Ask Congress to fight for people with disabilities
This week, our federal government took key steps that may have significant negative impact for people with disabilities. Access Living is gravely concerned about these changes. It’s time to speak up! We need your help to ask members of Congress to hold strong for federal disability rights and programs. Take quick action here.
What’s going on? This week, we saw concerning developments at the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Social Security Administration. These actions damage the decades-long hard work of both Republican and Democratic administrations to improve the situation of people with disabilities. Disability is not about a political party. It can happen to anyone. Let’s break it down.
First, yesterday President Trump signed an Executive Order to begin dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. Right now, it is somewhat unclear exactly what will happen, but we know that half the staff have already been laid off, with heavy losses in the Office for Civil Rights, which serves as an essential enforcement mechanism to preserve the rights of students with disabilities at school. Plus, federal loans and grants, as well as vocational rehabilitation services, are critical for college students with disabilities, and people with disabilities who want to work. The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) put together this helpful explainer about what’s happening at the Department of Education.
Second, the U.S. Department of Justice withdrew eleven pieces of guidance on disability rights compliance. Among other things, the guidance covers access standards in places of public business. Everyone can be a customer, and businesses often want guidance on how to ensure they are accessible to all customers in compliance with the ADA. Withdrawal will result in more confusion and expose businesses to litigation that could have been avoided. It is better to educate businesses than leave them guessing. DOJ guidance helps everyone reach agreement in an amicable way. Learn more at this link from USA Today.
Third, the Social Security Administration is shrinking its ability to provide service. The closure of more than 40 Social Security offices nationwide, as well as the ending of Social Security identity verification by phone, will make it extremely difficult for many older people and people with disabilities to keep up with their public benefits. Many people struggle to leave their homes or communities to go to an office, and others have great difficulty using Internet identity verification techniques. Learn more at this news story from Axios.
It’s time to take action! Together, these federal moves tell us that people with disabilities are at risk, and there is no assurance that these are the last actions of their kind. It is critical to contact your members of Congress and ask them to fight for the disability protections and supports that we have all worked so hard to build. The quick action alert link is here.