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
10/16/2018
Tuesdays with Liz: Your Opinions Matter - Share Them!
Your opinions matter - share them! Liz's testimony on Capitol Hill during the Judge Kavanaugh confirmation hearings made it clear that people with disabilities have a platform. Liz reflects on her testimony, your support, and what you can do to make sure your voice is heard.
10/15/2018
Disability Policy News In Brief
Voting, ESSA reporting, the public charge rule, transportation and more
10/15/2018
Maryland Legal Services Corporation Rising Star Award (MD UCEDD)
The Maryland Legal Services Corporation board of directors selected Mallory Finn as the 2018 recipient of the Rising Star Award. This award is presented to an attorney who has practiced law for 10 years or less and has significantly contributed to expanding access to justice by serving the civil legal needs of low-income Marylanders or advancing the delivery of civil legal services.
10/9/2018
Don't just be a voter - be an EDUCATED voter!
Don't just be a voter - be an EDUCATED voter! This week on Tuesdays with Liz, one of the things Liz talks about is how to get information about the candidates who are running for office in your state's Board of Elections website. Visit https://www.usa.gov/election-office and select your state or territory from the drop down menu, then click 'Go' and you will be taken to your state or local election office website where you can learn more about the candidates' positions on issues that matter to you.
10/2/2018
Tuesdays with Liz: Marcie Lipsitt Talks Disability Rights in Schools
Join us this week at Liz talks with Marcie Lipsitt about her background in advocating for the civil rights of students with disabilities.
10/1/2018
Public Charge Policy Update
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted a new draft of the "public charge" policy on September 22. Public charge is a term used by U.S. immigration officials to refer to a person who is considered primarily dependent on the government for subsistence.
2018 1001 public charge.pdf
[download]
10/1/2018
Sample Phone Script
For Calling Members of Congress
Sometimes calling your Congressmember can be scary. You may not know what to say or how to say it. This script from AUCD can be used for any concerns you may have; just fill in the blanks.
9/25/2018
Tuesdays with Liz: Joe MacBeth on Direct Support Professionals
Happy National Direct Support Professionals Week! In this episode, Liz talks with Joe Macbeth, the Executive Director of the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP). Joe explains what a direct support professional is, the importance of their work, and how you can help DSPs get better pay.
Resources
2018 Congressional Autism Caucus
Learn about the members of the Autism Caucus, which was founded by Representatives Mike Doyle (PA) and Chris Smith (NJ) who also Co-Chair the Coalition for Autism Research and Education ("CARE" or "Autism Caucus"), the first-ever Congressional Membership Organization dedicated to autism advocacy on Capitol Hill.
AUCD Summary of the Senate Appropriations Committee
L-HHS-ED Bill for FY 2018
On September 7, the Senate Appropriations Committee completed its mark-up of the FY 2018 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill and voted to report out the bill by a vote of 31-1 with Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla) casting the sole "nay" vote. The House Appropriations Committee completed its work on July 19 (see links to bill and summary). Attached is a summary of how the bill impacts the AUCD network and other priorities of the disability community, along with a detailed table comparing the House and Senate bills with the President�s budget and FY 2017.
Improving Access to Higher Education Act
A bill summary and fact sheet are available for the Improving Access to Higher Education Act, which would amend the Higher Education Act (HEA) to improve college access and completion for students with disabilities.
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