To unite ALL of Wisconsin in supporting our residents with developmental disabilities to lead their most independent lives. 

We visited communities around the state to find out what issues matter to you and what you’d like to see change.  We listened. And from your words came our 5-year state plan for people with developmental disabilities. 

We want all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to have the lives they want. Yet, we know that not all people are living the lives they want because of racism and discrimination. We commit to finding and addressing these inequities at BPDD and in the service systems. We will listen, we will learn, and we will achieve change.

Definitions

• Diversity: All the ways in which people and lives are different.
• Equity: Everyone has the supports they need to access opportunities to have the lives they want.
• Inclusion: A community where all people are and feel respected, have a sense of belonging, and can participate and contribute to the group’s success.

The Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (BPDD) has the honor and responsibility to acknowledge the Indigenous people who have called this land home for generations. Our office is in Madison, known as Teejop (pronounced day-JOPE) by the Ho-Chunk people. They had 10 million acres that were recognized by treaty. They were repeatedly removed from Wisconsin from 1832-1874, but they kept coming back to their homeland and are still here.

While BPDD is located on Ho-Chunk land, we work across the state. No matter where you are in the state, you are on the ancestral land of Tribal nations. There are 12 Tribal nations in Wisconsin, 11 of which are federally recognized. We encourage you to learn about and appreciate the history of the Tribal nations who cared for this land and continue to contribute to our communities.

BPDD also wants to recognize the different ways that Indigenous cultures see disability: people with disabilities have a place and a purpose in tribal communities. These are cultural teachings we can all learn from. Read this article to learn more.

BPDD developed this land acknowledgement with Tribal members connected to the Board, based on studying other land acknowledgements. Special thanks to Kenneth Funmaker, Jr., and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection for providing language.