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…]

Technology is expanding access to faith and community, transforming worship spaces into environments where disabled people can fully belong, participate, and lead. As faith communities work to become more inclusive, tools like assistive technology, digital platforms, and artificial intelligence are creating new possibilities for connection and spiritual growth.

Screen readers like JAWS and NVDA enable blind and low-vision users to read scriptures, follow along with service materials, and access religious education resources independently. Speech-to-text services like CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) provide real-time captioning, supporting participation for people who are deaf or have hearing differences. [continue reading…]

Media portrayals of disabled people are often limited to antiquated tropes or couched in ableist assumptions. Ensuring the lived experience of disabled people in faith-based content affirms that every human being has value and must be treated with respect.

Uninformed portrayals of disabled individuals can lead to misconceptions that foster harmful biases and inequitable practices. Disability Belongs™ is committed to transforming how disability is represented across all sectors by promoting authentic stories that honor the full humanity of disabled people. [continue reading…]

With one-in-five people having a disability in the U.S. today, lack of representation—just 2.2 percent of characters in the 100 top-grossing films of 2023—means that millions of people are unable to see themselves reflected in media.

The DC/DOX ’25 Film Festival, taking place June 12-15, is highlighting several disability-inclusive films. DC/DOX is a vibrant documentary film festival in the nation’s capital, celebrating bold voices, innovative visions, and dedicated truth-seekers in the art of non-fiction storytelling. Learn more about the festival’s accessibility options on their website. Accommodations requests should be emailed 72 hours in advance: wilma@dcdoxfest.com.
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The Bentonville Film Festival (BFF), taking place June 16-22, is highlighting several disability-inclusive films. Chaired by Academy Award winner Geena Davis, BFF champions women and diverse voices.

According to festival programmers, 12% of the films in the competition categories have a director who identifies as disabled. In addition, 17% of these films include a lead character with a disability. These numbers are less than in 2023, when  “over 30% of the (competition) program is comprised of creators with disabilities” and “25% (of onscreen leads) represent talent with disabilities.” However, the 2025 numbers are an increase from 2021, when eight percent of the directors, four percent of the writers, and four percent of the leads identified as having a disability.
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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…]

Community and belonging are central to many faith and spiritual traditions. Yet, people with disabilities face many barriers to access and inclusion. Addressing these barriers acts as a catalyst not just for participation, but for true belonging. Shifting the conversation from “can people with disabilities attend our worship services?” to “who is missing from our gatherings, and what would it take to make everyone feel seen, heard, and valued here?” demonstrates how accessibility can move beyond welcoming to create genuine belonging.

When people think about accessibility, physical features such as ramps, elevators, and accessible seating often come to mind. While these are critical, it’s important to recognize that not all disabilities are visible or physical. Expanding our understanding of accessibility and disability allows faith and spiritual organizations to better meet the full needs of disabled individuals. [continue reading…]