Portrait of Angeth Mayen

May 24, 2024, is a date I will never forget. Before last year, I didn’t fully understand the struggles faced by people with disabilities. I knew disability existed, but it felt distant from my everyday life. That changed overnight when I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Suddenly, I had to confront inequities in the healthcare system, the lack of public understanding of disabilities, and how having an invisible disability can change the way you navigate the world.

I had some resources when I was diagnosed that others do not have. I have an older brother who also lives with Type 1 Diabetes, so I had someone to guide me through the toughest early months. However, when I transitioned from high school to college, I found myself navigating a system that I barely understood. For the first time, I was a disabled student, and I didn’t even know what accommodations were. I still saw myself as the same person I always was, but my body and my needs had changed significantly. I could no longer sit through a two-hour exam without monitoring my blood sugar. I needed snacks readily available. I needed breaks. I needed professors and administrators who understood.

It took me almost two months to understand what my university’s Student Disability Services office actually did. Once I connected with them, I was supported, respected, and given every accommodation I needed. That experience was validating, but some students with disabilities across the country do not have such a positive experience. It reminded me that the right to learn, participate, and succeed should not depend on luck or whether you happen to know the right resources.

Disabled students’ rights to education exist because of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA is a law that guarantees students with disabilities a free, appropriate public education tailored to their specific needs. It was enacted in 1975 as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. Before that, disabled students were often institutionalized, excluded, or denied access to education altogether. I grew up in a world where IDEA already existed, so I took it for granted. Many of us do. However, as IDEA turns 50 years old, it’s clear that merely having this law is insufficient. States are expected to follow IDEA, but their actions tell a different story.

On June 20, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education issued the annual determination letters regarding state implementation of IDEA. Each state receives a rating based on its performance in implementing IDEA, as assessed through its State Performance Plan. States fall into one of four categories: meets requirements, needs assistance (one year), needs assistance (two or more consecutive years), or needs intervention.

These ratings are important because they clearly demonstrate whether states are meeting their legal responsibilities to students with disabilities, and the 2025 figures are concerning. 

This year, ratings improved in only three states, while dropping in five states. Over the 12 years from 2014 to 2025, only six states consistently earned a “Meets Requirements” rating each year. Every other state in the country has failed to meet IDEA requirements at least once in the past decade. This means that less than half of school-age students with disabilities live in states that meet the IDEA requirements. That fact alone should be concerning. But the deeper issue is structural. It’s not that states have suddenly worsened; the system used to evaluate them has worsened. 

Starting in 2014, the Department of Education introduced the Results Driven Accountability (RDA) system. RDA aimed to shift focus from paperwork to real student outcomes. On the surface, that seems helpful. However, in practice, it created a scoring system that ranked states against one another.

Even if all states improve at the same rate, some would still end up in the lowest categories. This creates a system where it’s nearly impossible for every state to earn a “Meets Requirements” rating, regardless of their overall improvements. All states could be doing well, yet the scoring would still classify them as winners and losers. The RDA system depends too much on ranking and too little on properly assessing students with disabilities through long-term goals and accurate performance measures. This makes it hard to identify which states are genuinely succeeding and which are falling behind, leading to difficulties in determining which states need more intervention from the federal government.

However, it’s challenging to focus on fixing the inner workings of a system that is being dismantled at the helm. The Department of Education faces budget cuts and significant staff reductions, including those responsible for enforcing IDEA. When oversight diminishes, accountability decreases too. And when accountability weakens, students like me who rely on IDEA protections are the ones most impacted.

The recent government shutdown highlighted the Trump administration’s and the Department of Education’s stance on disability rights and federal oversight. The administration used the shutdown to argue that the Department of Education is merely a channel for distributing funds to the states, and they claimed that states can manage the money independently. However, this view overlooks the department’s true importance. Currently, there are proposals to move the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) into agencies like the Departments of Justice and Labor, which lack the expertise and institutional knowledge needed to protect the rights of students with disabilities. During the shutdown, OCR cases went unresolved, and districts were unable to access important information.

Additionally, recent office closures and staff reductions have already led to thousands of dismissed cases and fewer investigations, leaving students without meaningful protections for their rights. IDEA, OCR, and OSERS are not optional programs, funds, or administrative chores; they are lifelines. They are the reason students with disabilities have a chance at equal education, and weakening them jeopardizes all of that.

