Disability Justice Initiative

Does Medicare Still Cover Durable Medical Equipment?

Yes—but the six-month Medicare enrollment moratorium does apply to certain DME suppliers. Here’s what it means for people who rely on DME.

CAP Submits Comment Opposing Proposed Elimination of Significant Disproportionality Reporting Under IDEA

The Center for American Progress submitted a public comment to the U.S. Department of Education opposing its proposed revision to remove the requirement that states report data related to significant disproportionality under IDEA Part B.

Toolkit: Ensuring State Implementation of HHS’ Updated Section 504 Rule

This toolkit provides background on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ final rule on “Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance.” It also provides guidance for advocates on outreach to state attorneys general and officials, reminding them of compliance dates related to the rule.

CAP Submits Comments Against the Proposed Rule To Amend the Finalized HHS Rule on ‘Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Assistance’

The Center for American Progress submitted comments to the Department of Health and Human Services opposing its proposed rule that would deny Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act’s protections for individuals diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

John’s Story: Voting Rights and Guardianship

John VanHine shares why it is important for adults under guardianship to access their right to vote.

Executive Summary: Democracy Denied for Disabled Americans: Guardianship and the Right To Vote

This executive summary contains key recommendations for preserving the voting rights of disabled people under guardianship.

Democracy Denied for Disabled Americans: Guardianship and the Right To Vote

Protecting the right to vote for many disabled Americans requires eliminating guardianship laws that restrict access to the ballot.

The Supreme Court To Decide on How IQ Tests Can Affect the Death Penalty

In Hamm v. Smith, the Supreme Court will consider how IQ tests can be used to determine when an individual with an intellectual disability may be spared from the death penalty.

Weakening the IDEA Threatens Millions of Disabled Americans Like Me

In an op-ed published by The 74, Mia Ives-Rublee talks about the important role the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act plays in ensuring disabled students receive an equitable public education.

IDEA at 50: Why IDEA Matters to Families

Elena Hung and her daughter, Xiomara, talk about the importance of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and what they hope for the future.

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.

ACA Premium Spikes Will Derail Disabled People’s Careers

The expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits threatens the economic stability and health coverage of self-employed Americans with disabilities.

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.

Disability Reproductive Equity Agenda: Protecting the Reproductive Rights of Disabled People in 2025 and Beyond

The Center for American Progress recently hosted a summit with more than 50 advocates from the reproductive and disability rights communities to identify the most pressing policy priorities they face.

The Trump Administration’s Plans To Covertly Cut Social Security Disability Benefits

An upcoming regulatory proposal would change the rules of Social Security disability programs to make it harder to qualify, particularly harming older adults.

The Truth About Disparate Impact and Equity

The Supreme Court has reaffirmed disparate impact liability numerous times, and President Trump’s April 23 executive order does not inhibit private plaintiffs’ ability to file civil claims.

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.

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.

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.

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.

For disabled Americans, Medicaid work requirements don’t work

In an op-ed published by The Contrarian, Mia Ives-Rublee and external co-author Nicole Jorwic illustrate how Medicaid work requirements proposed in Repblicans' tax and budget bill will harm disabled Americans.

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.

The Big, ‘Beautiful’ Bill Attacks Medicare Recipients and People With Disabilities by Driving Up Costs and Cutting Benefits

Join the Center for American Progress for a conversation on the consequences of congressional Republicans’ reconciliation bill on Medicare enrollees.

‘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.

House Republican Budget Bill Proposes Weakening Support for Homeless Individuals

Changes to basic assistance eligibility in the bill would make it difficult for homeless individuals to address their basic needs.

College Students With Disabilities Are Being Abandoned by the Trump Administration

In an op-ed published by Teen Vogue, Mia Ives-Rublee argues that protections under the Individuals with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act should be strengthened, not undermined.

Federal Medicaid Cuts Would Force States To Eliminate Services for Disabled Adults, Older Adults, and Children

The reconciliation bill that just passed out of committee in the House proposes cutting Medicaid and therefore gutting essential services upon which disabled and older people rely.

A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools: The Case That Could Help or Harm America’s Disabled Students

A pending U.S. Supreme Court case could make it much harder for students with disabilities to sue their schools for discrimination, potentially limiting access to schooling for millions of Americans.

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.

How the Disability and LGBTQI+ Communities Intersect

The fight for the civil rights and bodily autonomy of the U.S. disability and LGBTQI+ communities are intertwined—and it is more important than ever for them to remain united as nondiscrimination protections in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act are under attack.

How the Disability Community Can Fight Back in 2025

The disability community must utilize a three-prong strategy to actively fight back against the Trump administration and Congress.

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.

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.

‘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.

