Contact: Jess Davidson, jdavidson@aapd.com; 202-975-0960

WASHINGTON, DC – The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is proud to announce the eight recipients of the 2025 NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarship. With generous support from NBCUniversal, the NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarship was named after Tony Coelho, a former United States Representative and the primary author and sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The scholarship is provided to undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities who are interested in future careers in the communications, media, or entertainment industries.

“NBCUniversal is honored to continue supporting the next generation of media leaders through

the Tony Coelho Media Scholarship,” said Craig Robinson, Executive Vice President and Chief Inclusion Officer. “These students demonstrate talent, ambition, and a commitment to making an impact in the industry. We look forward to seeing the contributions they will make as they pursue their academic and professional goals.”

“Like disabled people, media is everywhere and touches every aspect of life. To combat ableism, which is also everywhere, we need accurate and powerful representations of disabled people in all kinds of media. This year’s NBCU Tony Coelho Media Scholarship awardees represent the breadth of opportunities for disability representation in everything from film and journalism to music composition and printmaking. I am extremely grateful to NBCUniversal for their ongoing partnership and support of these talented students,” said Maria Town, AAPD President and CEO.

Award recipients received $5,625 each to help cover the cost of education at their current college or university. Each recipient of the 2025 NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarship was chosen for their demonstrated knowledge and passion in media industry. The recipients were also selected based not only on their commitment and contribution to disability representation in the media, but also their future aspirations to meaningfully include and engage the disability community in their careers. During the 2025-2026 school year, NBCUniversal and AAPD will collaborate to provide several opportunities to support the recipient’s growth in their academic pursuits and career development.

Please join us in congratulating the recipients of the 2025 NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarship! You can read the recipients’ full biographies and learn more about the NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarship on our website. 

• Anthony McFarland-Smith (he/him), Gallaudet University: Undergraduate Freshman studying Communications Studies (Sports).
• Ashley Castillo (she/her), CUNY Craig Newmark School of Journalism: Graduate Student (Master of Arts) in Journalism. Broadcast Journalism, Concentration, Local Accountability.
• Itai Hershko (he/him), Indiana University: Undergraduate Freshman studying Media Entrepreneurship.
• John Bennett (he/him): University of Wisconsin, Madison: Graduate Student (PhD) studying Film Studies.
• Juniper Johnson (she/her), Loyola Marymount University: Graduate Student (Master of Fine Arts) studying Writing for Film and TV Production.
• Matthew Hua (he/him), Columbia College Chicago: Graduate Student (Master of Fine Arts) studying Music Composition for the Screen. 
• Rosemarie Shamim (she/her), Glendale Community College: Undergraduate Senior studying Journalism and Film
• Shanelly Nunez (she/her), Rochester Institute of Technology: Undergraduate Senior studying printmaking.

The post AAPD and NBCUniversal Announce 2025 Recipients of the NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarship appeared first on AAPD.

AAPD Calls for Congressional Action to Protect Federal Education Programs and Disability Rights

Washington, D.C. –  The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) strongly opposes yesterday’s announcement by Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon that the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) and other programs will be transferred out of the Department. The Department of Labor (DoL) will now administer OESE and the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE). These interagency agreements further the long-planned and unlawful dismantling of the department initiated by the Trump Administration. According to federal law, these programs are required to be part of the Department of Education, and only Congress has the authority to transfer them to another department.

OESE collaborates with the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to promote inclusive education, enforce accessibility standards, and enhance teacher training—all of which are essential for the success of students with disabilities. Dismantling the department and splitting up these offices is prohibited without an act of Congress, weakens the expertise of education professionals, and jeopardizes the future of all of America’s students, including over 7.5 million students with disabilities.

We expect the Administration to continue its actions beyond this point, and we are increasingly concerned about its potential plans for OCR and OSEP. If OSEP actually moves into the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as has been suggested, it would mark a return to the segregated, medical model of disability and treating disability as a “problem” that needs to be “cured”, and addressed in separate, specialized settings instead of following the civil rights and inclusive education approach that entitles all students to a free and appropriate public education as outlined in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The Department of Education provides oversight, enforcement, funding, and programming that facilitate education opportunities for disabled students, which ultimately provides the foundation for the expectation of inclusion and integration as an adult and in other aspects of life. 

This year, IDEA turns 50. Before IDEA and the Department of Education’s work to make the promise of IDEA real, children with disabilities were educated at home or within medical, institutional settings. We cannot return to this reality that many in our community still have painful memories of. 

Join AAPD in urging Congress to act immediately to stop this transfer and prevent the dismantling of the Department of Education. We call on the Administration to reconsider this harmful move and protect the rights of students with disabilities to an inclusive, high-quality public education.

The post AAPD Opposes Unlawful Dismantling of the Department of Education appeared first on AAPD.

Contact: Jess Davidson, jdavidson@aapd.com; Catherine Clements, catherine.clements@highmarkhealth.org

WASHINGTON, DC – The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Veronica Villalobos as Chair of the AAPD Board of Directors. 

Villalobos is an executive with expertise in human capital management, strategic planning, talent development, and employment law. AAPD is one of the nation’s leading cross-disability civil rights groups dedicated to building the economic and political power of the more than 70 million people with disabilities across the United States.

Currently, Villalobos is the Vice President for the Institute for Strategic Social & Workforce Programs at Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Network. In this position, she works to improve health care delivery and access, and leads workplace programs that foster a fair, collaborative, and empowering environment for all employees. Highmark Health has been recognized as a “Best Place to Work” for individuals with disabilities by the Disability Equality Index for the past 11 years. 

Villalobos previously worked as the Principal Deputy Associate Director for Employee Services in the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). In a prior position as Director of OPM’s Office of Diversity & Inclusion, she led efforts to increase federal employment of people with disabilities, hiring over 100,000 within five years.

Villalobos has been a member of the AAPD Board of Directors since 2021, bringing her significant experience with promoting civil rights and increasing disability employment to the organization during a critical moment for the disability community. She has been deeply involved with the organization in the last four years and was instrumental in developing AAPD’s most recent strategic plan. Her primary focus as Board Chair will be continuing to guide AAPD in its work to improve the employment opportunities and economic security for disabled people. 

“I am committed to uniting leaders across all sectors to collaboratively build a future where the talents of people with disabilities are fully leveraged and recognized. This strategic imperative strengthens every business, ignites fresh perspectives, and propels innovation across industries,” Villalobos stated. 

AAPD’s work is deeply personal to Villalobos because of her experiences as a woman living with a disability and her difficult experience trying to obtain proper care free from discrimination. This personal experience, coupled with her passionate belief that no one’s potential should ever be limited by prejudice, drove her to work in civil rights. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Veronica Villalobos as the new Chair of AAPD’s Board of Directors. A respected leader in the healthcare field and a long-time leader in disability employment, Veronica is highly committed to serving on AAPD’s board and to increasing the power of disabled people. Veronica will provide instrumental guidance and leadership as AAPD continues to advocate for equal opportunity, economic power, and political participation for disabled people,” said AAPD President and CEO Maria Town. 

In addition to naming Villalobos as chair of the Board, the American Association of People with Disabilities also named three new people to its Board of Directors: 

• Self-advocate Armando Escobedo – Tri-County Independent Living 
• Structured settlement expert Michael Goodman – NFP Structured Settlements 
• Civil rights attorney Jennifer Mathis – Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law

The post AAPD Names Disability Employment Leader Veronica Villalobos Chair of its Board  appeared first on AAPD.

