American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) #EconomicPower & #PoliticalPower of #PWDs. Retweets do not equal endorsements. Instagram: aapdofficial

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Just a reminder: No one is dispensable. No human being is disposable. The disabled and immunocompromised are not expendable.
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From the Pledge of Allegiance being signed & spoken simultaneously to the presence of the powerful Amanda Gorman to the President himself, both people with speech disabilities, disability was represented as a part of American culture & politics during #InaugurationDay Thread 1/7
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FAA employees with disabilities did not cause last night's tragic plane crash. The investigation into the crash is still ongoing. It is extremely inappropriate for the President to use this tragedy to push an anti-diversity hiring agenda. Doing so makes all Americans less safe.
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We're hearing some folks may have questions about visual descriptions. Here's how and why to give one: Visual descriptions are an accessibility practice for blind and low-vision people. We do them to ensure that everyone can have context that sighted people may take in visually.
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That feeling when you see a film cast a non-disabled person to play a disabled character... We get angry. Then, we get glad to have the @HonTonyCoelho @NBCUniversal Media Scholarship to support actual disabled people who want to work in media & comms. aapd.com/nbcuniversal-tony-c…
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The USPS is a lifeline for many disabled people. From the delivery of necessary medications to the delivery of critical benefits checks reductions in USPS’ capacity could mean homelessness, food insecurity, utility cut offs, sickness, & potentially death for disabled people.
NEW: @jacobbogage got USPS data showing at least 671 USPS mail sorting machines have been removed across the country since June. Represents a reduction in national mail sorting capacity of 21.4 million pieces of mail per hour. washingtonpost.com/local/md-…
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We are deeply saddened by the passing of Judy Heumann, known by many as a mentor, friend, and “the mother” of the disability rights movement. Judy was 75 years old. aapd.com/press-releases/the-…
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The pandemic is not over. The pandemic is not over. The pandemic is not over.
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Time for your regular reminder that: - Hate is not a psychiatric disability. - Psychiatric disabilities do not cause gun violence. - People with psychiatric disabilities are more likely to be victims rather than perpetrators of violence. Pass it on.
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In the past 5 yrs, over 700 ppl w/disabilities were murdered by their parents/relatives/caregivers. Today the disability community is paying homage to those victims through Day of Mourning vigils. Alongside honoring the victims, we intend to bring attention to this serious issue.
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BREAKING: @VP Harris will host a roundtable tomorrow with disabled people from across the country working to remove barriers to enfranchisement and build the power of the disability vote. #CripTheVote #RevUp
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A good example of a visual self-description is: "I am a woman sitting at a table wearing a blue suit." 😉 We are glad to see this accessibility practice expanded in government, and hope to see more government leaders give visual self-descriptions in the future!
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BREAKING NEWS: The Supreme Court has ruled unanimously in favor of Miguel Perez, the deaf student who was denied accommodations and language access in school. This is a landmark decision for students with disabilities & their families. #Disability #SCOTUS pbs.org/newshour/politics/su…
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Visual self-description should briefly give others a sense of what you look like. At AAPD, when we do visual self-descriptions, we usually include our gender and race, hair, the color of one's clothing, and any distinguishing features (glasses, signature earrings, etc).
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All disabled people deserve the autonomy and freedom to make the decisions best for ourselves and our lives: about our health care, our families, and how we want to live. Today's Supreme Court decision will rob so many of self-determination. That is devastating.
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BREAKING: Following CDC Director Walensky's recent comments and the power of #MyDisabledLifeIsWorthy, tomorrow AAPD and colleagues will meet with Director Walensky. Nearly 150 groups have signed on to a letter with demands we'll make in the meeting: aapd.com/press-releases/cdc-…
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Forced institutionalization is not “compassionate care,” as Mayor Adams suggests. This strategy of involuntarily hospitalizing unhoused people with psychiatric disabilities is a major violation of long established civil and disability rights. #Disability nytimes.com/2022/11/29/nyreg…
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March 12 marks the anniversary of the Capitol Crawl, a direct action by disability advocates to push for the Americans with Disabilities Act. COVID has caused a lot of recent disability advocacy to look different, but our cause is no less urgent than it was in 1990. Lead on!
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It is with deep sorrow that we extend our condolences to the family & loved ones of @mama_cax. Mama Cax was a model, influencer, cancer survivor, amputee, & a dedicated advocate for disability rights. We cannot thank you enough for sharing your life and passion with us! RIP 💔❤️
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This is a stunning report. 1.2 million more people have joined the disability community in the last year due to #COVID19. COVID is a mass-disabling event, but national policies don't reflect this reality. Our government MUST do more to support those affected.
