RespectAbility and the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) have commented on proposed changes to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. These changes could under-count people with disabilities, affecting funding for Medicare, Medicaid, and vocational rehabilitation. CCD urges a pause to maintain data accuracy.

An accurate census process

It is important to ensure that research and data collection accurately reflect the number of Americans with disabilities. Misleading information could result in policymakers underestimating the true number of people affected, which could lead to insufficient funding for critical programs such as Medicaid and Social Security Disability Insurance. [continue reading…]

Park City, January 17 – In 2020, filmmaker and disability advocate Juliet Romeo reached out to Slamdance co-founder Peter Baxter, stressing the need for a program for and by disabled filmmakers. Conversations turned to action and Slamdance Unstoppable was born. In 2021, the virtual Slamdance Film Festival included a showcase of disability-inclusive short films. In 2023, Slamdance Unstoppable, which included both short and feature films, aired both in-person and virtually. This year, all Slamdance Unstoppable films will screen in both Park City and Salt Lake City.

Uplifting and amplifying stories by disabled filmmakers is vital due to the disproportionately low representation of disability in the entertainment industry both in front of and behind the camera. In a recent study by USC Annenberg, only 1.9% of all speaking characters in the top 100 grossing films of 2022 were portrayed as disabled, an incredibly small number compared to the 27% of the U.S. population that is Disabled. By showcasing this collection, the Slamdance Unstoppable block is helping to change these statistics. [continue reading…]

Courtesy of Sundance Institute

Park City, January 16 – With one-in-five people having a disability in the U.S. today, the lack of representation – just 1.9 percent of characters in the 100 top-grossing films of 2022 and 8 percent in family films – means that millions of people are unable to see themselves reflected in media.

The 2024 Sundance Film Festival (January 18 – 28) will provide an opportunity for audiences with various disabilities to see themselves represented – both in-person and virtually.

This year, several films feature disability in the plot, including A Different Man, FRIDA, Ibelin, Out of My Mind, The Outrun, Stress Positions, Suncoast, and Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, among others. [continue reading…]

The holiday season is right around the corner, meaning we must start preparing ways to make it fun and accessible for all. The best way to make it enjoyable for everyone is to ensure everyone who attends the holiday celebration is included!

Here are some helpful tips to implement in your faith community for holiday gatherings: [continue reading…]

Many holidays are filled with expectations—rules about how to look and act that everyone seems to just know, everyone except for me. At least, this is how I have often felt as a high-masking and late-diagnosed/discovered Autistic person. Christmas has always been one of my favorite holidays, but it has also been one of the most challenging. I was raised Roman Catholic; when the Advent wreath was placed on my church’s altar, I knew that the most wonderful time of the year was finally here! The weeks leading up to Christmas were much better than the holiday itself, but I have only recently begun to understand why the majority of my childhood Christmases ended with me in tears. Growing up, my neurodivergence was undetected and misunderstood. This resulted in a lack of adequate support and accommodations, which made special occasions, like Christmas, especially difficult for me. [continue reading…]

December religious holidays and celebrations are natural opportunities for houses of worship to embrace practices that welcome and support people with disabilities in all aspects of the community. One of the most common questions we get is, “Our congregation wants to include disabled people, but where do we begin?”

My answer comes in the form of a question. “Belonging is at the heart of inclusion. So, what gives you a sense of belonging in your faith community?” [continue reading…]

In the Presidential election of 2020, a record number of people with disabilities voted at the polls. Unfortunately, a record of another kind was set in 2021, when 33 laws were passed that made it more difficult for Americans to vote. This resulted in a significant decrease in voting participation by people with disabilities in 2022. According to findings by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), people with disabilities were twice as likely as non-disabled voters to experience challenges while voting in 2020; that number grew to three times as likely in 2022. [continue reading…]

Federal Policy Priorities

RespectAbility’s 2024 federal policy priorities include:

• Eliminating barriers to work.
• Promoting competitive, integrated employment.
• Supporting effective school-to-work transitions.
• Advancing accessibility best practices across sectors.
• Empowering disabled people to advocate for themselves.

[continue reading…]

RespectAbility is gearing up for a critical year in state legislative policy. With several key states carrying stalled bills over from 2023 into 2024, the first few months will bring significant opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

States poised to see some action include California, New York, and Pennsylvania. Though these three populous states encompass unique demographic and economic profiles, each state legislature has the potential to enact significant changes. RespectAbility is ready to assist disability organizations in these and other states to advance legislation that promotes greater opportunities for disabled people and to fight any initiatives that roll back rights for which we’ve fought hard. [continue reading…]