Submitting Comments in Support of DOL Rule To Eliminate Section 14(c), Ending Subminimum Wages for Disabled People

This column provides background on Section 14(c) and guidance on how to submit a comment on the Biden administration’s proposed rule to eliminate subminimum wages for disabled people.

The Top 5 Ways Project 2025 Would Hurt Disabled People

Project 2025 would directly harm disabled people by removing basic civil rights protections and making it harder for these individuals to access necessary resources and services.

How the Biden-Harris Administration Is Ensuring Voting Accessibility

Disabled voters face significant barriers to voting, which the Biden-Harris administration has taken significant action to address.

Congress must reauthorize the Older Americans Act to keep seniors safe from heat

In a new article published in STAT, Marquisha Johns and Casey Doherty discuss the threat extreme heat poses to older adults, especially those with disabilities, calling on Congress to authorize the Older Americans Act.

It’s Past Time To Address Reproductive Equity for Disabled People

Advocacy groups and policymakers have long ignored reproductive rights and equity for disabled people, which is why it is essential to bring these issues to the forefront.

Long-Term Solutions to the Overincarceration of People With Mental Health Disabilities

Policymakers must focus on long-term structural changes in order to reduce the negative interactions of people with mental health disabilities with police.

The Recent COVID-Fueled Rise in Disability Calls for Better Worker Protections

Policymakers must take steps to address the recent rise in disability, which has been fueled by long COVID.

2023 CAP IDEAS Conference

Join the Center for American Progress as we celebrate 20 years of innovative policy solutions and look boldly forward to a progressive future.

Toolkit: Submitting Comments in Support of HHS Rule To Improve Medical Equipment Accessibility

This toolkit provides guidance for reproductive rights and disability rights organizations and others who seek to submit a comment on the Biden administration’s proposed rule on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Opinion: The GOP wants to put work requirements on Medicaid recipients. That could be devastating for thousands of Americans

Mia Ives-Rublee explains how instituting Medicaid work requirements could be detrimental to thousands of Americans.

A Collaborative Agenda for the Disability and Reproductive Justice Communities in 2023

The Center for American Progress recently hosted a roundtable of more than 20 advocates from the reproductive and disability rights and justice communities—and has compiled the top five policy priorities important to focus on this year.

Revolutionizing the Workplace: Why Long COVID and the Increase of Disabled Workers Require a New Approach

Using new data from the U.S. Census Bureau to examine the impacts of long COVID on the labor market, this report recommends that employers, unions, and policymakers create better workplaces for disabled workers and all workers.

Administrative Burdens: How the Social Safety Net Is Failing Disabled People

Disabled Americans describe their, often dehumanizing, experiences trying to overcome unnecessary barriers to access vital assistance from the government.

How Dehumanizing Administrative Burdens Harm Disabled People

Unnecessary barriers make accessing basic supports extremely difficult for disabled people across the country.

Keeping Americans with disabilities from poverty must remain a priority

Mia Ives-Rublee discusses how the Supplemental Security Income program helped her overcome the structural barriers to employment and economic security that millions of disabled people experience and urges lawmakers to strengthen the program.

The ADA at 32: Understanding the Rights of Disabled Asylum-Seekers

Experts discuss the Americans with Disabilities Act while highlighting the important intersection between immigration and disability rights.

Crossing the Border: How Disability Civil Rights Protections Can Include Disabled Asylum-Seekers

Civil rights protections designed to protect disabled people from discrimination, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, are powerful tools for ensuring that disabled asylum-seekers have access to the protection and services they need in the U.S. immigration system.

Rethinking Guardianship: Emma’s Story

Emma Budway describes her experience as a nonspeaking autistic woman under guardianship and the benefits of less restrictive alternatives.

Rethinking Guardianship To Protect Disabled People’s Reproductive Rights

Restrictive guardianships deserve increased scrutiny from policymakers in order to ensure that disabled people are not denied their reproductive rights.

The 32nd Anniversary of the ADA

Improving the U.S. Asylum System for Disabled Noncitizens

Removing Obstacles for Disabled Workers Would Strengthen the U.S. Labor Market

Although disabled people saw increased employment rates in 2021, their rates continue to lag significantly behind those of their nondisabled counterparts, signaling the urgent need for policy reform across federal and state governments.

COUNTERPOINT: Masks remain an essential tool to protect against COVID

Mia Ives-Rublee argues that masks remain a critical preventive measure to avoid future COVID-19 surges and protect those at higher risk of severe illness.

As the US reaches 1 million COVID-19 deaths, Congress still has work ahead

Mia Ives-Rublee writes about the congressional action that is still needed to address COVID-19.

Reproductive Justice for Disabled Women: Ending Systemic Discrimination

As access to reproductive rights continues to shrink in the United States, disabled women struggle to gain visibility around their rights and needs.

