Darren Bates

Disability Belongs™ is proud to endorse the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Restoration Act, newly introduced in Congress. Nearly 8 million seniors and people with #disabilities rely on #SSI, yet many program rules haven’t been updated in decades.

The SSI Restoration Act of 2024 aims to modernize the program by raising benefits to the poverty line, eliminating burdensome rules like the in-kind support and maintenance provision, ending the asset limit marriage penalty, updating disregards, and indexing all numbers to inflation.

Estimating the Cost and Impacts of the SSI Restoration Act Stephen Nuñez and Jack Landry find that the SSI Restoration Act would cut poverty among SSI households by nearly 60 percent while updating and strengthening the program.

Currently, SSI's core financial rules are functionally frozen; income disregards have not been updated since 1972, and asset limits—currently capped at $2,000 for individuals—have remained unchanged since 1989.

We Need to Make a Change.

#SSI #disability

rooseveltinstitute.org/publications...

HUD proposes time limits and work requirements for rental aid The rule would allow housing agencies and landlords to impose such requirements "to encourage self-sufficiency." Critics say most who can work already do, but their wages are low.

HUD has proposed expanded work requirements in federal housing programs.

Housing stability supports disability independence.

These changes could destabilize disabled renters.

Worth watching.

.https://www.npr.org/2026/02/27/nx-s1-5728988/hud-proposes-time-limits-work-requirements-for-rental-aid

Idaho’s proposed Medicaid budget cuts could severely reduce disability services that make community living possible.

Medicaid isn’t just health coverage — it funds the supports people rely on to live, work & participate fully.

This is what’s at stake.

Via @slooterman.bsky.social @19thnews.org

The VA is rescinding its disability ratings rule that could have reduced compensation based on how well medication controls symptoms.

Disability benefits should reflect functional impact — not penalize access to care.

An important step for disabled veterans.

#DisabilityPolicy #Veterans

States Continue Legal Attack on Section 504 and the Right to Live in the Community - Disability Belongs™ Texas and eight other states are continuing their legal challenge to disability civil rights protections under Section 504.

Section 504 helps ensure disability rights can be enforced before harm occurs—before someone is forced into an institution...

Disability rights are only meaningful if they can be enforced in real life, not just after harm has already happened.

Take Action

www.disabilitybelongs.org/2026/02/texa...

Stop Anti-Voter Bills Now The SAVE Act, the SAVE America Act, and MEGA Act could keep millions of eligible U.S. citizens from being able to vote. Urge Congress to reject these bills.

We’ve joined 130+ civil rights groups opposing the SAVE Act and other anti-voter bills that create barriers for millions, including people with disabilities.
A Senate vote could happen this week.
Tell Congress: Stop anti-voter bills now: 

🗳️ Take action today to protect our right to vote! The SAVE Act would make it much harder for some disabled people to vote. Learn more and take action with our plain language action alert! autisticadvocacy.org/2026/02/save...

Disability Policy as an Expression of Faith-Based Values - Disability Belongs™ Our Policy Agenda is grounded in lived experience, guided by the belief that public systems should expand dignity, opportunity, access, and belonging.

Sharing this blog introducing their Policy Agenda:
"Disability Policy as an Expression of Faith-Based Values"
from @disabilitybelongs.bsky.social

www.disabilitybelongs.org/2026/02/disa...

#disabilityrights #educationpolicy #civilrights #accessibility | Darren Bates What Happens When Sustained Advocacy, Legal Challenge, and Institutional Leadership Converge? On February 18, the U.S. Department of Education formally withdrew and will no longer enforce its Februar...

Advocacy doesn't always create new rights.
Sometimes it protects the ones we already have.

Read more from me about the U.S. Dept. of Education no longer enforcing its directive conditioning federal education funding on eliminating diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI) programs. tinyurl.com/4kudxxtu

Voting changes should make it easier–not harder–to vote.

Disability and civil rights organizations are calling on Congress to stand against the SAVE America Act, and MEGA Act. These bills will make it harder for disabled people to vote.

Learn More and Take Action. 👇
ncavote.org/resource/nos...

Major gaps in federal health care and disability data, GAO finds A recent report found that federal data collection does not capture the full experience and count of disabled people

A really great article from PRISM Reports highlights a critical issue: healthcare #accessibility for people with disabilities cannot improve without better #disability #data! prismreports.org/2026/02/16/d...

Disability Belongs™ Action Center Learn about easy ways that you can help Disability Belongs™' team make a difference for people with disabilities.

Disability Belongs™ makes it easier to take action on the policies and issues affecting disabled people — with clear information, resources, and ways to engage. If you’re looking for a place to start, this is it.

www.disabilitybelongs.org/act/

#DisabilityRights #DisabilityAdvocacy

Marriage shouldn’t mean losing essential disability services  | The Opinion Pages There are many things to worry about when planning a wedding - the logistics, the ceremony, the weather, and everything in between. But for many Americans with disabilities, the biggest concern isn’t ...

