National Disability Rights Network

@ndrnadvocates

We are the national membership association for the congressionally mandated Protection & Advocacy Systems and Client Assistance Programs.

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National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· 6d

On August 6, 1965, the Voting Rights Act was signed into law. Over 60 years later, voting rights for people with disabilities are still under attack. Inaccessible polling places. Threats to mail-in voting. Barriers to voter registration. To learn more, visit https://www.ndrn.org/voting/.

What did it do?
The Voting Rights Act outlawed racist and discriminatory voting practices...which also harmed people with disabilities.
The VRA created specific protections for voters with disabilities:
Election officials must allow a voter who is blind or has another disability to receive assistance from a person of the voter's choice.
Officials are prohibited from requiring voters to be able to read or write, have a particular level of education, or pass an interpretation test.
Source: ADA.gov

Who made it happen?
Fannie Lou Hamer was one of many Black disabled people who marched and lobbied for voting rights

During a 1963 arrest for her peaceful voting access efforts, Hamer suffered physical police violence that caused kidney damage and worsened her existing disabilities.
Source: Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum

What's at stake now?
Today, there are new threats to voting rights.
Shelby County v. Holder, a 2013 Supreme Court ruling, removed many safeguards against voter suppression in areas with a history of anti-Black discrimination.
Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee, a 2021 Supreme Court ruling, made it harder to win lawsuits that fight back against voter discrimination.
The recent attempt to pass the SAVE Act would’ve added...
Source: Brennan Center for Justice; Center for American Progress

What can we do?
That’s why NDRN supports the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R.4).
If passed, this act would:
Make it easier to identify voter discrimination in states and cities
Protect voters from harmful last-minute changes by requiring all voting changes to be announced at least 6 months before an election
Allow the government to send observers to any polling place that is at risk of discrimination
Source: Human Rights Campaign

National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· 14d

Disability Pride Month is almost over, but pride never stops. How will you wear your disability pride? We've got some ideas! Be proud year round with our new merch. All proceeds fund disability advocacy. Order yours: http://bonfire.com/store/national-disability-rights-network.

Image of light blue short-sleeve t-shirt with a line drawing of a cartoon animal neighborhood. Some of the animals have disabilities like limb differences or low vision, and one animal is in a wheelchair. The animals are resting, reading, cooking, visiting each other, delivering mail, and exploring the neighborhood. There is a banner wrapped around the drawing which reads “Community Over Confinement.” Also includes image of blue jeans, a blue scrunchie, blue headphones, and brown sandals.

A blue/gray short-sleeve t-shirt with a sunflower smiley face and text in a playful font that reads “Not All Disabilities Are Visible.” There is also a dark blue tote back with with playful, multicolor text that reads “Abolish Ableism.” Surrounding the text are multicolor icons of sparkles, flowers, and a heart. The shirt is paired with an orange water bottle, orange sneakers, and an orange lanyard.

National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· 16d

On this episode of National Disability Radio, Alden Blevins, Stephanie Flynt McEben, and Eric Buehlmann pull back the curtain on the federal funding process. They discuss the successful FY26 funding fight, why advocacy on Capitol Hill matters, and how everyday people can help.

National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· 19d

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is a landmark disability law. It requires businesses, employers, and government bodies to be accessible to people with disabilities. Protecting and enforcing these rights is at the heart of our network. Accessibility is the future.

National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· 22d

Eugenics and ableist language become more common every day. Powerful people suggest that people with disabilities are less valuable, important, or worthy. Disability Pride Month is one way to resist messages of ableism and eugenics. Why does disability pride matter to you? 💬

Image of the disability pride flag colors depicted as a wave on a solid black background. Text in text box reads:
"Disability pride [matters] because the rights that disabled individuals enjoy today were because those who came before us literally put their own bodies on the line, in front of buses or doing the Capitol Craw…Disability pride gives us an opportunity to keep this memory and this knowledge alive"
-Tho Vinh Banh
Disability Rights California

Image of the disability pride flag colors depicted as a wave on a solid black background. Text in text box reads:
"I am proud of my disability because fitting the mold is BORING."
-Virginia Pharis
disAbility Law Center of Virginia

"Because shame, embarrassment, and fear no longer have a place in my life. I am proud to be an Afro-Latina. With both apparent and non-apparent disabilities…Every time I show up authentically, I push back against the harmful belief that disability is something to be pitied, hidden, or fixed…Disability pride is my way of showing the world that disabled people belong, matter, and deserve to be seen, heard, and celebrated exactly as we are."
- Elizabeth Campos
Disability Rights California

