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means more incarcerated people will be able to stay in touch with their friends, loved ones, and support networks. The House of Representatives should act now to pass this legislation!
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NDRN will spend next year doing what we always do—fighting for the civil and human rights of people with disabilities. Every day of every month. All year.
Your ongoing support throughout the year would be enormously encouraging and greatly appreciated.
By donating to NDRN today, you support our efforts to strengthen the laws that protect the civil and human…
Use our holiday checklist to make sure your ready for the festivities:
- Presents bought?
- Gifts wrapped?
- Gotten your bivalent covid booster shot?
If you’re having trouble checking off #3, contact the Disability Information and Access Line at
An Easy Way to Get Connected to the Services You Need Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Eastern) Call, text or videophone: 888-677-1199 Start an an online chat with an information specialist. Email [email protected] Connect directly to an agent in American Sign Language Download our D...
Free Covid-19 test kits delivered through USPS are back! Order yours today
Every U.S. household is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests.
We signed on to this statement from The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law to oppose Eric Adam's disasterous plan to involuntairly commit people with mental health disabilities. We can not accept attempts to undo the progess disability rights advocates have made.
We denounce hate in all its forms. Join us in standing against bigotry and Islamaphobia
H.Res. 662 calls for the United States government to honor the victims from hate crimes motivated by Islamophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment, where individuals were targeted by violence and hatred because they were Muslim or perceived to be Muslim.
We ❤️ these incredibly cool ornaments! They can be found at Target! 🙂🦽🦽🙂
Description: A little gray mouse with a red sweater, teal scarf, gray pants and green shoes sitting in a white, manual wheelchair. Made of felt. Two of them, sitting side-by-side and enjoying each other’s company!
In case you missed it, in October we had Senator Daines on the PandA Pod to discuss competitive integrated employment.
The PandA Pod is back! And we have a new co-host, a new producer, and some fantastic guests.
Read about the crucial work our colleagues in North Carolina are doing to fight for the rights of people in prisons with disabilities
Disability Rights North Carolina released the findings of an investigation into the state's 109 jails, revealing that many routinely fail to provide proper sanitation and supervision.
Protect yourself and your loved ones ahead of the holidays. The bivalent booster vaccines are widely available, and provide enhanced protection against COVID-19. If you encounter disability related barriers to accessing the vaccine, the Disability Information and Access Line can help!
An Easy Way to Get Connected to the Services You Need Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Eastern) Call, text or videophone: 888-677-1199 Start an an online chat with an information specialist. Email [email protected] Connect directly to an agent in American Sign Language Download our D...
Awesome new commercial showing various forms of assistive technology which allow people with a variety of disabilities to be independent and self-sufficient! 🙂 Check it out!
At Apple, we believe accessibility is a human right. Innovative features like Door Detection, Sound Recognition, Voice Control, and more are designed to let ...
Sign up for this webinar (12/12) to understand recent guidance on the rights of students with disabilities.
Discipline guidance documents from the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and from the Office for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSER)
People with mental health disabilities are entitled to reasonable accommodations. Proud of the work our colleagues at Disability Rights Connecticut are doing to protect the rights of students.
Yale University is being accused of discriminating against students with mental health disabilities, including pressuring some to withdraw from the prestigious institution and then placing “unreasonable burdens” on those who seek to be reinstated
“For decades, individuals with mental health diagnoses were locked up, isolated, abused, neglected, or even killed in institutions where they received little to no treatment...It seems that Mayor Adams wants to return to those awful days.” - Marlene Sallo, Executive Director
For people with mental health conditions, New York City is no longer a safe home.
If you’re not currently watching the NBC show “New Amsterdam”, you might want to check it out! One of the main characters in this season, Dr. Elizabeth Wilder, is a surgeon who happens to be Deaf (brilliantly played by Sandra Mae Frank, who is also Deaf). Beyond that, she is in a developing relationship with the main character on the show, Dr. Max Goodwin. It’s quite amazing to see a realistic, raw representation of the development of a potentially romantic relationship between a Deaf person and a hearing person… and the barriers that may still remain.
The show has actually also had discussions about how disability is actually the constraints imposed by society rather than the individual’s supposed limitations. Groundbreaking stuff for mainstream TV!
