Founded by grassroots disabled activists in Texas in 2016, REV UP maintains the core belief that change happens at the local level and that disabled leaders must be at the forefront of building an accessible democracy. REV UP’s commitment to providing community funding through initiatives like the REV UP Small Grants helps ensure that disabled leaders have the resources and support they need to best reach their communities. In 2025, we are proud to be giving out $92,500 in small grants to 17 organizations across 11 states. 

The Transformation Project 

State: South Dakota
Organization Overview: The Transformation Project is a Sioux Falls-based nonprofit that empowers transgender and gender non-conforming individuals across South Dakota. Through programs like Marty’s Closet, name-change assistance, support groups, and South Dakota’s first LGBTQ2S+ center, Prism, the organization fosters understanding, celebrates identity, and builds community for TGNC people and their families.

Project Summary: In 2025, The Transformation Project will launch “Neurodivergent Voices Count,” a civic engagement series specifically for neurodivergent LGBTQ2S+ youth ages 16–24. Hosted at the Prism Community Center, the four-part workshop series will use sensory-friendly activities, voting simulations, and peer-led discussion to build confidence and voting literacy in a safe and affirming space. The goal is to engage 50 youth, register 20 new voters or pledges, and develop accessible civic materials in South Dakota where few tailored resources currently exist. Youth advisors will help lead the planning, and all events will incorporate accessibility tools including stim kits, quiet rooms, visual aids.

Washington Civil & Disability Advocate (WACDA)
State: Washington
Organization Overview: Based in Seattle, WACDA is a legal and civil rights nonprofit that centers disability justice through advocacy, education, and free legal services. WACDA helps people with disabilities navigate barriers to access and dignity, while advocating for policy change across Washington state.

Project Summary: WACDA will host Seattle’s first disability-centered citywide candidate forum in 2025, connecting people with disabilities, their families, and caregivers directly with those running for Mayor, City Attorney, and City Council. The event will be co-created with at least 15 disabled community members who will help craft the candidate questions and conduct community outreach. The forum will also feature on-site voter registration, accessibility support (ASL, captions, hybrid format), and live polling to gather feedback. By educating both voters and candidates, the project builds political power in communities historically excluded from civic decision-making.

Keystone Progress Education Fund

State: Pennsylvania
Organization Overview: Keystone Progress Education Fund is a long-standing leader in progressive civic education, digital organizing, and coalition building across Western Pennsylvania. Their work focuses on reaching disabled people, incarcerated individuals, and people seeking comprehensive reproductive healthcare, particularly in under-resourced urban and rural areas of Western Pennsylvania. 

Project Summary: In 2025, Keystone Progress will bring voting access directly into Skilled Nursing Facilities, spaces where disabled residents often face compounded barriers to civic participation. The program will train staff, residents, and disability advocates on how to support voter registration and absentee ballot access, using a replicable curriculum that includes a handbook, accessible slide deck, and hands-on training. With a goal of training six voter advocates, implementing the program in at least three facilities, and supporting over 70 residents with voting, the project addresses a critical equity gap. 

BLAC–SWPA (Black Liberation Autonomous Collective of Southwestern PA)
State: Pennsylvania
Organization Overview: BLAC–SWPA is the first youth-led nonprofit in the region founded by and for Black trans youth. Focused on civic education, mutual aid, and healing justice, they support queer and disabled Black youth who have been excluded from traditional systems and often face multiple layers of harm and disenfranchisement.

Project Summary: BLAC–SWPA’s 2025 project, “From Isolation to Influence,” is a three-part series of civic healing gatherings for Black trans disabled youth. Each trauma-informed event will combine voter education, movement, creative expression, and peer support. The goal: to transform shame into solidarity, and political isolation into empowered participation. The series aims to reach at least 75 youth, with over half reporting increased civic confidence and at least 30 committing to vote or organize in the future. Events will offer  ASL, transportation support, and sensory kit, and will be spaces rooted in joy, healing, and disability justice. Led by youth with lived experience, this is the first project of its kind in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

One Heart One Vision Inc.
State: New York
Organization Overview: One Heart One Vision (OHOV) is a grassroots nonprofit led by blind/low-vision and disabled women, dedicated to empowering blind/low vision and disabled women from underserved neighborhoods across the country. The organization provides community services, social connection, education, and disability advocacy.

Project Summary: In 2025, OHOV is launching GIVE – Girls Involved in Voter Registration and Education, a civic engagement program for blind and disabled girls ages 15–25. The GIVE program trains young women to lead voter registration drives, host outreach events, and educate their peers on the voting process using both in-person and virtual platforms. GIVE events will be held monthly throughout NYC, targeting high schools, colleges, and youth-centered disability spaces. The project aims to register 100 disabled youth voters and will use mentorship, social media campaigns, and accessible swag to connect with Gen Z. The initiative is entirely led by disabled women and girls.

Denison University – DU Votes
State: Ohio
Organization Overview: DU Votes is a nonpartisan, student-led civic engagement organization at Denison University, committed to expanding voter access, education, and turnout. In partnership with the Denison Disability Advocacy Association (DDAA), the League of Women Voters, and other community groups, DU Votes is working to build an inclusive democracy on campus and across Licking County.

Project Summary: For Disability Voting Rights Week (Sept 8–12, 2025), DU Votes will launch a campus- and county-wide campaign to educate, register, and empower voters with disabilities. Programming will include educational tabling, a public panel on disability voting rights, and voter registration drives in collaboration with local partners like the Licking County Board of Developmental Disabilities. Voter resource kits with accessible information will be distributed throughout the year. The campaign aims to register 120 new voters (students and residents) and educate over 550 individuals on voting access and disability rights. Panels, pamphlets in braille, closed captioning, and ASL interpretation (budget allowing) will ensure accessibility for all.

Metropolitan Asian Deaf Association (MADA)
State: New York
Organization Overview: The Metropolitan Asian Deaf Association (MADA) works to empower and preserve Asian cultural values within the Deaf community in the Greater New York Metropolitan Area and beyond. MADA rallies Deaf and Hard of Hearing Asian-American and immigrant communities within the Greater New York area and beyond for civic engagement, accessibility, and racial justice.

Project Summary: Building on its 2024 efforts, MADA will expand voter outreach and education to Deaf and Disabled Asian Americans in NYC and other major cities. Their 2025 project will include bilingual ASL voter education workshops, in-person registration drives at events like the Deaf Asian Street Festival, and social media campaigns featuring GOTV videos in ASL with captions. With a goal of registering at least 25 new voters, the project will also provide culturally relevant support to new voters and partner with nonprofits serving Deaf and BIPOC communities. The team of Deaf ASL users will ensure that language access, accessibility, and cultural context are central to every phase of the work.

