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.
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)