Check out the moving clip below for a glimpse of this unique storyline. 

Max (Ryan Eggold) and Wilder (Sandra Mae Frank) feel a connection, but don't understand how to make it all work.» Subscribe for More: http://bit.ly/NBCSub» S...
Are you passionate about disability rights? Are you an experienced advocate? We're hiring a Community Relations Specialist!
Help support the work we do to defend disability rights this , visit www.NDRN.org/Donate to learn more.
What's this season's hottest Black Friday item? It's the bivalent booster shot and it's free! If your disability is making it difficult for you to schedule a vaccine appointment, you can learn more at
An Easy Way to Get Connected to the Services You Need Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Eastern) Call, text or videophone: 888-677-1199 Start an an online chat with an information specialist. Email [email protected] Connect directly to an agent in American Sign Language Download our D...
Pass the stuffing this Thanksgiving holiday, not Covid-19. Getting your Bivalent Booster Shot means our communities stay healthier this season.
Watch our video to learn more about your vaccine rights:
People with disabilities have the right to access the Covid-19 vaccine. In most cases, if you want to get the vaccine, you can. No one can keep you from gett...
Worried about the future of your favorite social media platform? Want to be able to stay up to date with our advocacy? Then sign up for our email list, so you'll always know what our network is doing to fight for disability rights!
Want to receive news, alerts, and information about the work of the P&A/CAP Network? Sign up here to get the latest in disability rights.
"Millions of American families have come to rely on the promise of marriage equality and the freedoms, rights and responsibilities that come with making the commitment of marrying the one you love. But Congress has not enshrined marriage equality for same-s*x and in*******al marriages into law," Sen. Susan Collins and Sen. Tammy Baldwin write in The Washington Post. "That is why we are working to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, bipartisan legislation that is another step forward in the United States to prevent discrimination, promote equality and protect the rights of all Americans." Read their op-ed:
Sens. Tammy Baldwin and Susan Collins: Federal recognition of marriage equality is long overdue.
An important case study from Maine, more accessible voting options benefits everyone!
"Maine’s development of remote voting for people with disabilities is one of the many unseen benefits of the COVID-19 pandemic."
Join the My Disability Roadmap team for “Our Disability Roadmap,” a series of FREE webinars featuring Samuel Habib’s candid conversations about transition with disability rights leaders. The next webinar will be on Thursday, December 8 at 3pm ET with Lydia X.Z. Brown, disability justice and q***r rights advocate, organizer, and scholar. ASL interpretation and captioning will be provided. Even if you can’t attend live, be sure to register to receive the recording. Register for the series today:
Join Samuel Habib as he speaks with disability justice and q***r rights advocate, organizer, and scholar Lydia X.Z. Brown for the third in our year-long, FREE series of webinars: “Our Disability Roadmap." Lydia and Samuel will discuss a wide range of issues around transition, including inclusive e...
Congratulations to Senator Tammy Duckworth on her re-election to the US Senate! We look forward to seeing Senator Duckworth continue to be a vocal champion for disability rights nationwide
An important piece by our colleagues at Disability Rights Ohio on the importance of defending online accessibility, and the potential harm caused by the recent
For much of the disability rights movement’s history, equity in access has focused on eliminating barriers to spaces in the physical world. As our proverbial “town square” environment has shifted from a physical place to a virtual one, the need to protect access to these public spaces is imper...
We’re grateful to all those who served. Sadly many veterans, particularly those with disabilities, experience homelessness. Tell the Senate to take action!
The Building Solutions for Veterans Experiencing Homelessness Act, S.2172, will help address this issue by continuing the distribution of relief funds allotted during the pandemic in order to address veterans’ homelessness.
Don't wait until you NEED health insurance to . All HealthCare.gov plans cover essential benefits like emergency and primary care, prescriptions, and more! Starting today, you can compare your options and enroll! https://www.healthcare.gov/get-coverage
Get Affordable Care Act info for individuals, families today. Affordable quality health insurance coverage.
Every vote counts, including mail-in and remote accessible ballots that have made voting safe for folks most at risk from COVID-19, including many people with disabilities. It may take longer to this year, but accurate results are more important than fast results!
