Disabilities / Public News Service

The Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act was signed into law in 2000 by President Bill Clinton. (Cliff Booth/Pexels)

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Disability Rights Group Focuses on Employment in Indiana

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, and this year's theme is "Beyond the Conversation". In Indiana, that could mean 'less talk and …

According to 2022 data from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21.3% of people with a disability were employed, which has increased from 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Urge Age Cap Removal on NY Medicaid Buy-In Program

New York disability-rights advocates are calling for the age cap on the state's Medicaid Buy In Program to be raised or eliminated. The program is …

Washington state lawmakers will begin crafting their budgets as the session begins to wind down in April. (Zack Frank/Adobe Stock)

Housing Assistance on Docket for Lawmakers in Olympia

Affordable housing is a major concern in Washington state and lawmakers in Olympia are considering a slate of measures to address it. One option is …

It costs taxpayers $13,400 to provide supportive housing per person each year, compared with between $21,000 and $40,000 for medical care, incarceration, detox treatment and shelter services. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Denver Mayoral Candidates Off the Mark on Homeless Crisis

Advocates for people experiencing homelessness are pushing back against proposals by several Denver mayoral candidates who are including forced mental…

Members of the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council attend the signing of House Resolution 9 at the State Capitol, observing March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness month in Iowa. (Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council)

Advocates Call for More Awareness, Education During Developmental Disabilities Month

To recognize Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, state lawmakers have signed a resolution to raise awareness surrounding people with …

More than 230,000 residents of New Hampshire, or roughly one in five adults, are diagnosed with a disability ranging from serious mobility issues to vision impairment. (Adobe Stock)

Disability Community Celebrates Life of Advocate Judy Heumann

The disability community is mourning the loss of one of its greatest advocates. Judy Heumann, often called the "mother of the disability rights …

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2022, 30% of workers with a disability were employed part-time, compared with 16% of non-disabled workers. (Adobe Stock)

Legislation Would Help Working Missourians with Disabilities

For Missourians with a disability, earning too much money, or having a spouse earn too much, can mean losing important Medicaid health coverage…

Since 2017, AARP has awarded more than $12.7 million to more than 1,060 projects, including 22 in Colorado, through the Community Challenge to nonprofit organizations and government entities. (Adobe Stock)

AARP Colorado Seeking Projects to Help Improve Communities

AARP Colorado is putting out the call for creative projects to help improve communities, by creating new public transportation and housing options…

According to analysis by the American Health Care Association, job growth for nursing-home employees slowed in 2022. It says if that pace remains, nursing homes won't return to pre-pandemic staffing levels until 2027. (Adobe Stock)

CT General Assembly Considers Nursing-Home Reforms

Connecticut's General Assembly is considering legislation to establish sweeping nursing-home reforms. Senate Bill 989 would establish minimum …

The federal government can have a say in whether states add work requirements to their Medicaid programs. But South Dakota Republicans say it is worth exploring if 2024 brings a change in administrations, despite objections from those who say voters already approved the expansion. (Adobe Stock).

SD Considers Adding Work Requirement to Medicaid Expansion

South Dakota is poised to launch a Medicaid expansion this summer, after voters approved the idea last fall, but there is a legislative push to add a …

ADA Website Gets Makeover to Become More Accessible

A revamped website for the Americans with Disabilities Act has launched to make the site more accessible. The Justice Department has updated ADA.gov …

Nearly 7 million students with disabilities in the U.S. make up 14% of national public school enrollment, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. (Adobe Stock)

IA School Vouchers Pose Challenges for Students with Disabilities

Advocates for Iowans with disabilities say a new "school choice" law could allow discrimination against students with disabilities. The bill …

The Disability Inclusive Climate Action Research Program at McGill University and the International Disability Alliance report

March Trainings to Help People with Disabilities in Emergencies

The first of four training sessions is coming up March 6-7 in Springfield on preparedness to help individuals with disabilities survive a disaster…

More than 93,000 people live in certified nursing care facilities in California. (C.Davids/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Report: Nursing Homes Sedate Too Many Residents

Groups that advocate for older Americans are speaking out about the overuse of psychotropic medications in nursing homes. Last November, the …

ABLE Accounts, savings accounts for people with disabilities, are currently offered in 46 states. (Adobe Stock)

More Utahns Will be Eligible for State-Based ABLE Accounts

More people living with disabilities will be eligible to open state-based savings accounts known as ABLE accounts. They're part of the "Achieving a …

According to the American Council on Aging, the average

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More NE Long-Term Care Facilities Risk Closure Without Funding

Nebraska's long-term care facilities face staffing shortages and other factors that could lead to more closures if state funding isn't increased…

March 8 is Disability Day within the Nevada State Legislature, a day to highlight the realities of Nevadans living with disabilities. (Adobe Stock)

NV Group Sounds Alarm on Integrated Work for Disabled Community

One Nevada group believes the state needs to prioritize integrated employment opportunities for people living with disabilities. The Nevada …