"Disability Pride Month is a reminder that my disability is not something to hide, fix, or overcome... I celebrate the resilience, creativity, and strength of the disability community while recognizing that pride also means continuing to fight for a world where accessibility, inclusion, and belonging are not special accommodations, but basic expectations. My disability has never limited my worth. It has strengthened my purpose."
-Ashley Volion
Disability Rights Louisiana

National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· 28d

Want to fund disability rights AND show off your values? Check out our new merch! 🛍️ - Designed by and for people with disabilities - Perfect for Disability Pride Month - 100% of the profits help NDRN defend disability rights Order today: https://ow.ly/BtCI50Znyk7

Image of two t-shirts. On the left is a bright orange short-sleeve t-shirt with a sunflower smiley face and text in a playful font that reads “Not All Disabilities Are Visible.” On the right is a light blue short-sleeve t-shirt with a line drawing of a cartoon animal with disabilities in a neighborhood. There is a banner wrapped around the drawing that reads “Community Over Confinement.” Text on image reads:
Wear your pride + fund disability rights!
Multiple colors available
Sizes XS-5X

National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· Jul 13

PAID INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY: Seeking people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) who rely on Medicaid and live in rural areas outside St. Louis, MO for a short documentary. Filming will take place August 4th - 6th. 🎥 For more details: tinyurl.com/NDRN-medicaid.

National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· Jul 7

NDRN is working every day to make the disability community heard at the federal level. We will not stop fighting to ensure that people with disabilities have a seat at the policy table. You can join this fight. Be the power behind our advocacy: give today. https://www.ndrn.org/donate/

Image of five disabled people of color with canes, prosthetic legs, and a wheelchair sit on a rooftop deck, laughing and sharing stories. Greenery and city high-rises are visible in the background. Below that is another image of disabled protestors holding signs at a protest. Text on both images reads: Disability pride is joy. Disability pride is resistance.

National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· Jul 3

The U.S. observes an anniversary this Saturday. For many marginalized groups, we still have a long way to go. We celebrate those working toward a new future. One where all people have the full rights, access, and support to be as independent (or interdependent) as they want.

Disabled protesters in wheelchairs holding signs advocating for disability rights and freedom, such as "Buses are for everyone," "lifts not lies," and "freedom rider." Text above image: No one is free until everyone is free.

National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· Jun 30

This Pride Month, NDRN celebrates advocates throughout queer and disabled history like Kitty Cone, Connie Panzarino and Dr. Bruce Voeller. We honor the contributions these individuals and many others have made to the movement, and stand in solidarity with all disabled people.

A group of disabled queer Black folks talk and laugh at a sleepover, relaxing across two large beds. Everyone is dressed in colorful t-shirts and wearing a variety of sleep scarves, bonnets, and durags. On the left, two friends sit on one bed and paint each other’s nails. On the right, four people lounge on a bed: one person braids another’s hair while the third friend wearing a C-PAP mask laughs, and the fourth person looks up from their book. Text: Happy Pride! Our Movements are connected.

National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· Jun 27

Count Us In: Disability, the Census and Federal Data Registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/BPtoeK-MS9-FJ9wvwNc-1g#/registration Join NDRN for a webinar highlighting key findings from our recent convening of census and disability data experts.

National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· Jun 26

For National Bingo Day, we're sharing some of the common phrases people with disabilities hear. This is one way that ableism shows up in disabled people's daily lives. For what to say instead, check out this disability etiquette guide: https://unitedspinal.org/top-10-disability-etiquette/

A bingo card titled Disability Bingo. Each square on the bingo card has an ableist phrase. View post caption for the full image description with the list of phrases.

National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· Jun 22

Isolation in institutions used to be the only option for people with disabilities. The Olmstead decision changed that. What is Olmstead? THIS is Olmstead: upheld and defended every day by the P&A network. Here's to deinstitutionalization and community living.

Portraits of Stephanie Patrick, Executive Director of Disability Rights Center-NH, and Kelly Bagby, AARP Foundation VP of Litigation. Text: Potential national implications loom as judge sends New Hampshire Medicaid HCBS case to trial. The lawsuit... claims the state’s underinvestment in its Medicaid waiver program, Choices for Independence, leaves recipients “at serious risk of unjustified institutionalization”

Image of Mary Mac Jenkins, and her 9-year-old disabled son, Miles. Text: Medicaid cuts are in effect. NC mom fears losing nurses helping keep her son alive. In North Carolina, the state's health department was sued by the legal advocacy group Disability Rights North Carolina, which filed what became known as the Samantha R. case. The group argued that North Carolina’s failure to provide access to community-and-home-based behavioral health services violated the rights of people with disabilities.

