People First Wisconsin

06/02/2026

Note: We've had questions about voting. But nothing has changed yet in Wisconsin.

06/01/2026

Image description: Illustration and text against a large rainbow flag in bands of muted red, yellow and green, against a pale grey background. Text in black font at the top left corner reads:“AWN celebrates”Then in large, bold, purple bubble letters reads:“PRIDE MONTH” In the top right hand corner in black text reads:“June 2026”Across the image are eight digital illustrations of a diverse group of people representing an array of ages, heights, hair color / style and clothing color / style. In the lower right hand corner is the awn logo: a large pink “a” with a pale green winged spoonie dragonfly on it. Below the “a” is our website: awnnetwork dot org.

AWN celebrates Pride Month!

Sending so much love and solidarity to our fellow LGBTQIA+ community members. AWN will never stop fighting for the rights of q***r and trans folks to have (among other things) safety, dignity, healthcare and joy!
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[image description:

Illustration and text against a large rainbow flag in bands of muted red, yellow and green, against a pale grey background.

Text in black font at the top left corner reads:

“AWN celebrates”

Then in large, bold, purple bubble letters reads:

“PRIDE MONTH”

In the top right hand corner in black text reads:

“June 2026”

Across the image are eight digital illustrations of a diverse group of people representing an array of ages, heights, hair color / style and clothing color / style.

In the lower right hand corner is the awn logo: a large pink “a” with a pale green winged spoonie dragonfly on it. Below the “a” is our website: awnnetwork dot org. ]

06/01/2026

ACTION ALERT! Joint Fiance Commitee(JFC) is meeting tomorrow to decide on DVR funding. 𝐁𝐄𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝟗 𝐀𝐌 𝐓𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐃𝐀𝐘, 𝐉𝐔𝐍𝐄 𝟐: Contact Joint Finance Commitee members, your state senator & State Rep. 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 to 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤. See below for more details.

𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐒𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐂𝐓 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐎:

https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/committees/joint/2920
https://legis.wisconsin.gov

ACTION ALERT! The Joint Finance Committee (JFC) is meeting on Tuesday, June 2, to decide whether the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) services should get the extra money it needs to begin helping people with disabilities who are on the DVR waitlist, want to work, and need help getting a job.

The state budget did not set aside enough money to cover the costs of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). There are more than 7,000 people on the DVR waitlist, and it’s estimated that the list will grow to 15,000 by the end of the year without enough state funding.

ACTION STEP BEFORE 9 AM TUESDAY, JUNE 2: Contact the members of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance and your State Senator and State Assembly Representatives and tell them what it means when people with disabilities and families have to wait for help when they want to work.

LINKS FOR LEGISLATIVE CONTACT INFO:
https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/committees/joint/2920
https://legis.wisconsin.gov/

06/01/2026

Image Description: There are eleven smaller ovals around one big oval. The ovals are various shades of green and yellow. Fern fronds are sprinkled in the spaces between the ovals.The black text in the biggest oval, in the middle, reads: Things that can worsen your anxiety. The black text in the other ovals read, irregular sleep, too much social media, repressing your anxiety, reading alot or negative news, stress & conflict, skipping meals, caffeine, drugs, alcohol & smoking, eating too much sugar, saying yes to too many things, isolating yourself.

05/31/2026

Image Description: Pale pink flower petals surround a bubble gum pink center with a dark center inside it. The black text reads, Take it all one day at a time and enjoy the journey.--Kristi Bartlett

🩷🤍🌸

05/30/2026

Image Description: a crayon drawing of a bright yellow sun. The black text reads, I'm a firm believer that happiness makes people prettier. Its a noticeable glow.

05/29/2026

Iakobwa Kabong is a student with a physical disability from Christmas Island in Kiribati. He is currently pursuing a diploma in Information Technology at Fiji National University. The small island nation of Kiribati is growing, both in embracing digital technologies & inclusion of people with disabilities. As a future skilled IT professional with a disability, he is a pioneer in both; leading the way.

Image Description: A brown skinned man sits in his wheelchair smiling for the camera. He wears a blue t-shirt with yellow text making a circle. Part of the yellow text reads, freedom. He also wears dark blue shorts. He has short black hair and a black beard. He is sitting in a classroom near the white board,

Image Credit: Fiji Times

05/29/2026

Reminder: No one else gets to decide how something feels for you.

05/28/2026

Yu Xiuhua is a Chinese poet with cerebral palsy. Growing up in rural China with a disability, meant that she did not have access to opportunities to live the way she wants. So Yu wrote poetry to express herself. She wrote about frustration & love, darkness & faith, pain, hope, & desire. All about life. Her work online made her a renowned, best-selling poet in China. One book she wrote is called "Moonlight Rests on My Left Palm."

Image Description: A brown-skinned Chinese woman gazes up and out into the distance. She is wearing a red faux fur collar, red shirt, and red rimmed glasses. Snow is falling and there are snow flakes on her long dark hair. She has dark eyes.

Image Credit: Sixth Tone News