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Act Now to Stop People with Disabilities From Being Forced to Choose Between Hunger and COVID-19!

The lives of millions of people with disabilities are at stake!

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, going to the grocery store becomes a life or death decision for people with disabilities and/or underlying medical conditions.

In 2019, the USDA launched a trial effort with six states to allow Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries to use their benefits to pay for online grocery deliveries. At the beginning of the pandemic, an additional 13 states joined in the pilot. As of August 25, 4 states have yet to act.

This costs no additional money but can save many, many lives. SNAP delivery saves lives. 

• A recent battleground poll conducted by Democracy Corps on behalf of the Center for Voter Information shows that 81 percent of voters say they favor allowing people who use SNAP to be able to order and pay for groceries and delivery online, so they don’t have to go into stores.
• According to the Census Bureau, there are more than 56 million Americans living with a disability. Disabilities include visible conditions such as spinal cord injuries, low vision or hearing loss and nonvisible disabilities including learning disabilities, mental health or Autism.
• Nationwide, 11 million Americans with disabilities depend on SNAP, also called Food Stamps, to pay for groceries and provide for their families.
• Research conducted in the 2018 election shows that 74 percent of likely voters either have a disability themselves or have a family member or a close friend with disabilities.
• Read letter from the Consortium of Citizens with Disabilities to Congress on Expanding Pilot (PDF).
• Read letter from the Consortium of Citizens with Disabilities to USDA on Expanding Pilot (PDF).

Online SNAP Pre-COVID-19

Status of Online SNAP as of December 11, 2020

Governors in 3 states (AK, ME, MT) have not yet announced any plans to ensure their residents don’t have to risk their lives to get food. Those states are in red in the map above.

The following states already now have been approved for online usage of SNAP/Food Stamps: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY and the District of Columbia.

#SNAPDeliverySavesLives

Learn More:

• 15 States Deny Access to Safe Food Options for People with Disabilities
• COVID-19 Resources

Act Now to Enable People Who Use SNAP (Food Stamps) to Get Food Delivered

Hartford, Connecticut, May 7 – Connecticut’s leaders have taken a critical step to ensuring that the people at the greatest risk from the COVID-19 pandemic and who rely on SNAP benefits can safely order groceries online. The disability nonprofit RespectAbility congratulates leaders in the Nutmeg State for applying for a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that would allow SNAP recipients to use their benefits for nline grocery delivery via Walmart, Amazon online (including Amazon Pantry and Amazon Fresh), and certain ShopRite stores.

“This is potentially lifesaving news for the approximately 105,000 Connecticut residents with disabilities who depend on food stamps to put food on the table,” said Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, President and CEO of RespectAbility. “We hope the USDA and Secretary Sonny Perdue will expedite the necessary paperwork and help people in Connecticut stay safe from the pandemic.” [continue reading…]

Act Now to Enable People Who Use SNAP (Food Stamps) to Get Food Delivered

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 7 – Pennsylvania’s leaders have taken a critical step to ensuring that the people at the greatest risk from the COVID-19 pandemic and who rely on SNAP benefits can safely order groceries online. The disability nonprofit RespectAbility congratulates leaders in the Keystone State for applying for a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that would allow SNAP recipients to use their benefits for online grocery delivery via Walmart or Amazon.

“This is potentially lifesaving news for the approximately 511,000 Pennsylvanians with disabilities who depend on food stamps to put food on the table,” said Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, President and CEO of RespectAbility. “We hope the USDA and Secretary Sonny Perdue will expedite the necessary paperwork and help Pennsylvanians stay safe from the pandemic.” [continue reading…]

Act Now to Enable People Who Use SNAP (Food Stamps) to Get Food Delivered

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, May 7 – Oklahoma’s leaders have taken a critical step to ensuring that the people at the greatest risk from the COVID-19 pandemic and who rely on SNAP benefits can safely order groceries online. The disability nonprofit RespectAbility congratulates leaders in the Sooner State for applying for a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that would allow SNAP recipients to use their benefits for online grocery delivery via Walmart or Amazon.

