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Policy Issues

Disability policy does not exist in isolation. Decisions about healthcare, housing, transportation, education, workforce development, civil rights, public benefits, technology, and community infrastructure all shape the lives of people with disabilities. Because disability intersects with every aspect of society, all policy issues are disability policy issues.

At AUCD, we work from the understanding that disability is a natural part of the human experience and that people with disabilities must be meaningfully included in every policy conversation that affects their lives. While our work spans the full spectrum of public policy, AUCD and our network focus particular attention on the following core areas.


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Support Issues raised by AUCD

AUCD will work to protect and enhance civil rights laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and Rehabilitation Act. AUCD will engage in efforts to address inequities at the national, state, tribal, territorial, and local levels. AUCD will work to ensure that every person can vote privately and independently in any federal election. MORE RESOURCES

AUCD believes all children and youth with disabilities have the right to a high-quality, inclusive education that prepares them for further education, employment, and community life. We advocate for strong implementation of FAPE, individualized supports, access to the general education curriculum, and the resources schools need to ensure meaningful progress. Explore our education policy resources, advocacy efforts, and tools to advance equitable and effective systems. MORE RESOURCES

AUCD will work to create opportunities for and address barriers to competitive integrated employment (CIE), microenterprise, and self-employment. AUCD will work to ensure that policies and practices set expectations for and build infrastructure for CIE by improving coordination and communication across the service delivery systems. AUCD will work to phase out the use of subminimum wage by supporting organizations to transition from the use of subminimum wage and segregated settings to CIE. AUCD will work to improve the transition from school to adult life. MORE RESOURCES

AUCD will work to improve quality, accessibility, and affordability of all types of healthcare, including medical, dental/oral health, hearing, vision, behavioral/mental health, and durable medical equipment for people with disabilities. AUCD will work to address inequities in the access to and delivery of healthcare. AUCD will advocate for improvements and funding for the ACA and Medicaid. AUCD will work to ensure the Autism CARES Act is reauthorized and fully funded. AUCD will work to ensure the effective and appropriate healthcare transition from pediatric to adult healthcare services. MORE RESOURCES

All AUCD Network Centers and Programs are funded through the federal budget and appropriations process. In addition, adequate funding for other programs for people with disabilities is critical for them to be healthy, receive a quality education, be employed, and live in the community. MORE RESOURCES

Centering People with Disabilities in All We Do

At AUCD, people with disabilities are not an afterthought; they are at the center of our work.
Disability policy is strongest when it is informed, shaped, and led by the lived experiences of people with disabilities and their families. We believe that policies about people with disabilities must be developed with people with disabilities. Their expertise, leadership, and perspectives guide our priorities, inform our analysis, and strengthen our advocacy.
Our network includes individuals with disabilities in leadership roles across universities, community programs, research initiatives, and policy efforts. We work to elevate the voices of people with disabilities in federal and state policy conversations and to create meaningful opportunities for leadership, decision-making, and civic engagement.


Nothing About Us Without Us

We are grounded in the disability community’s long-standing principle: Nothing About Us Without Us.

This means:

  • Promoting authentic engagement, not symbolic inclusion
  • Supporting self-advocacy and leadership development
  • Ensuring accessibility in all of our communications, convenings, and policy work
  • Advancing policies that reflect the priorities identified by people with disabilities themselves
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Copyright 2025 Association of University Centers on Disabilities

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Copyright 2025 Association of University Centers on Disabilities