Family Voices of Wisconsin

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Madison, WI
Family Voices of Wisconsin

We support families of children with disabilities and special health care needs navigate services, advocate for their child, and connect with others.

▶️Visit our Youtube channel for further education and resources: www.youtube.com/channel/UCaYVd7T_9fkHUZxZZEeFi8g

10/03/2026

This weekend, we are excited to be kicking off another great Future Ready workshop in Green Bay! 🧡

Today begins with families opening up conversations about the future—what’s important, what’s possible, and what each teen and young adult hopes comes next.

With Future Ready, teens and young adults work alongside their parents and caregivers to develop a plan for adulthood. Our workshop includes separate tracks for both—along with time to come together.

Questions, ideas, concerns, and plans can look very different for each person. Creating space for both perspectives, and then bringing them together, helps families have meaningful conversations about what comes next.

We are excited to spend the weekend listening, learning, and planning together! 🌟

10/02/2026

FAST FACT FRIDAY!

For teens with special health care needs or disabilities, planning for adulthood starts before age 18. It can be helpful to think about transition planning in 3 steps:

🌱Early Transition | Ages 14–16
Begin planning, building skills, and exploring future goals.

🔄Active Transition | Ages 17–18
Prepare for changes in services, benefits, health care, employment, and other supports.

🌿Adulthood | Age 18+
Continue building independence, connections, and the support needed for adult life.

Starting early gives the entire family more time to learn, ask questions, and prepare for what comes next.

Our Resource Library is full of helpful information to support families along the way. We have linked our Integrated Transition Fact Sheet in the comments! 🔗

10/01/2026

🧡COMMUNITY | CONNECTION | RESILIENCE 🧡

We are already gearing up for the 2027 Circles of Life Conference — and we are looking to you to help shape it!

May 6–7, 2027
Wilderness Resort | Wisconsin Dells

Our Call for Presenters is still open! 📣

We invite parents, professionals, and community partners to share their knowledge, experiences, and ideas at our May 2027 Conference.

The theme, Community, Connection, Resilience, explores how we can build stronger communities, foster meaningful connections, and remain resilient through times of change.

We are currently seeking presentations that offer practical, actionable strategies to support attendees:
• Care for themselves and their families
• Build meaningful connections and community
• Navigate change and uncertainty
• Find strength, balance, and resilience

Share what you know. Spark connection. Strengthen our community.

🔗The link to submit your proposal is in the comments!

09/30/2026

Choices build confidence—start today! 💛

Join us this Friday as we explore simple ways to build choice-making into everyday routines.

For children with disabilities, practicing choice-making can build confidence, strengthen connections, create a sense of safety, and show them that their voice matters.

Our learning session, Early Choices Matter, offers practical tips that you can start using right away.

📆Friday, October 2nd
⏰11:30 AM
📝[Registration in the comments]

We can't wait to see you!

09/29/2026

It’s a busy week at Family Voices of Wisconsin! 🌟

📅 There is still plenty of time to join us. Take a look at what’s coming up and find an opportunity that fits your schedule.

We would love to connect!

09/28/2026

The Latest Issue of Our Newsletter Is Out! 📫

As families move into a new season, there is a lot to think about—planning for the future, navigating programs and benefits, finding time for yourself, and staying connected to opportunities and resources.

This issue, Looking Ahead: What Families Need to Know, is packed with family insight, information, and resources, including:

• Information and family tips about adult guardianship
• CLTS & BadgerCare Plus updates
• Support and resources for caregivers
• Recent parent-led initiatives and upcoming opportunities for family leadership
• Tips for navigating fall transitions with your family
• Learning opportunities and ways to connect

Read the latest issue:
🔗https://mailchi.mp/fvofwi/2026-newsletter-issue-3

Want to stay in the loop? Join our email list, follow our social media, or reach out: 🔗https://familyvoiceswi.org/connect/

We are glad you are here and look forward to staying connected! 🧡

09/26/2026

Adulthood is Coming. Are You Ready?

We are looking forward to partnering with Autism Society of Wisconsin for another great evening of learning.

What’s After High School? 🎓
FREE | Virtual

Explore the transition to adult life for youth with disabilities and special health care needs — including supports, public benefits, health care, legal options, employment, housing, community living, and advocacy.

We're looking forward to talking about the foundations for building a meaningful adult life. 🧡

📆Monday | 6:30 PM
Details + Registration: https://autismsocietywi.org/event/whats-after-high-school/

09/25/2026

Good medical care makes room for two forms of expertise. 🧡

Providers bring medical expertise — diagnosis, treatment, clinical assessment, risks and benefits.

Families bring lived experience — what’s typical, what’s changed, patterns they notice, and the things that matter most.

The goal isn’t for one form of expertise to replace the other. It’s about bringing both together.

Families and providers can help create space for this partnership by approaching conversations with warmth, curiosity, and understanding — listening to what the other person brings to the conversation and being open to what they may not know yet.

When medical expertise and lived experience are heard and valued, families and providers can work together to better understand what’s happening, make informed decisions, and advocate for the child together.

Both voices matter. Both bring something important to the conversation.

09/25/2026

Thankfulness can be a form of self-care. 🫶

Take a moment at the end of your day to notice something you’re grateful for — maybe a moment with your child's care team, something that happened today or in the past, or something you are looking forward to.

It doesn’t have to be big. Just taking a moment to pause, notice, and reflect can be a small act of care for yourself — and you deserve it!

These practical ideas, shared by our former intern Jordan from the UW-Madison Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work, can help you build small moments of care into your everyday routine. ✨

09/24/2026

Not one, but TWO incredible opportunities to build confidence, find your voice, and strengthen your advocacy skills this October!

📅 October 8 | Your Voice Matters
Explore your voice, discover your strengths, and build confidence.

📅 October 22 | Community Advocacy
Hear from an experienced family leader as she shares how she has made a difference in her community and beyond. Discover ways to turn your experiences and passion into meaningful action.

Whether you are new, thinking about the next step, or an experienced advocate, there's space for you. 💙

✨ Your voice matters. Your experiences matter. Your community benefits when you use them.

Address

Madison, WI
53705

Telephone

+16085120217

Website

http://www.familyvoiceswi.org/, https://familyvoiceswi.org/transition-workshop/

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