General Session: Building Strength and Momentum within your state IL Networks

(Wisconsin IL Network panel)

Keynote Overview:

Building and maintaining a strong statewide IL network takes a lot of difficult, but necessary, work. State partners, including CILs, SILCs, DSEs, and Associations need to do their part to cultivate meaningful and fruitful partnerships to ensure that state networks continue to grow and get stronger. Without a strong network, it is much harder to advance our philosophy, advocate for funding, and meet the needs of the communities in our region. Learn what the Wisconsin Independent Living Network (WILN) has done to build a strong and collaborative network that puts the needs of people with disabilities, and the greater good of our movement, ahead of any one partner’s agenda.

Additional Session Materials:

About your Facilitator and Panelists:

Tyler Wilcox

Tyler Wilcox is the Executive Director of ILCW, Wisconsin’s SILC. He has been working in IL world for about ten years but is a life-long advocate for persons with disabilities, including himself. Tyler is the NASILC Region V representative, and a member of both the NASILC and APRIL advocacy committees.

Kyle Kleist

Kyle Kleist is the Executive Director at the Center for Independent Living for Western Wisconsin (CILWW). As a person with a disability who uses a wheelchair, Kyle has over 20 years of experience working in Independent living. He is dedicated to the independent living philosophy of providing consumer-directed services and is a strong advocate for persons with disabilities. Kyle currently serves as Co-Chair of the Independent Living Council of Wisconsin, Co-Chair of the Wisconsin Coalition of Independent Living Centers, Executive Member At Large of the Wisconsin Rehabilitation Council, and is a Member At Large on the APRIL board.

Ashley Baker

Ashley Baker is the Designated State Entity for Wisconsin. Ashley has worked within the Department of Health Services (DHS) in the Office for the Promotion of Independent Living (OPIL) for the last 4 years, and prior to, spent 13 years in leadership working at an Independent Living Center in Wisconsin. Ashley has a bachelor’s degree and is a Certified Social Worker and an Assistive Technology Professional (ATP). Ashley also is an adjunct instructor for the Human Service Associate Program for Western Technical College in La Crosse, WI.

Lisa Sobczyk

Lisa Sobczyk is Director of the Office for Physical Disabilities with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) where she is responsible for assisting in the administration, analysis, policy development, financial and clinical outcomes and planning of programs that serve people with disabilities of all ages and their families in Wisconsin, with a special emphasis on physical disabilities. In addition, her office provides staff support to several Governor appointed disability councils and committees. Lisa has over 20 years of experience working for a diverse range of organizations and policy issues including Independent Living Movement, Community Action, Community Economic Development, and Housing and Homelessness. Lisa has a Master’s of Science in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University and a Bachelors of Arts in Social Work from the University of Indianapolis