Contact: Jess Davidson, jdavidson@aapd.com; 202-465-5528 and Naomi Hess, nhess@aapd.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Over the past few days, the Trump administration has executed massive illegal reductions-in-force (RIFs) across federal agencies, including in many offices that serve people with disabilities. The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is concerned that these RIFs will threaten disabled people’s access to education, employment, health care, housing, and more. AAPD is relieved that a federal judge has temporarily paused the RIFs after unions representing federal employees filed a lawsuit, but the fight to stop the RIFs is not over yet. AAPD demands that these workers be reinstated so that all Americans who rely on government programs and services can receive the benefits and supports they need. 

Many offices in the Department of Education (ED) experienced RIFs over the weekend,  including the majority of staff in the the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), encompassing the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). These offices ensure that students with disabilities receive equal access to education and help disabled adults enter and remain in the workforce. These RIFs are a part of a long-term strategy of the Trump administration to close the Department of Education, which has been in motion since the beginning of this year.  

7.5 million students with disabilities, representing 15% of all public school students, rely on the protections granted in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to ensure that they receive special education services. OSERS oversees the implementation of the IDEA, and schools and parents of children with disabilities often need to contact OSERS for information about special education requirements. Without staff working at OSERS, those schools and parents will not be able to carry out their obligations and receive needed services. In addition, the lack of staff puts at risk the disbursement of IDEA funds to, and federal oversight of, state special education programs.

RSA provides vocational rehabilitation services to people with disabilities to maximize their employment opportunities. Because disabled people are less likely to have competitive, integrated employment than their nondisabled peers, RSA is essential for promoting independence and community integration. We are concerned that there will be less support for the employment of people with disabilities as a result of these cuts.

In addition, although IDEA, the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other critical civil rights laws protecting disabled people from discrimination in education will technically remain in place, these RIFs will have long-term negative consequences on the ability of disabled people and their families to receive the services and supports they are entitled to because there will be fewer staff to enforce these laws. Ultimately, disabled people will lose access to critical education and employment services without these offices.

AAPD President and CEO Maria Town shared, “The Department of Education ensures that children, youth, and adults with disabilities have an equal shot at education and economic success. An attack on the Department of Education is an attack on  special education and  people with disabilities.” 

Staff at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), among other agencies, also experienced RIFs. SAMHSA provides many services that assist people with mental health disabilities, such as the Protection & Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Program, the 988 suicide prevention hotline, and mental health and addiction support services. The nation is already in the midst of a mental health crisis, so SAMHSA is more important now than ever and should not be threatened by RIFs. 

Further, people with disabilities are far more likely than those without disabilities to experience suicidal ideation, co-existing psychiatric disabilities, and substance use disorders. SAMHSA’s efforts are essential for improving outcomes and ensuring equitable and accessible mental health and substance use services for people with disabilities. SAMHSA also helps to build a better system for crisis care, which helps prevent unnecessary and expensive  restrictive hospital stays and promotes better access to care for disabled people. 

Although more than half of the RIF notices affecting the CDC have been rescinded, many staff remain laid off, including people working in CDC’s Washington office, the National Center for Health Statistics, and the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Cuts to the CDC threaten public health, which affects people with disabilities who have immunocompromising conditions or are more likely to have worse outcomes when they contract infectious diseases.

Many of the fired HUD staff came from the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, which will impact disabled people who experience housing discrimination. Over 60% of housing discrimination cases reported to HUD in 2023 involved disability-based discrimination. The Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity is the office that handles these cases, leaving anyone hoping to enforce their fair housing rights without any recourse. The Office of Public and Indian Housing and the Office of Housing and Community Planning and Development were also impacted by the RIF. 

HUD, like ED and CDC, had already experienced enormous staffing cuts earlier in the year that directly diminished the agency’s capacity to administer the accessible and affordable housing programs that many people rely upon, including Americans with disabilities. These new cuts at HUD, ED, CDC, and other affected agencies further limit the agencies’ abilities to serve people with disabilities.

“People with disabilities already face persistent barriers in education, employment, housing, health care, and community integration. These RIFs target dedicated public employees who protect and serve disabled Americans. Rather than make government more efficient, these illegal actions will only increase barriers, make government at every level less efficient, and set progress for disabled people back decades,” Town concluded.

AAPD has created a resource that further explains the details of the reduction in force and how it impacts disabled people. 

The post Federal Reductions-in-Force at the Department of Education and Other Agencies Harm Disabled People appeared first on AAPD.

Broad Coalition of Disability, Civil Rights, and Education Organizations Call for Reversal of Layoffs at Department of Education

Washington, D.C. – A broad coalition of national, state, and local disability, civil rights, and education organizations is sounding the alarm over sweeping layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education. These cuts have gutted key offices—including the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), and the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE)—threatening decades of progress in protecting students with disabilities. 

These wholesale terminations place fundamental education laws in peril and place millions of children with disabilities at risk who receive services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Title IV of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. These layoffs circumvent the will of Congress and dismantle 50 years of precedent upholding rights for students with disabilities. Without personnel to oversee these laws, the Department cannot provide essential leadership, oversight, guidance, or support to states and schools—jeopardizing students’ access to a free, appropriate public education and hampering the ability of states and localities to serve all students. In addition, the terminations also threaten the vocational rehabilitation system that helps youth and adults with disabilities become employed.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of IDEA, a law that has enjoyed strong bipartisan support for five decades. Rather than celebrating progress, we face a crisis: the dismantling of the very infrastructure Congress created to ensure children with disabilities could reach their full potential, potentially catapulting them back to a time of segregation and refusal to provide educational opportunities.

The undersigned organizations urge the Administration – and call on Congress to do the same – to reverse course immediately and restore staffing and transparency at the U.S. Department of Education. Strong federal leadership is not optional—it’s a moral and legal obligation for our nation’s children with disabilities.

Signed:

AACTE: American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
Access Ready Inc.
Accessible College LLC
ACVREP
Advocacy Without Borders
AFSCME
AFT, AFL-CIO
All4Ed
Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools
Allies for Independence
America Forward
American Association of People with Disabilities
American Association of University Women (AAUW)
American Association on Health and Disability
American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
American Council of Blind Families
American Council of the Blind Next Generation
American Council of the BlindAmerica Council of the Blind
American Foundation for the Blind
American Music Therapy Association
American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR)
American Occupational Therapy Association
American Physical Therapy Association
American Psychological Association
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
American Therapeutic Recreation Association
Angelman Syndrome Foundation
Applied Self-Direction
APTA Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy
Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA)
Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired
Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs
Association of Educational Service Agencies (AESA)
Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE)
Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL)
Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO)
Association of University Centers on Disabilities
Association of Vision Rehabilitation Therapists
Association on Higher Education And Disability (AHEAD)
Attendance Works
Autism Science Foundation
Autism Society of America
Autism Speaks
Autistic Self Advocacy Network
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Beyond-Impact LLC

