News Archive
Washington, D.C. – As the Trump Administration wraps up its tenure, officials at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized an agreement with the state of Tennessee that will cut funding for the Medicaid program in that state, known as TennCare. “This decision will harm people with disabilities, low-income families, and older adults […]
The post In Final Days of Trump Administration and In Middle of Pandemic, Federal Officials Approve Cuts to Medicaid in Tennessee appeared first on The Arc.
Washington, D.C.: Today, amidst an unparalleled rampant spread of COVID-19 infection throughout the country and the looming specter of care rationing as hospitals become overwhelmed, civil rights groups, working closely with two Texas regional health groups and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced the approval of revised […]
The post Amidst Nationwide COVID-19 Surge, Health & Civil Rights Groups Secure Federal Approval of Revised Crisis Standards of Care Guidelines in Texas appeared first on The Arc.
The Arc is urging President Trump to intervene immediately and stop the unconstitutional execution of a man with intellectual disability scheduled to take place in a matter of days. Corey Johnson’s execution, scheduled for January 14, would violate the Constitution and federal law. Mr. Johnson is a person with intellectual disability. Three nationally recognized experts […]
The post Corey Johnson Must Not be Executed appeared first on The Arc.
Today, The Arc celebrates the life of Former Pennsylvania Governor and U.S. Attorney General Richard “Dick” Thornburgh, a champion in the disability rights movement who played a crucial role in the passage of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Mr. Thornburgh died Thursday. He was 88. Throughout his career, Mr. Thornburgh fought for equal […]
The post Celebrating the Life of the Honorable Richard Thornburgh appeared first on The Arc.
Today, President Trump signed into law three years of funding for the Money Follows the Person program. This program provides federal dollars to move people with disabilities out of large congregate settings like institutions and nursing homes, and back into their homes and communities. This is an important step in our decades-long fight to bring […]
The post Important Step for Community Living for People with Disabilities: Congress Makes Overdue Investment in Money Follows the Person Program appeared first on The Arc.
After months of hardship and danger from the COVID-19 pandemic, and relentless advocacy by The Arc and advocates across the country, last night Congress passed a COVID-19 relief package without critical funding for people with disabilities to access the services and supports necessary for a life in the community. As COVID-19 continues to spread nationwide, […]
The post Shut Out Again: COVID-19 Relief Package Again Excludes Needs of People With Disabilities, Families, Service Providers appeared first on The Arc.
For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), a fully integrated life in the community often depends on not only people-powered supports like direct support professionals and job coaches, but on the technology to facilitate skill building, social connection, and much more. As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the world and shut down entire communities, […]
The post Click Here for Inclusion: Staying Connected During COVID-19 appeared first on The Arc.
Since 2015, The Arc has been the proud recipient of a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency that funds the national Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service activities. Under this grant, chapters of The Arc and other organizations executed projects all across the U.S, uniting volunteers with […]
The post 2020 MLK Grantees Continue the Fight Against Hunger appeared first on The Arc.
This is the second of a two-part series that The Arc@Work will publish this month to speak on the new and emerging challenges faced by workers with IDD and how employers, disability services agencies, and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) can work together on creating solutions that create inclusion and workplace equity. In […]
The post The Workplace in 2020: How Employers Can Support Jobseekers With Disabilities appeared first on The Arc.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Arc is deeply troubled by the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Merrill v. People First of Alabama, effectively banning curbside voting in Alabama, a critical accommodation to ensure the health and safety of voters with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of voters with underlying health […]
The post The Arc Deeply Troubled by U.S. Supreme Court Voting Rights Decision appeared first on The Arc.
