The Harkin Institute

06/22/2026

On this day in 1999, the Supreme Court decided the landmark civil rights case Olmstead v. LC. that prohibited the unjustified segregation of people with disabilities. The law requires local and state governments to provide integrated, community based-services for disabled individuals.

While we have made great strides in the 27 years since Olmstead, the work to make our world more inclusive for all continues. Last week, the Dept. of Justice issued an opinion that calls for a narrower interpretation of the law, which could undermine the rights of millions of people with disabilities.

We continue to carry on the spirit of the Olmstead case by advocating for disability policies that build better communities for all.

This blog post reflects on the impetus behind the Olmstead decision, the decision’s widespread impact, and opportunities for state policymakers to further improve community-based services and living opportunities for people with disabilities.

06/18/2026

Students with disabilities deserve the same access to learning and civil rights protections as every other student.

Transferring their rights from the Department of Education to the Department of Health and Human Services, puts more stress on overly stretched departments, further erodes the systems that serve students with disabilities in the classroom, and pushes a harmful “medical model” of disability.

Special education oversight is changing hands, from the Department of Education to Health and Human Services. The department says it will streamline the system. Advocates warn it could separate disabled students from their peers.

06/10/2026

06/08/2026

The upcoming "From Commitments to Implementation Webinar" marks the 20th Anniversary of the CRPD and explores how to align G20 priorities with the CRPD and the SDGs through Global Disability 20 (D-20) engagement.

The event will be held on June 11, 2026 from 4:45–6:00 PM EDT (UTC-4) on Zoom.

ASL, International Sign, and English captioning will be provided. The event is in English only. A replay will be posted on the D-20 landing page.

The event is free, but be sure to register via this link! - https://bit.ly/49KENUx

05/27/2026

After 3.5 years of community-driven research, learning, and collaboration, UpLift is thrilled to share that our final study findings are here! 🎉

Join us at the Final Findings event to hear directly from the research team, celebrate the connections and impact this journey has inspired, and be part of this exciting milestone with the UpLift community.

Register today at UpLiftIowa.org — we can’t wait to celebrate with you!

05/19/2026

Today, The Harkin Institute was named to the list as a global leader in disability inclusion and accessibility.

Building on Senator Harkin’s public-service legacy and his commitment to advancing the rights of people with disabilities, The Harkin Institute gathers and shares best practices for inclusive hiring, workforce retention, universal design, workplace accommodations, and other disability employment issues.

Working at the intersection of self-advocacy and the public and private sectors, we provide trainings, conducts research, and consults for companies, nonprofits, disabled persons organizations, universities, and government entities in Iowa, around the United States, and globally.

“It is a profound honor to have our work recognized on a global scale, reinforcing the need to make our world more accessible for hundreds of millions of disabled people who face barriers every day,” said Daniel Van Sant, director of disability policy at The Harkin Institute. “For an entity with the audience and influence of Forbes to recognize the importance of accessibility is a cultural achievement. Let’s celebrate how far the disability rights movement has come and use this to propel the work forward.”

Read more about The Harkin Institute's work to make our world more accessible for all:

The Harkin Institute named a global leader in disability inclusion and accessibility New Institute News, People with Disabilities, Tom and Ruth Harkin Center The Forbes 2026 Accessibility 200 list recognizes innovators and impact-makers in accessibility around the globe DES MOINES — Creating a wor...

05/19/2026

Bridging the gap between people with disabilities and competitive, integrated employment opportunities strengthens our workforce and empowers our communities. We are proud to be recognized on the Forbes list that honors The Harkin Institute as one of the biggest innovators in Accessibility.

05/07/2026

Learn more about ABLE accounts at an ABLE today educational webinar on May 14 to learn from experts about ABLE accounts, Social Security benefits, how they interact, and how ABLE accounts can help you save and keep your benefits. Register here: https://www.abletoday.org/nosscr

Saving can be overwhelming enough as is. But for people with disabilities, with high medical and care costs, it can be incredibly difficult to save money. ABLE accounts are tax-free savings accounts that help lessen that financial burden for people with disabilities by helping them save for their long-term care needs and keep their current financial benefits.

This year, 8 million more people have access to these accounts because of an increase in the eligibility age for onset of the disability from 26 years to 46 years.

While this expanded access is crucial for supporting individuals with disabilities, financial barriers and enrollment processes can pose issues to access. Read our report to learn more about the challenges with ABLE accounts and how access to the accounts can be increased: https://bit.ly/4tIi4jE

05/07/2026

Saving can be overwhelming enough as is. But for people with disabilities, with high medical and care costs, it can be incredibly difficult to save money. ABLE accounts are tax-free savings accounts that help lessen that financial burden for people with disabilities by helping them save for their long-term care needs and keep their current financial benefits.

This year, 8 million more people have access to these accounts because of an increase in the eligibility age for onset of the disability from 26 years to 46 years.

While this expanded access is crucial for supporting individuals with disabilities, financial barriers and enrollment processes can pose issues to access. Read our report to learn more about the challenges with ABLE accounts and how access to the accounts can be increased: https://bit.ly/4tIi4jE

04/30/2026

"Lung, stomach and skin cancers have all been connected with radon exposure, according to the cancer report, and the gas is in second place for the leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. behind smoking. In Iowa, lung cancer is the third-most common cancer and causes a majority of cancer deaths in the state."

Legislation requiring radon mitigation systems be placed in new single- or two-family residences received Senate amendment and approval.