Policy

This issue brief is intended for policymakers and disability advocates. Its goal is to inform and support a deeper understanding of how the proposed budget reconciliation bill may impact the lives of people with disabilities. It also offers policy recommendations aimed at strengthening protections and improving outcomes for the disability community.

In today’s fast-moving world, it’s easy to forget where we came from—and even easier to take for granted the rights and protections on which we now rely. It is critical to remember that progress is not permanent—it must be actively protected and advanced.

The rights of disabled people have been hard-won. Recent developments, including a proposal to cut Medicaid funding, remind us that equity achieved is not equity secured.

This makes two things clear. First, we must understand history. Second, we must honor lived experiences. History helps us track how far we’ve come—and how easily we could slip back. Lived experience provides the moral clarity and urgency that data alone cannot. [continue reading…]

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently proposed rolling back two long-standing regulations—10 CFR 1040.73 and 10 CFR 1040.72(c) & (d)—that help enforce Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. These regulations require that buildings constructed or altered with federal funding be accessible to people with disabilities. They also require existing buildings to remove access barriers over time in collaboration with the disability community.

If the proposed changes move forward, newly constructed or renovated federally funded buildings may no longer be required to meet specific accessibility standards such as the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS). This could mean that features like ramps, elevators, accessible restrooms, and other elements that support equitable access would not consistently be included in federally funded projects. [continue reading…]

On behalf of Disability Belongs™, a diverse, nonpartisan, disability-led nonprofit that drives cultural and policy change, we express deep concern about proposed federal budget cuts to essential programs that millions of Americans rely on—especially people with disabilities, older adults, and underserved communities.

Cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid would have devastating consequences for individuals who already face systemic barriers to food security, quality healthcare, and economic stability. [continue reading…]

Every day, millions of people across the United States rely on long-term services and supports (LTSS) to lead full and independent lives. These supports—ranging from in-home caregiving and personal attendant services to assistive technology and transportation—are not about comfort or convenience. They are about dignity, inclusion, access, and human rights.

Conversations about LTSS often focus narrowly on aging, yet more than half of Medicaid LTSS users are under the age of 65 and live with disabilities. This includes children with developmental disabilities, adults with spinal cord injuries, working professionals managing chronic conditions, and countless others navigating systems not built with them in mind.

As demand for LTSS grows, people with disabilities must be at the center of every conversation—across funding, program design, delivery, and reform—to build a system that is equitable, inclusive, and sustainable. [continue reading…]

In 2020, voters with disabilities were twice as likely to report difficulties voting. Only 17% of polling places were fully accessible in 2016. And more than 38 million eligible voters with disabilities could benefit from improved access. Passing the Accessible Voting Act (AVA) would be a major step towards addressing these issues.

Disability Belongs™ works to advocate for accessible voting for all Americans. At the federal level, we vigorously supported the Accessible Voting Act in the last Congress (118th) and are hoping for its reintroduction in the current Congressional session (119th). [continue reading…]

Issue Brief

On May 5, 2025, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announced the release of more than $1 billion in grant funding for programs authorized under the Older Americans Act (OAA).

These grants fund a range of essential services—including home-delivered meals, caregiver support, transportation, and independent living services and programs—for older adults and people with disabilities. [continue reading…]

Work requirements are federal or state policies that mandate individuals to work or participate in job-related activities in order to receive benefits such as Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and housing assistance. While framed as promoting independence, too often these policies fail to account for the challenges faced by people with disabilities.

The Problem

Many disabled individuals who rely on benefits already have jobs. Those who are not employed often face systemic barriers that make employment difficult or impossible. Work requirements risk cutting people off from essential services—not because they do not want to work, but because the system fails to accommodate them. [continue reading…]

Executive Summary

The U.S. Department of Education plays a critical role in ensuring that students with disabilities receive access to inclusive education, services, and legal protections under federal law. Recent proposals to dismantle, restructure, and defund the Department threaten to undermine decades of progress in disability rights and educational equity. This policy brief outlines the essential role of the Department of Education, the risks posed by dismantling it, and a call to action to safeguard the rights and opportunities of students with disabilities. [continue reading…]