Employers Are Ignoring Disabled Workers at Their Own Peril

Mia Ives-Rublee urges employers to adjust to the needs of the disability community in response to the devastating COVID-19 pandemic.

Living at the Intersection: Black Disabled Women and Girls

This video features two Black disabled women—Eman Rimawi-Doster and Heather Watkins—who discuss the barriers they face.

Expanding Education Access for Black Girls With Disabilities

To create more equitable education systems, policymakers must understand how racism, ableism, and sexism intersect and negatively affect Black disabled girls’ ability to attain an education.

How To Make Policies Work for Black Women With Disabilities

To create more equitable systems, policymakers must take an intersectional approach that includes Black women and girls with disabilities.

10 Policies To Improve Economic Security for Black Women With Disabilities

To advance economic security for Black disabled women and girls, policymakers must make intersectionality central to modernizing the social safety net and to dismantling the barriers that contribute to inequality.

Improving Health Outcomes for Black Women and Girls With Disabilities

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed disparities in access, care, and health outcomes that Black disabled women and girls have had to face.

Alleviating Food Insecurity in the Disabled Community

As food insecurity worsened for the disability community during the pandemic, several disability organizations developed innovative solutions that could provide a road map toward better equity around food access.

Returning To School Must Include a Reinvestment in Section 504 Plans

The United States Must Advance Economic Security for Disabled LGBTQI+ Workers

Data indicate that disabled LGBTQI+ workers experience higher rates of barriers to obtaining and maintaining employment, resulting in difficulties in obtaining economic security.

Supplemental Security Income: An Essential Program for Disabled Americans

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a vital anti-poverty program for disabled people, and Congress has the monumental opportunity to raise benefits and fix harmful archaic rules.

The ADA at 31: Expanding Disability Rights in the Time of COVID-19

On the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and in light of the devastating impacts of the ongoing pandemic, this video emphasizes the need to permanently expand disability rights.

The ADA at 31: Access to Housing and Health Care Must Meet the Rise of Disability in the U.S.

The coronavirus crisis has proven that access to basic life amenities is a public health necessity; therefore, legislation should reflect the growing need for housing and health services.

Enhancing Accessibility in U.S. Elections

Voters with disabilities must have full and equal access to the ballot box.

Recognizing and Addressing Housing Insecurity for Disabled Renters

In light of new analyses showing that people with disabilities continue to face higher rates of housing insecurity, housing policies must center this community’s needs to ensure a more equitable housing system for all.

Disability-Forward Policy Recommendations To Advance Accessible and Affordable Housing for All

The federal government should enact the following policy recommendations to increase affordable, accessible, and inclusive housing for all—especially people with disabilities.

Sexual Violence and the Disability Community

The disability rights and justice movement and the reproductive health, rights, and justice movements must come together for nuanced discussions of the silent epidemic of sexual violence against disabled people.

Sexual Violence and the Disability Community Discussion Guide

Conversations around sexual violence must use justice frameworks to center the intersection of gender and disability violence.

Understanding the Policing of Black, Disabled Bodies

Current data collection on state violence does not paint a picture that is inclusive of victims with disabilities.

10 Local Offices on the Ballot That Are Important to the Disability Community

Here are 10 elected offices on ballots across the country that affect the day-to-day lives of all Americans, including those with disabilities.

The Disability Community Needs Paid Family and Medical Leave

Paid family and medical leave is a disability rights issue and helps provide people with disabilities the economic security they need to manage their health, care for loved ones, or receive care from their family.

Why Voting Matters for the Disability Community

A lot is at stake in the 2020 elections—and voter turnout among Americans with disabilities must be supported before and after the polls close.

Repealing the ACA Would Create Chaos for the Disability Community During a Pandemic

Repealing the Affordable Care Act would lead to chaos, risk, and harm for the disability community.

How the Child Care for Working Families Act Benefits Children With Disabilities and Their Families

The Child Care for Working Families Act provides solutions to meet the care needs of all families, including those with disabled children.

Mental Health Care Was Severely Inequitable, Then Came the Coronavirus Crisis

COVID-19 has exposed the disparities in the U.S. mental health system, leaving many Americans without accessible and affordable care as policymakers fail to adequately address the crisis.

Social Security Benefits for Workers Turning 60 in 2020 Will Very Likely Drop Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic

Congress could pass legislation that would prevent this outcome.

The story of the Americans with Disabilities Act is all about bridges

Authors Vilissa Thompson and David J. Johns highlight the importance of cross-movement solidarity in the struggle for civil rights.

