Public Policy
AUCD advocates for a number of legislative issues that are critical to individuals with disabilities and their families. Legislative priority issues are developed bi-annually by the AUCD Legislative Affairs Committee and Board of Directors. Priority issues are based on the Association's vision and mission as well as input from the entire Network, including individuals with disabilities and their families.
Please visit AUCD’s Health Care Hub, an online gateway designed to provide technical assistance and information about the current state of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA aka Obamacare) and Medicaid.
New in Policy
6/20/2017
Tuesdays with Liz: Advocacy and Leadership and Dreams
Today on 'Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All,' Liz interviews Xian (She-ahn) Horn, a self-proclaimed "joyful half-Asian woman with Cerebral Palsy, who serves as teacher, speaker, beauty advocate, and blogger." Xian traveled to Washington, DC, in the spring courtesy of the AUCD DREAM Fund where she met with staffers of her members of Congress and attended the 2017 AUCD4all gala. In this interview, Liz and Xian talk about leadership, advocacy, and the beauty within us all.
6/19/2017
Disability Policy News In Brief
Healthcare and Medicaid update; new appointments; legislation to Social Security benefits to people with an outstanding arrest warrant; Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program; and more
6/13/2017
Tuesdays with Liz: Deaf Culture & the Workplace
Today on 'Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All,' Liz interviews Christine Liao, a program specialist at AUCD and a deaf woman. In this interview, they discuss Christine's experience growing up and entering the workforce as a deaf professional, deaf culture, and some of the accommodations deaf people might need to fully participate in the community and workplace.
6/12/2017
Disability Policy News In Brief
LEND funding; Update on AHCA; RISE Act; ESSA; New Appointments; and more
6/6/2017
Tuesdays with Liz: What is Managed Care?
In today's edition of Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for All, Liz interviews John Tschida, Associate Executive Director for Research and Policy, about Managed Care and its importance.
6/5/2017
Disability Policy News In Brief
#SaveMedicaid Rally; Share Your Story; Congress is back from recess; CDC and AUCD Network Funding; RISE Act; and more
5/30/2017
Tuesdays with Liz: Medicaid Toolkit for Self Advocates
This week on Tuesdays with Liz, Liz interviewed Julia Bascom, Executive Director of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, about a new toolkit to help self-advocates, particularly self advocates with intellectual disabilities, better understand Medicaid.
5/29/2017
Disability Policy News In Brief
Preliminary summary of Presidents budget; materials for state advocates and info on upcoming Medicaid rally; Social Security Caregiver Credit Act; Secretary Betsy DeVos testimony defending presidents budget; and more
5/28/2017
AUCD Statement on Release of President's Budget Request
Current federal investments do not meet the needs of a growing and aging population of Americans with disabilities. Instead of investing to address this gap, the President's proposed budget represents an aggressive retreat from a decades-long, bipartisan commitment to supporting the health and independence of people with disabilities.
5/25/2017
AUCD signed onto a Letter in Support of Bonamici/Polis Amendment
AUCD signed onto a letter expressing support for the Bonamici/Polis Amendment to the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for 21st Century Act (H.R. 2353), which reauthorizes the Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. The Bonamici/Polis Amendment helps ensure that the reauthorization legislation preserves secretarial authority that is necessary to ensure that programs are of high quality and serve students effectively.
5/25/2017
AUCD Statement on Introduction of the Raise the Wage Act
AUCD applauds the introduction of the Raise the Wage Act, which will raise the minimum wage incrementally to $15.00 an hour by 2024. This measure will help many Americans with disabilities move towards self-sufficiency and economic stability.
5/25/2017
AUCD Statement on Introduction of the Raise the Wage Act
AUCD applauds the introduction of the Raise the Wage Act, which will raise the minimum wage incrementally to $15.00 an hour by 2024. This measure will help many Americans with disabilities move towards self-sufficiency and economic stability.
5/25/2017
Raise the Wage Act Letter to Senator Murray
AUCD sent a letter to Senator Patty Murray, Ranking Member on the Senate HELP Committee, expressing strong support for the Raise the Wage Act, in particular its phasing out of subminimum wage certificates for workers with disabilities.
Resources
Advances in Accessibility through PARCC and Smarter Balanced
This document, produced by the Center for American Progress (CAP) reviews progress in promoting accessible education that has been achieved through the work of PARCC and Smarter Balanced.
Guidance on Section 504 and Restraint and Seclusion
The U.S. Department of Education released a set of guidance documents that provide information about the legal limitations on the use of restraint and seclusion with regard to students with disabilities. These include a new Parent and Educator Resource Guide to Section 504, a Q & A sheet, and a Dear Colleague Letter issued by the Office for Civil Rights.
New Guidance on Rights of Students with Disabilities
The U.S. Department of Education released a fact sheet on the rights of students with disabilities in charter schools. The document is intended to inform parents, students and the charter school community as to students' rights under Section 504 and IDEA.
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