Disability Policy Consortium

12/23/2025

Yesterday got away from us, so Why It Matters Monday is sliding into Tuesday.
Because sometimes advocacy runs on real life, not perfect schedules.
And we believe in flexibility over perfection around here.
So welcome to Why It Matters Tuesday.
Let’s talk about why this still matters today.

Why It Matters Monday: The Gift of Being Seen

This season is full of gatherings, rituals, lights, and tradition. But disabled people know something that holiday culture often misses: presence comes in many forms, and being seen matters more than being visible.

~Think about a wheelchair user who wanted to attend a family celebration but could not because the home had stairs and no ramp. They sent a card instead.

~ Think of the autistic person who left a crowded event after ten minutes because the noise and lights overwhelmed their senses. They spent the rest of the evening recovering alone.

~Think of someone with chronic illness who used most of their energy to wrap two thoughtful gifts but could not afford to buy more.

~Think of an immunocompromised person who joined by Zoom, mask on, holding back tears because they missed physical connection.

Or a PCA who spent the holiday caring for someone else yet was forgotten in the celebration.

These experiences are often invisible to others.

Disabled people are used to being overlooked, dismissed, or treated as burdens to be managed rather than people to be included. We carry a history of being spoken for, segregated, institutionalized, pitied, and excluded from public life. Even today, the world is built in ways that tell us repeatedly that our participation is an inconvenience.

So when someone sees us, truly sees us, it is not a small thing. It is dignity.

Being seen might look like asking a wheelchair user what location works for them before planning an event.

~ It might be telling the autistic person that it is okay to step out or stim and that leaving early does not diminish their value.
~ It might be honoring a homemade gift as deeply meaningful because it represents limited energy, love, and effort.
~ It might be keeping someone on Zoom involved in the conversation instead of forgetting them once the call starts.
~ It might be inviting the PCA who makes someone’s holiday possible to share a plate and be thanked.

Being seen means shifting perspective. It means recognizing that disabled people are not the barrier. The built environment, social expectations, and assumptions are.

This season, be the person who refuses to treat disabled people as problems to work around. Be the one who makes space, who adapts, who asks what is needed, and who values presence in all its forms. When we offer the gift of visibility, we affirm that disabled people are not guests at the margins.

We belong at the table. We always did.

12/22/2025

As 2025 comes to a close, we here at DPC are taking some time to reflect on everything we accomplished this year. In just the past year, DPC has:

-Secured a new contract with MassHealth to continue operating the My Ombudsman program, which provides crucial support to MassHealth members across the state
-Made substantial progress on key legislation, including two of our biggest priorities: wheelchair repair reform and health care nondiscrimination
-Won our campaign to extend the public notice requirements for public hearings from 3 to 10 business days

None of these successes would have been possible without you — DPC's community, partners, and supporters. Your unrelenting commitment to disability justice lifts up our collective impact.

We are so proud and grateful to share these words about what DPC means to you. Do you have anything else you'd like to share? Leave it in the comments or send us a message! 🥰

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There is still time to support DPC with a donation in 2025! Visit dpcma.org/donate to learn more and make your year-end gift today.

Remember - the first 30 people to start a monthly donation will receive a special gift in honor of DPC's 30th anniversary in 2026!

Reach out to ahabermehl@dpcma.org with any questions.

12/19/2025

Cold and flu season is here, and risk is still framed far too narrowly. It is not only older adults or newborns who are vulnerable. Disabled people are too.

Many disabled people live with compromised immune systems, chronic illnesses, respiratory conditions, or complex medical needs. When we get sick with the flu or COVID, it is rarely minor. What might be a few days of discomfort for someone else can quickly turn into breathing issues, dangerous infections, seizures, or flare-ups that require emergency care or hospitalization.

Hospital stays do not just affect health. They come with serious financial consequences. Even with insurance, a single hospitalization can cost thousands of dollars in copays, deductibles, medications, medical equipment, and follow-up care. Time in the hospital often means missed work, disrupted services, and gaps in caregiving that are difficult to repair.

The impact does not end when the virus passes. Illness can set a disabled person back weeks or months. Stability that took careful planning to maintain can be lost, and recovery often means rebuilding routines, regaining strength, and living with increased risk for future complications.

Too often, the unspoken solution is that disabled people should just stay home. That is not access. That is exclusion. Disabled people deserve to participate in our communities without constantly weighing whether showing up will cost us our health, our income, or our independence.

This is where prevention matters.