Black Down Syndrome Association
Blessed with Extraordinary
Calculus Roundtable
Caring Across Generations
CASA
CEC Division on Visual Impairment and DeafBlindness
Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)
Center for Public Representation
Changing Perspectives
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation
Coalition on Human Needs
Collaborative Special Education Advocacy
Common Coalition
CommunicationFIRST
Complex and Chronic Conditions, The Division for Physical, Health and Multiple Disabilities of
the Council for Exceptional Children (CCC-DPHMD)
Council for Exceptional Children
Council for Learning Disabilities
Council of Administrators of Special Education
Council of Citizens with Low Vision International
Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA)
Cure SMA
DCDT
Deaf Equality
Defense of Democracy
Described and Captioned Media Program
Dicapta
Disability Belongs
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund
Disability Workforce LLC
Disabled Martial Artists Alliance
Diversability LLC
Diverse Charter Schools Coalition
Division for Communication, Language and D/HH
Division for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Exceptional Learners (DDEL)
Division for Early Childhood
Division for Emotional and Behavioral Health (DEBH)
Division for Learning Disabilities of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
Division for Research, Council for Exceptional Children
Division of International Special Education and Services
Division of Leaders and Legacy
Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities
Division on Career Development and Transition

Down Syndrome Affiliates In Action
Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta
Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network
Down Syndrome Achieves
Easterseals, Inc.
EDGE Partners
EdTrust
Educating All Learners Alliance
Education Law Center
Education Reform Now
Educators for Excellence
Epilepsy Foundation of America
FASD United
First Focus on Children
Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics
FullScale
GLSEN
Griffin-Hammis Associates
Healthy Schools Campaign
Hearing Loss Association of America
Inclusive Development Partners (IDP)
Innovations in Special Education Technology: Division of Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
International Council on Development and Learning
Joint National Committee for Languages
KIPP Foundation
Lakeshore Foundation
LearnerStudio
Little Lobbyists
Low Vision Technology
Made for Math
MomsRising
Muscular Dystrophy Association
NAACP
National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity (NAPE)
National Association for College Admission Counseling
National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities
National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors
National Association of Private Special Education Centers (NAPSEC)
National Association of Pupil Services Administrators
National Association of School Psychologists
National Association of Social Workers
National Association of Statewide Independent Living Councils (NASILC)
National Association of the Deaf
National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI)
National Center for Learning Disabilities
National Charter Collaborative
National CMV Foundation
National Coalition of State Rehabilitation Councils
National Consortium for Physical Education for Individuals with Disabilities (NCPEID)
National Council for Languages and International Studies
National Council of Jewish Women
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
National Council on Independent Living
National DeafBlind Coalition
National Disability Action
National Disability Institute
National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)
National Down Syndrome Congress
National Down Syndrome Society
National Education Association
National Family Association for DeafBlind
National Federation of the Blind
National Health Law Program
National Parents Union
National Parents Union
National PLACE
National Rehabilitation Association
National Rural Education Association
National School Climate Center
National Women’s Law Center
Network of Occupational Therapy Practitioners with Disabilities & Supporters (NOTPD)
New America, PreK-12 Programs
New Disabled South
Orientation and Mobility Specialist Association
OT Leaders & Legacies Society
Parents for Public Schools
Pennsylvania Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children
Prevent Blindness
School Social Work Association of America
SchoolHouse Connection
SELF – Special Education Leader Fellowship
Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC)
SPAN Parent Advocacy Network, Inc.
Special Education Equal Development Society (SEEDS)
SPEDucator Solutions
Success Beyond Sight
TASH
TDIforAccess
Teach Plus
Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children
The Ability Challenge
The Advocacy Institute
The Arc of the United States
The Association for the Gifted- Council for Exceptional Children
The Carroll Center for the Blind
The Center for Enriched Living
The Center for Learner Equity
The Coelho Center for Disability Law, Policy, and Innovation
The Division of Evaluation and Assessment for Learning (DEAL)
The Education Policy & Practice Group, LLC
The Gibney Family Foundation
The Hussman Institute for Autism
The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health
The National Association for Down Syndrome
The National Association of Federally Impacted Schools (NAFIS)
The National Catholic Board on Full Inclusion
The Neurodiversity Alliance
The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies
The Sibling Leadership Network (SLN)
Touch the Future Inc
Tourette Association of America
TSC Alliance
UnidosUS
United Spinal Association
United States International Council on Disabilities
University of Massachusetts Center for Educational Assessment
VisionServe Alliance
WID
Yes! Access
ZERO TO THREE

State and Local Organizations

Alabama
Alabama Association of School Psychologists
Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program
Coastal Alabama Down Syndrome Society
Down Syndrome Alabama
The Arc of Alabama

Alaska
Alaska Down Syndrome Network
Alaska School Psychologists Association
Stone Soup Group
The Disability Law Center of Alaska

Arizona
Arizona Association of School Psychologists
Arizona Council for Exceptional Children (AZCEC)
Arizona Statewide Independent Living Council
Bridge the Gap Advocacy
Disability Rights Arizona
Loving Speech Center
Native American Disability Law Center
Save Our Schools Arizona
Statewide Independent Living Council of Arizona
The Arc of Arizona
The Arc of Tucson

Arkansas
Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families
Arkansas Down Syndrome Association
Disability Rights Arkansas

California
Anderson Valley Unified School District
Arcohe Union School District
Autistic Women’s Alliance
Belmont-Redwood Shores School District
Black Educator Advocates Network
Butte County SELPA
Cabrillo Unified School District
California Alliance of Child and Family Services
California Association of O&M Specialists-CAOMS
California Association of School Psychologists
California Council for Exceptional Children
California Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition
Carmel Unified School District
Center of Vision Enhancement
Club 21 Learning and Resource Center
Coalition for Adequate Funding for Special Education
Disability Rights California
Down Syndrome Association of Central California
Down Syndrome Association of Orange County
Down Syndrome Association of San Diego
Down Syndrome Connection of the Bay Area
Down Syndrome Foundation of Orange County
Down Syndrome Information Alliance
Elk Grove Unified School District
Families In Schools
Fort Bragg Unified School District
Gilroy Unified School District
Gonzales Unified School District
Independent Living Resource Center SF
Infant Development Association of California
Inland Valley Down Syndrome Association
Jefferson Elementary School District (San Mateo County)
Kern Down Syndrome Network
Le Grand Union High School District
Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Marin Center for Independent Living
Marin County SELPA
Member of Mendocino County Community Advisory Committee
Mendocino County SELPA
Merced County Office of Education
Merced Union High School District
Mid-Alameda County SELPA
Monterey County Office of Education
Monterey County Special Education Local Plan Area
Monterey Peninsula Unified School District
North Monterey County Unified School District
North Santa Cruz County Community Advisory Committee
North Santa Cruz County SELPA
Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC)
Parents Helping Parents, Inc.
Resources for Independence Central Valley
Rolling Start, Inc. Center for Independent Living
San Ardo Union Elementary School District
San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District
San Luis Obispo County SELPA
San Mateo County SELPA
Santa Barbara County Education Office
Santa Barbara County Special Education Local Plan Area
Santa Clarita Valley SELPA
Santa Cruz City Schools
Saugus Union School District
Scotts Valley Unified School District
Service Center for Independent Life
Solano County Special Education Local Plan Area
South East Santa Clara SELPA
South Monterey County Joint Union High School District
South Orange County SELPA
Sulphur Springs Union School District
Support for Families of Children with Disabilities
Tehama County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA)
The Arc of California
The San Diego Center for the Blind
Tri-Valley SELPA
Ukiah Unified School District
Washington Union Elementary School District
West Contra Costa Unified
Willits Unified School District
Yuba County Office of Education

