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Rights and Justice

Disability Justice Initiative

We promote policies to ensure disabled people of color and those most marginalized by ableism and other forms of oppression can participate in the economy and democracy.

View of demonstrators as they hold a banner that reads "Disability Rights are Human Rights" during a march inside Grand Central Station in New York. (Getty/Barbara Alper)

What We're Doing

Ensuring an equitable economy for people with disabilities

We broaden the public discourse by decision-makers to increase the focus on consequences of poverty and inequality for people with disabilities and their families. We also coordinate collaborative discussions between the reproductive justice and disability communities on issues of inclusive economic growth.

Repairing the social safety net for people with disabilities

We advance legislation and executive action to streamline access to programs and optimize effectiveness in serving people with low incomes, particularly people with disabilities. We defend Medicaid, Social Security, the ADA, and other policies that support people with disabilities and their families.

Centering multimarginalized identities

We develop research, policy analyses, and messaging tools to raise awareness around the specific challenges that multimarginalized disabled individuals face, particularly focusing on Black, Indigenous, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, women, and immigrants.

Advancing disability-forward, pro-voter legislation

We advance legislation and executive action that expand voter access, particularly for the disability community, and increase collaboration between the disability community and democracy groups.

The Disability Justice Initiative promotes policies to ensure disabled people of color and those most marginalized by ableism and other forms of oppression can participate in the economy and democracy.

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IDEA at 50: Resources To Support Students With Disabilities During the Week of Action Article
A special education teacher works with her kindergarten student.

IDEA at 50: Resources To Support Students With Disabilities During the Week of Action

Fifty years after the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act transformed special education services for children with disabilities, it is important to both celebrate its legacy and confront the urgent work still needed to fulfill its promise.

Mia Ives-Rublee, Weadé James, Casey Peeks, 3 More Hailey Gibbs, Paige Shoemaker DeMio, Casey Doherty

The Trump Administration’s Recent Special Education Layoffs Will Have Major Long-Term Impacts on Disabled Children and Students Article

The Trump Administration’s Recent Special Education Layoffs Will Have Major Long-Term Impacts on Disabled Children and Students

The Trump administration unlawful layoffs during the federal shutdown, in coordination with its policy changes and budget cuts, are intended to lead to closure of the Department of Education, leaving disabled children and students with fewer services and protections.

Mia Ives-Rublee, Casey Doherty

Politicians Don’t Understand Disability In the News

Politicians Don’t Understand Disability

In an op-ed published by Inside Sources, Mia Ives-Rublee argues that Congress should use the inclusive framing provided by the Americans with Disability Act to boost support for this growing community of Americans.

Inside Sources

Mia Ives-Rublee

The Trump Administration’s War on Disability Report
U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order.

The Trump Administration’s War on Disability

Executive actions, budget cuts, layoffs, and legislation—all enacted in the Trump administration’s first six months—have curtailed disability rights and services, including access to Medicaid and the right to free, appropriate public education.

Mia Ives-Rublee, Casey Doherty

The State of Disabled LGBTQI+ People in 2024 Report
A woman in a wheelchair goes down during NYC Pride March.

The State of Disabled LGBTQI+ People in 2024

New LGBTQI+ Community Survey data from the Center for American Progress and NORC show that disabled LGBTQI+ people experience higher rates of discrimination in public services, education, employment, housing, and health care than their nondisabled LGBTQI+ and disabled non-LGBTQI+ peers.

Mia Ives-Rublee, Casey Doherty, Haley Norris

The Truth About the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s Cuts to Medicaid and Medicare Article
A sign that reads “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” is seen by a desk.

The Truth About the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s Cuts to Medicaid and Medicare

The Center for American Progress and The Arc break down the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, exposing how its deep cuts to Medicaid and Medicare will lead to benefit losses, increased paperwork requirements, and rural hospital closures that will hurt Americans—especially people with disabilities.

Mia Ives-Rublee, Kim Musheno

The Top 5 Ways the Congressional Republicans’ Budget Reconciliation Bill Will Harm Disabled Students Report
Students are seen eating lunch.

The Top 5 Ways the Congressional Republicans’ Budget Reconciliation Bill Will Harm Disabled Students

Disabled students will be disproportionately hurt by the Republican budget reconciliation bill, losing access to essential services and resources that support their education and help them become contributing members of their communities.

Mia Ives-Rublee, Weadé James

‘Life After’: A Reel Progress Screening Past Event
An image of a Gregory Dugan on his knees at a Not Dead Yet protest. A pink banner is held behind him that reads

‘Life After’: A Reel Progress Screening

Join CAP and DC/DOX for the Washington, D.C. premiere of "Life After," an investigative documentary that exposes the tangled web of moral dilemmas and profit motives surrounding assisted dying.

Center for American Progress

Medicaid made my brother’s final weeks more peaceful Article

Medicaid made my brother’s final weeks more peaceful

In an op-ed published by NC Newsline, Mia Ives-Rublee describes her family’s experience with Medicaid, which helped provide critical care for her brother during his final months.

NC Newsline

Mia Ives-Rublee

Disabled People Deserve to Make a Living Wage In the News

Disabled People Deserve to Make a Living Wage

In an op-ed published by DC Journal, Mia Ives-Rublee explains why an archaic U.S. Department of Labor program involving 14(c) certificates is dangerous and should be phased out.

DC Journal

Mia Ives-Rublee

CAP Submits Comments Supporting Proposed Section 14(c) Rule To End Subminimum Wages for Disabled People Article

CAP Submits Comments Supporting Proposed Section 14(c) Rule To End Subminimum Wages for Disabled People

The Center for American Progress submitted comments in support of the Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division’s new proposed rule to phase out Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, ensuring disabled workers are no longer paid subminimum wages.

Mia Ives-Rublee

‘Patrice: The Movie’: A Reel Progress Screening Past Event
Film promotion for 'Patrice: The Movie,' Garry and Patrice are on a pink background. Garry is in a wheelchair looking up at Patrice. Partrice is wearing glasses and a walking aide smiling at the camera.

‘Patrice: The Movie’: A Reel Progress Screening

Join the Center for American Progress for a special screening and discussion on a documentary rom-com about the next phase of marriage equality: disability.

Center for American Progress

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