Disability Rights Arkansas

Graphic showing a shout out update. Text overlay reads: “Major Changes At The U.S. Department Of Education: Recent reports say hundreds of employees have been laid off across the agency, including nearly all staff from OSERS, the division that oversees federal special education programs and compliance with the individuals with IDEA."

Advocates and education experts note that these cuts could significantly affect oversight, technical assistance to states, and support for families navigating special education services.

Read More Here: 🔗 www.npr.org/2025/10/13/n...

#DisabilityRights #AccessibilityMatters

Text honoring National Indigenous Peoples Day by Disability Rights Arkansas, emphasizing inclusion and equal access for Indigenous people with disabilities in Arkansas and beyond.

Together, we can build a future rooted in respect, equity, and belonging for everyone.

#IndigenousPeoplesDay #DisabilityRights #Inclusion #Accessibility #Arkansas

Illustration of a brain wrapped in a green ribbon over a globe, surrounded by flowers, symbolizing support for mental health on World Mental Health Day, October 10.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you’re not alone. Reach out. Speak out. We’re here.

#WorldMentalHealthDay #MentalHealthMatters #DisabilityAndMentalHealth #YouAreNotAlone #InclusionMatters #AccessibilityForAll #DisabilityRights

Text highlights challenges people with disabilities face in medical care, emphasizing the need for respect and belief in their experiences.

Have you ever felt unheard in a medical setting? What helped you advocate for yourself?
#DisabilityRights #HealthcareAccessibility #ListenToDisabledVoices #MedicalAbleism #PatientAdvocacy

Illustration of three people with disabilities, one in a wheelchair, one with a prosthetic leg holding a globe, and one with crutches, emphasizing accessibility and inclusion.

🎥 Watch the video here: youtu.be/Nzzw21prn8w?...

How different would the world look if inclusion was the default?

#DisabilityRightsArkansas #InclusiveDesign #AccessibilityForAll #UniversalDesign #InclusionMatters #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #AccessibilityIsEssential

Text calling volunteers to join the PAIMI Advisory Council for protection and advocacy of individuals with mental illness, over a background of a person lying down.

Join the PAIMI Advisory Council! If you’re ready to help advance mental health advocacy and inclusion in Arkansas, we’d love to hear from you!
👉 Learn more or apply here: k4q.c18.myftpupload.com/about-dra/pa...

Graphic with text highlighting the connection between disability and mental health. It emphasizes that disabled people need care that considers body, mind, and community, and that true inclusion is about valuing and supporting people rather than ‘fixing’ them. The message encourages listening, support, and systemic change.

Inclusion means listening. It means supporting. It means change.

#DisabilityJustice #MentalHealthAwareness #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #InclusionMatters #AccessibilityForAll #EndAbleism #DisabilityRights

Graphic explaining National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October, emphasizing celebrating value and talent of workers with disabilities.

At DRA, we believe inclusion isn’t optional, it’s essential. Want to stay connected and learn how you can support disability rights year-round?
👉 Join our mailing list here: disabilityrightsar.org/subscribe/

#NDEAM #DisabilityEmployment #InclusionAtWork #ValueAndTalent #DisabilityRights

Teacher in a classroom guiding three students using laptops, with a chalkboard listing tips for building an inclusive classroom environment.

Small changes make a big impact. Every student deserves to feel valued, supported, and included.

#InclusiveEducation #DisabilityInclusion #EveryChildBelongs

Text on a blue and white gradient background highlights the importance of disability inclusion, equal rights, and community connection, featuring Dr. Yvette Pegues' advocacy message.

What does inclusion mean to you?

#DisabilityInclusion #AccessibilityForAll #DisabilityRights #EquityAndAccess

Text explaining that accessibility needs can conflict, requiring empathy and creativity to include everyone despite differing challenges.

Have you experienced access needs that conflict? We’d love to hear your perspective.

#DisabilityJustice #AccessibilityMatters #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #DisabilityInclusion

Text explaining internalized ableism as self-criticism shaped by others' low expectations and offering a three-step practice to challenge it: notice, question, and replace negative thoughts.

How do you challenge that inner voice? Share one small way you’re learning to unlearn these messages.

#InternalizedAbleism #DisabilityJustice #SelfWorth #InclusionMatters

Red background with graphic of table and chairs at the bottom left corner of the post. Text emphasizing that true inclusion values disabled individuals as integral members, not just allowing presence in a room.

The path forward? Listening to disabled people, embracing diversity, and building systems that foster acceptance, support, and joy.

#DisabilityRights #InclusionMatters #DisabilityJustice #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs

Illustration of diverse people with disabilities including a person with a prosthetic arm, a person using a white cane, a person in a wheelchair, and a person with a prosthetic leg, emphasizing equality and respect.

Stop framing disability as something to apologize for. Start recognizing people with disabilities as peers, leaders, and equals.