Colorado
Collaborative for Exceptional Education
Colorado Association of the Deaf
Disability Law Colorado
Occupational Therapy Association of Colorado
Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Association
The Arc – Jefferson, Clear Creek & Gilpin Counties
The Arc Arapahoe, Douglas & Elbert Counties
The Arc of Adams County
The Arc of Aurora
Connecticut
Center for Children’s Advocacy
Connecticut Association of School Psychologists
ConnOTA
Disability Rights Connecticut
Nonprofits Counsel
The Arc Connecticut
The Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut
District of Columbia
Children’s Law Center
DC Special Education Cooperative
Down Syndrome Network of Montgomery County, MD
National Children’s Center (NCC)
Nonprofits Counsel

Delaware
Choices For Community Living, Inc.
Delaware Association of School Psychologists
Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council
Delaware Governor’s Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens (GACEC)
Delaware Occupational Therapy Association
Delaware Statewide Independent Living Council
Disability Rights Delaware of Community Legal Aid Society, Inc.
Down Syndrome Association of Delaware
Parent Information Center of Delaware
State Council for Persons with Disabilities
The Arc of Delaware

Florida
Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida
Down Syndrome Foundation of Tallahassee
Manatee County Council of the Blind
Dan Marino Foundation
Disability Rights Florida
Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida
Families for Strong Public Schools
Florida Association of School Psychologists (FASP)
PROJECT Saint

Georgia
Parent Education for Exceptional Children
George Coalition for Equity in Education (GCEE)
Georgia Association of School Psychologists
Georgia Council of Exceptional Children
Parent to Parent of Georgia Inc

Hawaii
Hawai`i Association of School Psychologists
Hawaii Disability Rights Center
Occupational Therapy Association of Hawaii

Idaho
Exceptional Child Center, DBA Center for Independent Living
Disability Rights Idaho
Gem State Developmental Center
Idaho Council for Exceptional Children
Idaho Families of Adults with DisAbilities, Inc.
Idaho State Independent Living Council

Illinois
Connections Day School
DGCKids
Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis
Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford
Esperanza Community Services
Illinois Valley Center for Independent Living
IMPACT CIL
Kids First Chicago
Streamwood Behavioral Health Systems Innovations Academy
The Montessori School of Englewood
Access Living
Advance Illinois
Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education
Illinois Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children
Illinois Families for Public Schools
Illinois School Psychologists Association (ISPA)
Illinois State University
Legal Council for Health Justice
Start Early Illinois
Supporting Illinois Brothers and Sisters
The Arc of Illinois
The Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois

Indiana
Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Indiana
Experienced Educators of East Central Indiana
American Council of the Blind of Indiana
Indiana Association of School Psychologists
Indiana Coalition for Public Education
Indiana Council for Exceptional Children
Indiana Disability Rights
Indiana Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children
Indiana Occupational Therapy Association
VIPS (Vision Interventions and Parental Support)

Iowa
The Arc of East Central Iowa
The Arc of Southeast Iowa
Disability Rights Iowa
Easterseals Iowa
Iowa School Psychologists Association
Iowa Statewide Independent Living Council
The Arc of Iowa

Kansas
Down Syndrome Innovations
Targeted Case Management of Kansas, LLC
Disability Rights Center of Kansas
Kansas Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Inc.
Kansas Division for Early Childhood

Kentucky
Greater Louisville Council of the Blind
Center for Accessible Living
Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion/University of Kentucky
Down Syndrome of Louisville
Kentucky Advocates for Inclusion & Accessibility
Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children
Kentucky Council of the Blind
Kentucky Division for Early Childhood
Kentucky Protection and Advocacy
PAIMI Council of Kentucky
South Central Kentucky Council of the Blind
VIPS (Vision Interventions and Parental Support)

Louisiana
St Bernard Public School District
Disability Rights Louisiana
Louisiana School Psychological Association
Louisiana Statewide Independent Living Council

Maine
Disability Rights Maine
Maine Association of School Psychologists (MASP)
Maine Parent Federation

Maryland
Arts Every Day, Inc.
Beacon Education Solutions
Brown on the Spectrum
Charting the Course
Down Syndrome Association of Southern Maryland
Down Syndrome Network of Montgomery County, MD
Enhancing Your Strengths
Gaithersburg HELP
Montgomery County Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health, Inc
Office of Deaf & Disability Ministries Archdiocese of Washington
Parents Helping Parents Together, Inc
Parents of Children with Down Syndrome (PODS) of Prince George’s Co., MD
Partnership for Extraordinary Minds (xMinds)
Speech Garden
The Arc Montgomery County
The Arc Prince George’s County
Transition Work Group (TWG)
Arts Education in Maryland Schools (AEMS)
Autism Society of Maryland
Choice and Control Inc.
Disability Rights Maryland
Down Syndrome Association of Maryland
Ethiopian Eritrean Special Needs Community Inc.
Maryland Alliance for Racial Equity in Education
Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger Institute
Maryland Citizens for the Arts
Maryland Dance Education Association
Maryland Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition
Maryland Education Coalition (MEC)
Maryland Inclusive Housing
Maryland Out of School Time Network
Maryland School Psychologists’ Association Political Action Committee
Maryland School Psychologists’ Association
Maryland Theater Education Association
National Children’s Center (NCC)
SEEC
Strong Schools Maryland
The Arc Maryland
The Parents’ Place of MD

Massachusetts
Associates for Human Services
Incompass Human Services, Inc.
Lifeworks, Inc.
AFT Massachusetts
Bay Cove Human Services
Disability Law Center
Federation for Children with Special Needs, Inc.
Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress
Massachusetts Early Intervention Consortium
Massachusetts School Library Association (MSLA)
Massachusetts School Mental Health Consortium
Massachusetts School Psychologists Association
Massachusetts Speech-Language Hearing Association
National Association of Social Workers, Massachusetts Chapter
Nonprofits Counsel
The Arc of Massachusetts
Thom Child and Family Services

Michigan
Down to Defend, Michigan
The Arc Community Advocates
The Arc of Macomb County, Inc.
Disability Rights Michigan
EdTrust-Midwest
Michigan Association of School Psychologists
Michigan Council for Exceptional Children
Michigan Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children
Michigan Statewide Independent Living Corporation
The Arc Michigan

Minnesota
Down Syndrome Association of Minnesota
EdAllies
Minnesota CEC
Minnesota Disability Law Center
Minnesota School Psychologist Association
PACER Center
Mississippi
Irby Psychological Services
Pine Belt Down Syndrome Outreach
Disability Rights Mississippi
Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities
Mississippi Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition

Missouri
DGCKids
Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis
Down Syndrome Innovations
St. Louis Arc
The Farmer’s House
Missouri Council for Exceptional Children
Missouri Statewide Independent Living Council
The Missouri Occupational Therapy Association (MOTA)

Montana
Ability Montana
Summit Independent Living
Disability Rights Montana
Montana Association of School Psychologists

Nebraska
Down Syndrome Alliance of the Midlands
Down Syndrome Association for Families
American Council of the Blind of Nebraska
Disability Rights Nebraska
Down Syndrome Advocates in Action Nebraska
Nebraska Occupational Therapy Association
Nebraska School Psychologists Association
Stand For Schools

