The Behavioral Intervention Guidelines Act of 2021 (S.1383/H.R.2877) is under consideration in the Senate following its passage by the House by a vote of 323-93 on May 13, 2021. The bill would require the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to develop best practices for schools to establish behavioral intervention teams and properly train them on how to intervene and avoid inappropriate use of mental health assessments and law enforcement. Voices in the civil rights and disabilities communities have shared concerns related to the growing research that documents the biases that are often part of behavioral evaluations and the risk of interventions linked to the justice system.
Plain language:
This bill will ask parts of the federal government to work together to work on tools that they hope will help to prevent violence.
What it means to you:
Voices from research, practice and lived experience are needed to make sure this legislation does not increase the use of biased tools and justice system interventions in ways that harm student with disabilities and students of color.
Following the announcement of the presidential, budget Members of Congress continue to work on creating a budget package. Senators are interested in hearing from their constituents about areas of funding that are important to you.
Plain language:
Now that the President has shared his ideas for the federal government's budget in 2022 Congress will work on passing a budget.
What it means to you:
Many AUCD programs get their funding from teh federal appropriations process.
Appropriations is the act of setting aside money for a specific program from the federal budget.
Action steps:
Email both of your Senators sharing AUCD's language and ask:
Negotiations continue on what to include in recovery and infrastructure legislation. Priorities in the disability community that are being considered as part of the legislative packages include:
Ending subminimum wages and modernizing disability employment supports to allow for competitive, integrated employment;
Continued expansion of access to Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) for people with disabilities, ending waiting lists for services and ensuring a stable, valued direct support workforce;
Meeting the needs of children, including children with disabilities in childcare and education from birth through college; and
Ensuring all modernization of physical and virtual infrastructures are accessible.
Plain language:
Congress is working on a big bill that could help people with disabilities. You may be hearing about it as a plan for improving our country's infrastructure.
Infrastructure means the buildings, roads, bridges, power lines, and other things our country needs to work every day. It can also include systems that make our country work, like schools, healthcare, and other government services.
What it means to you:
Disability issues are a large part of the American Jobs Plan, creating a need for all members of Congress to hear from you about Home and Community-Based Services and Competitive Integrated Employment. It is very important that all members of Congress are hearing from their constituents about how these investments will impact people and systems in your community.
Action steps:
Register for the June 16, 2021 Community Living Policy Center webinar on the Biden-Harris Administration's historic proposal to invest $400 billion in the Medicaid HCBS program.
Email or call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 (voice) or (202) 224-3091(tty) and ask to be connected to your Senators and Representatives.
You can use Congress.gov to find your Members of Congress.
Leave a brief message sharing that Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) and Competitive Integrated Employment are important to you. Ask to be updated on how the Member will support these issues.
Child Tax Credit
The American Rescue Plan provided an expansion of the Child Tax Credit. In 2021, for most families, the Child Tax Credit is increased to $3,000 for each child between 6 and 17 years old and to $3,600 for each child under age 6. For example, a married couple making less than $150,000 with two children under age 6 will be eligible for a Child Tax Credit of $7,200 in 2021. In July, families will begin to receive monthly payments of up to $250 for each child 6 to 17 years old and $300 for each child under age 6. Under the American Rescue Plan, the Child Tax Credit will be fully refundable, meaning that if a family's income tax bill is less than the amount of their Child Tax Credit, they will get a payment for the difference. This will ensure for the first time that even the most hard-pressed families will get at least as much support as more affluent families.
Most households will begin receiving monthly payments without any further action required. Other eligible families-those who have not yet filed taxes in 2019 or 2020 and who did not sign-up for Economic Impact Payments like the $1,400 rescue payments included in the American Rescue Plan-can still sign-up to receive monthly Child Tax Credit payments beginning this summer. You can learn more from the guidance released by the Internal Revenue Service.
Plain language:
Most families with children under 17 will start getting a monthly payment in July to help with the cost of having kids.
What it means to you:
If you or families you work with have not filed taxes in 2019 or 2020, you will need to take an extra step to get the payment.
Action steps:
Read the Internal Revenue Service guidance to learn more.
This national report looks at how COVID-19 has deepened disparities in access and opportunities for students who went into the pandemic with the fewest educational opportunities, many of whom are from underserved communities. In particular, the report focuses on disparate impacts on students of color-especially Black and Latinx students-as well as English learners, students with disabilities, LGBTQ+ students, student-parents, and others. These are all important populations to support in reopening.
The Department of Education is working to make sure that the needs of all students are met as schools reopen.
What it means to you:
This national report looks at how COVID-19 has deepened disparities in access and opportunities for students who went into the pandemic with the fewest educational opportunities, many of whom are from underserved communities. In particular, the report focuses on disparate impacts on students of color-especially Black and Latinx students-as well as English learners, students with disabilities, LGBTQ+ students, student-parents, and others. These are all important populations to support in reopening.
