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…]

Advancing Access and Belonging

We are pleased to share the successful conclusion of our ‘Raising Awareness and Advancing Disability Inclusion in the Christian Community’ project. This program was made possible through a Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc.

During this project, we consulted with four congregations in Michigan, Texas, Washington, and California. The Faith and Spirituality team visited each congregation to lead accessibility and inclusion training, conduct accessibility audits of the physical spaces and community practices, and meet with congregational leaders to support strategic planning. Our team convened two virtual gatherings which included training on the foundations of disability inclusion and digital accessibility and facilitated discussions among cohort members to learn from each other’s successes. We created a series of resources for the congregations. [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…]

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…]