#DisabilityRights #DisabilityJustice #InclusionMatters #EndAbleism #EquityForAll #HumanRights

Text graphic with the message: “Disability is not inability. The problem isn’t workers — it’s workplaces built on unrealistic ideas of productivity. True success means equity, accessibility, and inclusion.” Background is simple and high-contrast for readability. Graphic of people of varying disabilities at the bottom.

It’s time to ask: Who gets shut out by this model of work? Why are they excluded? And what would it look like if we measured success by equity and inclusion — not exhaustion?

#DisabilityRights #WorkplaceEquity #InclusionMatters #DisabilityJustice

Light pink background titled: Disability doesn't have a "look". Body reads: Disabilities aren't always visible. Some people use wheelchairs, service animals, or communication devices. Others live with disabilities you can't see at all. Assuming someone is not disabled just because they don't "look" disabled can lead to harmful barriers and discrimination.

At DRA, we believe disability rights are human rights, for all people with disabilities, visible or not. 💙

#DisabilityRights #InclusionMatters #AccessibilityForAll #EndAbleism

Text highlighting a success story about a student with autism gaining reliable access to a communication device after advocacy and investigation. Light teal background with symbols on the left-hand side of a brain, infinity sign, eye, and stars.

Every student deserves the tools and supports they need to learn in an inclusive environment. DRA is here to make sure that happens. 💙

#DisabilityRights #AutismAcceptance #InclusionMatters #EducationForAll #CommunicationAccess

Illustration promoting safe travel for all, featuring a pink airplane, luggage, passport, headphones, sunscreen, and travel photos with a signpost and sunset postcard. Text reads: Everyone deserves to travel safely, including people with disabilities.

Whether it’s by bus, train, plane, or rideshare, accessibility and safety are not optional extras. They’re rights.

#DisabilityRights #AccessibleTravel #InclusionMatters #TravelForAll

Illustration of two children with disabilities, one with a white cane and the other with crutches, surrounded by a motivational quote about growth and belonging. Text reads: Life isn't linear. It's not symmetrical. And it's not supposed to be. Disability reminds us there's no single way to grow, succeed, or belong. Different doesn't mean less, it means possible in new ways.

Every journey has value, even when it looks different from what others expect.

#DisabilityRights #Inclusion #Growth #Journey

Illustration highlighting four pillars of inclusivity: design for all, voices heard, fair chances, and effective support for equal participation. Pink pastel background with two graphics. Bottom left graphic are hands holding up a heart, and bottom right graphic is a group of diverse people hugging representing inclusivity. Title: What makes a society truly inclusive?

Inclusion isn’t optional; it’s the foundation of a stronger, fairer society.

#InclusionMatters #AccessibilityForAll #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #DisabilityRights #InclusiveSociety #EquityForAll #UniversalDesign #AccessAndInclusion #InclusionForAll #BreakingBarriers

Listening sessions for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families on August 29 at Arkansas State University's Restore Hub. 3 - 4:30 p.m. and 6 - 7:30 p.m. at 2301 E. Johnson Ave. The Restore Hub @ Arkansas State University. Supported by the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities Arkansas and Restore.

Blue background with four reflective questions about life needs, access to services, quality of life, and worries, plus a QR code and phone number to register. Questions: 1. What needs to live your best life that aren't currently met? 2. What keeps you from accessing the services you need? 3. In what way could we help improve your quality of life and happiness? 4. What do you worry about? / What keeps you up at night? QR Code below: "scan the QR code or call 1(870)680-8062 to register."

Join the Listening Sessions to share your experiences, challenges, and ideas.

📅 August 29
📍 The Restore Hub @ Arkansas State University
⏰ 3:00–4:30 PM or 6:00–7:30 PM
👉 Register by scanning the QR code or calling (870) 680-8062

#DisabilityInclusion #CommunityVoices #Arkansas

Bingo card with a pink to orange gradient background titled Disability Rights Bingo listing rights like access to public spaces, equal employment opportunities, reasonable accommodations at work or school, the right to have a service animal with you, access to accessible voting, communication aids in medical settings, accessible transportation, and freedom from discrimination. Subheading: How many rights do you know you already have? Bottom: How many are you still learning about?

💡 Mark off the ones you’ve used or advocated for; see if you can get BINGO!
📢 And remember: knowing your rights is the first step to protecting them.

#DisabilityRights #KnowYourRights #AccessibilityForAll #InclusionMatters

Pastel gradient background. Titled: Challenging harmful disability tropes. Text reads: Disability is part of human diversity, but too often, it's portrayed through damaging stereotypes. Here's what we're pushing back against. Arrows in bottom right corner "swipe now".

Dusty pink background. Titled: We're not just here to inspire. Text reads: (x for not) The idea that people with disabilities are only valuable when they inspire others through extraordinary acts by "overcoming" their disability. (check mark for yes) We're living, not performing. Our worth isn't measured by how much we motivate you. Arrows in bottom right corner, "swipe now".

