Senator
Jennifer Shilling will be presented, on May 1st, with the Government
Leadership Award at the KI Convention Center.
Each
year, Rehabilitation for Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Rehabilitation association
get nominations for the award and decide who will receive it based on
contributions to legislation, policies and practices that aid the lives of
those with disabilities.
Senator
Shilling was selected by Riverfront in La Crosse. She was chosen because of her persistent
support for people with disabilities in Wisconsin and her success in
legislating a bill that received bi-partisan support in 2013. This bill strengthens job training and
placement by giving more funds to the Division of Vocational
Rehabilitation. She increased the states
funding to the DVR by $4.2 million, and qualified the group to receive another
$15.5 million from the federal government.
This
will increase employment for disabled persons by reducing the waiting lists
that the DVR has. The DVR provides
employment services and counseling to people with disabilities to attain
employment, be more self-sufficient and decrease their reliance on government aid.
“Empowering
individuals with special needs to identify their unique abilities and maximize
their potential continues to be a priority for me as a state senator,” said
Shilling.