The Arc today announced it will honor long-standing partner Comcast NBCUniversal as the recipient of its 2020 Catalyst Award for their collaborative efforts to provide people with disabilities increased access to technology and more independence. The award recognizes businesses, individuals, and other organizations that have made extraordinary contributions toward greater social inclusion and the advancement […]
The post The Arc Recognizes Comcast NBCUniversal With the 2020 Catalyst Award appeared first on The Arc.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) made significant progress in expanding access to health care for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD). Access to consistent and reliable healthcare is critical for individuals with IDD, and the ACA created much-needed reforms to health insurance, addressed systemic discrimination, and expanded coverage. Yet it will all be at […]
The post The Affordable Care Act: What’s At Risk? appeared first on The Arc.
By Sethany Griffin I am a member of The Arc and both a provider for adults and children with disabilities and a mother of an adult with autism and an intellectual delay. My son Karl is 19, and he typically attends an adult transition program five days a week where he learns vocational skills in […]
The post Care During COVID-19: An “Essential” Working Family’s Story appeared first on The Arc.
This year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month arrives at a precarious time in our country’s history: we continue to face the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic and one of the direst economic recessions in recent memory. The coronavirus pandemic has caused more than 200,000 deaths and infected more than 7 million people, while also creating […]
The post The Workplace in 2020: Getting People With Disabilities Back To Work Safely During COVID-19 appeared first on The Arc.
The Arc of the United States and Comcast NBCUniversal today announced a three-year renewal of their national partnership to expand digital technology opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Comcast NBCUniversal is providing $400,000 to The Arc’s Tech Coaching Centers, which operate their national digital literacy program, as well as chapters that have […]
The post Comcast NBCUniversal and The Arc Team up To Support Local Disability Agencies and Digital Literacy for People With Disabilities appeared first on The Arc.
On September 26, President Trump nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett to be an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. Judge Coney Barrett, a Chicago-based federal appeals court judge, would replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, … Continue reading
The post President Nominates Amy Coney Barrett for Supreme Court appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
On September 24, the House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security held a hearing on the President’s proposal to defer payroll taxes. Witnesses were Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR); Representatives Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Linda Sánchez (D-CA), Judy … Continue reading
The post House Committee Holds Hearing on Administration Proposal to Defer Payroll Taxes appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
On September 23, Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Susan Collins (R-ME) and Representatives Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) and Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) introduced the National Coronavirus Commission Act (S.4666 / H.R.8358). This bill creates a non-partisan commission to assess the nation’s preparedness and … Continue reading
The post National Coronavirus Commission Act Introduced appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
On September 25, the Education Department announced that it will not appeal a U.S. district court judge’s decision that found that it illegally directed states to divert COVID-19 relief money from public schools to private schools. The CARES Act provided … Continue reading
The post Education Department Gives Up on Effort to Divert COVID Relief Funds to Private Schools appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
The Senate is expected to return on September 29 for a procedural vote on the House-passed continuing resolution (CR). A final vote on the CR is expected by September 30, leaving the President just a few hours to sign the … Continue reading
The post Short Term FY 21 Funding Bill to Be Voted On appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
On September 23, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released preliminary data showing that during the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a steady decline in rates of primary and preventive services as well as vaccinations among children on Medicaid … Continue reading
The post CMS Data Reveal Decline in Preventive Care Utilization appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
Our new Strategic Framework for the Future of The Arc is here! This vision will guide our advocacy, programs, and more as we meet the challenges and opportunities of the future head on. Our framework represents two years of listening, … Continue reading
The post Announcing The Arc’s New Strategic Framework appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
Today, Members of the U.S. House and Senate introduced the bipartisan National Coronavirus Commission Act of 2020. The proposed legislation seeks to create an independent, non-partisan commission to assess the nation’s preparedness and response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Commission would also make recommendations to improve readiness in the future. The Commission has a specific […]
The post The Arc Supports National Coronavirus Commission Act to Assess Response to Pandemic for People with Disabilities appeared first on The Arc.
