Sue Popkin

I hear you. It’s not just being tired either.

She was a true disability warrior

This is Alice's friend Sandy Ho, posting. Per Alice's wishes, this message is being shared at the time of her passing. Hi everyone, it looks like I ran out of time. I have so many dreams that I wanted to fulfill and plans to create new stories for you. There are a few in progress that might come to fruition in a few years if things work out. I did not ever imagine I would live to this age and end up a writer, editor, activist, and more. As a kid riddled with insecurity and internalized ableism, I could not see a path forward. It was thanks to friendships and some great teachers who believed in me that I was able to fight my way out of miserable situations into a place where I finally felt comfortable in my skin. We need more stories about us and our culture. You all, we all, deserve the everything and more in such a hostile, ableist environment. Our wisdom is incisive and unflinching. I'm honored to be your ancestor and believe disabled oracles like us will light the way to the future. Don't let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.

💔 Alice Wong’s last words: “Don’t let the bastards grind you down.”

We can never thank Alice enough for fighting all the good fights and especially all the hard fights. We all learned so much from your brilliance, your courage, and your indefatigable leadership. We will never forget you.

Sorry to hear it. And share your pain. I have Sjogrens and now long COVID plus a flare.

HUD’s Data Request for Immigration Status Threatens Federal Housing Assistance Nationwide HUD’s data request will have dire consequences for this small group of families and puts millions of other households at risk of losing their assistance.

HUD is planning to ask PHAs to report the immigration status of public housing residents and voucher holders within 30 days. If the PHAs don’t—or can’t—comply, HUD has threatened to revoke their federal funding and eligibility.
www.urban.org/urban-wire/h...

Thanks. Me too. So far, it’s been unpleasant but we are getting through it.

Too late for me. COVID finally got us last week 🙃

So sorry.

From our post: These are not radical ideas. They are proven, practical, and urgently needed.”
#disabilty #homelessness

New Trump Policies Targeting Homelessness Threaten the Rights of People with Disabilities New federal policies promoting involuntary institutionalization threaten the right to the home- and community-based services for disabled people and older adults that keep them out of institutional ca...

People with #disabilities face a real risk of re-institutionalization. Our latest @urbaninstitute.bsky.social blog
#disability #homelessness

www.urban.org/urban-wire/n...

✋

Wheelchair users are finally winning the right to repair State laws are forcing private equity–backed firms—which can make buyers wait months—to allow DIY fixes.

A growing number of states are passing laws that require companies to sell wheelchair parts to wheelchair users so they can fix it themselves or bring it to a mechanic to fix it for them.

My latest for @motherjones.com. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

Your call to a local Social Security office may be picked up by someone who can't help Phone calls to local Social Security offices are currently being rerouted to other field offices — often to staff who don't have jurisdiction over the caller's case, employees say.

Social Security is so desperate to improve phone answer speeds that they’re rerouting calls to people who can’t actually help.

This is the kind of “service” that makes people want to throw their phones out the window.

www.npr.org/2025/08/05/n...

Making sure people are able to have access to affordable AC is a disability justice issue.

Subminimum wage to stay in place for disabled workers The Labor Department withdrew a rule that would have mandated minimum wage for disabled workers.

The Trump administration said it will continue a program that allows certain employers to pay workers with disabilities below minimum wage, ending a Biden-era effort to phase out the practice.

Including Disabled People in Upward Mobility: Leveraging Local Data To support upward mobility from poverty, policymakers must specifically consider the unique challenges people with disabilities face when designing and implementing policies.

To advance upward mobility in #communities, having access to #data that incorporates information about #disabilities is critical.

Learn more about current challenges with including disability data and how Urban’s Upward Mobility Initiative tools can help.

My husband got it

GOP in Congress knows how to celebrate: By passing a bill that will massively cut Medicaid, drop food stamps from millions, fund a network of concentration camps, eliminate US efforts to counter climate change, & enact a huge transfer of wealth from the poorest to the wealthiest.

Happy 4th of July!

The House just passed the budget. I'm a disabled person first before being a journalist. I'm so sorry to my disabled friends whose healthcare is now at risk.

Fewer disabled people may be able to take naps in their homes because they won't have home healthcare workers making sure their ventilators stay put due to their home and community based services getting cut and be forced to take naps in hospitals.

The Impact of President Trump’s Deportation Policies: The Social Security Program — Penn Wharton Budget Model Deporting unauthorized workers over 10 years cuts Social Security revenue, raises deficits by $133 billion (10 yrs) and $884 billion (30 yrs). The Trust Fund depletes 6 months earlier; 75-year deficit...

Penn-Wharton estimates that mass deportation will cut hundreds of billions in Social Security's income, increasing the program's long-term shortfall and causing its trust fund reserves to deplete 6 months sooner.

budgetmodel.wharton.upenn.edu/issues/2025/...

The reconciliation bill that GOP Senators are having a mighty difficult time passing would raise taxes on families making less than $30,000, in addition to stripping millions of households from Medicaid & cutting off food support.

1,967,000 people in California would lose health coverage and become uninsured under the Republican health agenda.

191,000 people in California would lose health coverage and become uninsured under the Republican health agenda.

156,000 people in Connecticut would lose health coverage and become uninsured under the Republican health agenda.

49,000 people in DC would lose health coverage and become uninsured under the Republican health agenda.

Millions of people would lose health coverage and become uninsured under the Republican health agenda, including:

📍1,967,000 people in California
📍191,000 people in Colorado
📍156,000 people in Connecticut
📍49,000 people in DC

Policymakers should protect people’s health care, not cut it

Yes!

The latest from the #Disability Policy team at @urbaninstitute.bsky.social

Health secretary RFK Jr. abruptly fires CDC vaccine advisory panel Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has taken the extraordinary step of firing the expert panel that advises the CDC.

Not surprised. But terrified about the implications for us all #disability

Health Secretary RFK Jr. abruptly fires CDC vaccine advisory panel www.statnews.com/2025/06/09/r... via @statnews.com

Timeline cleanse

Percent change in after-tax, after-transfer income by income group. Households with incomes below $40,000 would see no benefit from the change, and the poorest would see a massive loss in after-tax, after-benefits income.

New research @urbaninstitute.bsky.social shows that GOP's plan to extend 2017 tax cuts & cut Medicaid/SNAP would:
—Increase incomes by 4% for households with incomes >$200,000
—Reduce incomes for households making <$30,000—with a reduction of $15% for the poorest www.urban.org/research/pub...

24-hour vigil to save Medicaid takes over National Mall "This is a matter of life and death for millions of people," said Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin.

New from me at @motherjones.com: Disability advocates, Medicaid recipients (ofc overlap with the first) and politicians are currently participating in a 24-hour vigil to save Medicaid, organized by @caringacross.org. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...