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August 5, 2024| Vol. MMXXV | Issue 95
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Congress is on recess, so Disability Policy News will also be taking a recess. It will return on September 16.
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Budget and Appropriations |
Congress is moving forward with marking up the appropriations bills. On August 1, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted the Labor-Health-Human Services-Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) bill out of the Committee by a vote of 25-3. The Senate bill level-funds many programs in the Administration for Community Living including the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), and in the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) Program.
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Plain Language |
The Senate has finished making its changes to the bill that funds most disability programs.
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Action Steps |
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Call and educate your Members of Congress on the importance of increasing funding for programs for people with disabilities in FY 2025. You can reach your Members of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.
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Senate Marks Up the Autism CARES Act of 2024 |
On Wednesday, July 31, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee held a markup on three pieces of legislation, including the Autism CARES Act of 2024 (S. 4762). The bill was voted out of Committee
by a voice vote of 20-1. The bipartisan bill is sponsored by Senator Luján (D-NM) and Senator Collins (R-ME). The Autism CARES Act has led to increased investment in research and training to address the needs of the 1 in 36 children now diagnosed with autism. The bill establishes research, training, and monitoring programs throughout the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address the increasing prevalence of autism. The bill will support and expand the research of the Institutes of Health, support the capacity of the existing Leadership in Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) Programs, require a report on how to increase the number of Developmental Behavioral Pediatricians, and more. The next step is for the bill to be voted on by the full Senate.
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Plain Language |
On Wednesday, July 31, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee voted on three bills including the Autism CARES Act of 2024. The Autism CARES Act passed by a vote of 20-1. The bill will improve research and training focused on people with autism and some other types of developmental disabilities.
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Action Steps |
Call and educate your Members of Congress on the importance of improving research, training, and services for people with autism and other developmental disabilities.
You can reach your Members of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. AUCD and the Autism Society of America have drafted this policy brief to help in outreach to offices.
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Commemorating the Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act |
On July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. This year marks the 34th anniversary of the landmark legislation, which created comprehensive civil rights for people with disabilities. The ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in many areas of public life, such as schools, transportation, parks, and workplaces. It mandates equal access to employment and prohibits discrimination in state and local government.
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Plain Language |
The Americans with Disabilities Act has been a law for 34 years. July 26 is the anniversary. The Americans with Disabilities Act made it illegal to discriminate against people with disabilities and it makes sure that no one is left out of public life—like going to school or taking a bus—because they have a disability.
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Action Steps |
Read President Biden’s Proclamation on the Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 2024.
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Department of Justice to Publish Final Rule on Access to Medical Care for People with Disabilities |
On July 26, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the final rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to improve access to medical diagnostic equipment (MDE) for people with disabilities. Many people with disabilities face unequal access to health care because medical diagnostic equipment (MDE)—which includes x-ray machines, weight scales, and examination tables—is often not accessible. This new rule
“clarifies how public entities that use MDE, such as hospitals and health care clinics operated by state or local governments, can meet their obligations to ensure accessibility under the ADA.”
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Plain Language |
Many people with disabilities do not have equal access to health care because medical equipment like weight scales or x-ray machines are often not accessible. This means it would not be possible for a person with a disability to use them and get important medical information. The U.S. Department of Justice made a new rule that would help doctors and other medical professionals make sure their medical equipment is accessible to people with disabilities.
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Action Steps |
Read the Justice Department’s press release on the final rule.
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The Department of Labor Issues New Toolkit to Help Workers with Disabilities
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On July 25, the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) released a new toolkit called “Helping Workers with Disabilities Get Ahead Through Good Jobs: A Toolkit of Practical Strategies.” The toolkit is for employers in construction, manufacturing, and clean energy so that they can hire more people with disabilities. This toolkit provides helpful guidelines and tools to recruit and hire people with
disabilities as well as retain those workers and ensure they are able to advance in their careers.