Nevada
Children’s Advocacy Alliance
Down Syndrome Connections Nevada
Nevada Council of the Blind
Nevada Disability Advocacy & Law Center
Nevada Occupational Therapy Association

New Hampshire
Easterseals NH
ABLE New Hampshire
Disability Rights Center – New Hampshire
Engage New Hampshire
Kent Street Coalition
New Hampshire Assoc of Special Education Administrators
New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities
New Hampshire Occupational Therapy Association
NH General Court
NH Universal Changing Stations Alliance
Strategies for Disability Equity

New Jersey
Association for Special Children and Families
Down Syndrome Association of Southern New Jersey
Mercer County Association of the Blind
ASAH
Disability Rights New Jersey
Family Voices NJ
New Jersey Association of School Psychologists
New Jersey Council for Exceptional Children
New Jersey Division of Early Childhood
NJ Community Schools Coalition
Our Children Our Schools New Jersey
Save Our Schools NJ

New Mexico
Native American Disability Law Center
Rio Grande Down Syndrome Network
Disability Rights New Mexico
New Mexico Association of School Psychologists
New York
Advocacy and Resource Center
Advocates for Children of New York
AHRC Nassau
Arc GLOW
Arc Herkimer
Arc Mid-Hudson
Arc of Onondaga
ARC of Rockland
Bronx Developmental Center Chapter of the Arc New York
Bronx Developmental Disabilities Council
Brookville Center for Children’s Services
Camp Abilities Saratoga, Inc.
Catalyst for Transformative Change
Chautauqua County Chapter, NYSARC, Inc. dba The Resource Center
Clinton ARC
Coarc
INCLUDEnyc
Liberty ARC the Montgomery County Chapter NYSARC, Inc.
Living Resources Corp.
Metropolitan Parent Center, Sinergia Inc
Nysarc/glowarc
Parent Network of WNY
People’s Arc of Suffolk
The Arc Chemung Schuyler
The Arc Erie County New York
The Arc GLOW
The Arc Greater Hudson Valley
The Arc Jefferson – St. Lawrence
The Arc of Delaware County (NYS)
The Arc of Monroe
The Arc of Rensselaer County
The Arc Ontario
The Arc Otsego
The Arc Rockland
The Collaborative for Inclusive Education
Ulster County Children’s Advocacy Network
VIA (Visually Impaired Advancement)
Long Island Advocacy Center
ACCES-VR
AHRC NYC
Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment, Inc.
Brain Injury Association of New York State
BRIDGES – Rockland Independent Living Center, Inc.
Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State
Disability Rights New York
Inclusion Drives Equity
New York Association of School Psychologists (NYASP)
New York State Council for Administrators of Special Education
New York State Council For Exceptional Children
Nonprofits Counsel
NYSARC Inc., Warren, Washington and Albany Counties Chapter
Rural Schools Association of New York
The Adirondack Arc
The Arc New York
The Arc Oneida-Lewis
The Arc Westchester
The Voices For The Medically Fragile of New York

North Carolina
Autism Kids
Down Syndrome Network of Onslow and Carteret Counties (DSNOCC)
FIRSTwnc
Disability Rights North Carolina
North Carolina Down Syndrome Alliance
North Carolina Occupational Therapy Association
Parents for Public Schools of Pitt County
The Arc of NC

North Dakota
The Arc of Cass County
Designer Genes of North Dakota
North Dakota Association of the Blind, Inc.
North Dakota Occupational Therapy Association
North Dakota Protection & Advocacy Project

Ohio
Columbus Education Justice Coalition
Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati
Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Ohio
Erase the Space
Inclusion Advocates, Inc.
Mid-Ohio Board for an Independent Living Environment (MOBIE)
Southeastern Ohio Center for Independent Living
American Council of the Blind of Ohio
Central Ohio Rank and File Educators
Disability Rights Ohio
ElevateDD
Honesty for Ohio Education
Independent Living Center of North Central Ohio
Linking Employment, Abilities & Potential
MOBILE Independent Living
Ohio Equal Rights
Ohio Occupational Therapy Association
Ohio School Psychologists Association
Ohio Statewide Independent Living Council
Ohio Subdivision of the Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children
The Arc of Ohio

Oklahoma
Dynamic Independence
Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma
Oklahoma Disability Law Center
Oklahoma Statewide Independent Living Council
The Arc of Oklahoma

Oregon
HASL Center for Independent Living
Lane Independent Living Alliance (LILA)
Disability Rights Oregon
North Clackamas School District
Occupational Therapy Association of Oregon
Oregon Chapter of Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children
Oregon Council for Exceptional Children
Oregon SILC
The Oregon School Psychologists Association (OSPA)

Pennsylvania
Beaver County Association for the Blind
Danielle Lynn Manni
Golden Triangle Council of the Blind
Montgomery County Association for the Blind
Montgomery Theater
Sights for Hope
The Arc Alliance, Pennsylvania
The Arc Erie County, PA
The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh
The Arc of Philadelphia
VisionCorps
Association of School Psychologists of Pennsylvania
Education Voters of PA
Parent Education and Advocacy Leadership (PEAL) Center
Pennsylvania Association for the Blind
Pennsylvania Council Of The Blind
Pennsylvania Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition
Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association
The Arc of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh/LEND Center on Disabilities
Venango County Association for the Blind

Puerto Rico
Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities in Puerto Rico (PR P&A)

Rhode Island
IN-SIGHT
National Association of Social Workers, Rhode Island Chapter
RIOTA

South Carolina
The Arc of Horry
Able South Carolina
Disability Rights South Carolina
Family Connection of South Carolina
S.C. Appleseed Legal Justice Center
SC Partnership of Disability Organizations
South Carolina Association of School Psychologists
South Carolina Occupational Therapy Association
The Arc of South Carolina
The South Carolina Human Services Providers Association

South Dakota
Disability Rights South Dakota
South Dakota Parent Connection Inc.
The McGovern Center at Dakota Wesleyan University

Tennessee
Alcoa Blount County NAACP
Down Syndrome Association of Memphis and The Mid-South
Down Syndrome Association of Middle Tennessee
Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment (SOCM),
Tennessee Council for Exceptional Children
Tennessee Occupational Therapy Association
The Statewide Independent Living Council of Tennessee – SILCTN

Texas
Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas
Down Syndrome Association of Houston
Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas
The Arc of Greater Beaumont
The Austin Council of the Blind
All Blind Children of Texas
Alliance of and for Visually Impaired Texans
Braille Revival League of Texas
Children’s Disabilities Information Coalition-Community Parent Resource Center (TX-CPRC)
Coalition of Texans with Disabilities
DBMAT – Deafblind Multihandicapped Association of Texas
DeafBlind Community of Texas
National Association of Social Workers Texas
Texas Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (TAER)
Texas Association of School Psychologists
Texas Council of Administrators of Special Education
Texas Occupational Therapy Association
The Arc of Texas

Utah
Disability Law Center of Utah
Utah Association of School Psychologists
Utah Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
Utah State University Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice

Vermont
Disability Rights Vermont
Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Vermont Association of School Psychologists
Vermont Council for Exceptional Children

Virginia
The Arc of Southside
The Arc of the Piedmont
Disability Law Center of Virginia
Virginia Academy of School Psychologists (VASP)
Virginia Council for Exceptional Children
Virginia Division on Career Development and Transition
Virginia Down Syndrome Association