CUNY Coalition for Students with Disabilities at York College (CCSD@York)
State: New York
Organization Overview: CCSD@York is a student-led group advocating for the rights and inclusion of disabled students at York College, CUNY. Located in Jamaica, Queens, the organization engages BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and low-income students with disabilities through civic education and peer organizing.

Project Summary: For the first time, York College will see a campus-wide disability-led civic campaign. CCSD@York will host a campus-wide, disability-led civic campaign called “Vote Without Limits.” During October 2025, the initiative will include voter registration drives, peer-led workshops, and a disability-centered candidate forum. The campaign aims to register at least 50 new voters and increase political participation among disabled young adults in Southeast Queens. 

Disability Rights & Resources
State: North Carolina
Organization Overview: Disability Rights & Resources is a Center for Independent Living based in Charlotte, NC, serving people with disabilities across Cabarrus, Gaston, Mecklenburg, and Union counties. The cross-disability organization works to support people with disabilities in living, working, and participating in the community.

Project Summary: Building on a successful 2024 project, Disability Rights & Resources will expand its accessible voting education through a three-part training series. The series will include a “Know Your Voting Rights” workshop designed in plain language for youth with intellectual disabilities, poll worker training in partnership with the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections, and a new “NC Disability Voting Rights” card for voters to carry. The project will also include taking summer youth program participants (Summer of Independent Living or SOIL) on a field trip to the local Board of Elections office to practice casting their vote on either standard or accessible voting machines, depending on their individual needs.  

Project READY
State: New York
Organization Overview: Project READY is a grassroots nonprofit serving Asian American families and individuals with developmental disabilities across the New York metro area. Founded by and for families, the organization provides advocacy, education, and inclusive support to empower the community and ensure equal access to civic life.

Project Summary: Project READY is launching the Asian American Disability Voting Coalition, the first of its kind in New York. Through the coalition, partners across the state will lead bilingual voter education sessions titled “You Can Vote Too!” focused on correcting misconceptions about voting rights for people with developmental disabilities. Digital outreach, social media campaigns, and multilingual materials will support widespread civic participation—reaching over 1,300 individuals. The coalition’s culturally and linguistically relevant approach aims to break down barriers to voting for one of the most underserved communities in the disability rights movement.

League of Women Voters of Greater Rockford
State: Illinois
Organization Overview: The League of Women Voters of Greater Rockford is a nonpartisan organization committed to empowering voters and strengthening democracy through education, advocacy, and community engagement.

Project Summary: The Rockford League will host two major civic engagement events in 2025: Light 4 Democracy during Disability Voting Rights Week and the Your Voice, Your Vote Civic Empowerment Fair in September. These events will center disabled youth, immigrants with disabilities and mixed-status families, and multiply marginalized voters offering accessible voter education, legal rights materials, multilingual support, and trauma-informed outreach to break down participation barriers and support informed, safe civic engagement. The events and materials will include community space and resources that acknowledge the presence of ICE and support voter safety.

LWSC Community Circle
State: Michigan
Organization Overview: LWSC Community Circle is a grassroots, intergenerational Black women-led collective rooted in disability justice, healing, and mutual aid. Based in Detroit, the group serves Black and brown disabled communities, particularly those with invisible disabilities, through political education, restorative gatherings, and affirming spaces that challenge isolation and systemic injustice.

Project Summary: The #WinFromWithin initiative will host monthly community-led, healing-centered gatherings for Black disabled individuals, especially women, nonbinary people, and caregivers. The events will reach people living with invisible disabilities such as chronic illness, neurodivergence, and trauma-related mental health conditions, intentionaly working to engage those who have been disconnected from traditional organizing or civic engagement due to systemic barriers, medical neglect, or stigma. Many in the #WinFromWithin audience may not identify with mainstream disability labels but are deeply impacted by ableism, racism, and state violence. The events will blend political education, storytelling, and joyful cultural connection, creating spaces where people with invisible disabilities can build power, deepen solidarity, and engage in civic life from a place of rest and relationship.

REV UP Georgia
State: Georgia
Organization Overview: REV UP Georgia is a grassroots, disability-led initiative working to build the political power of people with disabilities—particularly in rural communities of color. Primary leadership is disabled people of color in those rural communities. The coalition’s mission is to ensure that every person has the tools, access, and support they need to participate fully in civic life. 

Project Summary: REV UP Georgia will launch the Gaylon Tootle Youth Power & Participation Toolkit as part of its “Are You Vote Ready?” campaign. Co-designed by youth with disabilities from rural communities of color, the project will train 30 Youth Vote Ambassadors to lead accessible, peer-driven outreach efforts. Through pop-up events, digital campaigns, and leadership development, the initiative will uplift a new generation of disabled civic leaders across Georgia.

FEBO Vintage Rare Inc.
State: Georgia
Organization Overview: FEBO Vintage Rare Inc. is a nonprofit, nonpartisan grassroots organization focused on expanding voter education and engagement among Black disabled voters in West Savannah and surrounding precincts. Through canvassing, rallies, and resource events, FEBO connects residents with tools to participate in elections and build community power.

Project Summary: FEBO will host its 3rd Annual Juneteenth Celebration in West Savannah, combining cultural festivities with voter education, registration, and rides to the polls. The event will feature music, food, games, and an ADA-accessible environment (including for the first time, ADA-accessible porta pottys). The project will also be providing accessible transportation to older adults and people with disabilities to the polls. Voters will be able to connect to this service at the event. 

DEAFs, Inc. (Deaf Empowering Advocating Florida Southwest, Inc.)
State: Florida
Organization Overview: DEAFs, Inc. is a Deaf-led nonprofit based in Southwest Florida serving the Deaf and DeafBlind community across five counties. Founded in 2023, the organization provides education, advocacy, and communication access with a mission to empower Deaf individuals and foster an inclusive society.

Project Summary: Through their inaugural civic engagement initiative, BUILD UP, DEAFs, Inc. will offer ASL-accessible workshops, one-on-one voter education, and leadership development to increase Deaf and DeafBlind participation in civic life. The project will also recruit and train Deaf and hearing allies to serve as ASL-accessible poll workers and community liaisons. This project introduces the first fully ASL-accessible civic engagement initiative in the region, addressing a critical gap in voter education, accessibility, and leadership for Deaf and DeafBlind individuals. The grant will  fund interpreters, materials, outreach, and training that would otherwise be unavailable to an underserved community.

BAIN, Inc.
State: Georgia
Organization Overview: BAIN, Inc. is a Center for Independent Living serving ten counties in Southwest Georgia. With a focus on disability rights and independent living, BAIN works to remove barriers in transportation, voting, and community access for individuals with disabilities—especially those in rural areas.

Project Summary: BAIN will enhance polling place accessibility by conducting ADA compliance surveys at key polling locations during peak voting times, training poll workers, and offering transportation stipends to 25 voters with disabilities. The initiative will also distribute accessible voter materials to ensure voters with disabilities can cast their ballots during the 2025 election.

