Politics & Law
In First, Feds Issue National Strategy To Support Family Caregivers
Federal health officials are putting forth a national strategy to address the needs of family caregivers, acknowledging the challenges faced by millions who care for those with IDD and other issues.
New Proposal In Congress Would Remove ‘Mentally Retarded’ From Federal Law
Years after the term "mental retardation" was stripped from many federal statutes, numerous references to "mentally retarded" remain. Now, a bipartisan group in Congress wants to change that.
Court Victories Deliver Cautious Hope For Voters With Disabilities
More than 20 states enacted a wave of barriers to the ballot process in recent years. Protecting the rights of voters with disabilities is one area in which advocates have successfully pushed back.
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Feds Seek To Remove Medicaid Barriers For Those With Disabilities
With a plan to overhaul the enrollment process, federal officials say they are taking steps to make it easier for people with disabilities to gain Medicaid coverage and keep it.
Thousands May Join Class Action Suit Over Special Education Delays
An estimated 15,000 families could be part of a class action lawsuit accusing one state of taking far longer than IDEA allows to resolve disputes about how their children should be educated.
Medicaid Program Helping People Leave Institutions Headed To More States
Following years in limbo, a popular Medicaid program that helps people with disabilities move from institutions to community-based living will become more widely available.
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Feds Recommend Strategies To Expand Disability Employment
Nine federal agencies are coming together to encourage state and local governments to do more to ensure that people with disabilities can access and succeed in competitive integrated employment.
Airlines May Be Required To Accommodate Travelers In Their Wheelchairs
Efforts are underway to allow people with disabilities to remain in their own wheelchairs while traveling by air.
Deputy Used Stun Gun 17 Times On Teen With Autism, Lawsuit Alleges
Calling it "an egregious case of abuse," attorneys for a nonverbal teen with autism allege that he was stunned 17 times by a sheriff's deputy while walking down the road in his pajamas.
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Congress Punts On Aid For Struggling Disability Services System
An ambitious plan to shore up Medicaid home and community-based services nationwide with the largest investment ever in the program has been whittled down to nothing.
Feds To Spend $1.7B To Make Rail Stations Accessible
A massive federal program is set to make hundreds of old subway and commuter rail stations accessible to people with disabilities by retrofitting sites that predate the ADA.
Medicaid Expanding Offerings For Kids With Severe Needs
Federal Medicaid officials are issuing new guidance aimed at making it easier for children with complex medical conditions like severe autism and cerebral palsy to access the care they need.