If we want the next 50 years to be different from the last for disabled students, we must speak out. We need to advocate for federal investment in special education, stronger oversight, and reforms that guarantee fair and meaningful accountability. Students with disabilities deserve more than just the bare minimum. They deserve schools and states that consistently and fully meet their obligations.

IDEA transformed everything. Now we have to fight to keep it alive.

Angeth Mayen is a second year at the University of Chicago studying political science with a focus on law, public policy, and disability rights. She serves in multiple campus leadership roles and is currently a Policy Fellow with the American Association of People with Disabilities, where she researches federal programs like SSI and SNAP. She hopes to pursue a career in public interest law and policy centered on access, equity, and community impact.

The post IDEA at 50: Why Disability Rights in Education Cannot Be Taken for Granted appeared first on AAPD.

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.

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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.

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This means Congress has until January 30, 2026, to reach a deal on funding bills for all other federal agencies and programs, except for the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The agreement also reinstates all federal employees who received Reduction in Force (RIF) notices – or layoffs – during the shutdown, bans new RIFs until January 2026, and provides backpay to all working and furloughed federal workers who haven’t been paid since September 30, 2025. The Office of Personnel Management has said that federal employees could start to receive backpay as early as Sunday, with a goal of getting all federal employees paid by Wednesday, November 19th.

What Does this Mean for People with Disabilities?

With the shutdown over, funding will again begin to flow to critical programs like SNAP and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a program that helps many people with disabilities heat their homes in the winter.

As of Wednesday, November 12, 25% of states had not paid November SNAP benefits due to conflicting court orders, which are now moot since the shutdown has ended and Congress has appropriated funding for SNAP benefits through September 2026. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the SNAP program, says that funds will be available to states within 24 hours; however, it may take longer for states to load the benefits onto recipients’ EBT cards. Check your state department of human services website for updates about when you can expect to receive your November SNAP benefits.

It may take up to four weeks or more for states to receive LIHEAP grants and distribute energy assistance payments to recipients. The shutdown led many states to pause acceptance of applications due to the lapse in LIHEAP funding, and many states announced a delay in the start of their winter LIHEAP program during the shutdown. Now that a funding bill has been passed into law, it will take time for furloughed federal employees to calculate and distribute funding to the states. State social services departments will also need time to accept and process energy assistance applications. As a result, some states may not be able to distribute benefits until December or even January.

If your energy assistance benefits are interrupted, contact your electric, gas, or oil service provider, explain the situation, and inquire about available arrangements and assistance. Check whether your state has a law that prohibits disconnecting utility services during the winter months.

If your state DOES have a moratorium on disconnection of utility services during cold weather months, it is important that you:

• Beware of scams. Hang up on threatening calls that demand immediate payment or request payment through gift cards, payment apps, or wire transfers.
• If you receive a call demanding immediate payment of utility bills, check your bank account and contact your utility company at its official customer service number to report the call.

Check your state department of human services website for updates about when you can expect to receive energy assistance benefits.

Medicare Extensions Included in Bill

The bill passed by Congress to fund the government and end the shutdown also extends the following provisions for Medicare:

• Telehealth flexibility: The government funding bill extends the ability of healthcare providers to offer care via telehealth until January 30, 2026. This ability was first expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic and last extended in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. This extension is retroactive to October 1, meaning that if you’re on Medicare and received healthcare via telehealth during the shutdown, your provider can submit a claim and be reimbursed for the visit.
• Delay of Medicare Payment Cuts: The bill also delays until the end of January the 2% reduction in Medicare reimbursement rates, which were mandated by the Budget Control Act of 2013. Congress must pass full-year funding bills by January 30, 2026 to further delay this cut.
• Waiver of Mandatory PAYGO Budget Cuts: The government funding agreement also waives the 4% funding cuts to Medicare, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and other federal programs mandated by the “Pay-As-You-Go” Congressional budget rules. This means that if Congress spends beyond a certain amount, they must pay for it with new revenue or cut funding by 4% from Medicare and other programs unless Congress waives the rule.
  
  If Congress had not waived the mandatory PAYGO budget cuts, this would have resulted in reduced payments to healthcare providers, Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare prescription drug benefits, and more.

The Fight is Not Over

While the government is reopening today, unfortunately, this agreement does not extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits, which are scheduled to end on December 31. Without these vital insurance subsidies, roughly 24 million Americans could face steep premium increases in 2026—some by 100% or more.

