Disability Policy News In Brief

#AUCD2019 is upon us! Yesterday, the Public Policy Committee met in person to discuss the latest federal policy updates. Whether you are here in DC or at home in your states, YOU can make an impact by contacting your members of Congress. Learn how to contact your members and choose from the below policy areas to amplify.

Contacting Congress

Call, meet (in DC or in your home district offices), email, tweet/facebook your members of Congress gives you the opportunity, as a voter, to voice your concerns and let your members know how their vote impacts the lives of those they want to best represent. Use our tip sheet to help you start Contacting Congress and check out this Tuesdays with Liz episode:

Autism CARES

The Autism CARES Act of 2019 was signed into law on September 30, 2019.This secures five-year reauthorizations for CARES programs, including:

• Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Training Programs
• Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics (DBP) Training Programs
• Learn the Signs. Act Early. (LTSAE)
• The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network

The successful passage reflects your efforts to educate members about the bill, the work it supports and the needs in your state.

Action Items:

• Thank each member of the Congressional delegation from your state. This is a chance to build the relationship, remind them how CARES supports your work and offer to be a resource on other disability issues. 
  • Sample post: #AutismCARES provides critically needed research, #LEND training, and system improvement for families with #autism and related #disabilities. I am grateful for its passage! Thank you @________ for co-sponsoring this important legislation for families in _____ and beyond! @AUCDnews
• Read AUCD's press release and use our E-Learning Module: Autism CARES Act 101 to educate others on the impact CARES will have over the next five years.

• Authorization is separate from appropriations. While CARES programs are authorized for 5 years, funds need to be appropriated to support the programs each year. Share with members of Congress about your work and impact.

• Is your member a part of the Autism Caucus? If not, ask them to join today!

Transformation to Competitive Employment

The Transformation to Competitive Employment Act (S.260 and H. 873) will assist businesses in adapting their program models to support the transition of individuals with disabilities from segregated work environments to competitive, integrated employment. This law aims phase out use of 14(c) certificates, originally issued under the FSLA.

• Learn more about the act here.
• Find out if your members are co-sponsors: Senators and Representatives  
• Not a co-sponsor? Call, email, or tweet your Members of Congress and tell them why their support of the Transformation to Competitive Employment is so important educating them to be a co-sponsor.

• Sample call/email: My name is [your full name], and I am from [city]. I'm [calling/writing] to ask the [Senator/Representative] to support the Transformation to Competitive Employment Act. This bill would make sure that people with disabilities get to work in our communities for fair pay. With the right supports, people with all kinds of disabilities and support needs can succeed in integrated employment, and TCEA would give states and service providers the resources they need to provide those supports. Can I count on the [Senator/Representative] to support the Transformation to Competitive Employment Act? United States Capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121

• Sample post: @________, we/I need your support of the Transformation to Competitive Employment Act to end subminimum wage! @AUCDnews #RealWork4RealPay

• A co-sponsor? Call, email, or facebook/tweet your Members of Congress to thank them for being a co-sponsor.
  • Sample call/email: My name is [your full name], and I am from [city]. I'm [calling/writing] to thank the [Senator/Representative] for supporting the Transformation to Competitive Employment Act. Your support will make sure that people with disabilities get to work in our communities for fair pay. With the right supports, people with all kinds of disabilities and support needs can succeed in integrated employment, and TCEA would give states and service providers the resources they need to provide those supports. Thank you for co-sponsor and urge your colleagues to support today! United States Capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121
  • Sample post: @________, thank you for your support of the Transformation to Competitive Employment Act to end subminimum wage! @AUCDnews #RealWork4RealPay

ABLE Age Adjustment Act

This December will mark the 5^th anniversary of the passage of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, which created tax-free savings accounts for people with disabilities who have a disability before age 26. Since 2014, over 50,000 individuals have opened ABLE accounts. Unfortunately, millions of people with disabilities aren't eligible for ABLE accounts because they did not acquire their disability before age 26. So as we are celebrating this anniversary, we are urging Congress to pass the ABLE Age Adjustment Act (S. 651, H.R. 1814).  The ABLE Age Adjustment Act would make six million more people with disabilities eligible to open an ABLE account. It would also greatly enhance the sustainability of all ABLE programs nationwide.

