Commentary: How will the Trump administration advance disability rights?
One in four Americans lives with a disability, and they need greater services and supports.
By Joseph Pancari
Dec 3, 2024
As the nation prepares for a demonstrable shift in leadership, people with disabilities are asking: What about us?kip Ad
One in four Americans is living with a disability. But we have heard little about the ways the new administration would advance disability rights and access during Donald Trump’s second time behind the Resolute Desk.
To do so would be relatively straightforward, as there is much to build on already: America is a leader in disability services and solutions, and we recently marked the 34th anniversary of the landmark passage of the Americans with Disability Act. Under the law, every public space must have accommodations for wheelchairs, and people with disabilities are afforded equal status and provided specific protections around hiring, housing and transportation.
Another sign of progress occurred in March, when the Senate unanimously passed legislation that qualifies the profession charged with providing daily assistance, direct support professionals, as its own standard occupational classification, making this contingent unique amongst other health care workers. Now it is up to the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the parallel Direct Support Professionals Act (H.R. 2941).
The wish of the provider community for the next four years is a broadened panorama of services and supports. The shared goal is to provide as many opportunities as possible for those with disabilities to achieve fulfilling lives. At Constructive Partnerships Unlimited, we see daily the challenges experienced by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the heroic work of our dedicated team who empower their success. We also know the frustrations when vacancies increase, both in terms of open beds and available positions that go unfilled.
Some initial steps the new administration could take may include streamlining the confusing array of agencies and barriers that can make it difficult to access quality services both federally and locally. Another priority would be for a national “Traveling with Dignity” Act, like the one passed in New York State, which mandates height-adjustable adult changing tables in government buildings, at large public venues, and in rest stops accessed by the interstate highway system. The federal government should also subsidize more research into medical interventions and technological tools that improve the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Finally, adding funds to help agencies meet state and national climate goals will modernize the industry and make it a world leader in sustainable disability services.
Further, America must more robustly commit to its aging population now and in the immediate future, especially as it relates to persons with disabilities. The top concern for anyone with a child or adult child with a disability is, “What will happen to them when I am gone?” Two strategies worth serious consideration are new investments in flexible residential supports for people languishing in nursing homes or emergency rooms, and development of residential solutions that support both people with disabilities and their aging caregivers.
This is all to say that America has work to do. To turn away from the intellectual and developmental disabilities field is to ignore the promise in every individual and to undercut the inclusive values inherent in our founding documents and vision for a better future. I urge President-elect Trump and all lawmakers to uphold this idea and address this vital societal need.
Joseph Pancari is the CEO of Constructive Partnerships Unlimited.
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