The Arc Arizona
State: Arizona
Organization Overview: The Arc of Arizona is a statewide nonprofit dedicated to advancing the rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and ensuring their full inclusion in all aspects of community life, including civic participation. With a network of over 10,000 individuals, The Arc Arizona works to advocate with and alongside rural, underserved, and multiply marginalized disability communities

Project Summary: The Arc Arizona will launch a nonpartisan voter engagement campaign tailored to individuals with IDD, particularly those in rural and underserved areas. The campaign includes in-person outreach, digital education, and plain-language materials to help voters navigate registration and access the polls. Grounded in feedback from self-advocates, the initiative will focus on communities often excluded from civic life and will work to educate voters who may now have the right to vote, after Arizona’s law around guardianship and voting changed in 2024.

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This afternoon, the U.S. House of Representatives held its final vote on the budget reconciliation bill. After being approved by the Senate by a vote of 51 – 50, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote, the budget reconciliation bill passed in the House. 

After holding the procedural vote open for hours on Wednesday night and after many hours of debate, the final vote occurred on Thursday afternoon. The bill passed by a vote of 218 – 214. The final bill cuts nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid and will endanger 17 million Americans’ health insurance coverage.

“This is a devastating day for disabled Americans,” said AAPD President and CEO Maria Town. “The catastrophic effects of this bill will reverberate for generations to come. As a result of this bill, 51,000 Americans will die every single year from  needless, preventable deaths.”

The budget reconciliation bill will trigger a massive crisis in our healthcare system, which already struggled to support people with disabilities adequately and has been under even more significant strain since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. At least 300 rural hospitals are at risk of immediate closure because of this bill, and 700 more (or one-third of all rural hospitals in the U.S.) are at risk of closure due to financial strain. Nearly 14 million Medicaid enrollees reside in rural areas, including over 3 million disabled individuals. Without Medicaid funding, rural hospitals might face closure or be forced to cut services. This means Americans living in rural areas may soon reside a dangerous distance from the nearest hospital. Wait times will increase in all healthcare facilities, even those in suburban and urban areas, and even for patients not on Medicaid. 

“To every disabled American who feels terrified and defeated right now: You are not alone,” said AAPD President and CEO Maria Town. “I am crushed for every single disabled person who will no longer be able to work because they will lose coverage for the personal care attendant who ensures they can get ready for the office. I am terrified for every disabled American who will be weeded out by strict, difficult-to-keep-up-with administrative requirements. I am heartbroken for every disabled family who loses SNAP and will now have to choose between paying for medications and putting food on the table. No one should ever have to make these decisions.”

“While the outcome of today’s vote is an enormous blow, disabled people will keep fighting and working to build systems that allow us to lead full, dignified lives in the communities and with the people we love. Already, disabled people must adapt, share resources, and crowdfund to make up for gaps in programs and services that are meant to support us. Our community will continue to show up for one another, as we always have, to survive what comes next and insist upon a future where we can thrive,” Town concluded.

President Trump is expected to sign the bill as soon as possible, but the cuts will not take effect immediately. Cuts begin to go in effect at the end of 2026 and roll out over the course of 10 years from the legislation’s signature date. In the coming weeks and months, AAPD will provide resources and information to help members of the community navigate changes in care, health coverage, and benefits.

The post American Association of People with Disabilities Responds to Passage of Budget Reconciliation Bill: “This Is A Devastating Day for Disabled Americans” appeared first on AAPD.

• Healthcare for disabled people inside their home. This is called “Home and Community-Based Services.”

• Support for people who have jobs

• Medical treatments that allow people to live full lives

This bill puts these programs in danger because there would be less money to pay for them. Without these services, many disabled people will not be able to live independently anymore. Many disabled people will die because they can’t get the care they need.

This bill also cuts money from SNAP and changes how it works. SNAP stands for “the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program”. SNAP helps people who don’t always have enough money to afford food. The bill does this by making it harder to get SNAP. You already have to be able to show you’re looking for a job to get SNAP. This bill makes it so you have to  show more proof. This bill also shifts the cost for SNAP from the entire country to each state. This means that states with less money won’t be able to provide as much support for people who may need it.

This bill has not become law yet. The next step is that it goes to the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives is the other part of Congress. Some members of the House of Representatives have already said they do not support this bill. They do not like this bill because it is harmful to people with and without disabilities. We want everyone to call or write their member of the House of Representatives and tell them to vote NO. AAPD thinks any bill that harms people with disabilities is bad. The government needs to protect Medicaid.

The post [Plain Language] AAPD Condemns Senate Budget Reconciliation Bill and Deeper Medicaid Cuts appeared first on AAPD.

For Immediate Release: July 1, 2025

Contact: Michael Lewis at mlewis@aapd.com; 540-447-9438

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) strongly condemns the budget reconciliation bill passed by the Senate, which includes an alarming $930 billion in cuts to Medicaid. These proposed cuts are even more severe than those passed by the House of Representatives and represent a direct threat to the health, independence, and lives of millions of Americans with disabilities.

Medicaid is a lifeline for people with disabilities. It provides essential services such as home and community-based services, employment supports, and critical medical treatments that enable individuals to live independently, participate in their communities, and maintain their well-being. The deep cuts proposed in this Senate bill would dismantle these vital supports, forcing many people with disabilities into institutions, limiting access to necessary medical care, and ultimately jeopardizing their ability to live full and meaningful lives.

The bill also includes stricter work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps millions of people with disabilities, older adults, and their families buy food each month. Furthermore, it goes beyond proposing SNAP cuts and also shifts the cost onto states, which would significantly impact their budgets and hit rural communities the hardest. 

“The Senate’s budget reconciliation bill is a cruel assault on disabled people and other marginalized communities,” said Maria Town, President and CEO of AAPD. “These unprecedented cuts to Medicaid and SNAP will not only strip away essential services but will also inflict immeasurable harm on individuals with disabilities, their families, and their communities, all under the deceitful guise of preventing waste, fraud, and abuse, which rarely occurs. Disabled people have fought cuts before, and we will not only continue to fight against cuts that slash our services and threaten our rights, we will fight for more investment in services so that disabled people have what we need to thrive,” Town continued.  

“AAPD also extends its sincere gratitude to the Senators who, during the exhaustive 20-hour ‘vote-a-rama,’ offered crucial amendments to remove the bill’s cruelest provisions. This resulted in the removal of the harmful moratorium on state laws regulating the use of artificial intelligence and included proposed amendments to strip the bill of some of the worst of the Medicaid cuts, remove onerous work requirements, prevent bans on Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming and reproductive healthcare, and preserve vital food assistance. Their tireless work to mitigate the harm of this bill and make our government responsive to the daily needs of the American people is deeply appreciated,” Town concluded.