COVID has not disappeared. Many people believe vaccines alone are enough, but for many disabled people, that is not the case. Some bodies do not mount strong immune responses. Others take medications that reduce vaccine effectiveness. That means exposure still carries real risk, even in a vaccinated world.

Preventing the spread of illness works best when we layer care. Washing hands reduces transmission from surfaces and shared spaces. Masking when sick, after exposure, or in crowded indoor spaces lowers the amount of virus in the air. Testing when symptoms appear helps people isolate early instead of spreading illness unknowingly. Ventilation and air filtration reduce risk in shared indoor environments. Staying home when unwell stops a chain reaction before it reaches someone whose body cannot afford that hit.

Flexibility is part of prevention too. Offering remote options, rescheduling plans, and respecting sick time allows people to rest instead of pushing through illness. Respecting masking and personal space without judgment helps disabled people stay connected without having to explain or defend their needs.

A few everyday actions make a real difference:
• Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly
• Mask when you are sick, have been exposed, or are in crowded indoor spaces
• Test when you have symptoms or known exposure
• Stay up to date on flu and COVID vaccines if you are able
• Improve ventilation when possible
• Stay home when you are not well, even if symptoms feel mild

These are not individual inconveniences. They are collective protection. Community health is disability access. When we do our part to prevent the spread of illness, we make it possible for disabled people to live, work, gather, and belong without fear.

12/17/2025

Meet Allegra, who has been a monthly donor to DPC since 2022! 🎉When we asked her why she supports DPC and why she chose to donate monthly, she said:

“I really admire [DPC]’s incredible policy knowledge and advocacy, and the way that they make understanding policy and having an impact on disability policy accessible to everyday people.

I don’t have a lot of time these days to be involved - so that’s why I’m thrilled to be a monthly donor to DPC. I don’t have to do anything every month to make it happen, I just have the satisfaction of knowing that I’m supporting an organization I really believe in and it helps me feel connected to DPC’s incredible work.”

Thank you, Allegra! We are so honored to have your continued support. 💙

A monthly donation increases the long-term impact of your contribution to DPC and helps make sure that we can continue our community organizing, education, and research by and for people with disabilities across Massachusetts.

To join Allegra in our network of monthly sustainers, please visit dpcma.org/donate and select the "make this a monthly donation" check box on the Paypal page. Every month, you will automatically donate the amount of your choosing - so a $10 monthly donation becomes a $120 annual gift. And, like Allegra said, you just have to set it up and we will take care of the rest!

We're also excited to share that, in honor of our 30th anniversary next year, the first 30 people who start their monthly donations will receive a special gift as a thank you!

A donation to DPC is an investment in disability justice, real systemic change, and the next generation of disabled leaders. Reach out to ahabermehl@dpcma.org with any questions about the monthly giving program and how you can support DPC.

12/17/2025

Meet Allegra, one of DPC's monthly donors, and hear about the reasons she supports DPC. To join our network of monthly sustainers, visit dpcma.org/donate today!

12/15/2025

We are excited to share an important new resource from our friends at the Federation for Children with Special Needs!

FCSN has released an updated white paper on the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) for Deaf or Hard of Hearing students. This guidance brings together federal requirements, best practices, and practical considerations to help ensure DHH students receive an education that truly meets their communication, language, and access needs.

There are two versions available:
• A general version focused on federal guidance and best practices
• A Massachusetts specific version that includes resources for families navigating special education in MA

This is a powerful tool for families, educators, advocates, and school teams working to uphold the rights of Deaf and Hard of Hearing students and ensure decisions are centered on access, language, and belonging, not convenience.

We encourage you to explore the resource and share it widely within your networks.

Read the white paper here:
https://fcsn.org/guidance-on-application-of-least-restrictive-environment-lre-for-students-who-are-deaf-or-hard-of-hearing/

Thank you to FCSN for continuing to lead with clarity, expertise, and a strong commitment to students and families.

Home → Resources → Guidance on Application of Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) for Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

12/15/2025

Why It Matters Monday: The Hidden Cost of Celebration

Holidays are framed as effortless joy. Warm gatherings. Bright lights. Full tables. But for many disabled people, celebration is not rest. It is work. It is logistics layered on top of bodies that already require planning to stay stable.

Picture this: a disabled person has been pacing their week around one holiday event. They ration spoons for days. They arrange transportation. They confirm PCA hours. They pack medical supplies. Then that morning, their PCA calls out. Without hands to help them get out of bed, get dressed, or manage care, the gathering goes on without them.