Investing in Home and Community-Based Care During the Coronavirus Pandemic and Future Disasters

The 21st anniversary of the Olmstead v. L.C. Supreme Court decision, which is occurring in the midst of a pandemic, is the perfect time to discuss the importance of home and community-based care.

Centering the Disability and Aging Communities in Federal Emergency Response Efforts

As Congress continues to negotiate how to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, it must consider preparing and responding to the occurrence of concurrent disaster events amid the 2020 hurricane season.

Vote by Mail Is One of Many Ways To Ensure the Disability Community Is Included in the Next Election

In-person voting must be coupled with the expansion of vote by mail to ensure that disabled voters can participate in this historic election.

The Trump Administration’s Deregulation of Nursing Homes Leaves Seniors and Disabled at Higher Risk for COVID-19

By rescinding regulations in the nursing home industry, the Trump administration has caused the coronavirus pandemic to grow in dangerous and unexpected ways.

Preparations for the Next Pandemic Must Improve Resources for Those At Greater Risk

The United States was unprepared to handle COVID-19’s outsize impact on the seniors and people with disabilities, and policymakers must implement permanent solutions to support the needs of these growing populations in future crises.

A Deadly Poverty Trap: Asset Limits in the Time of the Coronavirus

As the economic and public health crises caused by COVID-19 intensify, lawmakers must act now to eliminate or raise asset limits so that people with disabilities are not trapped in poverty.

Coronavirus Proposals Leave the Disability Community Behind

The people most vulnerable to the coronavirus struggle as Congress neglects to provide lifesaving resources and supports in stimulus packages.

The Senate Stimulus Proposal in Response to Coronavirus Fails to Meet the Moment

The Senate’s coronavirus stimulus bill doesn’t do nearly enough to help families and small businesses.

The Child Care Crisis Disproportionately Affects Children With Disabilities

A new CAP analysis shows that parents of young children with disabilities experience severe child care challenges and consequences from not finding care.

How Teacher Preparation Programs Can Help All Teachers Better Serve Students With Disabilities

General education teachers must be explicitly taught how to work with all students, including those with disabilities.

10 Disability Policy Questions Every Presidential Candidate Should Answer

The disability community is a growing political constituency, and the debates have yet to really address policy priorities affecting the 57 million people in this community.

Trump’s Labor Secretary Nominee Delights in Destroying Rights for Disabled Workers

The nomination of Eugene Scalia could roll back decades of progress for workers with disabilities.

‘Here We Are Again’: On Gun Violence, White Nationalism, and the Scapegoating of Mental Illness

In the wake of two mass shootings in a single weekend, Daniella sits down with CAP colleagues Chelsea Parsons, vice president for Gun Violence Prevention, and Rebecca Cokley, director of the Disability Justice Initiative, to try to make sense of it all.

Advancing Economic Security for People With Disabilities

In order to advance economic security for people with disabilities, policymakers must level the playing field for disabled workers while also guaranteeing access to housing, nutrition, and health care for those who are unable to work.

State Options for Making Wise Investments in the Direct Care Workforce

Policymakers must invest in strengthening the direct care workforce in order to improve the quality of care delivered to patients and to achieve better value for every dollar spent on long-term services and supports.

6 Communities That Trump’s Latest SNAP Proposal Would Hurt Most

President Trump’s end run around Congress would take nutrition assistance away from at least 755,000 people.

Reforming Elections Without Excluding Disabled Voters

The Senate’s new election reform package contains big wins for disabled voters—but it leaves some room for improvement.

The State of the U.S. Labor Market: Pre-February 2019 Jobs Day Release

Policymakers and economists must consider the challenges of disabled workers and other populations who face high labor market barriers when evaluating the health of the labor market and implementing policies that affect it.

Efforts to Address Gun Violence Should Not Include Increased Surveillance

Instead of protecting the rights of people with mental health disabilities, lawmakers are using the growing urgency around gun violence as a pretext to expand surveillance and criminalization.

Conservative Lawmakers Are Suppressing Voters—Here’s What You Can Do to Fight Back

Despite conservative lawmakers’ unwavering attempts to keep people from voting, Americans remain resilient.

The Forgotten Faces of Student Loan Default

Several overlooked groups of students—including veterans and students with disabilities—continue to struggle with loan repayment.

4 Ways to Improve Access to Mental Health Services in Asian American Communities

More than 7 million Asian Americans reported poor mental health status in 2017, but too many face systemic barriers to treatment.

Serving the Hardest Hit

As extreme weather events increase in frequency and intensity, local and federal leaders must ensure that people with disabilities are central to all emergency preparedness, response, and recovery efforts.

Protecting Basic Living Standards for LGBTQ People

New data show that nutrition and housing assistance, Medicaid, and unemployment benefits are critical to LGBTQ people’s economic security.