Love shouldn't come with penalties, but outdated federal policies make marriage risky for many #disabled people. This #Valentine'sDay, we're sharing an op-ed from our President & CEO, Ariel Simms, explaining why updating these policies is key to full marriage equality. Read it at the link below!

Voting changes should make participation easier, not harder. But the SAVE Act, passed yesterday by the House of Representatives, could create new barriers for eligible voters with disabilities. Along with our partners in @ncavoting.bsky.social, we call on the Senate to reject this legislation.

Voting changes should make it easier–not harder–to vote.

Disability and civil rights organizations are calling on Congress to stand against the SAVE America Act, and MEGA Act. These bills will make it harder for disabled people to vote.

Learn More and Take Action. 👇
ncavote.org/resource/nos...

The GOP’s “show us your papers” bill Is the latest effort to help Trump take over elections “If the SAVE Act were to pass, it would be the worst voter suppression law that Congress has ever enacted"

The Republican-controlled US House is set to pass a sweeping voter restriction bill that could potentially disenfranchise tens of millions of Americans.

Economic Security and Health Care in Early 2026: What Disabled People Need to Know - Disability Belongs™ Many disabled people are navigating real uncertainty around health care affordability, income supports, and federal funding decisions.

Economic Security and Health Care in Early 2026: What Disabled People Need to Know:
www.disabilitybelongs.org/2026/02/econ...

Congress Passes FY 2026 Spending Law, Preserving Funding Levels for Special Education and Disability-Related Programs - Disability Belongs™ Lawmakers kept funding levels for many education and disability-related programs at or near current levels.

On February 3rd, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, and the President signed it into law the same day. This law funds federal agencies for Fiscal Year 2026, including the Department of Education and related programs.

Image Description: U.S. Department of Education seal

90% of student discrimination and harassment complaints were dismissed last year. Here's why. Students with disabilities and survivors of sexual misconduct can’t rely on the Department of Education — the target of budget cuts and staff reductions — to intervene for them, new reports find.

The fact that the agency shuttered seven of its 12 regional civil rights offices and placed half of OCR personnel — 299 out of 575 staffers — on administrative leave last year contributed to the dismissals of most complaints.

States Continue Legal Attack on Section 504 and the Right to Live in the Community - Disability Belongs™ Texas and eight other states are continuing their legal challenge to disability civil rights protections under Section 504.

Disability rights are only meaningful if they can be enforced in real life, not just after harm has already happened.

Learn how you can contact your State Attorney General and urge them to stop efforts that weaken enforcement of Section 504 at the link below.

While the states are no longer arguing that Section 504 itself is unconstitutional, they are now asking the court to block key federal regulations that explain how it must be enforced – especially protections tied to community living.

We recently shared state policy updates for California and Oregon. Read them on our website: www.disabilitybelongs.org/tag/state-po...

If you want to receive updates like these in your inbox, subscribe to our Advocate's Agenda newsletter: www.disabilitybelongs.org/newsletters/

Republicans' Big Ugly Bill gave Trump $190 billion for DHS, including $75 billion for ICE and $65 billion for CBP.

That's money Republicans stripped from rural hospitals and helping people afford health care.

Congress should claw it back and put serious restraints on DHS.

Take Action to Protect Special Education and Disability Rights - Disability Belongs™ Critical special education programs and disability civil rights enforcement functions may be moved out of the U.S. Department of Education.

Critical special education programs and disability civil rights enforcement functions may be moved out of the U.S. Department of Education, which could weaken federal oversight and enforcement, creating new risks for students with #disabilities and their families. Learn how you can take action ⬇︎

Take Action to Protect Special Education and Disability Rights - Disability Belongs™ Critical special education programs and disability civil rights enforcement functions may be moved out of the U.S. Department of Education.

Take Action to Protect Special Education and Disability Rights

Your voice matters.

- Oppose any cuts to the Department of Education

- Reject any plan to move special education programs or disability civil rights enforcement out of the Department

www.disabilitybelongs.org/2026/01/doe-...

Disabled, impacted by the winter storm & need help? Discapacitade, impactade por la tormenta invernal y necesita ayuda?

Local aid (ayuda local) try 211, 311, 800.733.2767

Call/text (llame) Disability & Disaster Hotline 800-626-4959 or hotline@disasterstrategies.org
#WinterStorm

Disability Belongs™ Driving cultural and policy change to ensure our full representation and influence, creating a more accessible, equitable, and inclusive society.

Check it out.

www.disabilitybelongs.org

State Policy Update: ABLE Age Adjustment Act Expands Eligibility Nationwide - Disability Belongs™ On January 1, 2026, the ABLE Age Adjustment Act opened access to tax-advantaged savings for millions more disabled adults.

The ABLE Age Adjustment Act took effect on January 1st, raising the #disability onset age for #ABLE eligibility from before age 26 to before age 46, opening access to tax-advantaged savings for millions more disabled adults. Learn more about this change and why it matters at the link below!