In addition to an aging population, 11% of Mainers have serious mobility impairments requiring targeted and inclusive long-term planning to ensure accessibility to public spaces across the state. (Adobe Stock)

Livable, Healthy Communities: Goal of AARP Planning Event

AARP Maine will sponsor an online workshop this week on long-range planning for health equity, with a focus on housing, community services and safe …

One billion people currently need assistive technology products, and more than two billion people around the world are expected to need at least one assistive technology product by 2030, according to the World Health Organization. (Adobe Stock)

Americans With Disabilities Act Website Gets User-Friendly Upgrades

The Americans with Disabilities Act website has gotten a makeover, with updated navigation tools and easy-to-find answers to common questions on …

Senior advocates point out that family caregivers perform a range of tasks such as shopping, transportation, meal preparation, medication management, wound care and home updates, ultimately saving the state money. (Adobe Stock)

WI Sees Renewed Calls for Caregiver Tax Credit

Wisconsin lawmakers are back in session and have a large budget surplus to work with. Advocates for the state's older residents hope any spending …

Medicaid home- and community-based services in New Hampshire were a smaller portion of all Medicaid long-term services and supports expenditures than nationally, totaling 47.2% in 2019, which was also lower than all other New England states. (Adobe Stock)

Creating a System of Healthy Aging in the Granite State

An alliance of health and consumer advocacy groups in the Granite State is working to create a coordinated system of long-term care for healthy aging…

Easterseals advises parents to have their child evaluated as early as age 2 for symptoms of autism. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

Advocates Say Illinois Families Need More Help for Autistic Children

The rate of autism among American children has grown steadily over the past three decades, but advocates say funding support is not keeping up with …

Federal labor analysts say across all age groups, persons with disabilities were much less likely to be employed than those with no disabilities. (Adobe Stock)

Policy Fix Sought to Keep Workers with Disabilities On the Job

Medicaid "Buy In" is considered a key health insurance tool for workers with disabilities. But according to a new report, the reach of these programs …

MO Project to Disrupt 'School-to-Prison Pipeline' Gets a Boost

A new federal grant is giving schools in three Missouri counties and St. Louis City a fresh look at the challenges of students of color living with …

Developmental disabilities are a group of conditions due to an impairment in physical, learning, language, or behavior areas. About one in six children in the U.S. have one or more developmental disabilities or other developmental delays, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

A Call for Greater Accessibility for Iowans with Disabilities

Iowans with disabilities said the state could be doing more to make public places more accessible and inclusive. In the new legislative session…

Consumer advocates say the power-wheelchair market is dominated by two national suppliers, both of which are owned by private equity firms, able to increase profits by limiting what they spend on technicians and repairs. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

MA Lawmakers Urged to Strengthen Wheelchair Warranty Protections

Advocates for people with disabilities say lawmakers in the Commonwealth must strengthen wheelchair warranty protections to ensure wheelchair users ar…

Nationwide, more than 700 nursing home residents died from COVID-19 during the four-week period ending on Oct. 23, and more than 35,000 were infected, according to <a href=

AARP. (Adobe Stock)">

AZ Nursing Homes Rank Poorly on COVID Boosters

Arizona is currently in last place nationwide in terms of nursing home residents and staff being up-to-date on their COVID-19 boosters. That's …

More than 25% of Missourians will be older than 60 by 2040. (Adobe Stock)

HCBS Cuts Threaten Services for Aging Population in Missouri

November is National Family Caregivers Month, which focuses attention on the unpaid care work of family members. The care provided by families …

According to a study done by CoStar Group, a real estate research company, most counties in Central New York have seen rental prices increase by at least 3% since 2019. (Adobe Stock)

New Affordable Housing to Aid CNY Renters, Eventually

Two new affordable housing developments in Central New York should help alleviate the region's affordability problem. The Wheat Street Apartments …

A UNH Granite State Poll found 60% of Republicans support school vouchers, compared with 8% of Democrats and 42% of Independents. Only about 28% of

Election Outcome Could Bring Big Changes to NH Public Schools

Republicans in New Hampshire have already submitted bills to expand the eligibility requirements for the state's Education Freedom Accounts Program…

Surveys of blind and low-vision voters following every presidential election since 2008 indicate that as many as one-third of poll workers don't know how to operate their location's accessible ballot-marking devices. (Adobe Photo)

'One4All' Accessible Voting in NH Expected to Grow

All polling places are required to have at least one accessible voting machine for federal elections, but as communities across New Hampshire age…

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment for adults with disabilities rose to 38% in September 2022, up from 35.1% in 2021. However, this is still less than half the employment rate for people without disabilities. (Adobe Stock)

As Disability Employment Awareness Month Ends, NY Advocacy Continues

As National Disability Employment Awareness Month comes to a close, New Yorkers are contending there is more to do beyond October. According to the …

