AAPD

The SAVE Act and related legislation would change voter registration, mail voting, and voter roll processes. For disabled people who already face barriers, these changes could make voting less accessible. Make your voice heard on these bills: ow.ly/PpiN50Yw2qi #AccessibleVoting #REVUP

Fall Internship Program alum Maddox O'Rourke recently participated in Headache on the Hill, a lobbying event by the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy. Maddox wrote a blog post for AAPD about his experience with headache disorders and the importance of community advocacy. Read his full blog: aapd.com/headache-on-th… ID: A photo of Maddox, a white man with glasses and short brown hair wearing a purple and blue patterned button down shirt and shorts, smiling and sitting on a rock in front of the Hudson River with a quote from his blog beneath the photo. "At Headache on the Hill, I saw firsthand that when disabled people come together, we are powerful. Our voices command attention and move hearts and minds. Sharing my story built my confidence as a speaker and strengthened my commitment to advocacy, which guides everything I do."

The Autism Society is joining a National Call-In Day to keep the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) at the U.S. Department of Education. 📞 Take action with our script and contact info: bit.ly/4rNi7tz

AAPD is deeply concerned about last Thursday's Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announcement addressing Medicaid and Medicare provider fraud. CMS’ decision to withhold quarterly Medicaid funding from Minnesota due to pending fraud investigations will harm disabled Minnesotans and could set a dangerous precedent.  Provider fraud can be a serious issue. But the solution cannot come at the expense of the Medicaid recipients who rely on these funds for their survival and independence. Taking away Medicaid funding will directly harm the people these programs exist to serve. We would also like to address the six-month moratorium on certifications for new providers of Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS). We’ve seen a lot of discussion about this and we want to make this very clear. People on Medicare right now will NOT lose access to the equipment they need. Existing providers and coverage will remain in place. Policies that are supposed to prevent fraud at the provider level should never harm Medicare or Medicaid recipients. AAPD will be sharing resources over the coming weeks to help the disability community understand how this change may affect them. IDs: 3 images of white text on a blue background saying the information in the post.

AAPD and @DREDF are proud to share important new independent research about recent changes in the Social Security Administration (SSA). This research confirms advocate concerns and provides recommendations for improvement. Read it here: ow.ly/f3kq50Yo90u

Lindsay Adams exists at the intersection of being a Black disabled woman, and her artwork illustrates that identity. We had the privilege of visiting her exhibit called "Ceremony" at Johns Hopkins University. Thanks for having us, Lindsay! ow.ly/gsxA50YnjkO

we asked our staff to come up with valentines and... send this to your valentine! 💌 💘 we asked our staff to come up with valentines and... send this to your valentine! 💌 💘 ID: multiple graphics with red text over a pink background with a heart on it, each with a funny disability-themed valentine on it. 1: i rly want to accommo-DATE you 2: am i having a flare up or is it just u? 3: ur my new hyperfixation 4: i’m head over wheels 4 u

Announcing the first AAPD Alumni Network Regional Gathering from April 24–26 in Washington, D.C.! Join fellow alumni to make new connections, share resources, network, and celebrate disabled joy during an engaging weekend together. Registration will be sent to alumni on February 20. If you are not receiving Alumni Network emails, contact aapdalumninetwork@aapd.com so you don’t miss the chance to join us in D.C. this spring. Want to help shape the event? Apply to be a paid Co-Organizer: ats.rippling.com/aapd-jobs/jobs… ID: Stylized graphic containing the info in the post

Our incredibly talented friend @lachimusic's book, I Identify As Blind, is out now! Come to her book signing where she'll be in conversation with AAPD Pres. and CEO Maria Town this Friday, 2/6 at 7 PM at Politics and Prose's Connecticut Ave NW locations. More info + livestream link: politics-prose.com/book/978059385…

In their new blog, NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Scholarship recipient Melina List writes about the importance of paratransit. Because Melina relies on paratransit for their transportation, they have learned the importance of interdependence and reconsidered their relationship with the concept of time. Read their blog: ow.ly/LUFp50Y8nCv ID: Headshot of a white person with long, brown, wavy hair. They are wearing a multi-colored floral shirt and have a bright orange marigold flower tucked behind their ear. Beneath that, a quote from them that says: "In my case, taking paratransit instead of driving feels like a rebellion against a culture which values people based on how much money they can make. We are constantly encouraged to be fast, agile, and productive, no matter the personal cost or limitations. So to slow down is to say my worth comes from being a human being, not from dollars."

There is still time to apply to join our 2026 Fall Internship Program! Read below to learn more. Applications close on Thursday, February 5th, at 5:00 PM ET. Apply today ow.ly/MG9250Y7QrO Are you a disabled student or recent graduate who is looking to gain professional experience, grow your leadership skills, and connect with disabled community? Then being an #AAPDintern could be a perfect opportunity for you! AAPD places interns at paid internships within nonprofit, government, and for-profit organizations. AAPD's Fall Internship Program is a fully virtual opportunity where interns work 15 hours a week at their placement sites, Monday – Thursday, and attend weekly AAPD programming on Fridays. AAPD interns are also matched with disabled mentors in their fields of interest. ID: Image of text on a light blue background containing the information in the post.