West Coast Friends: If you are already in line to vote when the polls close, DO NOT get out of line! You have the right to cast your ballot, and the polling place must remain open.
If you are already in line to vote when the polls close, DO NOT get out of line! You have the right to cast your ballot, and the polling place must remain open.
Reminder: Service dogs (and miniature horses!) are allowed in polling places. You do not need to show a license or certificate.
Poll watching is legal, voter intimidation is not. Know the laws on who is a qualified poll watcher in your state!
The table below lists state-by-state laws regarding poll watcher qualifications. Typically political parties, candidates, and ballot issue committees can appoint poll watchers. Most states don’t allow candidates to be poll watchers. See what each state requires.
It's time to show the power of the !
Hotlines:
English Election Protection (866-687-8683)
Spanish/Eng. 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682)
Asian Languages/Eng. 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683)
Arabic/Eng. 844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287)
ASL 301-818-VOTE (301-818-8683)
You should always feel safe at the polling place. If someone who doesn’t work there is trying to intimidate you or prevent you from casting your ballot call or text the election protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE.
The Supreme Court ruled in 1999, in a decision delivered by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, that Curtis, her co-plaintiff Elaine Wilson and other people with disabilities had a right—under the Americans with Disabilities Act—to live in a "less restrictive setting."
In a video she made for the National Disability Rights Network in 2020, Curtis said: "My name is Lois Curtis... I'm glad to be free."
Lois Curtis, an artist with an intellectual disability who brought a landmark civil rights lawsuit that gave people with disabilities the right to live outside of institutions, has died.
Rest in Power Lois Curtis. She was the L.C. in Olmstead v L.C. Lois took the fight for people with disabilities to live in the community all the way to the Supreme Court. Her victory helped create the rights we enjoy today.
To close out our campaign we got to speak with Charlotte about the importance of the disability vote. Join her in showing the power of our community at the polls. To find a polling place near you visit www.Vote411.org
NDRN Executive Director Marlene Sallo and President of our Board of Directors J.J Rico, sat down with Joyce Bender of Disability Matters to discuss our mission and the work they are doing advance disability rights.
Joyce welcomes Marlene Sallo, newly appointed Executive Director of the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) and it’s President of the Board of Directors, J.J Rico to the show.
"Unfortunately, a lot of people like to not disclose their disabilities because of the stigma. We have absolutely no idea if other candidates may already have a disability that they're just choosing not to disclose." - Eric Buehlmann, NDRN
Disability advocates say the discourse surrounding PA senate candiate John Fetterman has veered into ableist territory, not neurology
Thanks to advocacy from the disability community, alt-text has been added to the Meta Business Suite! For those who manage a page, press the pencil icon under the "media" section, then select alt text.
What other accessibility features would you like to see?
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It’s National Voter Registration Day! Take 30 seconds to register to vote, check your registration status, or find a registration event on or offline near you! NationalVoterRegistrationDay.org #NationalVoterRegistrationDay #VoteReady
Havander Davis describes the barriers he faced to accessing Covid-19 testing in the early days of the pandemic, because of the biases of those treating him.
Join NDRN, Johns Hopkins Disability Health Research Center, & Foundations for Divergent Minds on July 20th, 2pm ET for Sunstorm Stories - an event aimed at urging medical professionals to improve inclusion, enhance access, and prevent discriminatory treatment. Register at: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEqcOuvpzooEt2FyJPVymZ_kKyDPQBtZY6f
The #Olmstead decision turns 22 today! Thank you Lois Curtis and Elaine Wilson for ensuring that individuals with disabilities who want to live, work and play in the community can do so.
In this wrap-up video, Juliet Salih, Valerie Novack, Ruqayyah Bailey, Mia Ives-Rublee, Mary-Ann Langton, Imani Barbarin, Rafael Rolón-Muñiz, Crosby King, and Sean Gold, and Zach Borodkin call on us to get out there and vote! We’d like to express our gratitude for their participation, and all of the individuals who contributed their stories, in the National Disability Rights Network’s get out the vote video series: https://www.ndrn.org/voting/stories/ Please let us know how your experience went using the SABE GoVoter Project survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SABEGoVoter2020survey
We worked with The Autistic Self Advocacy Network to make the "What Will Election Day be Like?" section of their "Your Vote Counts: A Self-Advocate’s Guide to Voting in the U.S." into this video. For more Easy Read information about voting, check out ASAN's voting toolkit at https://autisticadvocacy.org/voting Now, here's what happens when you vote on Election Day:
Teresa Moore, a voter in Arizona, is the Director of Self Advocates Becoming Empowered SABE GoVoter Project. Teresa throws down some serious knowledge about voting, especially for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She shares how people with disabilities can maintain the right to vote when they have guardianships. Teresa’s message is this: If you care about an issue or a candidate, VOTE! Visit https://www.VotersWithDisabilities.org to share your story and register to vote.
