DRW lauds signing of bills to provide training to guardians and prevent discrimination in organ transplants

Today Governor Evers signed two bills that will have a positive impact on the lives of people with disabilities.

The first law (SB 92/AB 100) creates a requirement that individuals who are becoming guardians for people with disabilities and elderly adults receive basic training in their duties before they are appointed. By understanding these duties, as well as the limits of their authority, new guardians will be better prepared to do the demanding work of making decisions for another person. “Everyone involved in a guardianship – but especially the ward – will benefit from this new training requirement,” stated DRW Managing Attorney Mitch Hagopian.

The second new law explicitly bans discrimination based on disability in the organ transplant process (SB 538/AB 539). Unfortunately, people with disabilities, particularly intellectual disabilities, have often been treated differently in the organ transplant process than people who don’t have disabilities, resulting in people with disabilities being denied transplants. The specific protections in the new law will guarantee that people with disabilities have equal access to this life saving treatment.

“DRW thanks Wisconsin legislators and Governor Evers for approving these positive proposals,” stated DRW Executive Director, Lea Kitz. Both of these bills were passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.

Disability Rights Wisconsin is the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy system for the State of Wisconsin, charged with protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities and keeping them free from abuse and neglect.