Washington
The Arc of King County
The Arc of Snohomish County
Disability Rights Washington
League of Education Voters
The Arc of Washington State
Washington Association of School Administrators
Washington State Association of School Psychologists (WSASP)

West Virginia
Down Syndrome Network of West Virginia
TEAM for West Virginia Children
West Virginia Occupational Therapy Association

Wisconsin
Oregon (WI) Area Progressives
The Arc of Dane County
Compass IL
Disability Rights Wisconsin
Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin
InControl Wisconsin
Learn In My Shoes
Survival Coalition of Wisconsin Disability Organizations
The Arc Wisconsin
Vision Forward Association
Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools
Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities
Wisconsin Education Association Council
Wisconsin Family Assistance Center for Education, Training, and Support
Wisconsin Public Education Action
Wisconsin Public Education Network
Wisconsin School Psychologists Association

Wyoming
Deaf Intervention Services, LLC
Protection & Advocacy System, Inc, Wyoming
Wyoming School Psychology Association
Wyoming SILC

Background: 

While the current Administration has repeatedly affirmed its commitment to federal education laws and their statutory obligations, the reported staffing cuts would make it extremely difficult—if not impossible—to uphold those responsibilities. They would also harm individuals with disabilities and their families. These actions erode federal accountability for special education funds and vocational rehabilitation funds, as well as the disability rights Congress has enshrined in federal law, at a time when schools nationwide are already struggling to meet the needs of students and when people with disabilities continue to face barriers to employment. The reduction in staff across OSEP, RSA, and OESE also jeopardizes critical grant management, data reporting, and oversight functions that support state compliance and continuous improvement. These activities address the critical shortage of special educators, advance access to technology for children and workers with disabilities, support families, remedy systemic problems within states and school districts, ensure that students with disabilities have equal opportunity to learn alongside their non-disabled peers, and advance the economic independence of people with disabilities through employment. 

The Congressional Research Service explains IDEA, including requirements for vocational rehabilitation evaluation and integrated employment services here.

The post Department of Education Condemned for Ending Support for Students with Disabilities appeared first on AAPD.

Organizational Contacts:
AAPD: Jess Davidson, jdavidson@aapd.com; 202-465-5528
AUCD: Lillie Heigl, lheigl@aucd.org
The Arc: dilworth@thearc.org
ASAN: media@autisticadvocacy.org
Autism Society: press@autismsociety.org 

Click here for a plain language version

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Monday, September 22, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announced the department’s actions to address what he called the “epidemic of autism.” The theories that Secretary Kennedy presented to the public demonstrate his continued disrespect for autistic people and follow a now-familiar pattern of citing debunked claims, demeaning people with disabilities, and spreading misinformation about vaccines and autism. 

The White House also held a press conference on Monday where they raised unfounded concerns about acetaminophen as a potential cause of autism. Acetaminophen is commonly sold under the brand name Tylenol. The President went as far as to explicitly tell pregnant people “don’t take Tylenol,” repeated incorrect information about the history of the prevalence of autism, and called for several changes to the childhood vaccine schedule and to the ingredients of vaccines.

These unfounded and unscientific claims that Tylenol causes autism endanger the lives of pregnant people and go against the advice of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Acetaminophen is widely considered the safest option for pregnant people when it comes to over-the-counter medication that is needed to treat pain or fevers, and it is certainly better than letting a fever go untreated. Autism existed long before Tylenol was sold. Similarly, the administration’s claims about autism and vaccines are dangerous to children, immunocompromised people, and to our nation’s public health more broadly.  Three decades of scientific research have repeatedly shown that vaccines and their ingredients do not cause autism. Claims that autism is “preventable” by taking—or not taking—certain medications are not supported by scientific consensus and serve only to perpetuate stigma against autistic people.

HHS leadership also announced approval of the drug leucovorin to “treat” autism. Limited evidence exists studying the effects of leucovorin on autistic people. The studies that do exist have small sample sizes and are not a substitute for large, robust clinical trials. Approval of this drug as an autism “treatment” at this time exposes autistic people to a range of unknown risks. Autism is complex and multifactorial, presenting differently from person to person. Autistic people need self-directed supports and services tailored to them based on their functional needs, not a one-size-fits-all solution.

Autistic people deserve respect and support. There are many policy and program changes HHS could pursue that would materially improve the lives of autistic people and our families. Avenues to provide suggestions have been limited. The only federal body specifically designed to include engagement from the autism community, the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), has not convened since the start of the Trump administration. The IACC is required to meet by the Autism CARES Act, which was reauthorized last year.¹

This press conference and the administration’s actions come on the heels of Secretary Kennedy’s testimony before the Senate Finance Committee, during which he made more false claims about vaccines. The targeting of autism is part of a broader initiative led by Secretary Kennedy to undermine public health and well-being, undermine trust in science, and to advance harmful, ableist beliefs that make all of us less safe. 

We call on policymakers to collaborate with autistic individuals, families, researchers, clinicians, and disability organizations to ensure that policy is grounded in science and responsive to community needs. 

We urge public leaders, institutions, and media to uphold scientific integrity, disseminate accurate public health information, and work together to strengthen—not weaken—the infrastructure of support for the entire autism community. It is what autistic people and their families deserve.

1 On the day of publication of this statement, the Federal Register posted a notice for IACC nominations. This does not change that the Committee has not convened.

Signed By:

Association of University Centers on Disabilities
Autistic Self Advocacy Network
Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network
National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities
The Arc of the United States
The American Association of People with Disabilities
The Autistic People of Color Fund
The Autism Society

Full list of endorsing organizations (rolling sign-on):

Allies for Independence
American Association on Health & Disability
Association for Autism and Neurodiversity (AANE)
Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL)
Autistic Doctors International
Autistic Women’s Alliance
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)
International Coalition Against Restraint and Seclusion (ICARS)
International Council on Development and Learning (ICDL)
The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health
Organization for Autism Research
Pivot Neurodiversity
The Sibling Leadership Network
TASH
Access Ready Inc.
Autism Kids

The post Leading Autism and Disability Organizations Call for Decision-Making Based on Quality Science and Compassion for the Autism Community appeared first on AAPD.

Contact: Jess Davidson, jdavidson@aapd.com; 202-465-5528 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is thrilled to announce it is increasing the award amount for the Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leaders Award, from $10,000 to $25,000 per recipient, beginning in 2026. The Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leaders Award is given annually to two outstanding emerging leaders with disabilities who exemplify leadership, advocacy, and dedication to the broader cross-disability community.

Paul G. Hearne was an advocate and visionary leader with a lifelong disability who achieved success as a nonprofit executive, foundation president, federal agency director, and mentor to countless people with disabilities. A passionate advocate for increased employment of disabled people, Paul opened doors for thousands through his leadership of Just One Break, an employment agency for people with disabilities in New York City, and The Dole Foundation for Employment of People with Disabilities in Washington, DC.

In 1995, Hearne also founded AAPD, fulfilling his vision of creating a national association that gave people with disabilities more consumer power and a stronger public voice. He died just three years later in 1998. 

Because he was deeply passionate about cultivating and supporting disabled potential leaders to carry on the disability rights movement, AAPD founded the Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Awards to do just that in his honor. There have been over 75 Hearne award recipients since its inception, each of whom have made significant contributions to the disability community by putting their own bold ideas into action. 