These enhanced ACA premium subsidies allow millions of people with disabilities who make too much to be eligible for Medicaid, do not have access to employer-sponsored health insurance,  or are entrepreneurs or self-employed individuals, to afford and maintain health insurance from the ACA marketplace.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has promised to hold a vote on extending the ACA subsidies by mid-December as part of the deal to reopen the government; however, there is no guarantee it will happen.

The shorter-term funding timeline (through January 30) means our work is far from over. Congress will soon return to negotiations on appropriations for the full fiscal year and health insurance subsidies before January 30, 2026, and we need to keep applying pressure.

If you rely on ACA premium subsidies to afford health insurance, we want to hear from you now. Your stories about how these subsidies make coverage accessible are powerful tools to show Congress why they need to act.

Click here to share your story. You can add personal details about how the loss of enhanced ACA premium subsidies would impact your ability to keep healthcare coverage, afford critical medications, or remain independent.

Your voices will help us show how important these subsidies are for millions of Americans with disabilities and others who rely on them for affordable care.

AAPD will keep you updated as this situation unfolds.

The post Explainer: The Government Shutdown Is Over. What Does This Mean for Disabled Americans? 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.

Photo of Dr. Jackee Jackson

This Election Day, local elections across the country will shape the policies and choose the leaders that influence our daily lives. In addition to hundreds of local elections, New Jersey and Virginia will vote on statewide offices, like Governor and Lieutenant Governor, and state legislators.

As millions of disabled voters head to the polls today, we asked Dr. Jackee Jackson, a leader from REV UP New Jersey, to share her journey as a voter and why building the power of the disability vote matters.

When I turned 19 years old, I had an opportunity to cast my first vote in my local township. Being a first-time voter was a huge milestone for me because it symbolized adulthood and civic responsibility as a United States citizen. It gave me a sense of pride and feeling of empowerment. It was a liberating experience knowing that my vote has power and that my vote is my voice. 

Reflecting back on my ancestors who “fought, bled, cried and died” for the right to vote motivated me to become actively engaged in the election process for the rest of my life. I sincerely honor the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for African Americans and other minorities to vote.

I am grateful for the 15th and 19th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution which granted African American men and women the right to vote. I am also grateful for the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Civil Rights Movement, and Affirmative Action for securing voting rights and other opportunities for African Americans.

Voting is a fundamental right for all citizens, yet people with disabilities continue to struggle to vote. Over the years, I have served as a poll worker and I learned that many polling sites were not accessible or accommodating to people with disabilities. 

Sadly, even though July 26, 2025 marked the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), not all polling places are accessible. Architectural barriers, including a lack of accessible parking spaces, curb cuts, or automatic doors, can make it difficult for voters with disabilities to vote in person and even keep them from accessing the ballot entirely.

This inspired me to advocate for accessible polling sites to ensure that people with disabilities can register and cast their votes. I realized that one way for me to do this was to join REV UP, which stands for “Register, Educate, Vote, Use Your Power”. 

As a strong disability advocate in New Jersey, I am part of the REV UP Voting campaign with the Alliance Center for Independence (ACI). REV UP is composed of state and national coalitions, as well as other disability organizations. Their goal is to increase the disability vote through voter registration drives and voter education in order to protect and foster community civic engagement for Americans with disabilities. 

I am involved with REV UP and ACI to help make the disability vote count. I am passionate about being the voice for the voiceless and speaking out on behalf of the disability community. 

According to the Rutgers Program for Disability Research, the voting turnout of people with disabilities is on the rise. Close to 62% of people with disabilities voted in 2020, compared to 56% in 2016. These statistics reveal the importance of motivating the next generations to register and vote.

However, voting suppression also continues to rise. Therefore, it is crucial for voters with disabilities to urge Congress to expand and improve the John Lewis Voting Rights Act to preserve our democracy and protect the rights of people with disabilities. 

As a seasoned voter for over 45 years, I have learned that every vote counts and every election matters, whether it is the school board or the Presidential election. Voting is the best way to voice your opinion on issues that are important to you. In the disability community, we advocate for “Nothing About Us, Without Us”.

The theme of REV UP, “Register, Educate, Vote, Use Your Power”, is of vital importance to me because it sends a powerful message to voters with disabilities. I strongly believe that it is crucial to inform voters with disabilities that they have options when planning to register to vote.