NEW with @CAPPoverty: 1.2 million more people were identified as having a disability in 2021 than 2020. COVID is most likely to blame. The pandemic permanently impacted our lives and economy. Workplaces and labor policy changes must adjust accordingly. americanprogress.org/article…
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Today @CVSHealth, @AAPD, @BazelonCenter, @DREDF, & @NCILAdvocacy announced that they're working together to protect equitable access to health care & the rights of #PWDs. So, CVS will withdraw its case before the Supreme Court. Read the full statement here aapd.com/press-releases/cvs-…
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Yes, yes, and yes! #FreedomToVote
Black voters matter. Access to the ballot for the disabled. For the currently & formerly incarcerated. For indigenous communities. For 2nd and 3rd shift workers. For the AAPI & Latinx communities. For the elderly. For our young people. They matter. #FreedomToVote
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In a galaxy far far away, disabled people and aliens exist. Darth Vader uses a respiratory assistive device. Luke is an amputee and uses a prosthetic. Grogu is an ambulatory mobility aid user who also uses #AAC. May the 4th Be With You. #May4thBeWithYou #StarWarsDay
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Bodily autonomy is a core principle of the disability rights movement. AAPD opposes efforts to overturn Roe v. Wade, and any other legislative and judicial restrictions on abortion rights. #DisabledAndProChoice Read our full statement: aapd.com/press-releases/aapd…
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This week, we remember the landmark 504 sit-ins. 46 years ago, disabled activists demanded regulatory action by occupying US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare offices across the county.
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The ADA did not just naturally occur! It is the result of decades of advocacy by disabled people. And 33 years after its passage, the ADA becoming law, its continued existence, implementation and advancement, is the result of decades of advocacy and vigilance by our community
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Yes @AyannaPressley! Who are your Black Deaf heroes? Some of ours are @thestormysmith @ClaudiaLGordon @CJ_the_Actor and @realcaunsia. We always appreciate the work of @NBDAdvocates. #BHM
Although my stepdad, Warren has been deaf since the age of 6yo, our Cora came to love #ASL, #deaf culture & community on her own. Now, at hm we are intentionally studying the civil rights struggles & rich history of the Black Deaf community. #BHM Who are some of your deaf heroes?
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34 yrs ago, disability rights activists did the Capitol Crawl, making history as they crawled up the Capitol steps to demonstrate the need for the #ADA. #DisabilityHistory bit.ly/3Tyki5K
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Assisted suicide is eugenics, and should never be praised or considered a viable alternative to providing disabled people with comprehensive, high-quality affordable medical care. #CripTheVote #CripTheDebate
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Tuesday night was a big night for Hollywood, but also for #DisabledBlackHistory! Tyler James Williams is only the 5th Black man to win Best Supporting Actor in a TV Series and was also diagnosed with Crohn's disease just 5 years ago.
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“At a young age, Adam was categorized as a special education student & separated from everyone else...Adam didn’t have the chance to develop strong friendships with any of his classmates.” #AdamToledo’s story is too common for disabled people of color. RIP chicagotribune.com/opinion/c…
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We are very excited to see @fairfightaction launch their Disability Council, led by Dom Kelly, with so many amazing disability advocates including @HonTonyCoelho, @Sblahov, @ClaudiaLGordon, @emily_ladau, @VilissaThompson, @GaylonTootle and so many more! fairfight.com/fair-fight-act…
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One of the many places that disability rights and reproductive rights intersect. To name a few more: - Forced sterilization - Lack of access to sex education - Frequent barriers to reproductive healthcare - Loss of parental rights - And many more #FreeBritney
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Andrea Hall was the 1st Black woman hired and assigned to a station at the City of Albany Fire Department, & then the 1st Black woman to serve as fire captain at Fulton County Fire Rescue. She presented the Pledge of Allegiance in ASL & spoken English npr.org/sections/inauguratio… 2/7
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We #MakeAbleistsUncomfortable when we say that disabled people, and not service providers or family members need to be at the table, communicate for ourselves, and have opportunities to lead.
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Today @USCensusBureau listened to the disability community! After 12,000 advocates wrote in, the Census Bureau announced it will halt proposed changes to the disability section of the American Community Survey that would've undercounted disabled people. Our advocacy is powerful.
