1. Public Policy's Role in Improving
Transition Outcomes: Stories from
Wisconsin
Beth Swedeen and Lisa Pugh
http://www.letsgettoworkwi.org/ Twitter: @WisDisPolicy
CEC, April 2013
San Antonio, TX

2. Learning Objectives
• Understand critical role policies play in systems
change for transition
• Recognize multiple means to influence policy
• Strategies and examples for using research and data
to frame a rationale and recommendations for policy
change
• Share examples of policy
briefs, systemic change
efforts and results

3. Background: Who We Are
Wanna-Be Wonks
Learning How to Influence Policy!

4. Background
• Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental
Disabilities awarded a Partnerships in Employment
grant focused on policy changes that lead to better
integrated employment outcomes for youth with
significant I/DD
• 4 main components of the project: Consortium, Policy
Team, School Pilot Sites, Coaches
• Of all the grant requirements, the policy piece was
new to most.

5. Why We Don’t Do Policy Work?
• I don’t have time
• It’s not my job
• I don’t know how
• I hate politics!

6. What Happens When We Don’t Do it?
• Research never makes it to
the field
• Good work never scales up
• We lose out to other
funding priorities
• We keep encountering the
same problems

7. What Happens When We Do it?
• Evidence-based practice
and research are applied
so many more people
benefit
• We fix a problem for good
• State and local policies
become models for
broader legislation and
policy

8. Our WI Project: Identifying Transition
Policies
Used the 4 main components of the Let’s Get to Work project
• Consortium: Key stakeholders from all state agencies, parents, youth, etc participate
in activities that identify barriers to integrated employment
• Policy Team: Strategizes how to develop or implement policy issues identified by
Consortium
• School Pilot Sites: Provides the “boots on the ground” perspective which informs the
project of policy issues
• Coaches: Assist the school sites in understanding how the issues they experience day
to day can be turned into policy
Other ways:
• Collaboration with state agencies in preparing
the application
• Collaboration with other state initiatives

9. Our WI Project: Identifying Transition Policies
• Division of Voc Rehab (DVR)
• State Education Agency (DPI)
• State Medicaid Agency (DHS)

10. Seek Policy Clarification:
• Some youth were receiving
assessments in facilities
• Some provider networks
and staff did not have
extensive experience with
significant disabilities
• Confusion on appropriate
age for youth referral

11. Seek Policy Clarification:
• School districts question what
LRE looks like for youth in
transition (ages 18-21)
• Indicator 13 compliance
• Students with significant disabilities
don’t always have access to same
career guidance as peers

12. Finding a Lawmaker Champion
• Senator Leibham meets
students and parents
• Student access to tech
schools, apprenticeships and
certificate programs
• Workforce Initiatives
• Newly elected officials looking
for a cause
• Connecting youth and families
to legislators

13. Changing Community Attitudes: Jobs First
and Patrick Meets Governor Walker
• Employer policies
& attitudes
• Take Your
Legislator to
Work visits
• Outboxing the
Gov!

14. Think Broadly About Policy: Where is the
Barrier or Opportunity?
• Local policies (e.g. school boards, employers)
• State Agency policies
• Agency rules or regulations
• New Legislation
• Federal policies/laws

15. It’s All About Relationships!
• At the local level – students and teachers with legislators
• At the state level – meeting with agencies
• What can you do for them? (Press, public thank
you, vote!)

16. Don’t Take “No” for an Answer
• Scaffold the Ask: Transition
Endorsement/Certification
• Work with legislators on Employment
First legislation
• If you “fail”, there is
still a message

17. Look for Opportunities
• What are their priorities?
• What is the “moving vehicle”?
• Ensuring students have access to Academic Career Plans
• Governor’s Workforce Development Initiative – including
people with disabilities
• Decrease government
dependence = work incentive
benefits counseling!
• Make a compelling case with
data & research for a targeted
ask.

18. Find Other Allies
• Court other decision makers: OSEP; newly elected
politicians!
• Self-advocate organizations
• Employers with mutual goals

19. What you can do to Increase Public
Awareness to Support Policy Change
• Take Your Legislator to Work
• Meeting in the district
• Letters to the Editor and articles
• Rotary meetings
• Community conversations

20. Beth Swedeen, WI-BPDD
beth.swedeen@wisconsin.gov
Lisa Pugh, WI AIDD Public Policy Coordinator
lisa.pugh@drwi.org
Let’s Get to Work!
http://www.letsgettoworkwi.org/