Promoting best practices in education, employment, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and access.
Our Approach to Policy Advocacy
Disability Belongs™ works across sectors and branches of government to promote state and federal policies that empower disabled people, especially those who are multiply marginalized.
- As a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, we collaborate with diverse stakeholders to achieve our policy goals.
- We partner with the disability community to identify and address urgent challenges.
- We educate disabled people on the policies most relevant to their lives and how to advocate for themselves.
2025-2026 Policy Agenda
Our Policy Agenda outlines the key reforms, legislative efforts, and suggested systemic shifts necessary to advance equity, accessibility, and inclusion.
Our Policy Partners
Disability Belongs™ advocates alongside the broader disability advocacy community at the federal level through the following coalitions and working groups:
- Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities
- Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology
- National Coalition on Accessible Voting
- Disabled Marriage Equality
- Increasing Access for Voters with Disabilities
Our 2025-2026 Policy Priorities
1) Eliminate barriers to opportunity and independence.
- Foster financial literacy
- Eliminate asset caps and marriage penalties
- Promote Medicaid Buy-In
- Ensure fundamental necessities (housing, healthcare, food, recreation, social connection)
2) Promote equitable employment and advancement.
- End subminimum wage and sheltered work
- Support equal pay for equal work
- Defend and advance civil rights in employment
- Increase paid leave and effective benefits
3) Support inclusive learning and education-to-work transitions.
- Strengthen workforce development programs and infrastructure
- Defend and advance civil rights in education
- Enhance government-funded training and educational programs
4) Advance accessibility best practices across sectors.
- Engage with emerging technologies
- Ensure accessible and affordable transportation
- Support inclusive emergency management
5) Drive civic engagement and advocacy.
- Mobilize disability-led advocacy
- Engage and energize allies
- Get out the disabled vote
Advancing these priorities in the current session, Disability Belongs™ supports the following bills:
- The Accessible Voting Act (AVA)
- The Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act (CVTA)
- The Ensuring Nationwide Access to a Better Life Experience Act (ENABLE Act)
- The Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act
- The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Savings Penalty Elimination Act
- The Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (TCIEA)
Advancing these priorities in the current session, Disability Belongs™ will protect landmark legislation and enforcement mechanisms:
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- The Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA)
- The Rehabilitation Act (Rehab Act)
- The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
H.R. 1 Tracking Project
H.R. 1 introduced changes to provisions that directly impact the disability community’s access to government-funded programs such as Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Our H.R. 1 Tracking Project outlines key provisions and their effective dates. Each key provision has a community explainer, which provides a clear overview of the changes, and a Policy Ask, designed for policymakers and individuals interested in contacting their legislators. We will be releasing more information on specific provisions throughout the year.
Our Vote. Our Voice. Our Choice.
Elections are happening all the time in the United States. From local and state races to federal contests, every election is a chance to make your voice heard. Disability Belongs™ wants every person with a disability to know that their vote always matters! Visit DisabilityBelongs.org/Vote to find information to help you get registered to vote, understand the issues, address barriers to voting, volunteer to support the election process, and advocate year-round on priorities that matter to the disability community.