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Disabled people belong in all spaces where decisions are made, which is why AAPD requested passes to the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. Please read our full statement for more information. The full statement is also in the thread below (instead of alt text):
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Need some good news? Colorado just eliminated sub-minimum wage for disabled people. And, we’re just waiting on the Governor to sign the bill in Delaware. #RaiseTheWage #Employment #CripTheVote
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Now we welcome groundbreaking performer @ALISTROKER to the stage! Ali made history by becoming the first actress in a wheelchair to appear on a Broadway stage. #AAPDGala
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1 in 5 workers with disabilities have lost their jobs during the #COVID19 pandemic. As Rep @AyannaPressley notes, we were already experiencing an unemployment crisis in marginalized communities, esp the disability community. Yet another reason we need COVID relief.
Unemployment is unprecedented. In truth, pre covid there was already an unemployment crisis in marginalized communities, including & especially for persons with disabilities. Cc @workinc @nickcollinsma #CripTheVote #mapoli
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Our country is stronger when we draw on the talents and capacity of every American. As president, I will work with advocates to create a new era of inclusion and belonging for people with disabilities. peteforamerica.com/access
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32 years ago today, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law. Today is a day to celebrate the progress made in the last 32 years, and redouble our commitment to fulfilling the ADA's promise of an equitable and accessible world. What does #ADA32 mean to you?
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Thank you @KamalaHarris for recognizing the disability community and for your Americans with Disabilities For The People initiative. As the largest minority, our concerns should certainly be addressed in the upcoming election. We invite all the others candidates to do the same.
Twenty-nine years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law. We still have a lot of work to do to ensure that every American lives in a fully inclusive and accessible society. medium.com/@KamalaHarris/ann…
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“We can’t go back to the old days of exclusion and discrimination. CVS should drop this argument, and remove this case from the Supreme Court docket. The disability community – and the ACLU – will fight this outrageous attack on our rights and our history.” #BackDownCVS
A company that makes huge profits from providing medications — many of which are for people with disabilities — now has the audacity to attack our ability to be included in the fabric of society. aclu.org/news/disability-rig…
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Last week, we released a statement opposing reported proposed changes to CDC COVID isolation guidance that would reduce isolation times to as little as one day. Read our statement urging the Biden admin and CDC not to move forward with this deadly policy: aapd.com/statement-against-c…
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Judy Heumann’s leadership advanced the rights and inherent dignity of people with disabilities. “Some people say that what I did changed the world… but really, I simply refused to accept what I was told about who I could be. And I was willing to make a fuss about it.”
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At AAPD, this difficult week continues as we mourn the loss of Kristin Kumagawa. @Kristin_K was a 2020 NBCUniversal @HonTonyCoelho Media Scholar and a 2021 AAPD intern. Kristin was also an integral team member to launching @aadinitiative. 1/3
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Today is the first day of #DVRW - Disability Voting Rights Week 2022! All week long, AAPD's @RevUpCampaign and our partners will be sharing daily actions, tools, and tips to turn out the disability vote in the upcoming midterm elections. Follow along and join us to #CripTheVote!
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"The truth is...dialogue between the disability community and the CDC regarding Covid safety should’ve happened long ago—with the CDC Director herself—before the omicron variant reached the states." @maria_m_town spoke to @RollingStone about the CDC: rollingstone.com/politics/po…
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Today marks 24 years since the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in the case #Olmstead v. L.C. – establishing disabled people’s legal right to live in their community rather than segregated in nursing homes, and to receive supports and services at home.
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Lady Gaga, who sang a passionate rendition of the national anthem, has multiple disabilities. She manages chronic pain, anxiety, depression and fibromyalgia. harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/… 4/7
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The @NIH is designating people with disabilities as a health disparity population! This designation will open up funding resources to address health disparities disabled people face. nih.gov/news-events/news-rel…
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In the 1970s, Judy attended Camp Jened, a summer camp for people with disabilities attended by several leaders of the disability rights movement. This defining experience was the focus of the Oscar-nominated documentary @CripCampFilm. hollywoodreporter.com/movies…
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Coffee is bitter, Candy is sweet, We'd appreciate it if you would Add alt-text to the graphic accompanying your Tweet 🙃 #DisabilityValentines #HealthPolicyValentines
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On this day and every day, it is important to remember that there is nothing bad or wrong about being disabled. What IS bad and wrong is ableism. We celebrate the beauty, joy, resilience and creativity of disabled people. Happy International Day of Persons with Disabilities!
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All disabled people deserve self-determination. We celebrate recent successes to #FreeBritney and end Amanda Bynes' conservatorship. Now, let's keep the same energy for Black actress Nichelle Nichols and thousands of people without celebrity: latimes.com/entertainment-ar…
A judge terminated the conservatorship of Amanda Bynes after 9 years, with her parents' support. California is considering a bill to make it easier to end conservatorships, which disability rights advocates say are overly broad, often exploitative and lack federal oversight.