This fight is not over. The bill now returns to the House of Representatives for a vote on the Senate’s version. We are encouraged that some House members have already indicated their opposition to this harmful legislation. We urge all concerned citizens to contact their Representatives immediately and demand they vote NO on this destructive bill. The AAPD is firmly against any legislation that undermines the rights and well-being of people with disabilities. We call on Congress to protect Medicaid and ensure that people with disabilities have continued access to the services they need to thrive.

The post AAPD Condemns Senate Budget Reconciliation Bill and Deeper Medicaid Cuts appeared first on AAPD.

Note: This resource is based on a rapidly evolving situation and will be updated as we receive more information.

UPDATE from July 3, 2025:

Last night, the House started a vote on the rule to open debate around 9:30 pm ET. Initially, the rule did not have enough votes to pass, but vote was held open for five hours in order to get some Members of Congress to change their vote. The rule passed 219-213, and the bill could move forward for a full floor vote. The only Republican member of Congress to vote no was Representative Brian Fitzpatrick from Pennsylvania, the Chair of the Bi-Partisan Disabilities Caucus.

The House floor is currently debating the Senate-passed version with no changes. Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has been speaking for more than four hours reading stories about the importance of Medicaid from all 50 states. There is still time to contact your Representatives to ask them to oppose this bill and to protect Medicaid and SNAP.

UPDATE from July 2, 2025 at 7:53PM:

Current State of Play: Speaker Johnson brought the House to the floor today to vote on the rule to debate and the budget reconciliation text from the Senate, but the Republican  leadership is short of the votes needed to pass the rule for debate. The House floor has been frozen since the vote began around 2:00 pm ET as the leadership tries to have conversations to sway Members of Congress who have not decided how they will vote yet. This means that the bill is stalled. 

The content of the bill is still the same as what was in the Senate bill. It is critical that you contact your Representatives to ask them to oppose this bill and to protect Medicaid and SNAP.

UPDATE from July 2, 2025:

Current State of Play: Early Wednesday morning, the House Rules Committee advanced the budget reconciliation bill after 12 hours of debate. The House Rules Committee plays an important role in determining how a bill will be considered on the floor. The committee can set time limits for debate, restrict or allow amendments, and even determine how certain amendments will be handled. 

There were no changes to the Senate’s version of the budget reconciliation bill in the House Rules Committee. The content of the bill remains the same as described in the update from July 1st update. The House is set to convene Wednesday morning and start voting on the rules to advance the legislation.

UPDATE from July 1, 2025:

Current State of Play: The Senate passed its version of the budget reconciliation bill on July 1st, with Vice President Vance casting a tie-breaking vote. This bill must still pass the House in order to be final.  Contact your Representatives to ask them to oppose this bill and to protect Medicaid and SNAP. 

The Senate budget reconciliation bill makes the largest cuts to Medicaid in history, almost $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts. This is about 20% of the federal Medicaid budget and would cause 17 million people to lose access to healthcare. The bill also contains nearly $200 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Four out of five households that receive SNAP benefits include a person with a disability. If passed by the House, these cuts will mean that disabled people and our families will go hungry. 

Throughout the Vote-A-Rama process, amendments were passed that changed what was in the original bill. Some parts of the bill were also taken out because they violated rules about what can be voted on by a simple majority through the reconciliation process. 

The following amendments were added to the Senate bill:

• The rural health fund was increased to $50 billion from $25 billion. It directs money to mental health and behavioral health clinics, but not other disability-specific providers.
• Minor funding for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS)

Neither of the increases within these amendments will come close to fully addressing the closures of rural health providers or the reduction of HCBS that this bill will cause if passed by the House.  

Some dangerous provisions got removed:

• The Medicaid funding reduction for states that cover undocumented immigrants with their own funds. This means that states that provide Medicaid coverage for undocumented immigrants with state funding will still receive their full federal match for Medicaid. 
• The prohibition on Medicaid coverage of gender-affirming care. 
• A requirement for Medicaid applicants to verify citizenship 
• A 5-year moratorium on the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) platforms by states as a condition of accessing funding for broadband infrastructure and bridging the digital divide faced by marginalized communities. This means that states can still 

But there are many harmful parts remaining. Here are a few examples of what’s still in the bill:

• Stricter work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and increased program costs for states with high overpayment rates
• A one-year prohibition on Medicaid payments to reproductive health 
• Medicaid cuts to states through provider tax caps, work requirements, more frequent eligibility determinations, and new copays for Medicaid recipients. All of these changes will make it harder for people to become eligible for and stay on Medicaid, resulting in people losing benefits. 
• A national school voucher program that will divert $30 billion from public schools to fund private school tuition, making it more difficult for students with disabilities to access special education services

What’s Next? We take the fight to the House. 

This fight is not over. Because the bill the Senate passed is different from the bill the House passed, the House has to pass this version of the bill for these changes to be final.

The House Rules Committee has already come together to prepare the Senate-passed bill for House floor consideration. The bill could be on the House floor as early as Wednesday morning, and debate and final votes on the Senate-passed bill begin. Please contact your Representatives to ask them to oppose this bill and to protect Medicaid and SNAP. 

We are encouraged that some House members have already indicated their opposition to this harmful legislation. We urge everyone to contact their Representatives immediately and demand they vote NO on this destructive bill.

 AAPD is firmly against any legislation that undermines the rights and well-being of people with disabilities. We call on Congress to protect Medicaid and ensure that people with disabilities have continued access to the services they need to thrive.

UPDATE from June 29, 2025:

Current state of play: Very late on Saturday night, the Senate passed the motion to proceed by a vote of 51-49. Passage of the motion to proceed allows the Senate to begin debate on the reconciliation bill.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) joined with all Senate Democrats voting against the motion to proceed. Senator Paul has been outspoken in his opposition to the bill because of its substantial increase to the federal debt. Senator Tillis has been making headlines for his very recent, but very vocal, opposition to the bill’s Medicaid cuts.

After intense negotiations with Senate Republican leadership and Vice President Vance, several Republican holdouts withdrew their opposition. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) reported that he and Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) agreed to vote for the motion in exchange for an amendment to the final bill that would end the 90% Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP) for Medicaid expansion. Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) did not confirm Senator Johnson’s statement. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) was given several Alaska-specific provisions, including an increased FMAP for the state (although this was later ruled out by the parliamentarian after senator Murkowski voted for the motion to proceed). A previously included $25 billion rural hospital fund was enough to quell opposition from Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO).

Next steps: Last night’s vote was only the beginning of the Senate floor process. Senate Democrats are forcing a full reading of the 900+ page bill by the Senate clerks. The Senate has now entered 20 continuous hours of debate, called “vote-a-rama.” The hours are divided evenly between Democrats and Republicans. Democrats will likely use all of their 10 hours of debate to highlight the unpopular parts of the bill. Republicans will probably forfeit most of their time to speed up vote-a-rama. If all stays on track for Republicans, a vote on the final bill should occur sometime on Monday.