Today the House released the text of H.R. 8319 to fund the federal government from the start of fiscal year (FY) 2021 on October 1 through December 11. The vast majority of agencies and programs are level funded and several … Continue reading
The post Short Term FY 21 Funding Bill Released appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
On September 18, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away. Justice Ginsburg served on the Supreme Court for 27 years. She authored the majority opinion in the landmark case Olmstead v. L.C. in which the court ruled that … Continue reading
The post The Arc Mourns the Loss of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
On September 17, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR) released a report in which they recommended a phase-out of subminimum wages under Section 14 (c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The report highlighted “persistent failures” in oversight of … Continue reading
The post USCCR Recommends Phase-Out of Subminimum Wage appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
The Arc released the following statement on the passing of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: “Often lost in the day to day of life are the big moments in history that make today possible. Today, a life in the community for millions of people with disabilities is possible because of the actions of […]
The post The Arc on Passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Her Mark on the Disability Rights Movement appeared first on The Arc.
On September 10, Senate Republicans failed to get enough votes to advance their pared-down version of the COVID-19 relief bill they introduced last month. This bill included a $300 unemployment benefit bonus; additional Paycheck Protection Program loans for businesses experiencing … Continue reading
The post Senate Rejects “Skinny” COVID Relief Bill appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin have reached a broad outline to fund the federal government after appropriations expire on September 30. There will be no stimulus or other COVID-19 relief provisions. With limited exceptions, it will provide … Continue reading
The post Speaker, White House Reach Agreement on Continuing Resolution appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
On September 1, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an eviction moratorium order that is in effect from September 4, 2020 to December 31, 2020. The temporary moratorium on evictions extends vital protections to tens of … Continue reading
The post CDC Issues Eviction Moratorium Order appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
On August 13, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a study on death, bankruptcies, and wait times among people appealing Social Security disability determinations. The report found that between the median wait time for people appealing their initial determination was … Continue reading
The post GAO Releases Report on Deaths, Bankruptcies, and Wait Times Among Social Security Benefit Appellees appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
On September 9, the Coalition on Human Needs held a webinar titled “Then and Now: How to Use New Census Surveys About Poverty, Income, and Health from 2019 and 2020.” Speakers were Jared Bernstein, Senior Fellow, Center on Budget and … Continue reading
The post CHN Holds Webinar on Using Census Surveys of Poverty, Income, and Health appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
On September 8, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a decision striking down the Department of Education rule requiring school districts to distribute funding to private schools based on the total number of children attending private … Continue reading
The post Federal Court Strikes Down Education Department Rule Increasing Funding for Private Schools appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
Washington, D.C. – Yet another unnecessary police shooting of a person with a disability has occurred, this time in Salt Lake City, Utah, where 13-year-old Linden Cameron was shot by officers multiple times on Friday night while he was in crisis. His mother had called police for assistance when Linden, who has autism, was experiencing […]
The post Unacceptable Police Shooting of Teenager with Autism: The Arc Calls for Transparent Investigation and Reform appeared first on The Arc.
WASHINGTON – Students with disabilities and their families are experiencing unprecedented challenges and uncertainties in special education, as the COVID-19 pandemic forces schools and families all over the country to try to figure out the best path forward. But long before the pandemic, students with disabilities and their families faced disparities in education and unmet […]
The post The Arc Announces Grant from The Coca-Cola Foundation appeared first on The Arc.
WASHINGTON – The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has taken vital action to help millions of tenants, including many people with disabilities. The Arc is encouraged that this week the CDC issued a national, broad moratorium on evictions for nonpayment of rent. The temporary halt on evictions authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic […]
The post Eviction Moratorium Welcome Step, Further Action Needed appeared first on The Arc.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, amidst rampant spread of COVID-19 infection throughout the country, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced the resolution of a federal complaint filed against Utah. The complaint, brought by the Utah Disability Law Center and a coalition of national groups—The Arc of the United […]
The post Resolution of Federal Complaint Amidst Nationwide COVID-19 Surge Raises Bar in Prohibiting Blanket DNRs, Medical Discrimination Against People With Disabilities appeared first on The Arc.