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Judy, who contracted polio at 2, was labeled a "fire hazard" by the kindergarten principal due to her wheelchair. She was denied entry, but her parents fought back to get her access to a classroom. She went on to earn a B.A. from @longislandu and an M.P.H. from @UCBerkeley.
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AAPD is proud to recognize that our 2021 Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Awardees are Elijah Armstrong and Noor Pervez! Read our press release and please join us in congratulating Elijah and Noor on their leadership and accomplishments. aapd.com/press-releases/hear… @SnoringDoggo
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The New York Board of Education refused to give Judy a teaching license because they feared she could not help evacuate students or herself in case of fire. She sued and went on to become the 1st teacher in the state to use a wheelchair. nytimes.com/1970/06/20/archi…
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Congratulations to #CODA #CODAFilm on winning Best Picture at the Oscars!! Shout out to the indomitable @MarleeMatlin for demanding that Deaf actors be cast in this film. #AcademyAward #Oscar
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Thank you to our REV UP partner, Detroit Disability Power, for their amazing work at the polling centers on behalf of voting rights & the disability community. Learn more about them at detroitdisabilitypower.org/ As we continue to wait for election results, remember #EveryVoteCounts
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Kevin Matthews, 36, was known for always having a smile on his face. He lived in Dearborn, Michigan, and had schizophrenia. Kevin was killed after being confronted by police while he was on his way to visit his mother. #BlackDisabledLivesMatter #BlackLivesMatter
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Advocates - we did it. - $13 Billion for home and community based services -$3 Billion for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act programs - Adult dependents finally included as recipients of relief checks and - So much more. The American Rescue Plan is now law.
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We are watching and listening to the conversation happening in our community tonight. Our lives and our stories matter. #MyDisabledLifeIsWorthy and so is yours. #NoBodyIsDisposable. Take care of yourselves tonight, #DisCo. ❤️ You are loved. You are appreciated.
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Judy was at the forefront of major disability rights demonstrations, helped spearhead the passage of disability rights legislation, founded national and international disability advocacy organizations, and held senior federal government positions.
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After President Nixon vetoed the 1972 Rehabilitation Act, Judy helped lead a protest that shut down traffic in Manhattan and launched a 26-day sit-in at a federal building in San Francisco to get Section 504 of the revived Rehabilitation Act enforced. zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/…
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We mourn lives lost to violence in Maine. Blaming psychiatric disabilities for gun violence perpetuates harmful stereotypes that lead to unjust policies, and does not help affected communities and families. #EndGunViolence #EndStigma
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Watch the inauguration with American Sign Language (ASL), - Live closed captioning -streamtext captions available - Using Certified Deaf Interpreters -Audio description Find the links to accessible inauguration programming below. #InaugurationDay bideninaugural.org/accessibi…
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We agree @SecretaryPete!
No other form of transportation trains, buses, boats, forces you to give up your mobility device when you board. The same should be true for airlines.
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Judy also helped found the Berkeley Center for Independent Living, the Independent Living Movement, and the World Institute on Disability (@WID_org), empowering countless future generations. wid.org/history/
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CVS is trying to gut disability rights and our access to health care. We need as many people as possible to use our easy template to write a letter to @CVSHealth's board to drop the case here: bit.ly/3bFyRxM #BackDownCVS #Protect504
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We're thrilled that so many partners are on board with disability inclusion, including @PeteButtigieg, @Google, and @Comcast. Show your support tonight by tweeting with the hashtag #AAPDGala. Join us at: eventbrite.com/e/2022-leader…
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It seems like we need to remind Twitter.com that ADHD is real. ADHD is real. ADHD is real whether or not you have a formal diagnosis and no matter what type of economy you’re living in.
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Britney is free!!! You are stronger than yesterday, @britneyspears, and now your life is no longer over protected. Let’s see major reforms to the toxic guardianship system so that everyone under a guardianship or conservatorship can be free. #NotJustBritney
The conservatorship that has long overseen Britney Spears's life and finances should be terminated immediately, a Los Angeles judge ruled on Friday. nyti.ms/3HejevE
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Tonight we’re joining @ACLU, @RealNatlADAPT @autselfadvocacy @TheArcUS @CaringAcrossGen @SEIU @domesticworkers @LittleLobbyists and others to hold a vigil for #HCBS. Congress must deliver for disabled people and invest in HCBS. #CareCantWait
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"This is dedicated to the Deaf community, the CODA community, and the disabled community. This is our moment!"- Troy Kotsur, the first, but certainly not the last, Deaf man to win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor Congratulations, Troy! #Oscars  #CODA  #FilmDis
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Our next #BHM profile is Johnnie Lacy, a prominent disability rights activist, leader in the independent living movement, and former director of Community Resources for Independent Living in Hayward, CA. Read her story here: buff.ly/3ds1u3s #BlackDisabledLivesMatter
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In honor of #AAPIHM, AAPD is spotlighting @SFdirewolf, a prominent disability rights activist & Founder of the @DisVisibility, an org that creates & amplifies disability media & culture. Read about her goal of creating space for disabled #AsianAmericans: buff.ly/2Rrm4rJ.