• Learn more about the act here.
• Find out if your members are co-sponsors: Senators and Representatives  
• Not a co-sponsor? Call, email, or tweet your Members of Congress and tell them why their support of the ABLE Age Adjustment Act is so important educating them to be a co-sponsor.
  • Sample call/email: My name is [your full name], and I am from [city]. I'm [calling/writing] to ask the [Senator/Representative] to support the ABLE Age Adjustment Act. This bill would expand access to more people with disabilities to be able to open an ABLE account. With an account, people with all kinds of disabilities are able to save money without jeopardizing access to services they need to live in their communities. Can I count on the [Senator/Representative] to support the ABLE Age Adjustment Act? United States Capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121

  • Sample post: ABLE Accounts help PwD save money and keep their benefits, but right now not everyone with a disability can get an ABLE account! @________ we need your support today! @AUCDnews #ABLEAgeNow

• A co-sponsor? Call, email, or facebook/tweet your Members of Congress to thank them for being a co-sponsor.

• Sample call/email: My name is [your full name], and I am from [city]. I'm [calling/writing] to thank the [Senator/Representative] for supporting the ABLE Age Adjustment Act. Your support will help expand access to more people with disabilities to be able to open an ABLE account. With an account, people with all kinds of disabilities are able to save money without jeopardizing access to services they need to live in their communities. Thank you for co-sponsor and urge your colleagues to support today!

• Sample post: ABLE Accounts help PwD save money and keep their benefits, but right now not everyone with a disability can get an ABLE account! Thank you @________ for your support! @AUCDnews #ABLEAgeNow

HCBS Infrastructure Act

There is a growing need to assist states with improving their home and community-based services (HCBS) infrastructure. Key priorities include strengthening housing, transportation, employment, workforce and caregiver supports in communities across the country that address social determinants of health (SDOH), so that persons with disabilities and older adults with disabilities are served where they wish to be served. A working policy proposal has been developed by AUCD and the Disability and Aging Collaborative, a coalition of more than 40 national organizations, with additional input provided by associations representing states and other key informants.

• Learn more about the act here.
• Co-sponsors are needed to introduce both in the House and Senate. Call, email, or tweet your Members of Congress and tell them why their support of the HCBS Infrastructure Act is so important educating them to be a co-sponsor.
  • Sample call/email: My name is [your full name], and I am from [city]. I'm [calling/writing] to ask the [Senator/Representative] to support a new bill called the HCBS Infrastructure Act. This bill would strengthen housing, transportation, employment, workforce and caregiver supports in communities across the country that address social determinants of health (SDOH), so that persons with disabilities and older adults with disabilities are served where they wish to be served. Can I count on the [Senator/Representative] to support the HCBS Infrastructure Act? United States Capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121
  • Sample post: PwD want and have the right to live in their community. #LTSS and #HCBS are needed to support people. @________ we need your support of an HCBS Infrastructure Act! @AUCDnews

Wish you were here at #AUCD2019?

Follow along with all things policy at the conference by following the policy team on Twitter with #AUCD2019!

• Rylin Rodgers, @RylinAUCD
• Liz Weintrab, @Tuesdaywithliz
• Sarah Mueller, @Sarah_Advocates

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Action Steps:

AUCD Policy Talk

Read our latest blog post: What is a QALY?  Are you impacted by QALYs? Does the work in your state connect to this policy? Share our blog post widely to start a conversation.

Action Steps:

• Learn more by reading a related report from the National Council on Disability: Quality Adjusted Life Years and the Devaluation of Life with Disability.
• As someone interested in disability policy, we ask you to consider writing and submitting a blog post. Read our blog submission guidelines and further details and submit a story today!