Not because they did not want to be there, but because independence is tied to infrastructure that can fall through at any moment. Financial strain adds another layer. Many disabled people live on fixed incomes that barely stretch through an ordinary month, let alone a holiday season. When medical copays, supplies, food, and utilities come first, gift giving becomes a choice between connection and survival. And in a culture that equates generosity with worth, this can feel like failing to keep up with a world that never had us in mind.

It is not just physical access. For autistic or neurodivergent people, holidays can bring sensory overload. Bright lights. Crowded rooms. Loud music. Sudden changes in schedule. Social rules that shift without warning. What is joyful for some can be overwhelming or painful for others. Participation takes preparation, coping tools, and often a backup plan.

Then there is the invisible weight: the mental load. Disabled people often spend weeks managing care schedules around holiday closures. Ordering supplies early so they do not run out when pharmacies close. Planning ride backups when paratransit is unreliable. Coordinating support so they do not end up isolated.

The labor of celebration happens long before anyone sits down to eat. The truth is, disabled people frequently celebrate differently. We host smaller moments. We prioritize presence over performance. We pace ourselves. We navigate disappointment, fatigue, and exclusion while trying to stay connected to the people we love.

Holidays can hold joy, but they can also hold pressure, loneliness, or loss. That is why awareness matters. If we want inclusive celebrations, we have to understand the cost disabled people quietly absorb to participate.

And there are ways to lighten that weight.
~Ask what someone needs instead of assuming.
~Offer hybrid options for gatherings.
~Be open to alternative plans if the first one falls through.
~Make room for sensory safe spaces or quieter visits. ~Understand that connection does not always mean being physically present at the big event. Sometimes it looks like dropping off a meal, coming by for an hour, or FaceTiming instead of insisting on attendance.
~It can also look like redefining what gifts are. A homemade craft or note may carry more meaning than something expensive, because it represents energy and love someone stretched themselves to give.
~A shared recipe, a quiet visit, or an activity done together without holiday pressure can be a gift in itself.

When we widen our idea of celebration, disabled people get to participate in ways that honor both their capacity and their care.

12/11/2025

DPC is proud to join a broad coalition of disability justice, supportive housing, public health, and community advocates calling on Congress to fully renew 2026 CoC grants. Without action, communities will face rising homelessness, strained services, and preventable harm for people with disabilities and many others who rely on supportive housing to stay safe. A full year renewal is a no cost step that protects stability for more than 170000 households and preserves programs that took years to build. Congress must act.

CSH joined more than 1,000 organizations in urging Congress to include a full-year renewal of all Continuum of Care grants expiring in 2026.

This no-cost step will protect housing and services for 170,000+ households and give communities the stability needed to adjust to major policy shifts proposed in the latest CoC Notice of Funding Opportunity.
Read the letter: https://bit.ly/3K5VEYs

Supportive housing works. Abrupt funding gaps will jeopardize lives, public health systems, and billions in public and private investment.
We urge Congress to act quickly to maintain stability for communities nationwide.

Access Ready Inc, Alliance To End Human Trafficking, America Forward, American Association on Health and Disability, American Council of the Blind, The Autistic Self Advocacy Network, The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, Butler Human Services, Center for Law and Social Policy,

12/11/2025

Holiday Reminders: Disability Edition

The holidays can bring joy, stress, connection, and pressure for all of us. For many disabled people, those feelings can show up in very real ways that deserve understanding instead of silence. These reminders are here to help us care for ourselves and each other through a season that is not always as bright as it looks from the outside.

• Not everyone celebrates a holiday this month. Some people observe different traditions. Some honor the season in quiet, personal ways. Some do not celebrate at all. All of these choices are valid and should be welcomed without pressure or judgment.

• Grief often gets heavier in December. You might be missing a person, a place, a pet, or a chapter of life you had before a diagnosis or injury. There is no right way to carry that. Share your memories if you want to. Sit with your feelings if that is what you need.

• The holidays can also be frightening when the supports you rely on become unstable. PCA staffing shortages get worse, transportation becomes unpredictable, and familiar programs often close. If you know someone who depends on daily care or routine, check in. Even a quick message can ease a long week.

• Many disabled people cannot spend the season in the community at all. Hospitals, nursing homes, and group homes can make the holidays feel colder and quieter. Remember the people who are still there. A visit, a call, or a takeout meal sent their way can brighten a place that often feels forgotten.

• Loneliness can echo louder than usual. Not everyone has gatherings to attend or family traditions waiting for them. Reaching out to a disabled friend is simple and meaningful. It tells someone their presence matters.

• You do not have to attend every event to have a full holiday. Rest is not optional. Your body decides the pace and you are allowed to listen. Choosing a quiet night over an exhausting outing is an act of care, not a failure.