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BREAKING: The @usedgov released more than $3 billion (That’s billion with a B) in American Rescue Plan funds to states to support more than 7.9 million infants, toddlers, & students served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. #Education #EdChat #SpecialEducation
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In 1993, Judy moved to Washington, D.C. to serve as the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services in the Clinton Administration, a role she filled until 2001. (Below, 1993 swearing-in ceremony held in Berkeley, Calif.)
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While far too many Americans are struggling to make ends meet, today the House GOP passed Speaker McCarthy’s plan to rob millions of disabled Americans and older adults over 50 of their Medicaid health care coverage if they don’t meet an 80-hour per month work requirement.
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Exciting news! Our Board of Directors announced that @maria_m_town has been selected as the new President & CEO of AAPD. Ms. Town, a well-recognized disability rights advocate, will begin her new position on July 15, 2019. See full press release here: buff.ly/2Qjimfk
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There are multiple civil rights laws and regulations that protect disabled people’s right to vote, and yet disabled people continue for be disenfranchised. This disenfranchisement is growing with new attacks on voting from state legislatures. #CripTheVote teenvogue.com/story/american…
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Judy was instrumental in developing and implementing national legislation, including Section 504, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Rehabilitation Act, and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
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Today is #OlmsteadAt23 - the 23rd anniversary of a Supreme Court decision that declared people with disabilities have a right to receive care in their homes and communities. We deserve AND have a right to be fully integrated community members, with people who love and cherish us.
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We have two final very special guests to announce for the #AAPDGala TOMORROW! We will be joined by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieig and Actress and Advocate Selma Blair 🤩 Tickets are free for this virtual event. We hope you'll join us! eventbrite.com/e/2022-leader…
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It's #DisabilityPrideMonth so let's joyfully celebrate neurodiversity and disability! Share your favorite disabled artists, musicians, dancers, entertainers, etc. below and/or the songs/videos that get you excited and ready to take on the day!
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July is #DisabilityPrideMonth. This month is a time for celebrating the power of the disability community, honoring our history, and sharing disabled joy. We also cannot celebrate Disability Pride without holding space for the complicated range of our experiences.
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“On TikTok & in virtual hangouts, a younger generation is sharing the origins & nuances of Black American Sign Language, a rich variation of ASL that scholars say has been overlooked for too long.” A great piece by @allyson_renee7 featuring @realcaunsia. nytimes.com/2021/01/23/us/bl…
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TODAY starts National Disability Voter Registration Week (July 15 - 19)! We are on a mission to ensure every Disabled American has access in the upcoming elections. Spread the word, get registered, & #REVUP buff.ly/2FsX9IN #DisabilityVote
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Our current system tends to place ppl w/disabilities in congregate settings, which can be deadly. It’s important that the $400B investment in HCBS makes it possible for ppl w/disabilities to live independently in their homes & receive support in their community. #CareEconomy
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31 years ago, the #ADA was signed & changed the lives of Americans with disabilities everywhere. Though the disability community is still fighting hard for our rights & to live healthy, independent, fulfilling lives, we can't deny the progress made because of the ADA. #ADA31
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1. Several insurrectionists have attempted to evade accountability for their criminal actions by citing disability diagnoses. We reject this, and hope you will too. Weaponizing stigma against disabled people to avoid accountability for such heinous acts is unacceptable.
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Happy first day of National Disability Voting Rights Week! Today’s action item is registering to vote or checking to make sure you are registered at your current address. Then, join us in making a pledge to vote.
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#PWDs face a disproportionate economic burden, often as a result of realities they cannot change nor control. Ending the practice of wait-time fees for disabled riders would be progress toward economic equality and dignity for disabled consumers. bbc.com/news/business-592428…
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Thanks to your calls, visits, emails, and tweets, 43 Senators signed-on to @SenDuckworth's letter opposing #HR620. These Senators have pledged to vote against any bill that would weaken the #ADA. #StopHR620 #HandsOffMyADA mailchi.mp/aapd/thank-you-fo…
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