The award program has maintained the same level of funding since 2000 – every recipient of the Hearne Award in the past 25 years has received $10,000. $10,000 provided significantly more support to awardees in 2000 than it does today in 2025, as the costs of living and costs of project implementation have increased over time. AAPD not only wants to ensure that the increased award enables recipients to make a bigger impact in their communities, but also ensure that recipients receive meaningful compensation in recognition of their time, efforts, and outstanding leadership. 

The award now includes $10,000 in recognition of the recipients’ outstanding contributions to disability rights and $15,000 dedicated to furthering a new or existing project or initiative that increases opportunities for people with disabilities. 

“Paul G. Hearne had a bold idea to create AAPD,” said AAPD President and CEO Maria Town. “He believed in fostering community, and now the community we’ve built in his name has powered AAPD and the movement for disability rights for 30 years. 

“This meaningful increase is one of many ways AAPD is honoring the award program and ensuring exponential growth of the programs’ impact for the next 25 years and beyond,” Town concluded. 

“Paul Hearne dedicated his life to combatting the high rates of unemployment and underemployment that disabled people face. As we discussed how to recognize Paul’s life and legacy as part of AAPD’s 30th Anniversary celebration, it felt essential to recognize and pay disabled leaders for their time, brilliance, and efforts,” said Christine Liao, Vice President of Programs at AAPD. “I cannot wait to witness the exponential impact of the increased award, and am eager to continue to support and honor emerging disabled leaders.

Applications for this year’s award cycle will remain open until Monday, October 20 at 5 pm ET. Learn more on our website.

The post AAPD Increases Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Award Amount to $25,000 Per Recipient appeared first on AAPD.

Washington D.C., and Santa Clara, Calif., September 3, 2025 – GlobalLogic, a Hitachi Group Company and leader in digital engineering, today announced a pioneering strategic partnership with The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), a leading national cross-disability rights organization advocating for full civil rights for over 70 million disabled Americans. Together, they will establish a comprehensive Inclusive Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance Framework, designed to ensure fairness, privacy preservation, and accessibility for people with disabilities across all AI systems and models.

AI is reshaping how we work and live. To ensure people with disabilities get to lead and participate in digital experiences and interact with physical devices powered by AI, the Inclusive AI Governance Framework will provide a practical blueprint that helps build fairness, privacy, and accessibility into AI solutions from day one. Co-created with people with disabilities, the framework helps organizations design for universal use across software, intelligent agents, connected devices, and robotics. It also helps to embed safeguards that protect agency and autonomy and move beyond after-the-fact accommodation to inclusive co-creation. This approach aligns with evolving regulations and sets a higher bar for safe, trustworthy systems and equitable participation in the AI economy.

This partnership, announced shortly after the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), marks an unprecedented integration of lived experience with cutting-edge AI expertise on a global scale. By integrating AAPD’s profound insights and policy leadership with GlobalLogic’s deep digital engineering and AI governance capabilities, the initiative aims to set a new industry standard for genuinely inclusive and empowering AI worldwide.

“As a Hitachi Group Company, our mission to engineer impact for people and the planet is at the core of this partnership. We are committed to building AI solutions that are not only innovative but also inherently fair, private, and accessible to everyone,” said Yuriy Yuzifovich, Chief Technology Officer, AI at GlobalLogic. “Collaborating with AAPD allows us to embed lived experience directly into the foundational principles of AI governance, ensuring technology serves all of humanity, fulfilling the spirit of the ADA in the digital realm.”

Maria Town, President and CEO of AAPD, emphasized the transformative potential of the collaboration: “For too long, technology has been a double-edged sword that both provides solutions and creates barriers for disabled people. This partnership with GlobalLogic is a powerful demonstration of the ‘Nothing About Us Without Us’ principle in action. As we reflect on 35 years of the ADA, this collaboration ensures that accessibility and inclusion are not afterthoughts, but fundamental pillars of AI development. We are grateful to partner with GlobalLogic to build a future where AI can empower, rather than exclude.”

GlobalLogic will serve as a strategic partner and trusted advisor, guiding clients in establishing and integrating the Inclusive AI Governance Framework into their long-term technology roadmaps. This includes providing strategic advisory, framework development, and specialized digital engineering services focused on embedding ethical AI practices directly into core technology development and operational workflows.

This landmark partnership between GlobalLogic and AAPD is poised to redefine the landscape of AI development, moving beyond compliance to proactively engineer a future where technology truly serves all of humanity. By integrating lived experience with cutting-edge digital engineering, this collaboration sets a new global benchmark for ethical, accessible, and inclusive AI, fostering a more equitable digital future.

About GlobalLogic
GlobalLogic, a Hitachi Group Company, is a leading digital engineering partner that helps the world’s most forward-thinking companies design and build innovative, AI-powered products, platforms, and digital experiences. Since 2000, we’ve been at the forefront of the digital revolution, now accelerating clients’ transitions into tomorrow’s AI-driven businesses by integrating experience design, complex engineering, AI, and data expertise. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, GlobalLogic is a Hitachi Group Company operating under Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), which contributes to a sustainable society with a higher quality of life by driving innovation through AI and technology as the Social Innovation Business.

About The American Association of People with Disabilities
The American Association of People with Disabilities works to increase the political and economic power of people with disabilities. As a national disability-led and cross-disability rights organization, AAPD advocates for full civil rights for over 70 million Americans with disabilities. We do this by promoting equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation. Visit us at www.aapd.com.

Media Contacts:

Allison Lucas
Corporate Communications, GlobalLogic
allison.lucas@globallogic.com

Jess Davidson
Communications Director
jdavidson@aapd.com

The post GlobalLogic and American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) Announce Partnership to Establish Inclusive AI Governance Framework appeared first on AAPD.

Washington, D.C. –  Earlier this week, President Trump announced he hopes to end vote-by-mail and limit the types of voting machines that can be used ahead of the 2026 elections. The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) strongly condemns this declaration as an act of voter suppression that threatens the rights of millions of voters with disabilities.  

As with previous Executive Orders issued on voting by President Trump, the President does not have the constitutional authority to change election laws – this power is explicitly given to the states and Congress. However, even without issuing another Executive Order, the language coming from the White House causes damage by undermining trust in our elections and creating fear and confusion among voters and election officials. 

“Vote-by-mail and accessible voting machines are an essential part of our democracy. There are more than 40 million eligible disabled voters in the United States, across every community and political party. For many, these methods are their only way to access the ballot,” said Alexia Kemerling, Director of Accessible Democracy at AAPD. “Eliminating or restricting accessible voting options puts the security of our democracy at risk by disenfranchising millions.”

Disabled voters are already three times more likely to face difficulties casting a ballot than nondisabled voters. People with disabilities are also less likely to vote due to the systemic barriers that make voting difficult like lack of accessible transportation, strict photo ID laws, inaccessible polling places, and more.  

The turnout gap for disabled voters has shrunk, from -5.7 points in 2020 to -1.5 points in 2022, but there are still many eligible disabled voters who face barriers in the voting process or who are not registered and not casting a ballot. 

Policies that expand access to voting, like no-excuse options for vote-by-mail, increase voter turnout overall, and among people with disabilities. People with disabilities vote by mail at higher rates than nondisabled people, with over half of disabled people voting by mail in 2020. 