The bottom line is: the EEOC is rushing through a change that would harm people with disabilities and make it harder to enforce our civil rights in the workplace. AAPD is urging the EEOC to not make this change. We also urge the EEOC to go through the proper legal channels so the public may be heard before they decide how to proceed with this regulation -- as is our right under the law. When the Harassment Guidance came out, it provided much-needed updated guidelines for the first time in nearly 25 years. It makes clear that federal law protects all workers from harassment based on protected characteristics, including race, national origin, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), disability, and age. It also provides more than seventy examples of how the law applies to different factual scenarios, including harassment on the basis of disability, disability accommodation, disability of a person with whom the employee is associated, and genetic information. The EEOC is a critical civil rights enforcement entity for disabled people. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, over 33,000 disability-related charges were filed with the Commission, representing about 38% of all EEOC charges, and approximately 43% of lawsuits filed by the EEOC involved Americans with Disabilities Act claims. We hope the EEOC will change course and listen to the public before making this harmful change to enforcing our civil rights to work without experiencing harassment. ID: White text on a blue carousel that shares the same details as in the post

We’re thrilled to announce that the 2026 REV UP Movement Grant application is now open! These grants support projects that increase civic engagement in the disability community and improve election accessibility at the state and local levels in the United States. Projects must take place between April and December of 2026. This year, we are providing grants in amounts of up to $10,000. Apply at: forms.gle/FsdgtLSarSbW33… ID: Blue graphic promoting Movement Grants with a ballot box icon text that says "apply today" in all caps

We are thrilled to announce the recipients of AAPD's 2026 Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Awards, an award given to emerging leaders with disabilities who exemplify leadership, advocacy, and dedication to the broader cross-disability community. Please join us in congratulating Katie Drackert and Brittanie Hernandez-Wilson. Paul G. Hearne was a visionary leader who was a passionate advocate for disability employment and cultivating leaders to advance the disability rights movement. He was also an AAPD co-founder and our first Executive Director before his passing in 1998. AAPD has continued Paul's legacy through the award. Katie and Brittanie join an incredible group of more than 75 leaders who, over the past 25 years, have advanced the disability movement through their advocacy, education, skill-building, organizational infrastructure, and more. Katie Drackert (she/her), otherwise known as “KD”, is a Disabled Sapphic focused on advocacy, organizing, public speaking, and creating art in Austin, Texas. KD founded Clear the Air ATX (CTA) in 2023, an organization dedicated to providing access to free high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifiers and community education to reduce the spread of airborne pathogens and impacts of post-viral illnesses. Katie will use the Hearne Award to support and sustain CTA's work, partnerships, and disabled Texans' access to joyful and educational events around clean air. Brittanie Hernandez-Wilson (she/her) is a multiracial, disabled organizer whose work lives at the intersection of disability justice, care, and collective liberation. She will use the Hearne Award to build a new program called “Our Stories, Our Care”, a disability justice storytelling and care-rooted advocacy project to defend Medicaid and home care in California. ID: Carousel post announcing the winners of the Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Award, with photos of the winners

Verizon is currently down nationwide, which is impacting some user’s ability to call 911. In an emergency, call 911 from another device if you are able. This is an ongoing situation. Check this website for updates: techradar.com/news/live/veri…

Representation is vital to #inclusion. That’s why we’re thrilled to see a Barbie #AACUser! Barbie and our colleagues at the Autistic Self Advocacy Network teamed up to create this #autistic Barbie who uses a pink AAC device, noise-canceling headphones, and a fidget. [Image: A Barbie in a purple and white striped dress wears pink headphones and holds a pink AAC device. She holds a pink fidget in the other hand.]

Our first REV UP National Call of 2026 is tomorrow! We're kicking off the year talking about trends, threats, and opportunities for voting rights. Join us tomorrow, January 14 from 1-3 PM ET. ASL and CART are provided. Register here: mobilize.us/rev-up-aapd/ev… Our guest speakers include Evan Preston from Voting Rights Lab and Secure Democracy USA, along with grassroots perspectives from Barbara Manuel from National Federation of the Blind Alabama and Kathy Jones from League of Women Voters Alabama Education Fund. ID: Calendar-like graphic highlighting the REV UP national call on the 14th with a megaphone illustration and 'Coming soon' typed in a red, handwritten style font.

Recent immigration actions harm disabled immigrants and people with disabilities. How? Summer Internship Program alum Rachel Litchman writes about how people like her rely on home- and community-based services (HCBS) and how immigration policy affects these services. According to Rachel and many experts, attacks on immigrants and the recent Medicaid cuts mean that HCBS faces a dire threat. ow.ly/U78Y50XW9xW ID: Photo of Rachel smiling at the camera against a brick wall. There's text underneath that says: "For people like me who rely on caregivers to remain in the community, assaults on immigrants mean I move closer and closer to institutionalization each day. I am not naïve to the abuses that occur in institutional facilities. I fear what will happen to myself and other disabled people, citizens and immigrants alike, when we are forced out of sight, out of mind."

HHS has officially reduced its recommended number of vaccines for children from 17 vaccines to 11. HHS’ decision puts children in danger, especially children with disabilities or immunocompromising conditions. Vaccines save lives. It's that simple!

2025 was a difficult year for the disability community. But our community has proven our power in our collective advocacy, and this strength will carry us into the new year. We hope that 2026 brings you joy and delight. Have a happy new year! ID: 2026 in large balloon-like golden letters. Underneath, text that says "happy new year from AAPD"