Negotiations with Senate Parliamentarian still not finished: While a Monday vote is ideal for Senate Republicans, Sunday morning rulings from the Senate parliamentarian are casting doubt on that goal. The parliamentarian is still working but here’s what we know as of now, according to Senate Democrats. As of writing, more than 209 amendments have been filed.

What’s been removed from the bill?:
Repealing parts of the Biden era eligibility and enrollment rule for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
Repealing parts of the eligibility and enrollment rule for the Medicare Shared Savings Program
Repealing parts of the nursing home staffing rule
Increased FMAP for high poverty states – this is an Alaska-specific provision
Increased payment for outpatient hospital treatments in Alaska and Hawaii
Expansion of the orphan drug exclusion in Medicare drug price negotiations

What’s still in the bill?:
Provider tax language provision that remains unchanged from Saturday morning draft
Limiting receipt of Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits by certain immigrants
Barring Medicare participation for most non-citizens

What does this all mean?: Passage of any sort of reconciliation bill is not guaranteed! Thune continues to say a Monday vote is aspirational, and parliamentarian rulings are making that even harder. This makes all the more important that your Senators need to hear from you NOW that you oppose this budget and all cuts to Medicaid. Click here to tell them to vote NO on cuts to Medicaid and SNAP!

*If* the bill passes the Senate, it still has to be passed by the House. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) says he will give House members 48 hours to return to DC to vote. As of now, several House Republicans are on record as no votes, with a potential final vote occurring Wednesday or Thursday.

Original Post from June 28, 2025:

This weekend, the Senate is trying to pass the budget reconciliation bill. AAPD is an outspoken opponent of the budget reconciliation bill, because of its significant cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other essential programs. 

The Senate Parliamentarian – a person whose job is to help the Senate follow its rules – found that some key parts of the bill violate budget reconciliation rules (read more about the budget reconciliation process here). In response, Senate leadership released a rewritten 1000-page bill early this morning. The Senate is trying to push through a vote on it today, even though there is no way Senators will be able to read all 1000 pages of the bill before they vote. 

This is especially concerning because the contents of this bill have the power to drastically change the country by taking away food and healthcare from millions of Americans, force millions of Americans into poverty, and kill at least 51,000 Americans every year whose deaths would have otherwise been preventable without this budget.

Your Senators need to hear from you NOW that you oppose this budget and all cuts to Medicaid. Click here to tell them to vote NO on cuts to Medicaid and SNAP!

The bill caps Medicaid provider taxes, which  makes it harder for states to fund Medicaid. Currently, Medicaid makes up 30% of state budgets, much of which is funded by Medicaid provider taxes. The bill also cuts federal Medicaid funding for states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, or currently provide coverage to undocumented immigrants with their own state funds. The bill also requires more people who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to work, also known as “work requirements.” SNAP is an essential program that helps millions of people with disabilities, seniors, and their families buy food each month.

These rules will add substantial new costs for states, which could result in state cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, or other key areas like education and transportation. 

In addition, the revised bill says that states are not allowed to regulate Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms for ten years. States must agree to this if they want to access the bill’s funds for AI deployment and increasing access to broadband internet. States are more likely to agree to this because they want – or need – to access the bill’s $500 million in AI deployment and $42 billion in broadband internet funding. 

Artificial intelligence is a fast-evolving technology, and regulatory frameworks around AI are still under development. Without regulations and laws, it is easier for AI to discriminate based on disability, race, sex, sexual orientation, gender, or other identities. This leaves marginalized groups, including people with disabilities, at risk of discrimination by the AI platforms and algorithms the government and many companies are now  using for everything from hiring processes to approving (or denying) benefit applications.

There are some positive things in the bill that would help disabled people. The bill does include minor funding increases for Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers. It also extends certain tax advantages for people with disabilities who have ABLE Accounts. These tax benefits help people with disabilities save money, which can be used for expenses that Medicaid or other insurance does not cover. 

However, these helpful parts are overshadowed by the bill’s massive cuts to Medicaid. These cuts would result in new, burdensome administrative and work requirements that will result in many people being unenrolled from Medicaid, even though they qualify for it. 

AAPD remains strongly opposed to the budget reconciliation bill. 

If successful, this afternoon’s procedural vote will trigger what is known as a “Vote-a-Rama”.  During this step of reconciliation, any Senator can offer an amendment to the bill to add or remove harmful provisions.  Once the Senate votes on final passage, the bill has to go back to the House of Representatives to work out the differences between the Senate Bill and the House Bill. Once the House approves the Senate’s version, the bill goes to the President to be signed into law. You can read more about the Budget Reconciliation process in AAPD’s Reconciliation Explainer here. 

Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, plans to offer an amendment to the reconciliation bill during the “Vote-a-Rama” that would strike all provisions that cut Medicaid from the bill, and ensure that the ultra-wealthy and large corporations pay their fair share of taxes. AAPD has endorsed Sen. Wyden’s amendment.

The bill’s text could still change, especially during Vote-a-Rama. Several Senators have expressed continued reservations about the bill’s contents, and there are many hours of debate to come. AAPD will share updates as this process continues. 

Your Senators need to hear from you NOW that you oppose this budget and all cuts to Medicaid. Click here to tell them to support Sen. Wyden’s amendment and vote NO on cuts to Medicaid and SNAP!

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) strongly condemns the Senate Finance Committee’s recently released budget reconciliation proposal, which makes devastating cuts to Medicaid that will disproportionately harm disabled people across the country. The proposal guts funding for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), creates needless paperwork requirements that will push eligible individuals out of Medicaid, and imposes requirements that are proven to fail to improve employment and healthcare outcomes.

This proposal is a direct assault on the civil and human rights of disabled Americans. Medicaid is a lifeline that enables millions of disabled people to live and work in their homes and communities rather than in institutions. Disabled people already struggle to have consistent access to personal attendant care and direct support work. Care workers currently face lack of job security and low wages.

When combined, this creates an ongoing national care worker crisis, which would only deepen if the Senate proposal passes. Receiving care at home enables disabled people to live at home instead of being forced into an institution. If this bill passes, our nation will see an increase in unnecessary institutionalization, and disabled people will be denied the basic dignity of living independent, self-directed lives.

The bill puts community engagement requirements on certain Medicaid enrollees, requiring them to work, volunteer, or be enrolled in an educational program for at least 80 hours a month. The inclusion of work requirements in the bill for people ages 19-64 is particularly harmful and is a policy specifically designed to decrease the number of people receiving Medicaid. Research has shown that such requirements do not improve employment rates, but do cause harm by penalizing people for losing their job. 