Image of Emma Denice Milligan and her caregiver, Wanda Kincy, laughing in her Oakland home. Portrait of Sabrina Epstein, Policy Analyst at Disability Rights California. Text: ‘I’d Be Left Alone’: Medicaid Cuts Put Disabled Patients’ In-Home Care at Risk. Analysts warn even a 10% reduction could increase overall Medicaid costs by about $1 billion as more people are pushed into institutional care. Disability Rights California policy analyst Sabrina Epstein called the cuts “an absolute disaster.”

Image of disability rights advocate Mary-Ann Langton exiting the governor’s office. Portrait of Sheldon Toubman, Litigation Attorney at Disability Rights Connecticut. Text: Lamont backs off plan to sunset Community First Choice, as lawmakers and advocates reject proposal.... The cost of home and community-based services programs are bound to grow as enrollment increases. Such programs also help keep people out of institutional long-term care, which can be far more expensive ...

National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· Jun 19

Community living is a right. DOJ’s latest opinion puts that at risk. We will defend Olmstead, the ADA, and the freedom of people with disabilities to live in their communities; not institutions. We will not go back.

National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· Jun 19

Juneteenth reminds us that no one is free until we're all free. Abusive prisons and institutions still strip rights and humanity away from Black people with disabilities. Let’s keep moving toward liberation for Black communities, people with disabilities, and everyone in the U.S.

Historic black and white photo of six Black individuals dressed in 19th-century attire celebrating Emancipation Day held in "East Woods" on East 24th Street in Austin (June 19, 1900). Text on image reads:
Juneteenth - A legacy of liberation for Black disabled people. June nineteenth, 1865.

National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· Jun 17

The federal government’s plan would move special education programs and civil rights enforcement out of the Department of Education and into different agencies. Disability advocates across the US are concerned because these systems are designed to work together.

Image of a group of students with disabilities visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Cast Collection galleries. Photographed November 23, 1922. Text on image reads: Students with disabilities have a right to learn, belong, and succeed in school.

National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· Jun 11

Share your Medicaid story 🎥 Seeking people with I/DD in Roanoke, VA area for short documentary (honorarium provided) For more details: https://forms.office.com/r/0vNN2sWzaM

This image features several black-and-white portraits of individuals who are members of the intellectual or developmental disability community. On the right side of the image, text reads: “Faces of Medicaid. Seeking storytellers who want to share more about their experiences with Medicaid, especially members of the intellectual or developmental disability (I/DD) community. Locations: In and around Roanoke, Virginia.

National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· Jun 1

Good news! This month, disability joy showed up as Medicaid rights, more inclusive care, and increasing disabled people’s access to history. With growing attacks on disability rights, joy is more important than ever. What good news have you learned recently? 🗞️

National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· May 29

Many children with disabilities experience trauma, neglect, and abuse in the foster care system. We’re grateful for the Protection and Advocacy agencies holding child welfare systems accountable and protecting some of the nation’s most vulnerable children. #NationalFosterCareMonth

Image of Tom Stenson.
Headline: Oregon shows notable progress for foster kids after class action lawsuit exposed horrors
Tom Stenson, deputy legal director for Disability Rights Oregon... said he thinks the child welfare agency is too ready to pat itself on the back and needs to do more, ... he said, “We believed change was possible for children in Oregon’s foster care system – and we still do.” But, he said, “There is far more work ahead of us than behind.”

Image of Virginia Knowlton Marcus, Executive Director at Disability Rights North Carolina.
Headline: State probes alleged 24-hour confinement, educational lockdown at Durham Youth Home. The advocacy groups have now returned with evidence, including a report from Disability Rights North Carolina that describes education in the Youth Home being largely replaced by isolation... During a February visit by DRNC...youth at the Home were “confined to their cells for 22.5 to 24 hours every day..."

Image of Joe Sarra, Julie Kegley and Ilias Savakis from the Georgia Advocacy Office.
Text: Some Kids End Up in Foster Care Solely for Mental Health Reasons...Georgia parents who voluntarily give up their children to foster care aren’t necessarily abusive, neglectful or unloving, numerous speakers have told state lawmakers in a series of public hearings... “This is an act of desperation — parents do not want to abandon their children,” said Joe Sarra of the Georgia Advocacy Office.

