Special Friends Inc.

06/30/2022

Please help spread the word!! Chippewa Pals scheduled for July 12th has been rescheduled to July 19th. Sorry for any inconvenience. Thank you.

04/01/2020

Chippewa Pals is canceled for the month of April. Please help spread the word.
Thank you.

06/28/2019

Be sure to stop in to Erickson Park and make sure to bring your fishing pole! The park is now officially open!!

The idea for Erickson Park started back in 2013, and now the $2.3 million project is complete.

11/15/2018

http://wqow.com/news/top-stories/2018/11/14/erickson-park-project-in-chippewa-falls-expected-to-be-finished-by-late-spring/

Erickson Park in Chippewa Falls is undergoing a $2.2 million makeover, and the primary goal is to make it the first park in the area accessible to people with disabilities.

08/30/2018

Who will Care for You? A Crisis in Care

A Community Conversation 9/20/18

Eagles Club Banquet Hall 5:30-8:00 2588 Hallie Rd; Chippewa Falls

Nonpartisan; 5:30 pm Salad/Pizza Buffet

6-8 pm Presentation & Conversation

You probably know someone who has fragile health, in need of home care support, or long term care. What if there was no one to help them, or you? Come to this free community program to understand the issues and discuss how to help solve them.

Janet Zander serves as the Advocacy and Public Policy Coordinator for the Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources (GWAAR), and brings a career of aging and disability advocacy experience through the ADRC, and is a 2013 WI Women’s Policy fellow.

Lynn Breedlove was the Executive Director of Disability Rights WI from 1980-2011; currently co-chair of the WI Long-Term Care Coalition, and supports other disability rights groups.

Citizen Action W-WI

Questions call (715) 396-1712

05/10/2018

One step closer to making the park reality!

Erickson Park’s construction has officially begun — thanks in part to community generosity, logistical planning and Ron Bakken’s persistence.

05/07/2018

Special Friends is so excited to see this project come alive!

It will include picnic areas, boating facilities, handicapped-accessible fishing piers and a pedestrian footbridge that would connect to Irvine Park.

05/22/2017

https://volumeone.org/sites/chippewafalls/articles/2017/05/18/19071_a_new_place_to_fish

By next year, a vacant piece of land across from Chippewa Falls’ famed Irvine Park will be transformed into a new park complete with a handicapped-accessible fishing pier and boat launch, a family area and pavilion ...

03/14/2017

Save the Date: IMPORTANT EVENT
The Challenge: Threats to Medicaid that will impact People with Disabilities,
their Families and the Local Economy
Monday April 3rd, 6-8 pm Location: 29 Pines Sleep Inn & Suites Conference Center, Eau Claire, WI Other Locations in Northwest WI - TBD

Lynn Breedlove (Co-Chair, Wisconsin Long-Term Care Coalition) and Lisa Pugh (Executive Director, The Arc Wisconsin) will present the latest news on current proposals in Congress which would radically change supports available to people with disabilities and their families in Wisconsin. National disability organizations consider the current threats to the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and Medicaid to be the biggest dangers to health care and long-term care for people with disabilities in recent memory. This puts Wisconsin services and programs like Family Care, IRIS, the Children’s Long Term Support Waivers, the Katie Beckett program, Birth to Three, school therapies, and Medicaid Personal Care at significant risk.s

Attend this training to learn what is at risk in your community and participate in small group strategy discussions to develop an Action Plan for your Congressional district. For more information please contact Ruth Adix at [email protected]

03/02/2017

Day of Choice 2017..at the Capital advocating for client's choice for people with disabilities. To learn more visit ateamwisconsin.org

07/01/2016

Happy 4th of July!

04/22/2016