When workers lose their jobs, they lose their Medicaid because of these penalties. People with chronic illnesses, mental health disabilities, or fluctuating health conditions or employment situations are especially vulnerable to being dropped from coverage due to job loss penalties and administrative burdens. In many cases, the employment supports provided through Medicaid are what enable people with disabilities to be able to work in the first place.

Without employment supports, such as assistance getting ready for and transporting to work, occupational therapy, or other job assistance, many people will be forced off of Medicaid and unable to work, leading to certain financial devastation. Finally, the resources that states will be required to use to implement these bureaucratic policies will cause further delay in access to critical health, financial, and food support for all Americans, not just people on Medicaid.

In addition, the proposal’s requirement that Medicaid recipients re-certify their eligibility every six months is a particularly burdensome barrier to care. Many people with disabilities lack consistent access to the identification and medical documents needed to meet such requirements. Additionally, many Medicaid recipients do not have a computer, smartphone, broadband internet, or reliable transportation to assist with navigating complex administrative systems. These requirements will lead to widespread disenrollment from Medicaid, not because people are no longer eligible, but because the system makes it too hard to stay enrolled.

The Senate Finance Committee’s proposal also contains billions of dollars in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps millions of low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford to buy groceries each month. The plan also shifts 5% to 15% of SNAP benefit costs to the states, which will force many states to make difficult budget decisions to reduce benefits or cut other vital programs instead. We know that when states face budget shortfalls, disability programs are often the first programs to get cut.

“These proposed Medicaid cuts are not only cruel and unprecedented — they are extremely dangerous,” said Maria Town, AAPD President and CEO. “The Senate’s budget reconciliation proposal doubles down on the harms contained in the House bill, cutting hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid. This will only worsen the care crisis and increase our national debt at the expense of society’s most vulnerable members. People with disabilities, older adults, and low-income communities will pay the price with their health, their independence, and in too many cases, their lives.”

In addition to the significant barriers to Medicaid and SNAP access, AAPD is concerned about several other provisions of the Senate Finance Committee’s proposed bill.

The proposed bill includes a moratorium that would block all state and local governments from enforcing any law or regulation governing artificial intelligence (AI) for the next 10 years — including existing laws. State laws creating safeguards against exploitative AI mental health chatbots and misuse of patient data and as well as state laws prohibiting algorithmic discrimination in employment, housing, banking, and benefits determinations have provided necessary protection for disabled people and others who are at extreme risk for algorithmic discrimination. 

The bill also includes a provision that would give the federal government new authority to withhold or claw back all existing Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program funding from states that try to enforce safeguards from discriminatory and exploitative artificial intelligence systems for their citizens, forcing states into an impossible decision – protect people from exploitation, or lose billions of dollars meant to expand access to high speed internet for underserved communities, including people with disabilities.  

The Senate’s proposal does include some good provisions, including an extension of the increased contribution limits and other enhancements to ABLE Accounts, which allow individuals with disabilities to save money tax-free for future disability-related expenses. However, the positive impact of these ABLE provisions would be greatly diminished by the cuts to Medicaid, which will significantly reduce the ability of people with disabilities to save money and drastically reduce disabled people’s economic security overall. 

“AAPD calls on all Senators to reject this cruel and unjust legislation and instead work toward policies that strengthen, not cut, Medicaid and HCBS,” Town concluded. “We urge the public to contact their Senators and urge their friends, families, and neighbors to do the same. All Americans must unite to defend the rights of disabled people to live, work, and thrive in their communities.” 

Use AAPD’s tool to write and call your Senators in just a few clicks here. 

If calling isn’t accessible for you, you can submit a letter only by clicking here. 

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What Does the Administration for Community Living (ACL) Do?
The Administration for Community Living (ACL) was created in 2012 to advance the idea that older adults and people of all ages with disabilities should be able to live where they choose, with the people they choose, and with the ability to participate fully in their communities. ACL does this by funding services and supports provided primarily by networks of community-based organizations and by investing in research, education, and innovation.

ACL brings together aging and disability programs from across the federal government to efficiently administer similar programs that promote similar goals. Through its programs, grants, regulations, and policy advocacy, ACL makes community living possible for more disabled people and upholds our civil rights, including those rights defined by the 1999 Olmstead v. L.C. Supreme Court decision.

What Does the Office for Civil Rights Do?
HHS’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) investigates violations of, and enforces federal civil rights law related to HHS’ work, like civil rights violations made by a healthcare provider or hospital. Federal civil rights protect people from discrimination based on gender, race, disability, nation of origin, and religion.

At HHS, OCR also enforces the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules, and the Patient Safety Act and Rule. HIPAA’s Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules protect your private health information and make sure you know if your private health information was given to any person or organization who doesn’t have your permission to have that information. The Patient Safety Act and Rule created a voluntary reporting system to make complaints if you have a concern about your safety as a patient or the quality of your healthcare.

You do not have to be a lawyer to file a complaint with OCR, which makes it more accessible than lawsuits or other legal processes.

What Does SAMHSA Do?
HHS’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency (SAMHSA) promotes mental health, prevents substance misuse, and provides treatments and supports to foster recovery while ensuring access and better health outcomes for all. SAMHSA provides information, resources, and guidance for providers as well as advocates for policies that help make SAMHSA’s vision a reality.

SAMHSA’s mission and vision state that SAMHSA envisions a world where “people with, affected by, or at risk for mental health and substance use conditions receive care, achieve well-being, and thrive.” This is very important because many people with mental health disabilities and/or substance misuse disorders often face stigma in their communities. Stigma makes it harder to receive proper care, and isolates people with these conditions.

This timely letter demonstrates strong, broad support for the critical work of ACL, OCR, and SAMHSA. You can learn more and read the full letter by clicking this link.

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On March 25, President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) titled “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections.” 

This EO proposes many changes to how our elections work, including voter eligibility, maintaining voter registration lists, vote-by-mail processes, which voting machines can be used, and who is responsible for managing elections. AAPD is highly concerned that if any aspects of this EO go into effect, voters with disabilities and other marginalized communities will be disproportionately harmed. Already, disabled voters face increased challenges in accessing their right to vote because of policies and practices that make voting difficult. The policies in this Executive Order are voter suppression tactics – policies that make it harder for many Americans to vote. 

This order comes at a time when Congress is actively considering similar voter suppression laws, such as the SAVE Act. If passed, the SAVE Act would require people to provide documented proof of citizenship in person when registering to vote and updating their voter registration, such as after a move. The SAVE Act would also make it harder for women who changed their last name after marriage.

Millions of voters do not have access to documents that would sufficiently meet the requirements that qualify as “documentary proof of citizenship,” such as U.S. passports. People with disabilities, older adults, and people of color may be especially unlikely to have access to these documents. The requirement of needing to go in person would make voter registration difficult or impossible for many disabled voters who do not have access to accessible transportation, are living in congregate settings, are immunocompromised and cannot go into many public spaces, or for whom the election office may not be accessible. Additionally, the in-person requirement would make it extremely difficult for individual organizers, coalitions, and organizations to host successful voter registration drives. This would lead to communities already excluded by get-out-the-vote efforts being further neglected. 