WASHINGTON – The negotiations around a fourth COVID relief package have reached a stalemate and people with disabilities will be worse off for it. Despite the House passing a comprehensive relief package on May 15, 2020, the Senate has not brought that bill to a vote. They adjourned last night for August recess, which will […]
The post Congress Adjourns for Recess, Failing to Address Needs of People with Disabilities appeared first on The Arc.
With stimulus talks stalled, President Trump issued executive actions over the weekend to provide relief to Americans affected by the pandemic. The President proposed the following relief measures: Unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. Up to $400 additional weekly federal UI benefit. … Continue reading
The post Congressional Negotiations Stall on Next COVID Package; Trump Issues Proposals appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
On August 7, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued its final Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AAFH) Rule, called the “Preserving Community and Neighborhood Choice.” This new final rule, which will become effective on September 8, 2020, will … Continue reading
The post HUD Issues Final Ruling Weakening Housing Discrimination Protections appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
Last week, the Census Bureau announced that it will end the self-response and door-knocking periods one month early on September 30. The Arc is deeply concerned that this decision jeopardizes the Bureau’s ability to accurately fulfill the Constitutional requirement of … Continue reading
The post Census Bureau Moves Up Self-Response Deadline appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is moving forward with a harmful rule that threatens the protections of The Fair Housing Act for millions of people with disabilities. The new Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule, called the “Preserving Community and Neighborhood Choice,” published today, is a big step backward […]
The post New HUD Rule Weakens Fair Housing Protections for People with Disabilities appeared first on The Arc.
WASHINGTON – The Arc is distressed that the U.S. Census Bureau is cutting short efforts to count all persons living in the country for the 2020 Census. Ending the self-response phase and critical door-knocking efforts of the census one month early on September 30th risks severely undercounting already hard-to-count populations like people with disabilities, immigrants, […]
The post The Census Must Go On: The Futures of People with Disabilities and Hard-to-Count Populations are at Stake appeared first on The Arc.
On July 29, the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released its Annual Report to Congress for FY 2019. The report found that almost half of complaints filed with OCR in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 related to … Continue reading
The post Office for Civil Rights Releases Annual Report to Congress appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
Last week, the Senate released a framework for its fourth COVID-19 response bill. The package of bills, called the Healthcare, Economic Assistance, Liability, and Schools (HEALS) Act, fails to include all but one of the disability community’s priorities. The HEALS … Continue reading
The post COVID Relief: Senate Releases Framework for Next Package; Advocacy Needed appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
On July 29, Representatives Danny Davis (D-IL), John Larson (D-CT), and Richard Neal (D-MA) introduced the Fairness for Seniors and People with Disabilities During COVID-19 Act (H.R. 7830). This bill protects Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients from … Continue reading
The post Bill Protecting Social Security and SSI Recipients From Overpayment Penalties Introduced appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
On July 28, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management held a hearing titled “Experiences of Vulnerable Populations During Disaster.” Witnesses were Curtis Brown, State Coordinator of Emergency Management, Virginia Department … Continue reading
The post House Committee Holds Hearing on “Experiences of Vulnerable Populations During Disaster” appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act eviction moratorium expired on July 24, allowing landlords to issue 30 days’ notice for tenants to vacate properties. Landlords who had been covered by the 120-day moratorium are no longer prohibited … Continue reading
The post Eviction Moratorium Expires appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
On July 31, the House approved a $1.3 trillion spending package for fiscal year (FY) 2021 that begins on October 1. This package (H.R. 7617) combines seven of the 12 annual spending bills: Defense, Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy-Water, Financial Services, Homeland Security, … Continue reading
The post House Passes FY 2021 Spending Package appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
Thinking about your child’s future after you’re gone is hard for most parents. For the parents of people with disabilities, the topic can be so daunting that it can feel impossible to broach. The result? Families all over the country shelve this conversation as long as possible. But the COVID-19 pandemic has been a stark […]
The post Planning Can’t Wait: Preparing for Life’s Emergencies appeared first on The Arc.