Watch Spencer Rigby discuss his love of hunting and the outdoors, and the accommodations that enable him to pursue his passions. He’s determined to cast his ballot, whether that’s by mail or in person. Visit https://www.VotersWithDisabilities.org to share your story and register to vote.
In this new video, Crosby King explores how he grew into an activist after becoming disabled, and his history of protests and arrests. He believes homes in the community is the most important issue facing people with disabilities. Crosby encourages others to get out to vote and show up in order to demand access everywhere. Visit https://www.VotersWithDisabilities.org to share your story and register to vote.
In this new video, Mary-Ann Langton calls on us to look toward the future of disability rights, focus on the issues, and get educated about the political system. Visit https://www.VotersWithDisabilities.org to share your story and register to vote.
What made you politically active? For Rafael of National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, it was because he had the opportunity to come to Washington DC, the center of politics. It helped him learn what was going on and how to get involved, "It really made me have to not just appreciate it, but be a part of it, and hat to actually make sure I had my own voice… make sure that I knew what I wanted to talk about." #OneVoteNow Consulte el siguiente link para este informacion en español: https://www.ndrn.org/story/no-solo-aprecielo-sino-tambien-sea-parte-de-el/
Chris Hayes, who is Deaf, knows that politicians don’t always understand the issues impacting his community and how that influences his vote. For him, sharing the needs of Deaf and hard of hearing individuals with politicians is everyone's responsibility. Chris says the most important way to do that is to vote. Visit https://www.VotersWithDisabilities.org to share your story and register to vote.
In this new video, Ruqayyah Bailey shares how her family's history of activism and a desire for change keeps her politically active. Ruqayyah, who has Autism and has a guardian, reminds us that people with disabilities can run for president and that we can "change the world!" Visit https://www.VotersWithDisabilities.org to share your story and register to vote.
In this new video, Sean Gold - Author and Advocate, reflects on his writing and what politics means for him. Sean, who has cerebral palsy and uses a tracheostomy breathing tube, has always had a love for writing. Watch to learn more that and about why expanding access to healthcare keeps Sean voting! Visit https://www.VotersWithDisabilities.org to share your story and register to vote.
In our latest video, Mia Ives-Rublee discusses her involvement in founding the Women's March Disability Caucus. She explains what drove her to do so, what was accomplished, and why it is necessary to include people with disabilities. She highlights some of the unique challenges women with disabilities have faced over the last several years when it comes to organizing and participating in mass movements, and encourages all people with disabilities to vote. Visit https://www.VotersWithDisabilities.org to share your story and register to vote.
Learn what Juliet Salih, a schoolteacher with cerebral palsy, has to say about the lack of accessibility in our education system and the country in general, and why you need to get politically involved, starting by casting your ballot this election. As Juliet puts it, “Seeing what people with disabilities have to go through just to exercise our political right to vote makes me angry enough to stay politically active because I want to see that changed." Please visit https://www.VotersWithDisabilities.org to share your story and to register to vote (depending on your state).
