Disability Belongs

08/30/2026

As Americans prepare for the 2026 midterm elections, faith communities across the country continue to play an important role in civic participation by opening their doors as polling locations. If your faith community is considering serving as a polling location, accessibility should be part of the conversation with local election officials from the beginning. Learn more: https://www.disabilitybelongs.org/2026/08/faith-spaces-polling-sites/

08/28/2026

A new report from the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative found that disability representation reached a record 2.8% of speaking characters in 2025’s 100 highest-grossing films. However, this remains far below the 28.7% of U.S. adults who identify as having a disability. Additionally, nearly half of the speaking or named characters with disabilities in these films were considered inconsequential to the storyline.

Authentic representation means creating characters who matter to the story, reflecting the diversity of disability, and giving disabled people opportunities to help create the stories audiences see. Learn more about the report's findings: https://www.disabilitybelongs.org/2026/08/usc-report-disability-films-2025/

08/25/2026

When disability is not treated as a reality but as a claim that must be verified, it is not just frustrating and inconvenient – it is dehumanizing, and it changes how disabled people are valued in society.

Learn more about the challenges disabled people face today, and how a system rooted in trust, dignity, and lived experience could improve life for everyone, by reading our latest blog post: https://www.disabilitybelongs.org/2026/08/disability-credibility-problem/

08/24/2026

Would you rather have:
• Disabled people not needing to worry about losing benefits when they get married?
• Or accessibility features as a requirement for modern communications platforms?

Why not both?

Support Disability Belongs®’ policy priorities, including the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act, the Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act, and the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act (CVTA). Learn how you can advocate for this legislation at www.DisabilityBelongs.org/Act

08/22/2026

Disability Belongs™ is proud to be one of the top nonprofits named for the 2026 Moxie Award All Stars Award! We’re excited to celebrate Boldness in Business with other business and community leaders throughout the D.C. region. See the full list of All Stars finalists: https://moxieaward.com/finalists-all-stars

08/21/2026

"Most disabled people who can work are already working. We need lawmakers and policymakers to challenge stereotypes about disability, and also learn about what we call the 'Crip Tax'-the need for people with disabilities to spend money on supplies and equipment. Programs like SNAP, Medicaid, and SSI are essential income supports for those who need them."
- Ariel Simms, President and CEO, Disability Belongs™

Read more about the SNAP ripple effect in The Progressive Magazine: https://progressive.org/latest/the-snap-ripple-effect-bader-20260820/

08/20/2026

By now, you have probably seen the familiar suggestions for National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM): share a statistic, update your social media, or recognize the contributions of disabled employees. These activities can be meaningful ways to start conversations. But NDEAM can also be an opportunity to look beyond a single month and think about how your organization can continue building a workplace where disabled people can lead and thrive. Read our blog post to learn about how you can make NDEAM really count: https://www.disabilitybelongs.org/2026/08/5-ways-make-ndeam-count/

Image Description: the Disability Belongs trademarked icon with yellow and teal overlapping droplet shapes centered above a background of four photos of people working. Text says "5 Ways To Make National Disability Employment Awareness Month Count.
1) Choose one opportunity for growth
2) Center disabled voices
3) Find your next accessibility improvement
4) Give managers the tools to lead inclusively
5) Keep the momentum going"

08/18/2026

"Special education is an education and civil rights issue, not a healthcare program. Any shift of special education functions to a health-focused agency will require clear guidance to ensure families, schools, and states understand who is responsible for oversight, support, and enforcement."

Learn more about new interagency agreements recently announced by the U.S. Department of Education at the link below.

Image Description: Rows of books lined up on shelves.

Four new interagency agreements outline how federal agencies will coordinate responsibilities and share resources.

08/16/2026

Could Your Job Ad Be Turning Away Great Talent? Ask yourself these questions.

• Does the job description focus on essential functions?
• Have you removed unnecessary barriers?
• Are required and preferred qualifications clearly separated?
• Is your application process accessible?
• Have you included an accommodation statement?
• Have you considered accessible interview options?

Learn more in our blog post: https://www.disabilitybelongs.org/2026/08/accessible-job-ad-tips/

08/14/2026

Would you rather have:
• Disabled people be allowed to save more money without losing benefits?
• Or all people with disabilities be paid at least the minimum wage?

Why not both?

Support Disability Belongs™’ policy priorities, including the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act and the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (TCIEA). Learn how you can advocate for this legislation at www.DisabilityBelongs.org/Act