AAPD urges members of the disability community and our allies to contact their U.S. Representatives and Senators to tell them to vote “no” on the SAVE Act. In response to the Executive Order, AAPD recommends that community members reference the explainers and talking points outlined below. AAPD will monitor this Executive Order’s legal challenges and effects and share opportunities for action with our community

What is an Executive Order?

An Executive Order is a written order from the President of the United States regarding government policy and management. The current President can amend or undo the Executive Orders of previous presidents. When a new president takes office, it is typical that they issue many Executive Orders to begin enacting their agenda. Executive Orders are each assigned a number and typically describe broad policy goals and values, then direct federal departments to take specific actions to implement those policies and values.

Executive Orders do not overrule or supersede laws ratified by Congress. While an Executive Order is enacted without congressional approval, it cannot erase existing laws, force government agencies to take illegal action, or go against current regulations and statutes. Lawsuits can challenge Executive Orders.

Does The President Have the Power to Change Election Law With an Executive Order?

The President has no constitutional authority to change election laws. The Constitution gives that power to the states and Congress. Furthermore, this EO directs the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to make many proposed changes. The President does not have the power to direct the EAC, which is an independent, bipartisan agency. 

It is important to note that if this EO does change the voting process, these changes will not happen immediately. Lawsuits can challenge Executive Orders, and this EO will likely face legal challenges. However, this EO may still have an immediate impact because it will likely cause confusion and fear among election officials and voters. 

What Does the Elections Executive Order Say? 

Requires proof of citizenship to vote: The EO proposes requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration. This change would mean that in order to register to vote or even update your voter registration, you would have to show additional documents that prove you are an American citizen. If this were the law, only a few types of documents would be allowed, such as passports. Many common documents would not be accepted; for example, birth certificates are not listed as acceptable documents.

What to Know:

• Millions of American citizens do not have access to the documents required by this law, which means that millions of eligible voters would not be able to participate in our democracy. Disabled people, older adults, voters of color, and voters who may have changed their names, like people who take their spouses’ names when they get married, are less likely to have these documents or have up-to-date documents. 
  • A recent survey found that 20% of people who self-identified as having a disability do not have a current driver’s license, with another 9% having a license but without their current name and address. For people without disabilities, around 6% did not have a license, and 13% did not have a license with their current name and address. 
• The last federal court case that considered a state’s law requiring documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration found that this policy violated the US Constitution’s Fourteenth Amendment Equal Protection Clause.
• A similar requirement was recently passed in New Hampshire, resulting in multiple eligible voters having to jump through extra hoops and, in several cases, being unable to vote at all.
• This policy’s supporters say it is a way to prevent voter fraud. However, noncitizens voting in federal elections is extremely rare, and the process is already heavily monitored.

Changes vote-by-mail procedures: The EO proposes that mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day, even if they are postmarked with an earlier date, cannot be counted. 

What to Know:

• Eighteen states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Washington D.C., accept a mailed ballot if received after Election Day, as long as it was mailed on or before Election Day. 
• This is important because the United States Postal Service sometimes has delays that are not the voters’ fault. Sometimes, it may even take extra time for the ballot to reach the voter before they can fill it out and mail it back to cast their vote. 
• People with disabilities are more likely to vote by mail than non-disabled voters, and because of this, more disabled voters would be at risk of having their vote not counted than non-disabled voters. 
• While it may be tempting to want to be able to know the results of an election faster, we must count every vote. Taking time to make sure every vote is counted means that our system is working. 

Changes voting machine types and certification processes: The EO wants to limit the types of voting machines that polling locations are allowed to use and proposes that the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) re-certify all voting systems. The EO notes an exception for accommodating people with disabilities. The EO also requires that all voting methods have a “voter-verifiable paper record.”

What to Know: 

• The EAC and state election officials already go through many different processes to test voting machines and make sure machines are secure, accessible, and can be used easily and privately.  
• While the EO notes that exceptions for voters with disabilities should be made, singling out how one population votes would threaten the privacy of disabled voters’ ballots and segregate disabled voters. 
• Current law requires polling places to have at least one accessible voting machine. Already, disabled voters frequently face issues casting their ballot when the machine is not correctly set up, poll workers do not know how to use the machine, or if the machine breaks down and there is no other accessible way for them to cast a ballot. If the use of voting machines is further discouraged or limited through this Executive Order, these issues will increase and prevent people from accessing their right to vote. 
• Requiring paper ballots would also end voting system innovation, prohibit the current uses of some Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) voting machines, and prohibit electronic ballot delivery and return. DREs provide the most accessible option for voters with disabilities to vote privately and independently. Electronic ballot delivery and return make absentee voting accessible for disabled people and allow uniform and overseas voters to participate in elections—even astronauts at the International Space Station can vote this way.
• The EO describes voter-verifiable paper records as a necessary way for voters to check their ballots, but paper ballots are not accessible to some voters with disabilities, particularly individuals who are blind, have low vision, have difficulty reading or understanding print, or cannot physically hold their ballots.

Attempts to direct an independent bipartisan entity: The EO directs the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to carry out and enforce the administration’s proposed policies. 

What to Know:

• What is the Election Assistance Commission (EAC)?
  • The EAC was created in 2000 through the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). It is independent and bipartisan. The EAC has four commissioners, who are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. No more than two commissioners can belong to the same political party. This is important to ensure that our elections remain fair and unbiased. 
  • The EAC submits reports to Congress and holds public meetings and hearings. The President does not have the power to control what the EAC does. 
  • The EAC also does not have the power to take some of the actions described in the order, such as requiring all states to require documentary proof of citizenship or withholding funding to states that do not follow the EO. This has been upheld in the Supreme Court. 
  • In the U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 4, Clause 1), states have the power to set the time, place, and manner of elections. The Constitution also allows Congress to regulate how states use their authority. This has led to many federal voting rights laws like the Voting Rights Act and the Help America Vote Act. While states have differences in how people can vote,  laws passed by Congress try to ensure the right to vote is consistent across the country. For example, some states allow for anyone to vote by mail, and some states limit who can vote by mail based on disability and age, but all states allow for some form of absentee or mail-in voting. Over the last 100 years, there have been many Supreme Court cases around the state’s and Congress’s role in elections. 
• What does the EAC do?
  • The EAC works to certify voting equipment and provide funding and resources to states to run elections. 
  • The EAC is also responsible for ensuring that elections are accessible for disabled people. It creates training resources for election officials, tests voting equipment, and researches voting and accessibility.

Establishes federal voter rolls: The EO directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to review state voter registration lists, specifically to verify that no ineligible voters are on them.