It’s #WorldSuicidePreventionDay. Spread the message that we can create a world where fewer people die by suicide. This awareness video, produced by the International Association for Suicide Prevention, highlights the most essential ingredient for effective global suicide prevention - collaboration. We can create a world where fewer people die by suicide. Be open to talking about suicide and mental health with others. We need to reduce the stigma about suicide to save lives. #WSPD #WSPD2020 #StepCloser
Poll workers will be essential to ensuring that we are able to vote safely and securely this November. They also provide the much-needed service of setting up accessible voting machines, to ensure that people with disabilities are able to vote in person. As we face a poll worker shorter for the fall, now more than ever it is important for people to sign up to be a poll worker. #NationalPollWorkerRecruitmentDay To become a poll worker like Diana, and to learn more, please visit: https://www.ndrn.org/story/i-became-a-poll-worker/
Today is National Poll Worker Recruitment Day! Poll workers, like Angelina James from Second Mesa, Arizona, are an essential part of our election system, especially for many individuals with disabilities who rely on accessible voting equipment. Poll workers make sure our elections go smoothly! Consider signing up to become a poll worker this November and get more information at the Power the Polls website: https://www.powerthepolls.org/NDRN
Today, as people gather to commemorate the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom of 1963, demanding fundamental change to U.S. policing, we're uplifting Valerie Novack. Valerie, a disability policy researcher and mental and chronic illness advocate, explains how current police practices put people with mental health disabilities in jeopardy and why we need to vote for law enforcement, district attorneys, and judges who will end the carceral state’s mistreatment of people with disabilities. Visit https://www.VotersWithDisabilities.org to share your story and register to vote.
Curtis Chong, a blind voter from Colorado, discusses some of the technological barriers he’s faced casting his ballot. In this new video, he describes some of the reasons why voting machines currently aren’t as accessible as possible to people with disabilities and why we need to vote in spite of these barriers! Visit https://www.VotersWithDisabilities.org to share your story and register to vote.
In this video, activist, former congressional campaign staffer, and current Disability Rights New York staff member Zach Borodkin discusses what motivates him as a person with cerebral palsy to be politically active. Zach explains that the exclusion of people with disabilities from conversations about policies that will directly affect their lives leads to disenfranchisement and bad policies. Visit https://www.VotersWithDisabilties.org to share your story and register to vote.
In this video, activist, writer of the popular Crutches and Spice, and Director of Communications at Disability Rights Pennsylvania, Imani Barbarin discusses what drives her political activism. Imani explains that as a black woman with a disability, everything politicians and policymakers do impacts her life. But, too often, those same policymakers fail to reach out to people with disabilities, especially those who are people of color. Imani puts it directly, saying, "I’m a disabled black person, so that means every single thing that happens in a legislative session… has an impact on my ability to move around society." Visit VotersWithDisabilities.org to share your story and register to vote.
This 4th of July, consider putting down the hot dogs and picking up a voter registration form! In this special #4thofJuly message, we teamed up with Paralyzed Veterans of America and retired U.S. Army Colonel Stan Brown to talk about how voting helps ensure elected officials honor the sacrifices made by veterans with disabilities. He talks about why now, more than ever, voting is important if we want to see meaningful change for all people with disabilities. So, take the chance to thank a veteran by getting ready to vote this November!
Pride is about inclusion. How do you show up? While we can’t celebrate Pride Month with you in person this year, we do have a message from Allilsa Fernandez, a disability activist, and the National Disability Rights Network’s Disaster Protection Advisor, Justice Shorter, and Senior Disability Advocacy Specialist, Ian Watlington. Together they share their lived experiences, what drives their intersectional advocacy, and why you should be voting with PRIDE this November!
You have the right to feel comfortable with your caregivers! The Coronavirus pandemic has caused disruptions in care for many people with disabilities which may lead to abusive alternatives as well as problems with primary caregivers. Victim advocacy experts from Disability Rights Wisconsin have a few tips on recognizing caregiver abuse and requesting help. Check out this video message from Pam Malin, Advocacy Specialist, and Nadya Rosen, Managing Attorney. Together they encourage anyone experiencing violence during the pandemic to make a plan, know your options, and know that NO caregiver ever has the right to abuse you. Learn more on our website at https://www.ndrn.org/resource/ndrn-launches-know-your-right-to-be-safe-at-home-caregiver-abuse-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-video/
College students with disabilities have the right to access education during the Coronavirus pandemic! Most college/university campuses have temporarily closed for the spring and remain uncertain about when on-campus courses will resume. But whether classes are held online or on campus, students with disabilities still retain the right to receive reasonable accommodations and academic supports. Ron Hager, our Managing Attorney for Education and Employment, has a message for college students. Check out this video for a few self-advocacy tips and some actionable steps for requesting additional assistance.
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