Pastel yellow background. Titled: We're not broken, pitiable, or superhuman. Text reads: (x for no) Portraying disabled people as objects of pity, as if we're "less than" or "broken." (x for no) Treating us as perpetual heroes simply for existing. (check mark for yes) We don't need your sympathy; we need your respect, equality, and to be seen as whole people. Arrows in bottom right corner, "swipe now."

Blue pastel background. Titled: We don't need fixing. We need access. Text reads: (x for no) The narrative that disability must be "cured" or "fixed", sidelining the real issue: accessibility. (x for no) Assuming we're "better" or "more resilient" simply because we've faced challenges, as if that's all we are. (check mark for yes) We're complex human beings with strengths and struggles. Accessibility, support, and understanding matter more than stereotypes.

These tropes may seem harmless, but they strip away humanity and reduce people to one-dimensional stories.

We’re not here to fit a narrative. We’re here to live fully, with dignity and equality.

#NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #DisabilityRights #DRA

Infographic explaining rising private school tuition under the LEARNS voucher program and its impact on students with disabilities in Arkansas. Tan background with school supplies scattered throughout the graphic including push pins, rulers, calculator, stack of books, paperclips, and paper.

As voucher dollars drive tuition higher, families of children with disabilities face an impossible choice: pay more for schools that may not even provide the supports their child needs or stay in public schools that are losing critical funding.
#DisabilityRights #EducationForAll #LearnsAct #Arkansas

Graphic with a dark pink background. Titled: What we stand for- and what we don't. Body: At Disability Rights Arkansas, our mission is clear: protect rights, challenge injustice, and build a culture of respect and equity. Here's how that plays out in our work (arrow pointing to the right) The graphic below is of five fists symbolizing the fight for justice and equity in disability rights and equality.

Dark pink background. Titled: What We WON'T Do, with a large red "prohibited" circle symbolizing "NO". Body reads: Let "good intentions" excuse harmful behavior. Ignore poor behavior in the workplace to "keep the peace" or "keep the majority happy". Support toxic positivity that dismisses real struggles. Excuse inaction- ignorance is NOT bliss.

Dark pink background. Titled: What We WILL Do, with a large green check mark circled symbolizing "YES". Body reads: Support growth with compassion. Hold space to teach and guide toward understanding. Speak up for those threatened into silence. Challenge systems that deny equality and dignity.

Dark pink background. Text reads: We believe accountability is a form of care. We believe advocacy means action. We believe everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and respected. Below is a graph of fists showing support and togetherness inside of a heart shape.

💬 Stand with us. Speak up. Take action.

🔗 disabilityrightsar.org/subscribe/

#DisabilityRights #AdvocacyInAction #DRA

White background with three photos. Top left: women in business conversing, one in a wheelchair with a laptop. Middle: Three cards, 1. disability, 2. American flag, and 3. question mark. Lastly: A woman with down syndrome pointing up to the women in business. Text reads: Did You Know? More than 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. has a disability, and it is the only minority group you can join at any time. Yet they remain one of the most underrepresented in media, policy, and leadership roles.

Inclusion is essential.

#DisabilityAwareness #RepresentationMatters #DidYouKnow #DisabilityRightsAR

Lime green and dark blue background. Graphic titled: August 14th is National ABLE Savings Day! Body: ABLE accounts help people with disabilities save money without losing benefits, supporting financial independence, future planning, and investing in your goals. New to ABLE? Join a free 30-minute Intro to ABLE webinar on: Aug. 18 at 1PM EST.

📅 Free webinar: Aug 18
🔗 Learn more at nast.org/national-able-savings-day

#ABLESavingsDay #DisabilityRightsAR #ABLEtoSave #FinancialEmpowerment #DisabilityInclusion

Text listing key components of a DIY Disability Empowerment Kit, including a 504 Plan, communication tips, accessible transportation, workplace accommodations, advocacy, and ADA rights. Pink background with yarn, knitting needles, and scissors in the bottom left corner.

💡 All of these tools, and more, are part of our mission at Disability Rights Arkansas. Know your rights. Use your tools. You are never alone in this.

#DIYDisabilityEmpowerment #KnowYourRights #DisabilityAdvocacy #DisabilityRightsAR

A blue and green graphic with squiggles and circles. Titled: How do I Advocate for Myself? "I remind myself it's okay to ask questions. I ask for what I need, even if it feels awkward. I bring someone with me for support. I take notes before appointments. I set boundaries and speak up when I'm uncomfortable." Self-advocacy looks different for everyone, and every way is valid. Two circular photos. One of a man smiling on a bench and another of a man smiling in a wheelchair.

Self-advocacy isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about knowing you have the right to speak up for yourself.

#SelfAdvocacy #DisabilityRights #Empowerment #YouMatter #SpeakUp #KnowYourRights #DisabilityAwareness

@lancejgosnell.com yes, this is impacting Disability Rights Arkansas. We have reached out to our congressional members explaining the impact these cuts would have on Arkansans with disabilities. Arkansans can call their member of Congress and ask that the programs remain level funded. Thank you!