Text: Six Years After Landmark Settlement, New Mexico Makes Limited Progress on Child Welfare Reforms.
The class-action suit, Kevin S. v. Blalock & Scrase, was filed by Disability Rights New Mexico, the Native American Disability Law Center, and 13 foster children in 2018. According to court filings, these youth cycled in and out of emergency placements like homeless shelters and government offices...
Disability Rights New Mexico and Native American Disability Law Center logos at bottom.

National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· May 26

When people with Celiac Disease eat gluten, their intestines and digestive system are damaged. In 2025, the disAbility Law Center of Virginia (dLCV) defended accommodations for people with gluten-related disorders. Read more: https://ow.ly/VUtj50Z4ogz. #CeliacAwarenessMonth

Solid dark purple background with light pink text. In the middle, there is an icon stating "gluten free." Text on image reads:
1 in 100 people live with celiac disease. For them, gluten-free eating is essential treatment, not a preference.

National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· May 21

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines are a good start to make digital content accessible. But color contrast, image descriptions, and captions are just the beginning. Access is a journey to make sure everyone with and without disabilities can stay connected. #GlobalAccessibilityAwarenessDay

Purple and green background with six disability icons. Text on image reads: Access isn't a checklist. It's a practice.

National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· May 19

Want your content to reach audiences with diverse access needs? Join our Accessible Communications 101 training! 📅 June 11 ⏰ 1 PM 💻 Register for the webinar: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/b4zyScNbStC9-gngHhNnDw#/registration

National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· May 18

⚠️Content warning: this post contains examples of ableist language. People with mental illness are not broken and do not need to be fixed. What they DO need is care, support, and community. #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #MHAM

Pink text on dark purple background. Text states:
People with disabilities experience mental distress almost 5 times more often than those without disabilities
Source: CDC

Green and purple backgrounds. Text reads:

Ableist mental health language makes stigma worse.

“This weather is so bipolar.”
“I’m OCD about organizing my books.”
“She acts schizo when she’s tired.”

This type of language is harmful and makes it harder to talk about the real lived experience of mental illness.

Text reads:
Need support?
-Call the 24/7 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
-Call the 24/7 Trevor Project Suicide Hotline for LGBTQ youth: 1-866-488-7386.
-Contact the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) HelpLine weekdays only via call (1-800-950-6264) or text (62640).
-Visit Youth Move National for youth mental health resources: youthmovenational.org

If you are Deaf, you can:
-Contact the 24/7 Deaf Crisis Line for ASL video services by video phone: 321-800-3323.

National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· May 17

People with disabilities are often framed as burdens by many outside voices. At times, those voices can feel all too loud. We're here to remind everyone who might be feeling that weight: You are not alone. The world is better with you in it. #MHAM National Alliance on Mental Illness

National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· May 13

⚠️ Content warning: description of abuse against a disabled child. School is not supposed to hurt. But students who experience dangerous restraint or seclusion are hurt every day. Tell Congress to pass the Keeping All Students Safe Act (KASSA): https://secure.everyaction.com/yl-Yy7myo0O1vUTaw6P4Ig2.

National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· May 8

⚠️ Content warning. Eugenics is the false and dangerous idea that some lives are more valuable than others. Eugenics says that disabled people don’t matter and cannot have a good life without being cured. The world does not need to be “cured” of disabled people. Disabled people deserve to exist.

A black-and-white historical photo of two doctors in an asylum ward, originating from a film produced by the Reich Propaganda Ministry. The existence of the patients in the ward is described as "life only as a burden." Text below the photo reads: "Eugenicists throughout history have believed that society should control who gets to exist, reproduce, or belong. They have labeled people with disabilities and other marginalized communities as 'defective' or 'unfit.' This thinking is dangerous, unscientific, and deeply harmful to the disability community."

Text reads, "Where does Eugenics come from? Eugenics wasn’t a fringe theory – it was embedded into our systems of law, medicine, education and policing. This is especially true in the US and Europe.
Eugenics has shaped:
1. Forced sterilization laws in the US and abroad
Institutionalization policy
2. Immigration policy
3. Disabled genocide movements, including Aktion 4 during the Holocaust
These systems and policies targeted disabled people and other marginalized communities, using 'science' to justify abusing and mistreating these populations."

A black-and-white photo of a slide taken from a Nazi propaganda filmstrip for Hitler Youth, promoting "euthanasia." The caption of the slide says: "Mentally ill Negro (English) 16 years in an institution costing 35,000 RM." Text below the photo reads, "Why is eugenics wrong? Eugenics denies a basic truth: Disability is a natural part of the human experience. Eugenics-thinking frames people as problems to be solved, instead of recognizing the barriers created by society. It also uses 'progress' as a tool to justify some of the worst harms imaginable. It’s not science. It’s discrimination."