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Plain Language |
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy made a guide for employers to hire people with disabilities in construction, manufacturing, and clean energy jobs—such as making solar panels or researching the climate crisis. The guide will help employers understand how to help people with disabilities get and keep good jobs.
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Action Steps |
Read the toolkit: Helping Workers with Disabilities Get Ahead Through Good Jobs: A Toolkit of Practical Strategies.
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Senator Casey Introduces Legislation to Make Federal Technology Accessible |
On July 24, Senator Casey (D-PA) introduced the Section 508 Refresh Act (S. 4766). The bill will make technology used by the federal government more accessible to people with disabilities. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 mandates that the federal government make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities, but many federal agencies and departments still do not have accessible websites, kiosks, apps, and more.
The Section 508 Refresh Act would update Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act to reflect the advancement of technology since it was first enacted, implement more accountability and testing requirements, include people with disabilities in the “acquisition and accessibility testing of federal technology,” and mandate that federal departments and agencies have Section 508 compliance officers to ensure they are meeting accessibility requirements.
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Plain Language |
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 made it illegal for the federal government to have websites and other technology that are not accessible to people with disabilities. There are still many websites, apps, and other tools that are not accessible. Senator Casey introduced the Section 508 Refresh Act to make sure that federal departments and agencies are improving their technology so that people with disabilities can use it.
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Action Steps |
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Call and educate your Members of Congress on the importance of improving federal web accessibility. You can reach your Members of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.
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National Integrated Heat Health Information System Provides Resources on Heat-Related Risks
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The National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) is a collaboration between multiple federal agencies that provide resources to help people stay safe during periods of extreme heat. NIHHIS has released resources and information on the increased risk posed to people with disabilities during periods of high temperatures.
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Plain Language |
People with disabilities sometimes have a harder time staying safe when the weather is very hot. The National Integrated Heat Health Information System is providing information and resources to help people with disabilities avoid getting sick or hurt because of the heat.
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Action Steps |
Read the resources from NIHHIS.
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Senator Casey Introduces Suite of Bills Expanding Access to ABLE Accounts |
On August 1, Senator Casey (D-PA) introduced three bills to expand access to the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) program for people with disabilities. The ABLE Act enables people with disabilities and their families to save and invest in tax-free savings accounts without losing their eligibility for federal benefits like Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
The bills include:
The ABLE Employment Flexibility Act (S. 4911) would allow “employers to contribute to an employee’s ABLE account in lieu of a 401k account so that employees with disabilities can safely save for retirement without fear of losing the federal benefits they rely on to thrive in their communities”
The ABLE Awareness Act (S. 4910) would mandate that federal and state agencies inform people eligible for ABLE accounts about the ABLE program and direct them to resources to help them open accounts and enroll in benefits programs
The ABLE Direct Deposit Act (S. 4909) would allow the use of direct deposit for making contributions to ABLE programs
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Plain Language |
Senator Casey introduced three bills that would help more people with disabilities open and save money in ABLE accounts.
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Action Steps |
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Call and educate your Members of Congress on the importance of ABLE accounts for people with disabilities to keep their federal benefits while they save for the future. You can reach your Members of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.
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Register for the White House Office of Public Engagement Aging and Disability Communities Call |
The White House Office of Public Engagement regularly hosts calls to discuss any federal updates that will affect older adults and people with disabilities. The next call is August 8 at 2:00 PM ET. Register.
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Check out the latest episode of "Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All"
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"Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All" is a YouTube video series highlighting current issues and hot topics in disability policy. Past guests of Tuesdays with Liz include U.S. Senators, AUCD’s President Elect, and key members of the disability community.
Liz Weintraub is AUCD's Senior Advocacy Specialist and the host of "Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All."
Liz has extensive experience practicing leadership in self advocacy and has held many board and advisory positions at state and national organizations, including the Council on Quality & Leadership (CQL) and the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council.
Find the full playlist on YouTube or check out the latest episode featuring former U.S. House Representative Tony Coelho from California.
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