This bill would allow a voter to volunteer to be required to present a valid Photo ID in order to vote. The bill defines what is a valid ID. If the voter chooses this option, it would also apply to absentee voting. [More on Senate Bill 200 ]
Outcome: Referred to Senate Labor, Elections, and Urban Affairs Committee. Failed to get out of committee. - Senate Bill 268 - Care Facilities
This bill would change the process by which care facilities are licensed. An applicant for a community care facility, such as a CBRF, would have to form a community advisory committee. The majority of the people on this committee would be people from th [More on Senate Bill 268 ]
Outcome: Failed to get out of Senate committee on Economic Development, Job Creation, etc.
Who can I contact with my questions? (Top of page)
John Shaw
Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities
201 W. Washington Avenue
Madison WI 53703-2796
Phone: Voice (608) 266-7707; TDD (608) 266-6660
Email: shawj2@dhfs.state.wi.us
Fax: (608) 267-3906
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