As a voter with a disability, you have the right to:

• Vote privately and independently
• Have an accessible polling place and accessible voting machines
• Seek assistance from workers at the polling place who have been trained to use the accessible voting machines
• Bring someone to help you vote. (As long as that person is not your employer or union representative. Different states may have additional restrictions on voter assistance.)

For this upcoming election, and all elections, I encourage voters with disabilities to use your power to vote and join REV UP. The final message that I want to send to all voters with disabilities is to remember that:

Our vote matters!
Our vote is our voice!
Our voices deserve to be heard!         

Remember what Justin Dart, known as the Godfather of the ADA, said…

“Vote as if your life depends on it … because it does!”

To get connected to REV UP New Jersey and or find a REV UP coalition in your area, go to: www.aapd.com/revup-join/. You can find state coalition calls and national calls on our REV UP Event Dashboard. The next REV UP National Call will be on November 19, 1-3 p.m. ET. Stay connected to the REV UP movement by joining our listserv.

Bio: Doctor Jacqueline Jackson, is a “Voice for the Voiceless” and a strong well-known advocate in New Jersey and is passionate about restoring the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

Jackson has been instrumental with her advocacy efforts with the Association for People with Disabilities (AAPD/REVUP), Alliance for Independence (ACI) and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (MS) lobbying on the local level, the state level in Trenton and on the federal level in Washington DC. Jackson has visited the White House many times and has personally met President Obama.  

The post The Disability Vote Matters appeared first on AAPD.

Photo of Emma O’Neill-Dietel

Can a historian’s work be linked to activism while still giving a fair and balanced account of history? As a Master’s of Public History student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, I spent the summer confronting this question while I researched queer disability history for my degree. 

In the field of public history, which refers to history outside of an academic setting, like in museums, historic sites, and digital media, scholars and practitioners have long debated how historians should walk the line between academia and activism. Because I am queer and disabled, my scholarship, activism, and identities are difficult to separate.

I spent the summer of 2025 researching and writing about disability history for the Rainbow History Project, an archive of local queer history in Washington, D.C. This research culminated in an interactive map and digital exhibit on Deaf LGBTQ+ history in D.C., along with internal resources on disability history for the archive. 

Outside of work, I attended political and cultural events within D.C.’s queer and disabled communities: protests, rallies, speeches, and even a disability pride cabaret. Come August, I protested the federal occupation of D.C., too. These events were more than just how I spent my free time; they were reminders of why I wanted to work in this field in the first place.

While I was working in D.C., the White House announced an internal review of Smithsonian exhibits, which will no doubt target LGBTQ+ history, disability history, and other so-called “DEI topics.” This review follows efforts to erase queer history in schools and historic sites, attacks on trans people, an attempt to challenge gay marriage in the Supreme Court, and the dismantling of Medicaid. 

In the face of all of this, it was easy to feel discouraged and feel like my work is minuscule compared to the urgent needs of my community. But gathering with friends and strangers to protest, and even to celebrate in spite of it all, gave new meaning to my academic work. People I met at community events were excited to learn about my research and pleasantly surprised to know that there are still institutions willing to fund it. I tapped into the most pressing issues facing queer and disabled people today to better understand how they relate to our historical struggles. Even the simple act of seeing and talking to fellow disabled people on a regular basis kept me grounded and reminded me how much our shared history connects us.

I often think about a set of photos I encountered in my research that show Deaf Washingtonians partying at Pride and walking in the March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights from the 1970s to the 2000s. In the photos, people beam with pride while waving colorful banners and signing “I love you” to onlookers. 

I also think about the disability activists who held the line with queer activists when they demanded that people with HIV/AIDS be included in the Americans with Disabilities Act. These moments in history bring me hope, joy, and recognition of a piece of myself.

The Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf and the Lambda Alliance of Gallaudet University marching in the 1987 March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights (Steven Frank & Ed Knight, March on Washington Collection, Rainbow History Project)

At a recent event honoring queer disability activist Stacey Park Milbern at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Stacey’s friends and colleagues Yomi Young and Mia Ives-Rublee talked about the importance of ancestors in the disability community. Because many of us are born to families that don’t share our disabilities, and because our community is vast and disparate, it is up to us to seek out our ancestors and honor them. 

