Disabilities

Approximately 61 million Americans – one in four adults – live with a disability. The passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the subsequent Supreme Court decision in Olmstead v. LC, and the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act made the United States an international leader in disability rights by recognizing that people of all abilities deserve to live, learn, and work in their communities. However, thirty years after the passage of the ADA, we must continue to tear down barriers to inclusion and work towards true community living.  

As a founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus (BDC), I have the opportunity to educate other lawmakers and their staffs about disability rights. Under my leadership, the BDC has hosted briefings on some of the topics most critical to people with disabilities -  employment, direct service provider shortages, education, transportation, and disaster preparedness. 

I remain committed to creating laws that uphold the rights of every American – and especially those living with disabilities – to attain social and economic independence.   

Access to Community Services and Support 

Home and community-based (HCBS) waivers for Medicaid services provide greater flexibility and independence for individuals with disabilities by allowing them to receive the care they need without leaving their communities for a restrictive hospital setting. Supporting these community-based programs is vital to improving the overall quality of care for individuals with disabilities.  

Additionally, over 43 million people a year provide unpaid support to the people they care about, and reports estimate that the annual economic value of uncompensated family caregiving is about $470 billion. Respite care provides temporary relief for those engaged in the full-time task of caring for their aging or disabled loved ones, allowing caregivers to attend to their own needs.That is why I am proud to have worked to establish the Lifespan Respite Care program, the only federal program that provides respite care for family caregivers regardless of age or disability, and introduced the Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act, which the House of Representatives passed in July 2019. This program provides necessary support to families who need it while also decreasing the number of patients who require professional long-term care.   

Removing Obstacles to Health and Wealth 

Health care is a major barrier that has limited employment options and wealth accumulation for people with disabilities. Families with a disabled individual are nearly twice as likely to live below the federal poverty line than families without a disabled individual. Many Americans with disabilities rely on healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid, but those programs are only available to those earning an income below the poverty line. Individuals who are employed – even if only at a part-time job – can lose critical health benefits, a risk that many people with disabilities cannot afford to take. I support adjusting asset and income limits of public programs so that people can pursue employment without fear of losing the life-saving medical coverage they rely on.  

Employers must also do their part to ensure workplaces are accessible. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy offers resources to help employers use accessible technology and make reasonable accommodations that open doors for employees with disabilities. Most reasonable accommodations are free to implement, while the rest often cost less than $500.  I am proud to cosponsor legislation that would make it easier for small businesses to comply with the ADA and become accessible for people with disabilities. Adding a single ramp or offering voice-recognition software can make all the difference. ​

The mass conversion from office work to telework during the COVID-19 pandemic shows us that accommodations are possible and can be quickly implemented. I believe passionately that people with disabilities are our country’s greatest untapped resource, and, with the help of employers, we can remove the barriers that hinder people with disabilities from pursuing their own dreams. 

Transportation 

As someone who uses a wheelchair, I know that public transportation can be difficult to navigate. But until people with disabilities can easily and reliably travel for work, errands, or social engagements, true community living is impossible.

I am proud to have sponsored legislation to make commercial air travel and ​local transit systems more accessible. I fought to get major disability rights provisions included in the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2018, including a bill of rights for passengers with disabilities, an advisory committee to amplify voices in the community, and a review of the assistance that airline and airport staff must provide to passengers with disabilities.  

Additionally, I was proud to introduce the Disability Access to Transportation Act, which will modernize the transportation process for Americans living with a disability. Among the initiatives included are the establishment of a one-stop paratransit pilot program to allow paratransit riders more flexibility in completing activities of daily living, a requirement to streamline and make more transparent the Department of Transportation’s accessibility complaint process, and an increase in funding for initiatives that meet the transportation needs of older adults and people with disabilities.

I am committed to improving access to transportation because no matter where we are going, all people with disabilities deserve to travel with dignity.  

Disaster Preparedness 

In 2018, a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that local and state governments and nonprofit organizations that partner with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) struggle to provide aid to older Americans and people with disabilities before, during, and following a natural disaster. 

In response, I introduced legislation to support the development of disaster preparedness plans that address the unique needs of individuals with disabilities and older Americans. I am proud that the bill guarantees that seniors and Americans with disabilities have a voice in creating the preparedness plans that directly affect them. I also joined my colleagues in sponsoring legislation that would ensure that Medicaid-eligible Americans who are displaced due to natural disasters may continue to receive healthcare services if they are relocated to other states. 

When disaster strikes, comprehensive preparedness plans can be the difference between life and death. I remain committed to ensuring that older Americans and people with disabilities are included and their local governments are equipped to care for them.