HASL

04/24/2026

If paid family caregiver programs are eliminated, the consequences will be immediate—and catastrophic—for individuals with severe disabilities and the families who support them.

For many, there is no backup plan. There are no open beds in long-term care. There are no specialized providers waiting on standby. In many cases, there are not even qualified staff willing or trained to safely support individuals with severe behaviors. Families are not choosing to be the primary caregivers because it is easy—they are doing it because there is no one else.

And it’s important to understand—not all states even offer paid parent caregiver programs now. Access to this support already depends heavily on where a family lives. Eliminating it in the states that do offer it would not create equity—it would expand an already dangerous gap and leave even more families without options.

Without this support:
• Individuals with severe behaviors will face increased risk of injury to themselves and others as exhausted caregivers lose the minimal support that allows them to safely manage daily life.
• Families will be pushed to physical, emotional, and financial collapse, often forcing parents to leave the workforce entirely with no compensation or safety net.
• Hospitalizations will rise—not because hospitals are appropriate, but because they will become the only remaining option in crisis.
• Law enforcement and emergency services will be used more frequently for behavioral crises, placing individuals in systems that are not equipped to understand or support disability.
• Cases of neglect—unintentional but unavoidable—will increase as caregivers are stretched beyond human limits.
• Some individuals may ultimately face homelessness or inappropriate institutionalization in settings that cannot meet their needs, simply because there is nowhere else for them to go.

This is not theoretical. This is what happens when fragile support systems are removed without viable alternatives—and in many places, families are already living this reality.

Paid family caregiving is not a luxury. It is a cost-effective, stabilizing force that keeps individuals safe, keeps families intact, and prevents far more expensive and traumatic outcomes.

Eliminating it does not reduce need—it shifts the burden into systems that are already overwhelmed, more costly, and far less humane.

For individuals with severe and profound disabilities, this support is often the difference between stability and crisis, safety and harm, dignity and abandonment.

04/23/2026

Liz Weintraub Shares "People with disabilities deserve the RIGHT to LIVE in the COMMUNITY with supports"

ANCOR American Network of Community Options and Resources
“We are deeply troubled by continued threats to critical home- and community-based services (HCBS), especially the White House’s recommendation to reduce HHS funding and eliminate the Administration for Community Living. Amplifying our concerns are recent statements from administration officials questioning the importance of federal funding for these crucial services."

Photo of White House

04/22/2026

"Environmental justice depends on disability justice because true sustainability can only be achieved when disabled people are actively involved in planning, response, and decision-making. By investing in disability-led solutions, communities become more resilient to climate impacts, public health improves, and entire neighborhoods are better protected."

Celebrate Earth Day by reading about how environmental justice can be more inclusive of people with disabilities: https://www.disabilitybelongs.org/2025/12/environmental-justice-disability/

04/18/2026

Triumph Foundation is excited to share a great free resource for our community! 👇

The University of Pittsburgh has created a free, online wheelchair skills training coursefor manual wheelchair users, care partners, and rehab professionals.

Learn practical skills like:
• Navigating ramps & uneven surfaces
• Transfers & curbs
• Wheelies, stairs & more

Includes step-by-step videos, photos, and safety tips—plus course options based on how you move.

👉 Explore here: https://wheelchairskillsprogram.ca/en/upcoming-courses

Feel free to share with anyone who could benefit!

04/17/2026

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a cornerstone of disability rights in the United States. More than 50 years after its passage, it remains a vital protection against discrimination, yet it is also the subject of renewed public attention and legal debate. In the first installment of a three part series, we look at the history of Section 504 and how it reshaped rights in America.

Read our new blog post: "What is Section 504, and How Did it Change Disability Rights?" https://www.disabilitybelongs.org/2026/04/section-504-disability-rights/

04/15/2026

We're hiring for two temporary positions! One is remote, and one is in-person. Both roles will assist AAPD in reaching people for a needs assessment that will inform the creation of a new program. This is a great opportunity to help our organization reach the disability community in new ways.

The Outreach Canvassers are temporary, part-time roles as an independent contractor from May - August 2026. We will hire up to 20 canvassers across the United States. The application has a priority deadline of May 1.

AAPD is looking for advocates and organizers who want to be part of the work of our needs assessment team! Outreach canvassers will support AAPD in disseminating a survey to help inform the creation of a new program. We will hire up to 20 canvassers across the United States. Canvassers will work for 15-20 hours, including in-person canvassing and preparation tasks. In-person canvassing will take place primarily during the first three weeks of the survey promotion. Outreach Canvassers are paid $25/hours.

The Focus Group Facilitators are temporary, part-time, remote roles from June - September 2026. We will hire up to 5 focus group facilitators. The application has a priority deadline of May 8.

Community focus group facilitators will support AAPD in conducting focus groups to help inform the creation of a new program at AAPD. The new program is for people with different health conditions, disabilities, and aging or changing bodies/minds. Specifically, we want to reach people who AAPD hasn’t typically engaged in the past, including people who might not identify as disabled but have long-term conditions that impact them. Focus group facilitators are paid $3000-$3500, depending on how many groups they facilitate.

Head to the link in our bio to learn more and apply!

Head to this link to learn more and apply: https://ats.rippling.com/aapd-jobs/jobs

ID: Two teal graphics list the roles and share the information highlighted in the caption.

03/30/2026

03/26/2026

The Jackson & Josephine Health Fair is a free community event designed to connect individuals and families with local health resources, wellness activities, free health screenings and access to immunizations.

03/23/2026

Brain injuries are considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as they affect major life activities.

If you have questions about your rights and/or responsibilities under the ADA, contact your regional ADA Center here: https://adata.org/find-your-region