What to Know: 

• Under current federal law, state governments and Secretaries of State are responsible for maintaining voter lists. 
• DHS and DOGE likely do not have the authority to review state voter registration lists or remove voters, but attempts to do so could create a lot of fear. 
• States will likely sue if DHS and DOGE attempt to access the state’s voter registration information.

Get Involved

Join our REV UP Campaign to make our democracy accessible and increase civic engagement in the disability community. REV UP stands for “Register! Educate! Vote! Use your Power!” Subscribe to REV UPdates or join a state or national call. REV UP has coalitions in twenty states and partners in 33, who work year-round to ensure disabled people have access to the ballot. For resources about voting as a person with a disability, visit the AAPD REV UP Campaign website.

The post Election Executive Order Explainer: What’s Going On With Voting Right Now, and How Does It Impact Disabled Voters? appeared first on AAPD.

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

WASHINGTON – On March 11, reports emerged of mass layoffs across the Department of Education (ED), cutting roughly half of its workforce. These layoffs represent the first major milestone in the Trump Administration’s nefarious plan to dismantle and ultimately close the Department.

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) released the following statement in response: 

“The Trump Administration’s efforts to dismantle the closure of the Department of Education have begun, and even these initial changes will be devastating for disabled students’ access to education,” said AAPD President and CEO Maria Town. “The work and programs gutted by these layoffs will violate the civil rights of students with disabilities, reduce education affordability and accessibility, and set our education system back decades, overturning hard-earned progress and deeply necessary programs.”

“Students with disabilities will be impacted by every reduction in workforce and capacity at ED, because people with disabilities are part of every other community in the United States. AAPD is especially concerned about the massive cuts that eliminated most or all staff at the Department’s regional Offices for Civil Rights, effectively shuttering all OCR offices except for at DC headquarters, as well as cuts to the Office of Special Education.”

“The Department of Education oversees the administration and implementation of many laws, regulations, and grants that protect and enforce the rights of students with disabilities of all ages, from students in early childhood education to those in career and technical education. As part of its obligations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Department of Education ensures disabled students have access to Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), speech therapy, vocational rehabilitation, accessible school materials, and more.” 

“The Department also facilitates Medicaid grant-funded health care and preventative screenings, and it also provides support for families of children with disabilities and support for independent living. These supports and services are necessary to ensure that disabled students can thrive at school, in their communities, and in their future careers.” 

“Prior to these devastating cuts in its workforce, the consensus of the disability community has been that the Department of Education’s capacity was inadequate to fully address the needs of disabled students. If our country genuinely values education and classroom integration, these systems and programs should be made more robust and strengthened instead of gutted.”

“We have seen how, without the Department of Education actively enforcing students’ civil rights, disabled students are ignored, segregated, and even abused at school. The oversight of the Department has been critical and necessary to ensure that disabled students can learn, grow, and thrive. Without the Department engaging in this active enforcement, disabled students’ educational attainment, career opportunities, and physical and psychological safety are all at risk,” Town concluded. 

The Trump Administration has made clear they will gut as much of the department as possible, effectively dismantling it without the authority of Congress. Formally closing the Department of Education and irreversibly ending enforcement of education civil rights can only occur with Congressional participation and consent. 

Every American who cares about disabled children and our nation’s educational attainment must contact their members of Congress and tell them that closing the Department of Education is a non-starter for the American people. Send a letter to your representatives in just a few clicks using AAPD’s tool at this link.

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Since this release, AAPD and CDT have expanded their partnership and have worked together to bring awareness and provide policy solutions that benefit people with disabilities in their interactions with technology, particularly AI and algorithmic systems. This report (released in tandem with a shorter brief) furthers this important work by specifically providing recommendations for disabled community members, disability rights and justice advocates, government agencies, and private-sector AI practitioners regarding best practices for ensuring that people with disabilities are able to enjoy the benefits of AI and algorithmic technologies while being safeguarded from their risks.

It does this by presenting major areas of concern for people with disabilities when they interact with technologies in the context of several major systems: employment, education, government benefits, information and communications technology (ICT), healthcare, transportation, and the criminal legal system. Some of these systems (including employment, education, law enforcement, and healthcare) were briefly covered in the “Centering Disability” report, and this expands on that work; some areas are entirely new. These are, of course, not the only rights-impacting areas wherein people with disabilities are affected by technologies. However, providing recommendations for inclusion for people with disabilities in these high-stakes areas can hopefully serve as a useful resource, building on AAPD and CDT’s earlier work in this area. .

In the midst of a significant expansion of anti-DEIA measures and a significant decrease in the regulatory ambition of the federal government, it may seem a strange time for CDT and AAPD to engage in this work, and particularly to focus on federal agency recommendations. However, it remains as important now as it was in 2021 to ensure that people with disabilities are properly considered in the development of AI technologies and regulations. Further, at least some of the recommendations geared towards federal agencies may be applicable to state and local agencies as well. Further, even if agencies do not act on these recommendations in the short term, they will likely remain useful touchpoints for any future attempts to create a disability-inclusive AI ecosystem.

Disabled people are at a specific risk of discrimination when interacting with AI and algorithmic systems, for several reasons. First, many AI and algorithmic tools are trained on pattern recognition, and make determinations based upon typical patterns within any particular dataset. However, many disabled people (by virtue of their disability) exist outside of typical patterns — they may have gait differences, vocal differences, atypical eye movements, etc. These tools may inadvertently discriminate against people with these sorts of disabilities, particularly when they rely on biometric inputs.

Second, AI and algorithmic technologies create outputs based on inputs, which are again derived from datasets (sometimes referred to as “training data”). Oftentimes, these datasets are not properly inclusive of people with disabilities — they may have inaccurate data about disability, undersample or improperly tag information as being related to disability. These can all lead to AI tools that can discriminate against disabled people, and potentially contribute to negative outcomes.

And third, many people with disabilities are multiply-marginalized, meaning that they are both disabled and identify as members of another marginalized group (like a disabled person of color, or a disabled LGBTQ+ person). Many AI and algorithmic tools have been shown to pose unique risks to other marginalized groups as well, meaning that multiply-marginalized disabled people are at a particular risk of facing discriminatory outcomes as a result of their interactions with these tools. For these reasons and more, this partnership is an important step towards mitigating the potential harms of technology-facilitated disability discrimination, while bolstering innovation that allows for the development of helpful tech tools for people with disabilities to flourish.

People with disabilities can benefit from AI, algorithmic tools, and other technologies. But these tools can also serve as vectors of discrimination, and concerns over accessibility, bias, and privacy abound, particularly when biometric data is involved. Ensuring that people with disabilities are centered in the creation, deployment, and auditing of these technologies and of the policies that govern them can help ensure that the promise of these tools can eventually be realized for all.

Read the full report by AAPD’s Henry Claypool and CDT’s Ariana Aboulafia here.

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