HOW THE ARC OF THE UNITED STATES INVITES YOU TO DISABILITY POLICY SEMINAR APRIL 7-9, THE ARC OF MARYLAND 2025 (1169 hits)
For Immediate Release From The Arc of United States!
(A 15-Minute/Leisure Read)
Help press for progress on critical disability rights issues!
Ever wondered how to turn your passion for disability rights into real change? The Disability Policy Seminar is where it happens. Watch this video to hear three self-advocates talk about why they attend—then make plans to join us in Washington, DC, this April!
At the Disability Policy Seminar, you’ll have the chance to connect with advocates, policy experts, and others who are passionate about protecting and expanding disability rights.
Here are a few sessions you won’t want to miss:
The Current State of Medicaid and What Policy Makers Need to Know From Disability Advocates: Learn more about the crucial role Medicaid plays in the lives of people with disabilities and learn what might be at stake this year.
Budget Reconciliation, Congressional Committees, and What You Need to Know on the Congressional Process: Keep hearing the word “reconciliation” on the news? Learn the ins and outs of this complex process.
Trends in IDEA Programs and Implementation: Hear from experts about what may happen with the U.S. Department of Education with a new Congress and Administration.
After two days of learning, you’ll head to Capitol Hill to meet with your members of Congress and their staff about the high-priority issues that affect people with disabilities and their families.
For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.
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Take Action Now: Stop Devastating Medicaid Cuts
It’s the first 100 days of the new administration and Congress—and Medicaid is on the chopping block. Right now, Congress is debating huge budget cuts. On the table are proposals that take away health care and services for those who need it the most. Join the thousands of people who are mobilizing to defend Medicaid. In less than a minute, you can send a message to Congress demanding they protect Medicaid and stand up for people with disabilities. The future of care depends on all of us—let’s fight for it together.
The Fight to Protect Education for Students With Disabilities
Some politicians are trying to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. If they succeed, students with disabilities could lose access to protections and resources that make their education possible. It would mean fewer trained teachers, weaker enforcement of disability rights, and more children slipping through the cracks. Our CEO, Katy Neas, breaks down what’s at stake in her new op-ed in Newsweek: https://www.newsweek.com/department-educat...
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March Is for Inclusion: Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
March is almost here, and we’re gearing up for Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month! https://thearc.org/blog/developmental-disa... We’ll be spotlighting incredible stories of people with developmental disabilities, while raising awareness of the barriers they still face in community life, education, and more.
You can help make a splash this March:
Follow us on social (@TheArcUS) for powerful stories all month long. Share your own story using #DDawareness2025. Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thearc_us/
The Arc in the News
The Arc continues to make a real impact in the media—and households across the country— highlighting critical issues of disability rights, inclusion, and accessibility. Here’s a roundup of recent features you won’t want to miss:
NPR interviewed our CEO, Katy Neas, about the misleading claims suggesting that the Federal Aviation Administration's hiring people with disabilities played a role in the DC plane crash.
TIME Magazine also featured Katy in an impactful article offering advice on how to respond when someone insults a loved one’s disability—sparking strong conversations within the disability community.
Travel Weekly ran a major feature on The Arc’s Wings for All/Autism program, highlighting how we help people with disabilities prepare for air travel with real-life practice runs.
Fighting Food Insecurity: The Arc’s Nationwide Volunteer Efforts
On January 20, chapters of The Arc, [supported] from AmeriCorps, honored Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy by tackling food insecurity and fostering inclusion.
Food insecurity disproportionately affects people with disabilities, who are far more likely to face hunger. Over the past decade, this initiative has reached 54,000 people and engaged 2,500 volunteers. This year, 14 events across 10 states united volunteers with and without disabilities to pack meals, assemble care kits, and organize food drives. As Callie Hall of The Arc Oklahoma said, “[These events] change the narrative that people with disabilities aren't just recipients of aid, but they are vital and valuable contributors to the community.”
Stay Ahead of COVID-19 This Winter
With the winter chill setting in, respiratory illnesses are at their peak. Protect yourself and your loved ones this season from the leading cause of respiratory illness-related hospitalization: COVID-19, which surpasses the flu. Vaccine or immunity protection for COVID-19 wanes over time, so getting a seasonal vaccination is important, even if you have already been vaccinated. Find an appointment near you at vaccines.gov.
News You Don’t Want to Miss
Comcast Newsmakers: Fifty Years Later: The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act McKnight’s: Advocates for People With Disabilities Moving to Protect Medicaid HCBS Newsweek: How the Education Department Could Change Under Donald Trump K-12 Dive: Congress Extends Autism CARES Act for 5 More Years CNN: DOT Announces New Protections for Air Travelers With Disabilities
On Thursday, February 13th, advocates joined together in Annapolis, with several hundred in person and more than a thousand more tuning in online, to hear about legislative issues affecting the lives of Marylanders with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Thank you to everyone who participated, including several legislative champions, people with disabilities, families, providers and allies, and to our Maryland Developmental Disabilities Coalition colleagues with whom The Arc Maryland partnered to make this event possible.
SB0929 In Senate EEE Hearing 2/26 at 1 p.m.; Testimony due 2/24 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on the MGA Website
This bill would establish a Workgroup on Mail-In Ballot Accessibility to examine current processes in the State relating to mail-in ballot return, assessing the impact on voters with disabilities, collect information about current practices for accessible alternatives to paper mail-in ballot return, and evaluate the alternatives for individuals with disabilities. The Arc Maryland would be one of several workgroup members named in the bill who would examine the accessibility of the return system.
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HB0694 - Public Schools - Individuals With Disabilities - Main Entrance Accessibility and Emergency Planning
Position: Support
Current Status: In House W&M Hearing 2/25 at 1 p.m.; Testimony due 2/21, between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on the MGA Website
This bill would require each county board of Ed, by September 1, 2025, and each September 1 thereafter, to publish on its website and report to the General Assembly on the number of main entrances to public school buildings in the county that are not accessible for individuals with disabilities and not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Each local school system must also share a copy of their emergency plan to the State Department of Education, plus other reports to the General Assembly.
HB0450 - Maryland Transit Administration - Disability Reduced Fare Program - Renewal for Permanently Disabled Individuals
Position: Support
Current Status: In House APP Hearing 2/25 at 1 p.m.; Testimony due 2/21 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on the MGA Website
This bill would require the Maryland Transit Administration to automatically renew the Disability Reduced Fare Program certification of an enrollee who is permanently disabled.
Currently, people with IDD (considered a permanent disability) have to renew their Disability Reduced Fair Program authorizations frequently, requiring new medical evaluations, etc. for a condition that is unlikely to change to the point where they would be disenrolled. This bill makes it so that people do not have to go through a reauthorization process for a condition that is considered, by medical professionals, to be permanent.
HEARINGS:
Tuesday, February 25th at 1 p.m. in House APP
HB0450 - Maryland Transit Administration - Disability Reduced Fare Program - Renewal for Permanently Disabled Individuals Tuesday, February 25th at 1 p.m. in House HGO
HB0696 - State Boards, Committees, Commissions, Task Forces, and Workgroups - Elimination of Citizenship Requirements and Establishment of Diversity Requirements
Tuesday, February 25th at 1 p.m. in House W&M
HB0526 - Primary and Secondary Education - Definition and Notification of Reportable Offense - Alterations