Share issues and needs for students with disabilities with state and local education leaders.
Employment Guidance
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has provided updated and expanded technical assistance guidance: What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws. This guidance answers questions arising under the federal equal employment opportunity (EEO) laws including expanded answers on how the ADA and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) apply when employers offer incentives for proof of vaccination or require vaccinations for employees. In addition, a new resource addresses things like harrassment, high risk of getting sick, not being allowed to work, and modification of employer safety requirements.
Plain language:
People with disabilities who are worried about discrimination at work because of COVID or vaccines can learn more about how laws protect them.
What it means to you:
Guidance is available for individuals and employers on COVID issues at work, including vaccine requirements.
The Food and Drug Administration's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee meet on June 10, 2021. The level of evidence that will be needed to authorize vaccine for children was discussed. Currently the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine has been authorized for emergency use in children as young as 12. Moderna has released data showing its COVID-19 vaccine was found to be 100% effective in children ages 12 to 17 two weeks after their second dose; the company plans to request emergency use authorization for adolescents soon. Moderna and Pfizer have both also applied for full FDA approval for their COVID-19 vaccines. The advisory panel did not vote Thursday on whether to authorize a specific product but is advising the FDA on the level of evidence needed for children under 12.
Plain language:
COVID vaccines will soon have full approval for people 12 and older; this is a step past the emergency approval they have now. Planning is happening for how approval will happen for children younger than 12.
What it means to you:
We continue to learn more about the effectiveness and safety of the COVID vaccines.
COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
Because of the elevated risk of serious illness and death due to COVID-19, vaccination is critically important for people with disabilities. However, we know that many face significant barriers to getting vaccinated. Work at the federal, state, and local levels continues to reach the goal of everyone 12 years-old and over having access to vaccine and 70% of people being vaccinated by July 4th.
Plain language:
Work is happening to make sure people with disabilities can get COVID-19 vaccines. If you have been vaccinated, there are now less restrictions.
What it means to you:
Work is happening to make sure everyone can get their COVID-19 vaccine and feels safe doing so.
Connect callers to local services - such as accessible transportation - to overcome barriers to vaccination; and
Provide information and resources to answer questions and address concerns about the vaccines and can connect callers to information and services that promote independent living and address fundamental needs, such as food, housing, and transportation.
AUCD COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Initative: 23 AUCD network centers are engaged in a national effort t ovaccinate all eligible individuals with disabilities by the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act at the end of July. Learn more about the AUCD network centers involved and find resources on the National Center for Disability in Public Health site.
Consider joining the Administration-led Vaccine Month of Action by committing to host a person-to-person outreach event for persons in the disability community!
Sign-up your UCEDD, LEND, or IDDRC to be a partner organization.
From HHS: We Can Do This COVID-19 public education campaign resources to remind your community that wearing masks, social distancing, and hand washing are important to slow the spread of COVID-19 and its new variants. Social media graphics and radio ads are available in many languages.
There are three easy options from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to find a COVID-19 vaccine:
Text GETVAX (438829) for English or VACUNA (822862) for Spanish to receive three vaccine sites on your phone within seconds.
Call the National COVID-19 Vaccination Assistance Hotline at 1-800-232-0233 for those who prefer to get information via phone call. The call center can assist in 150+ langauges and features a TTY line (1-888-720-7489).
Messaging Resources:
Share the TWL #SleeveUp episode to encourage people with disabilities to get vaccinated.
Have a personal or professional connection to disability policy? Submit a post to AUCD Policy Talk! Check out submission guidelines.
#AUCDsleeveup Tuesdays with Liz Contest!
We are excited to announce the new #AUCDsleeveup Tuesdays with Liz Contest! We are looking for short videos from persons with disabilities, their family members, and other friends of the disability community sharing why you got the COVID-19 vaccine. Videos will be posted to AUCD social media and available for you and others to share with your own social media. The top three videos with the most likes, comments, and shares on social media will *win* AUCD gear and the person with the top video will also win an interview on a Tuesdays with Liz episode!
Watch and share Eli's vaccine story:
Submit your #AUCDsleeveup vaccine story today!
#AUCDsleeveup TWL Contest Rules:
Videos must be less than one minute long.
Videos should show the face(s) of the person(s) speaking.
Say your name, how you are a part of the disability community (person with a disability family members, support professional, friend), and why you got the COVID-19 vaccine. For example, "Hi, my name is Liz and I am a person with a disability. I got my COVID-19 vaccine because I want everyone to be healthy and to see our families and friends again."
We ask that you communicate as clearly as possible so that we can add captions.
A network of interdisciplinary centers advancing policy and practice for and with individuals with developmental and other disabilities, their families, and communities.
Behavioral Intervention Guidelines Act of 2021
Fiscal Year 2022 Budget
U.S. Department of Education
Employment Guidance
COVID-19 Vaccine Authorization
Policy Talk