Text reads, "Eugenics-thinking still shows up today: 1. When people with disabilities are framed as “burdens,” or “drains” on societal resources. 2. When medical decision-making prioritizes some lives over others. 3. When policy focuses on cures instead of stronger inclusion efforts. These ideas fuel ableism, promote stigma, and weaken civil rights." Below the text is a photo of a page from a historical scrapbook produced by the American Eugenics Society. The scrapbook lists "unfit human traits" including disability, poverty, and substance addiction. The scrapbook says "if all marriages were eugenic we could breed out most of this unfitness in three generations." Beside the scrapbook are recent news headlines about modern-day eugenics, including one headline that describes autism as an "epidemic" and another that describes a sperm donor as having "genetic low-IG syndrome."

National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· May 5

PAIMI is the the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Act. Anyone who has a disability, or who supports someone with disability, can request PAIMI support from a Protection & Advocacy (P&A) agency. Find your P&A: https://www.ndrn.org/about/ndrn-member-agencies/

Who-
The Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Program protects the rights of youth and adults with mental illness or “emotional impairment.” PAIMI programs can also assist families of individuals with mental illness in becoming better advocates and allies.

What -
Protection and Advocacy agencies (P&As) with a PAIMI program act as watchdogs and advocates for individuals with mental health conditions.

The PAIMI program also gives P&As “access authority.” This allows the P&A to enter facilities, review client records, and speak with individuals receiving services.

PAIMI ensures individuals with a mental illness are not being abused or neglected.

Where -
PAIMI is a nationwide, federally-funded program that exists in every U.S. state and territory.

PAIMI originally began by protecting individuals in residential facilities, but was expanded in 2001 to also include individuals living in the community. This can include:

Hospitals
Schools
Nursing homes
Foster care homes
Board and care homes
Homeless shelters
Jails, prisons, and juvenile detention
Other community facilities

How -
Anyone with a disability, or anyone who supports someone with disability, can request PAIMI support.

Need help? Find your P&A
ndrn.org/about/ndrn-member-agencies

National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· May 4

In the lawsuit Texas v. Kennedy, nine states are asking the court to get rid of new Section 504 rules that protect people with disabilities’ right to live, work, and get help in the community. Learn more about the case and how you can help: https://dredf.org/protect-504/

Section 504.

Texas v. Kennedy is a lawsuit about Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Section 504 is a law that protects people with disabilities from discrimination. It also protects people with disabilities from being forced into institutions.
The law applies to any place that gets money from the United States government.
Source: DREDF, “Texas v. Kennedy (formerly Texas v. Becerra): What it is and How You Can Help Stop the Attack on Section 504”

Section 504 says
- You can’t discriminate against or exclude people because of their disabilities.
- You must give people with disabilities reasonable accommodations.
In 2024, Section 504 added new rules that say:
- People with disabilities have a right to live, work, and get services in the community.
- You must provide services to people with disabilities in the community, not just in institutions like hospitals or nursing homes.
Sources: DREDF & Autistic Self-Advocacy Network

Texas v. Kennedy used to be called Texas v. Becerra. It is a court case that was filed in Texas in 2024. A group of 17 states sued the United States government. The complaint asked the court to:
- Get rid of Section 504.
- Get rid of new Section 504 rules that protect people with disabilities from discrimination in health care and human services.
Eventually, 8 of the 17 states left the lawsuit.
Source: Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund

Texas v. Kennedy.
On January 25, 2026, the other 9 states filed a new complaint, Texas v. Kennedy (2026).
The new complaint is asking the court to:
Block the rule about people with disabilities living in the community.
Get rid of all new Section 504 rules.
Stop the government from enforcing Section 504.
Source: Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund

National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· May 1

💡DID YOU KNOW - The world’s oldest surviving organization of people with disabilities is a trade union? The National League of the Blind (NLB) proves that disability rights ARE workers rights. For more info on the rights of workers with disabilities visit https://ow.ly/JsG450YSYRo #MayDay

Image of Members of the National League of the Blind during the Blind March in 1920. Two members are holding a sign stating "Justice not charity." Text on the image reads: Disability rights are workers rights. 05|01 - May Day.

National Disability Rights Network@ndrnadvocates· Apr 29

It’s #GuideDogDay! We’re celebrating Nala Belle, an excellent guide dog and NDRN team member. 💛 Show your appreciation for Nala Belle in the comments! (Her colleague and friend, Stephanie Flynt McEben, will read your messages to her 🐶)