• Hosting with access in mind is a gift all its own. Not everyone can participate in food centered traditions, so offer things that do not revolve around eating. Ask about dietary, sensory, and medical needs ahead of time. A truly accessible event has clear pathways, working elevators, captions, quiet space, scent awareness, and room for mobility devices to move freely.

• Money is stretched thin for many people this time of year, especially for disabled folks balancing medical costs and personal care. Accept gifts with gratitude, whether they are handmade, low cost, or simply a moment of someone’s time. Generosity takes many forms.

• There is no wrong way to celebrate. Some people join virtually. Some pace themselves through the day. Some stay home entirely. Some celebrate from bed with their service dog curled at their feet. And some do not celebrate at all. All of it is real life.

• Joy is part of disability too. It shows up in soft moments, friendship, connection, survival, and humor. It does not need to be flashy to be meaningful.

The heart of this season is community. Care for yourself. Care for each other. And whenever you have the capacity, make your spaces and traditions a little more welcoming for someone who needs it. A small act of inclusion can be the brightest light someone sees all month.

12/08/2025

Why It Matters Monday: Rest is Necessary, Not Earned

This season often comes with unspoken rules. Be everywhere. Say yes. Keep pace with gatherings, shopping, travel, and cheer. But for many disabled people, our bodies write different rules.

Rest is not optional. It is how we stay well enough to live our lives.

Spoon Theory gives language to this truth. It imagines our energy as spoons. Each task we do costs one. Some days we wake with a drawer full. Other days we start with only a handful and still face a list twice as long. A person with chronic illness might wake up with five spoons, but ten things that need doing. That means something has to give. We cannot pour from an empty drawer.

So disabled people become experts at priority. We learn to notice our limits early, to choose what matters most, and to let the rest wait. It might look like ordering takeout instead of cooking, choosing a quiet night in rather than a holiday party, reading in bed instead of forcing through another task, or taking a long bath when our body tells us to stop.

Rest comes in many forms, but its purpose is the same. It keeps our health from slipping.

The world often asks us to show up everywhere, especially during the holidays. It expects a pace many of our bodies cannot match. Saying no, stepping back, or bowing out is seen as disengagement when in reality it is how we preserve enough energy to stay present in the parts of life that matter. Disabled people are not failing to keep up. We are honoring the truth of our bodies.

Rest is necessary. It is not something we have to earn by pushing past our limits first. It is a legitimate need, a grounding force, and an act of self respect. When disabled people choose rest, we are choosing to stay well enough to keep showing up in ways that are sustainable, joyful, and real.

And there are ways you can help make that possible.
~ Offer advance notice before gatherings so we can plan our spoons.
~ Be flexible with timing, scheduling, and expectations.
~ Make sure spaces are accessible or be willing to meet one on one instead of pressing someone to attend what their body cannot manage.

Small choices like these make rest something we can protect rather than defend. They help disabled people stay connected without sacrificing our health to do it.

12/08/2025

Did you know that cold and flu season impacts disabled people in very different ways?

For some, getting sick might mean a few days of rest. For others, even a mild virus can become much more serious.

People with autoimmune conditions may have a harder time fighting infections. Someone with a respiratory disability might struggle more with breathing during common illnesses. And many disabled folks have care routines, medications, and supports that become harder to manage when they are sick.

These differences are important to understand, especially in the winter when viruses spread quickly.

The good news is that we all play a part in keeping our community healthy.
~ Getting your flu and COVID shots,
~ Staying home when you are sick,
~ Washing your hands often,
~ And wearing a mask in crowded spaces go a long way toward protecting the people around you.

These steps help the coworker on immunosuppressants, the friend with ME or POTS who gets hit harder by viruses, or the parent who has been hospitalized before and wants to avoid another setback.

We can also be thoughtful about how we gather this time of year. Limiting unnecessary in-person events, offering hybrid and virtual meetings, and making sure spaces are well-ventilated are simple ways to support both safety and inclusion.

These options help disabled community members stay engaged without taking on extra health risks.

And for workplaces, this season is a reminder of what inclusion really looks like.
~ Flexible PTO,
~ Generous sick time,
~ And remote work options make it easier for everyone to stay home when they are ill and allow disabled employees to limit exposure when they need to.

These are not extras. They are part of creating a workplace that understands different bodies have different needs. Cold and flu season is here, and a little awareness goes a long way. When we keep each other in mind, we build communities and workplaces that are safer and more connected for everyone.

If you want support strengthening disability inclusion at your workplace, visit disabilitydei.org.