The two speakers talked about Stacey as an ancestor and recalled how hard she worked to connect disabled people to each other in a long lineage of community. For queer people, the search for queer ancestors is much the same. It wasn’t until that event that I fully understood my desire to see myself in history as part of my search for my own ancestry.

History is political because the lives of the people and communities I study are inherently political. Queer people and disabled people are currently under continual political threats that mirror what we have endured in the past. Celebrating our history, especially when paired with action in the present, has the potential to buoy us through hard times. 

My work as an aspiring historian is balanced, thoughtful, and factual. But as long as queer and disabled identities are politicized, my work cannot be neutral. Aligning with activism will remain part of my historical practice.

Emma O’Neill-Dietel is a master’s student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst studying public history at the intersection of gender, sexuality, and disability. Emma is currently a Totman Fellow with the DC History Center and has worked on public history initiatives for numerous organizations including WETA PBS, the National Park Service, National History Day, and the Smith College Historic Clothing Collection.

The post Queer Disability History Can’t Be Neutral appeared first on AAPD.

The Fall Internship Program, now in its third year, builds on the success of AAPD’s Internship Program model to develop stronger disability identities within students and recent graduates with disabilities, so they can better shape the future of our workplaces and communities. Due to the fully virtual and part-time opportunity, our Fall Internship Program provides more flexible opportunities for disabled students and recent graduates to access meaningful employment, gain leadership skills, and connect to the broader disability community. 

During the program, AAPD provides interns with a competitive wage, technology support, mentorship, and many networking and educational opportunities. Interns also participate in AAPD’s Disability Advocacy Certificate Program and learn about effective advocacy methods and key issues within the disability community. The Fall interns met in-person at the end of July during the week of the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, prior to the start of the internship, to build connections and get to know each other (and some of the summer interns!).

ID: A group of AAPD interns wearing masks are gathered around the yellow AAPD sign at the AAPD office.The interns in the group are diverse in their  races, genders, and disabilities. 

During their visit to DC in July, the AAPD  AAPD interns attended many disability community events and activities, such as:

• Welcome Dinner with fellow fall interns and the AAPD Internship Staff
• Disability Object Talk with curator Katherine Ott at the National Museum of American History
• AAPD’s American with Disabilities Act Anniversary Celebration with NCIL
• Disability Trivia 
• Dessert Social to network with AAPD staff 
• Professional headshots by Jeevan Portraits

The 2025 Fall Internship Class is:

• Ahna Guillaume (he/they) – National Black Justice Collective
• ileim moss – Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies
• Jason Green (he/him) – Caring Across Generations
• Joshua Blackwell (he/him) – Unlock Access
• Kemper Gingerich (he/him) – Center for Democracy and Technology
• Maddox O’Rourke (he/him) – World Institute on Disability
• Makayla Allen (she/her) – Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network
• Marrow Kilgore (they/them) – Project LETS
• Nicole (they/she) – New Disabled South
• Rocío Díaz (she/her) – National Disability Rights Network

You can read the Fall 2025 Intern’s full bios and learn more about them here.

The 2025 AAPD Fall Internship Program would not be possible without the generous support of Arconic Foundation.

The post Introducing the 2025 Fall Internship Program Cohort 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. 

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A Reduction-in-Force (RIF) is a process in which an employer permanently eliminates some positions, resulting in layoffs. For any employer, RIFs can happen for reasons like budget cuts, reorganization, or shifting priorities. Unlike a temporary furlough or hiring freeze, a RIF leads to permanent job loss. In a RIF, not only are employees laid off, but the positions that they worked in are entirely eliminated. In this case, the employer is the federal government, the largest employer of people with disabilities in the country. A RIF reduces the federal capacity to deliver essential services. 

What’s happening now?

On Friday, October 10, the Trump administration issued RIF notices to about 4,100 federal employees across various agencies. These include the Department of Education, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Administration on Children and Families (ACF), and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), among others. The Office of Management and Budget, part of the Executive Office of the President that assists the President in implementing their policy, management, and regulatory agenda, has said that more than 10,000 federal employees could receive RIF notices during the shutdown.

On Wednesday, October 15, a federal judge issued an emergency order halting the RIFs while the lawsuit continues, calling them “unlawful.”

Impact on Special Education

Disability offices at the Department of Education have been heavily affected by the RIFs, including:

• The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)
• The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)
• The Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
• The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)
  

These offices are essential for making sure students with disabilities get the right accommodations in schools, and that adults with disabilities can access training, support, and opportunities to join and stay in the workforce.

