News Archive
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 […]
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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.
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.
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.
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 […]
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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 […]
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
The Arc issued the following statement in remembrance of Representative John Lewis (D-GA): “The Arc mourns the loss of a fearless leader whose lifelong commitment to civil and human rights made a difference in the lives of countless individuals across the country. From his experiences on Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama to weathering racist attacks […]
The post The Arc Honors the Legacy of Civil Rights Icon Representative John Lewis appeared first on The Arc.
By: Nicole Jorwic, JD, Senior Director of Public Policy I was up at midnight when the clock turned over to July 28, 2017, my brother Chris’ 28th birthday. My brother has autism and is the person I have on my shoulder, in my heart, and in my head when I advocate every day. I watched […]
The post Three Years to the Day Since Senator John McCain’s Thumbs Down: Congress is Still Forgetting #WeAreEssential appeared first on The Arc.
Senate Republicans have indicated that they plan to release their proposal for the next round of coronavirus relief spending today. While the details are not yet known, it has been reported that the $1 trillion package may include another round … Continue reading
The post COVID Relief – Senate Bill Expected Today; Advocacy Still Needed appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
The House plans to take up a $1.37 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 to Vote on FY 2021 Spending Package appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
The House plans to take up two bills to make child care more available and affordable during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The Child Care Is Essential Act (H.R. 7027), sponsored by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), would provide $50 billion … Continue reading
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On July 28, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management will hold a hearing titled “Experiences of Vulnerable Populations During Disaster.” Witnesses will be Curtis Brown, State Coordinator of Emergency Management, … Continue reading
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On July 22, Senators Tim Scott (R-SC), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), and Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced the School Choice Now Act (S. 4282). This bill would provide a federal tax credit for donations to organizations that provide scholarships for private schools. … Continue reading
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July 26 marked the 30th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). The Arc is proud of our role in protecting the rights of people with disabilities, including as a significant player in the passage of the ADA. Consistent … Continue reading
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“I think we made great strides when it came to all the advocacy that went into the ADA. I do think if we didn’t do all of the advocacy for the ADA, we might not be where we are today in regards to people with disabilities.” – Joseph Damiano, Self-Advocate. Joseph Damiano of Belfast, New […]
The post ADA 30: Carrying on the Legacy appeared first on The Arc.
This Sunday, July 26th, we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Arc is proud of our role in protecting the rights of people with disabilities, including as a significant player in the passage of the ADA. Consistent with our work for decades on policy development and legal efforts on […]
The post The Arc Commemorates and Reflects on the 30th Anniversary of the ADA appeared first on The Arc.
WASHINGTON – A coalition of state and national disability and civil rights advocacy groups have filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) challenging the crisis standard of care plans in Arizona and Texas, two states hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. These crisis plans are used […]
The post COVID-19 Hotspots Arizona and Texas Crisis Standard of Care Plans Challenged by State and National Groups in Federal Complaints appeared first on The Arc.
On July 17, the House Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Social Security, held a hearing titled “The Impact of COVID-19 on Social Security and Its Beneficiaries.” Witnesses were Stephen C. Goss, Chief Actuary, Social Security Administration; Max Richtman, … Continue reading
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On July 16, Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner Andrew Saul announced that SSA is hoping to resume its suspended workloads in August, including overpayments. The agency resumed continuing disability reviews in late June. See SSA’s coronavirus page for updates regarding … Continue reading
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On July 14, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced in a letter to state Medicaid Directors that the deadline for compliance with the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Settings Rule will be extended until March 17, … Continue reading
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This week, Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Patty Murray (D-WA) will hold two events in recognition of the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Details are as follows: Honoring the Fight: 30 Years of the ADA: July 22, … Continue reading
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On July 23 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET, the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) will hold a briefing titled “The ADA at 30: A Vision for a Future With Full Inclusion and Equity.” Heather Ansley, Chair of … Continue reading
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The Senate must act to pass legislation that includes the critical needs of people with disabilities, their families, and the direct support professional (DSP) workforce in a new coronavirus package. In May, the House passed its fourth coronavirus package, the … Continue reading
The post Senate Action Needed on Developing A Fourth Coronavirus Package appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
On July 7, the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (L-HHS-ED) approved its funding bill for fiscal year (FY) 2021. Most of The Arc’s priority programs received level funding or small increases. … Continue reading
The post House Subcommittee Approves FY 2021 L-HHS-Ed Funding Bill appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
On July 8, the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, Urban Development, and Related Agencies approved its funding bill for FY 2021. The bill includes $227 million for Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities, $310 million for … Continue reading
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The U.S. Department of Education found that only 21 states deserved the “meets requirements” designation with regard to Part B for the 2018-2019 school year. Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia were placed into the “needs assistance” category. Two … Continue reading
The post Report Shows Most States Are Not Meeting IDEA Obligations appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
On July 9, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report titled “Characteristics of School Shootings.” As mentioned in the report, the Commission on School Safety recommended rescission of the Education Department’s “Rethink School Discipline” guidance. The report found no … Continue reading
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This week is National Disability Voter Registration Week. The Arc has developed resources in plain language and Spanish including a disability voter guide and other resources. Learn more about exercising your right to vote at https://thearc.org/vote/ and https://www.aapd.com/advocacy/voting/.>
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The Senate must act to pass legislation that includes the critical needs of people with disabilities, their families, and the direct support professional workforce in a new Coronavirus package. In May, the House passed its fourth coronavirus package, the Health … Continue reading →
The post Senate Action Needed on Developing a Fourth Coronavirus Package appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
On July 1, the House passed H.R.2, the Moving Forward Act, addressing transit, highways, motor carrier, research, rail, and other programs. The bill includes some priority asks from the disability community, including best practices for quality paratransit, such as one-stop … Continue reading →
The post House Passes Infrastructure Bill appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
Last week, the House passed the Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act of 2020 (H.R.7301). This bill includes the housing and homelessness resources approved by the House in the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act, including $100 … Continue reading →
The post Emergency Housing Protection Bill Passed in House appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
On June 30, the Supreme Court issued a ruling in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue. Montana’s tax credit scholarship program allows a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for donations to an organization that provides private school scholarships. The state’s supreme court … Continue reading →
The post Supreme Court Rules School Voucher Programs Must Include Religious Schools appeared first on The Capitol Insider.