“This is potentially lifesaving news for the approximately 164,000 Oklahomans with disabilities who depend on food stamps to put food on the table,” said Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, President and CEO of RespectAbility. “We hope the USDA and Secretary Sonny Perdue will expedite the necessary paperwork and help Oklahomans stay safe from the pandemic.” [continue reading…]

Act Now to Enable People Who Use SNAP (Food Stamps) to Get Food Delivered

Atlanta, Georgia, May 7 – Georgia’s leaders have taken a critical step to ensuring that the people at the greatest risk from the COVID-19 pandemic and who rely on SNAP benefits can safely order groceries online. The disability nonsprofit RespectAbility congratulates leaders in the Peach State for applying for a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that would allow SNAP recipients to use their benefits for online grocery delivery via Walmart or Amazon.

“This is potentially lifesaving news for the approximately 400,000 Georgians with disabilities who depend on food stamps to put food on the table,” said Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, President and CEO of RespectAbility. “We hope the USDA and Secretary Sonny Perdue will expedite the necessary paperwork and help Georgians stay safe from the pandemic.” [continue reading…]

Californians with disabilities now can use SNAP to eat safely while other states leave people with disabilities at risk

Los Angeles, CA, May 1 – Californians with disabilities and other recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) no longer have to choose between risking exposure to COVID-19 or getting food from the grocery store.

As of April 28, California’s SNAP program, CalFresh, covers online grocery delivery. This benefits approximately 1.1 million Californians with disabilities who depended on SNAP benefits.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a simple action like going to the grocery store to put food on the table means potentially risking exposure to the coronavirus. This is especially the case for those who are blind or use wheelchairs or other mobility devices for whom maintaining six feet of distance may be impossible. The answer for many American households has been to turn to online grocery deliveries. [continue reading…]

In 16 states, people with disabilities now can use SNAP to eat safely while other states leave people with disabilities at risk

Washington, D.C., May 1 – In 16 states, people with disabilities and other recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) no longer have to choose between risking exposure to COVID-19 or getting food from the grocery store. Thanks to an administrative change, millions of Americans now can access online grocery deliveries through Amazon Fresh and Walmart.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a simple action like going to the grocery store to put food on the table means potentially risking exposure to the coronavirus. This is especially the case for those who are blind or use wheelchairs or other mobility devices for whom maintaining six feet of distance may be impossible. The answer for many American households has been to turn to online grocery deliveries. For many of the 11 million Americans with disabilities who rely on SNAP for their basic nutrition, however, that option has been unavailable, leaving them to shop in person despite the higher risk they face. [continue reading…]

174,000 people with disabilities live in New Hampshire

Manchester, NH, February 7 – Tonight, as seven candidates prepare to take the stage in the first Democratic debate after the Iowa caucus, RespectAbility’s Ben Spangenberg and Justin Chappell will be in the media spin room trying to get candidates on the record on disability issues. They are there on behalf of The RespectAbility Report, an online publication at the intersection of U.S. politics and disability.

Spangenberg has been with RespectAbility for more than four years, and currently serves as the director of its National Leadership Program for college students and recent graduates who want to become future leaders in the disability community. He and Chappell married two weeks after Spangenberg joined the staff. Together, they previously covered debates in the 2016 Election cycle, meeting all major candidates on both sides of the isle.

“People with disabilities have been historically underrepresented in political campaigns, debate and coverage for far too long. I look forward to asking the candidates about policy changes that matter to the disability community,” said Ben Spangenberg. [continue reading…]

James Trout and Eric Ascher inside the spin room at the CNN Democratic Debate

Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 14 – While many of the presidential candidates are focusing on how to help people with disabilities, several self-advocates currently are in Iowa showing that people with disabilities are capable of doing the work, if only they are given access to do so.

Eric Ascher and James Trout, both on the Autism spectrum, and Ila Eckhoff, who has cerebral palsy, are ensuring that the presidential candidates do not forget the one-in-four adults in America who have a disability by reporting on the campaigns’ efforts for The RespectAbility Report, an online publication at the intersection of U.S. politics and disability.

Eric Ascher and James Trout, who are both on the Autism spectrum, interviewed several candidates while in Iowa, including Sen. Amy Klobuchar (pictured above). This is Trout’s second campaign season doing so.

Ascher is the Communications Associate of RespectAbility, a nonprofit organization that fights stigmas and advances opportunities so people with disabilities can participate fully in all aspects of community. Ascher’s motivation for engaging the candidates is not only professional but also personal:

“I know firsthand how hard it is for qualified people with disabilities to find jobs. I spent two years after college looking for work. I honestly believe that stigma around disability played a major role in that fact. What candidates say can make a huge difference in the stigma people with disabilities face, and I am thrilled to be in Iowa so I can help them know how they can be good allies to the disability community.” [continue reading…]