Why this matters

The loss of staff in these offices results in real harm for disabled people. For example, the mass layoffs in the Department of Education will make it significantly more difficult for people with disabilities to:

• Access special education services guaranteed by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 
• Obtain reasonable accommodations in educational settings, 
• Secure vocational rehabilitation and employment supports, and; 
• Receive civil rights protections against discrimination in educational settings 

The Office for Civil Rights investigates cases when students with disabilities are denied access to education. For example, in 2018, the Department of Education found that Texas had violated the IDEA by placing a cap on the number of students who could receive special education services. OCR worked with the state to develop a plan ensuring that students with disabilities had access to education and continued to monitor its implementation. Without the staff to conduct this work, thousands of students with disabilities would have lost out on access to education. 

These RIFs are part of a long-term plan by the Trump administration to dismantle and eventually shut down the Department of Education. This effort has been ongoing since the beginning of this year. 

Impact on Mental Health

The RIFs go beyond the Department of Education. Agencies such as SAMHSA, CDC, and HUD — which offer essential health and housing assistance — have also been impacted.

At SAMHSA, the impact is especially concerning. SAMHSA oversees programs that directly support people with mental health and substance use disabilities, including:

• The Protection & Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Program, 
• The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and; 
• National initiatives supporting mental health and addiction treatment.

At a time when the nation is already facing a mental health crisis, reducing SAMHSA’s capacity endangers the stability and safety of millions.

SAMHSA’s work is crucial for improving outcomes, expanding access, and building an equitable, person-centered system for mental health and substance use services. These programs help prevent over-reliance on restrictive hospital settings and make sure that people with disabilities can access the community-based supports they need to live and thrive.

For example, within the cuts to SAMHSA, the Children’s Branch was eliminated. The Children’s Branch helps to support school-based mental health services for children, including children with dually diagnosed disabilities and mental health conditions. Schools are the primary place where kids and youth receive mental health support, especially youth with disabilities, because of the lack of accessible mental health services more broadly. 

Impact on Early Intervention

Within the Administration for Children and Families, all employees working on Preschool Development Grants Birth to Five in the Office of Early Childhood Development were laid off. These employees support grants that are provided to states and territories to facilitate early intervention services and service coordination for children with disabilities. Without publicly funded early intervention services, fewer children will be diagnosed, making it harder to get treatments, accommodations, and special education for years to come. 

Impact on Housing

The HUD Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity investigates and enforces violations of fair housing laws. In just one example of their work, HUD intervened for a disabled veteran in Maine when he was turned away from renting an apartment because he had a service animal. This type of everyday work to prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities cannot happen without staff. The majority of the staff in both the national and regional offices of Fair Housing and Equality Opportunity have been laid off.

Many communities with smaller populations around the country have used Section 108 loans from HUD’s Office of Community Planning and Development to build large affordable housing communities. High Point, North Carolina, used this funding multiple times to build hundreds of affordable homes for low-income families, many of whom were families with a disabled loved one. But today, there are only two people left on the team that runs and supports this program for the entire country.

RIFs and the Government Shutdown

The administration had previously threatened to issue RIFs in the event of a government shutdown. However, it is essential to understand that a government shutdown does not automatically result in permanent reductions in the federal workforce. The current RIFs are not a result of the shutdown and are being challenged in court. These RIFs are a part of an existing long-term strategy to eliminate certain federal agencies that has been in motion since the beginning of the year. 

What’s next

Disability rights advocates, federal worker unions, and legal experts challenged these RIFs in court, arguing that they violate federal workforce protections and surpass the administration’s authority. As noted above, a federal judge issued an emergency order to stop the layoffs while the legal challenge proceeds. The Trump administration will appeal this emergency order, and the matter is likely to end up before the Supreme Court. AAPD will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as they become available.

What you can do

Stay informed through AAPD updates and information from our partner organizations. Reach out to the White House via our outreach tool here to tell the Administration that you oppose these RIFs and their unfair impact on the disability community. Urge them to restore critical positions in federal agencies immediately. AAPD’s tool provides a pre-written letter and message, so all you have to do is provide your contact information and hit send.

Additionally, you can share verified information on social media to raise awareness about how these cuts threaten vital services and civil rights protections.

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