Federal lawmakers say there are too many people with disabilities who want to work but are living in poverty because they haven't had a chance to succeed in an integrated job environment. (Adobe Stock)

IA Nabs Grant to Boost Job Opportunities for Those With Disabilities

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and 14 states, including Iowa, have received large federal grants to try to link workers …

Maine is one of nine states that allows people with disabilities to vote online, which research shows has helped increase participation among historically disenfranchised voters. (Adobe Stock)

More First-Time Voters with Disabilities Use Maine's Online Voting System

Advocates for Mainers with disabilities say the state's online voting system is helping to increase turnout among this group of voters, some of whom …

Many people are surprised to learn that American Sign Language is the third-most common language in the United States, after English and Spanish. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

Wayne State Adds American Sign Language to Teaching Curriculum

Deaf people say they sometimes feel like they're living on a different planet from those who can hear, but when both learn to use American Sign …

Oregonians decided to conduct their elections entirely by mail through an initiative passed in 1998. (Darylann Elmi/Adobe Stock)

Election's Near, Registration Deadline Here

The deadline to register to vote in Oregon is Tomorrow. Oregonians can register either in person, online before midnight or via the mail, which …

Direct support professionals enjoy recreational time with participants in program for people with developmental disabilities in Albuquerque. (Michele McCoy/ARCA)

NM Labor Shortage Putting People with Developmental Disabilities at Risk

Come next year, people with developmental disabilities in New Mexico may not be able to find the help they need - because of a severe labor shortage …

The Help America Vote act of 2002 requires each polling place have at least one accessible voting system. (Adobe Stock)

Voting Access Better for MO People with Disabilities; Challenges Remain

With absentee voting under way, election season has arrived in Missouri, but voters with disabilities still face challenges. While poll workers can …

The State of Florida encourages the public, especially citizens with disabilities and other special needs, to plan ahead for an emergency situation and know what to do in the event of an emergency. (Pixabay)

Remembering Those with Disabilities Before, During and After the Hurricane

In an appeal to the public as Hurricane Ian barreled toward Florida, an advocate for persons with disabilities urged everyone to consider checking in …

Falls among adults age 65 and older caused more than 34,000 deaths in 2019, making it the leading cause of injury death for this group, according to the CDC. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Risk of Falling Increases with Age; Prevention Tools Can Help

One in four Americans age 65 and older takes an unexpected fall each year. During Falls Prevention Awareness Week, experts are encouraging older …

In 2020, more than 53% of people with disabilities voted by mail, compared to 42% of people without disabilities. (Adobe Stock)

Iowans with Disabilities: More Voting Power, Fewer Restrictions

As of Tuesday, Iowans can begin requesting absentee ballots for the upcoming midterm elections, and as the process takes shape, advocates for people …

hearing aids are not covered under Medicare or most insurance plans. (EdwardOlive/Adobestock)

Feds to Allow Hearing Aids to be Sold Over-the-Counter

Relief may be on the way for many older Nevadans who need hearing aids but can't afford to pay $3,000 to $5,000 for a pair. The Food and Drug …

IA Youths with Disabilities Help Leadership Academy Make Strides

Nearly a dozen Iowa youths with disabilities are taking newly developed leadership skills out into the world. A summer academy wrapped up this month…

Nationally, the residential long-term care industry has lost 235,000 workers since the onset of the global pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Nursing Home Staffing Shortage Creating Backlogs for Hospitals

A new Economic Policy Institute report links staffing shortages in residential long-term care facilities in Nebraska and across the nation to low pay …

At least 70% of all public park restrooms in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens are not ADA compliant. In Staten Island, 45% are not ADA compliant. (Sascha Burkard/Adobe Stock)

NYC Public Restrooms Need Better Disability Access

The New York City Council is considering asking the Department of Transportation and the Department of Parks and Recreation to develop a report outlin…

One of the most common issues cited in using the New York City subway is the lack of elevator and escalator access at stations for people with disabilities, though others mistake it as an issue of convenience. (Michael Vi/Adobe Stock)

NYC Subway Aims for Accessibility for Riders with Disabilities

New York City's subway system has often been a thorn in the side of the disabled community, because only 114 of the system's 472 stations, or 24%…

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 13% of Americans live with mobility issues and may rely regularly on a wheelchair. (Adobe Stock)

Used Wheelchairs, Assistive Equipment Find New Life in Eastern KY Shop

In Hazard, Kentucky, volunteers are refurbishing used wheelchairs and other assistive equipment, and giving them to community members for free…

Twice as many voters with disabilities reported experienced difficulty voting in 2020 as voters without a disability. (John Davis/Adobe Stock)

MI Disability Group: Tips for More Inclusive Political Campaigns, Elections

With the 2022 elections nearing, groups in Michigan are working to educate political campaigns on how to become more accessible to voters with …

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Disabilities