Disability Belongs

10/10/2026

People with disabilities can face barriers to basic health care when medical equipment is difficult or impossible to use. New federal requirements are now taking effect to help change that. Read our blog post to learn more: https://www.disabilitybelongs.org/2026/10/accessible-medical-equipment-rules/

10/09/2026

Our Chief Operating Officer Matthew S. is representing Disability Belongs® today at the 2026 National Indian Education Association Convention and Trade Show. Matthew will be presenting about advancing disability inclusion across native education systems. Learn more: https://www.niea.org/2026-convention-and-trade-show

10/07/2026

Watch this new interview with our President and Chief Executive Officer Ariel Simms from the Center for Independent Living - Berkeley!

Thumbnail Description: A graphic with the logo for The Independent podcast with the tagline "Meeting the movement for disability justice," a headshot of Ariel Simms smiling wearing glasses and a grey blazer, and text that says "Episode #11 Featuring Ariel Simms President & CEO Disability Belongs"

In this episode of The Independent, host Dr. Victor Pineda sits dow...

10/06/2026

The choices we make today about AI will echo for decades. Will these systems forever reflect who we are with our stereotypes, omissions, and biases readily built-in? Or will they help to shape the society we strive for: equitable, creative, inclusive, and just? Read our latest blog post and learn more about why we need to change how AI considers disability: https://www.disabilitybelongs.org/2026/10/how-ai-considers-disability/

10/04/2026

Each election is an opportunity to make your voice heard and participate in decisions that affect your community and your life. Our resource hub at www.DisabilityBelongs.org/Vote brings together practical information to help you understand your options, access your rights, and find support when you need it.

10/03/2026

Dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, and dysgraphia are brain-based disabilities and forms of neurodiversity that can shape how people read, write, work with numbers, organize information, coordinate movement, or complete certain tasks. Our new resource, created in collaboration with the NCLD (National Center for Learning Disabilities), is all about how employers, managers, and colleagues can support employees with these disabilities in the workplace. Check it out: https://www.disabilitybelongs.org/resources/employees-dyslexia-dyscalculia-dyspraxia-dysgraphia/

10/02/2026

It's October, which means that National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is here! Celebrated annually since 1988, NDEAM highlights the importance of disability inclusion in the workplace. At Disability Belongs®, we are hosting three, free webinars this month covering different aspects of disability employment:

1) Navigating the Workplace with a New Disability or Diagnosis on Tuesday, October 13th at 2 p.m. ET
2) How Disability Representation Creates Opportunities and Fuels Innovation on Wednesday, October 21st at 2 p.m. ET
3) Leading the Way: Empowering the Next Generation of Disabled Leaders on Wednesday, October 28th at 2 p.m. ET

Sign up for these webinars at www.DisabilityBelongs.org/NDEAM26. If you can't make it live, don't worry – all registrants will receive a link to watch the recordings.

10/01/2026

This summer, our former Fellow Sena Pottackal was selected to receive the 2026 Wilma Mankiller Resolute Character Award as part of the PRMuseum NextGen Awards. The awards recognize five emerging communications professionals whose character, leadership, creativity, resilience, and commitment to others exemplify the values of the public relations profession. Sena’s Disability Belongs® team nominated her for the award during her final week as a Fellow. The Wilma Mankiller Resolute Character Award recognizes her work to remove barriers and advance accessibility in communications.

“I am incredibly grateful to Rebecca and Kevin for the nomination, to the PRMuseum and its judges for this recognition, and to everyone who has supported me along the way,” said Sena. “Ultimately, I hope to help organizations create experiences where people of all abilities feel truly included and empowered.”

Read more of Sena’s story of building a strategic communications career through accessibility expertise: https://www.disabilitybelongs.org/2026/09/sena-pottackal-success-story/

09/30/2026

A new bipartisan House resolution, H. Res. 1586, reaffirms the importance of Olmstead v. L.C. and the right of disabled people to live and receive services in integrated community settings.

The resolution comes as federal policy changes have raised new questions about how community integration protections will be enforced.

Disabled people belong in the community.

Read the resolution:https://www.congress.gov/119/bills/hres1586/BILLS-119hres1586ih.pdf

09/28/2026

Action Alert Update: On September 23, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas entered final judgment in Texas v. Kennedy, vacating key community integration provisions in the Department of Health and Human Services’ 2024 regulations implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

The court’s order does not repeal Section 504, overturn the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), or overturn the Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision. These protections remain in place. The judgment does, however, remove regulatory provisions that require covered programs to provide services in the most integrated setting appropriate, placing disabled people at serious risk of institutionalization.

Disabled people should not be forced into institutions simply because the services and supports necessary to live in our homes and communities are unavailable, inaccessible, or administered in ways that unnecessarily segregate us.

Following the closure of Texas v. Kennedy, Congress can now consider whether additional statutory language is needed to make clear what community living protections Section 504 is intended to provide.

Contact your U.S. Senators and Representative and ask them to support congressional action protecting the right of disabled people to live and receive services in the most integrated setting appropriate. Find templates and contact information: https://www.disabilitybelongs.org/2026/09/protect-community-living/