For decades, disability advocates have been referred to as the “hidden army” of the civil rights community.
Although the disability community has often found itself neglected as politicians rattle off the constituencies they care about—we call this ABD for “all but disability”—a growing shift on the progressive side of the aisle has started to take shape, resulting in a more inclusive table being set as policy agendas are decided. This is thanks in large part to the leadership of ADAPT and other disability activists who worked to preserve disability rights in the Affordable Care Act.
At the same time, we are seeing the GOP move in the other direction, away from what people with disabilities need to live and thrive in society. President Trump’s budget is just the latest example of that. If enacted, these policy decisions will have a devastating long-term impact on the one-in-three families that include people with disabilities, a category that encompassed one in every four adults.
The above excerpt was originally published in Rewire.News.
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