Mail-in voting helps people with all sorts of disabilities. For example, a wheelchair user in a rural area may not be able to secure accessible transportation to the polls. Crowded polling places may be unsafe and inaccessible to voters who are immunocompromised. A voter with an intellectual disability may prefer to vote from home in order to spend more time reading and understanding the ballot. People experiencing long-term hospital stays or living in nursing homes may be unable to leave their beds. These are realities disabled voters face every election. Many disabled people in circumstances like these will no longer be able to participate in our democracy if the proposals Trump has threatened take effect. 

Voting by mail is safe, secure, and has been used effectively in the United States for decades. Claims of fraud have been repeatedly disproven by exhaustive research and rejected by courts. 

President Trump’s claims about the security of voting machines are equally unfounded. There are extensive security measures set by the Election Assistance Commission, an independent, bipartisan agency. Voting machines undergo rigorous testing, conducted by bipartisan teams, before and after every election. Voting and tabulation machines aren’t connected to the internet, making remote tampering virtually impossible. Equipment is locked, sealed, and monitored at all times, with strict chain-of-custody protocols documenting every handoff and post-election audits verifying results.

Accessible voting machines are vital for people with disabilities to vote privately and independently. Machines allow voters to listen to a ballot, adjust text size and contrast, change the ballot language, or mark selections by using a tactile keypad or sip-and-puff device.

Current law requires polling places to have at least one accessible voting machine, yet disabled voters already face barriers with untrained poll workers, long lines due to not enough machines. If the use of voting machines is further discouraged or limited, these issues will increase and prevent people from accessing their right to vote. 

“Disabled voters already face disproportionate barriers to the ballot,” said Maria Town, AAPD President and CEO. “We urge those with real power over our elections – Congress, the Election Assistance Commission, Secretaries of State, and state legislators – to protect the rights of voters with disabilities and preserve our democracy.” 

The disability community will not surrender our fight for an inclusive democracy. This September 8–12, AAPD will host Disability Voting Rights Week (DVRW), bringing together national, state, and local partners to advocate for accessibility, educate policymakers, and mobilize voters.

To learn more about AAPD’s voting rights work or access resources about voting as a person with disability, join our REV UP campaign. REV UP stands for “Register! Educate! Vote! Use your Power!” and is a movement to increase civic engagement in the disability community and improve election accessibility.

The post Attacks on Vote-By-Mail, Voting Machines Threaten Disabled Voters appeared first on AAPD.

Contact: Jess Davidson, jdavidson@aapd.com; 202-465-5528

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Between July 1 and 7, 2025, the US Department of Labor (DOL) announced a series of actions that, taken together, reveal an attempt to dismantle significant parts of the federal government’s disability employment infrastructure. AAPD is deeply concerned by and condemns these deliberate and dangerous efforts to roll back essential federal progress that ensures employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

On July 1, DOL proposed rescinding requirements within Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act for federal contractors and subcontractors to strengthen their recruiting, hiring, and accommodating of disabled people. Finalized in 2014, the rule establishes an aspirational utilization goal of 7% for disability hiring so that federal contractors have a benchmark to measure their disability hiring against. DOL also proposed removing a requirement for federal contractors to encourage voluntary disclosure of disability amongst their employees and job applicants. Federal contractors include any business that contracts with the federal government to provide or administer goods or services. Federal contractors employ close to 4 million people, making this one of the largest workforces in the country. Also, on July 2, DOL proposed ending a similar  7% utilization goal and voluntary disability self-disclosure requirement in apprenticeship programs. These requirements are within the Equal Employment Opportunity regulations. Registered apprenticeships have been consistently shown to be pathways to jobs that provide high degrees of economic security and help employers develop the skilled talent they need. Over a billion dollars have been invested in registered apprenticeships in recent years, more than doubling the number of apprentices in the workforce over the past decade.  

On July 7, DOL formally withdrew a proposed regulation that would have ended its program to allow employers to pay people with disabilities less than the federal minimum wage, also known as subminimum wage. Currently, Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938 allows employers to apply for certificates that permit them to pay employees with disabilities subminimum wage. The certificates are referred to as “14(c) certificates” and are issued by the Department of Labor. 

Disabled employees of 14(c) certificate holders complete the same workplace tasks as their nondisabled peers but are not paid equally for their work. As of 2019, a majority of 14(c) employees earned less than $3.40 an hour, $53.44 per week, and only $213.76 per month. Many are paid as little as $0.25 an hour. These workers are often segregated from their nondisabled colleagues and do not receive opportunities for career advancement or development. AAPD strongly supported the Biden-era proposal to end subminimum wage and organized comments and stories from the disability community highlighting the ways in which people with disabilities experienced discrimination as a result of 14c and sharing examples of successful transitions into competitive, integrated employment opportunities. AAPD’s petition in support of ending subminimum wage received thousands of signatures. 

“While directing Congress to cut $1 trillion from Medicaid at the President’s behest, the Trump Administration has committed three additional devastating blows to disability employment in the United States,” said Maria Town, AAPD President and CEO. “Disabled people are better positioned to reach our highest potential when we are granted the opportunity to compete for employment and given the fair wages, accommodations, and support services we need. The Department of Labor’s new regulatory proposals make it far harder for disabled workers in the United States to access those very equal employment opportunity tools.” 

Town explained: “Apprenticeship programs are one of the most effective tools for bridging the disability employment gap, and the voluntary self-disclosure efforts established since the creation of these rules have significantly increased the number of disabled workers in apprenticeship programs. By ending voluntary self-disclosure affirmative action requirements in apprenticeship programs, the Department of Labor is tearing apart a critical piece of disabled Americans’ career development pipeline. 

By taking action to end the Section 503 disability hiring 7% utilization goal for federal contractors, the Department of Labor is limiting disabled Americans’ employment opportunities. 

Working-age adults with disabilities are twice as likely to live in poverty. There is no minimum wage requirement for 14(c) certificate holders, meaning participating employers can pay their disabled employees as little as the employer wants, even though the disabled usually complete the exact same tasks as their non-disabled peers. By halting the proposed rule to end subminimum wage, the Department of Labor is maintaining wage inequity and exploitation for disabled people working under 14(c) certificates.”

Town continued, “It is especially insulting that the Trump administration has justified removing the 7% disability hiring aspirational goal for apprenticeships and federal contractors by claiming such requirements may violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These requirements were created to strengthen ADA enforcement. Among the ADA’s primary goals are disability nondiscrimination and equal opportunity in employment. This administration is marking the 35th Anniversary of the ADA by weaponizing the landmark disability rights achievement against disabled Americans to justify state-sanctioned denial of opportunity.”

“When combined, the Trump administration is taking significant action to make it harder for disabled people to work and achieve economic self-sufficiency. For many disabled workers, ableist underestimations of their capacity and sheltered workshops are the very things preventing career advancement. What we need to improve disabled people’s economic self-sufficiency and security is not charity, it is greater enforcement of our civil rights and advancement of fair labor practices,” Town concluded.

AAPD calls on Congress to reintroduce and pass the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act, which would phase out the sub-minimum wage and support states and employers in transitioning their programs.

AAPD also calls on disabled people and our allies to submit comments urging the Trump Administration not to move forward with proposals to end voluntary self-disclosure affirmative action requirements in apprenticeship programs and federal contracts.

The post American Association of People with Disabilities Denounces Proposed Department of Labor Actions Hindering Disability Employment appeared first on AAPD.