The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has impacted marginalized communities in many ways, especially those with disabilities and their access to health care. Approximately eight million people in the US have disabilities that make it difficult to carry out everyday activities such as bathing and dressing. Recent studies have shown that around 2.3 million people with disabilities in the US access paid personal assistance services (PAS) to help them with these daily activities. In a recent NIDILRR funded study, researchers sought to understand the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the delivery of PAS and its impact on the lives of people with disabilities who were relying on these services.

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Despite strong pushback from disability advocates, a case that could severely restrict the rights of those who rely on Medicaid and other government programs is set to go before the U.S. Supreme Court this week.'' The case hinges on whether individuals receiving services through programs like Medicaid have the right to sue state and local governments if their civil rights are violated.

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Announcement: Electronic Visit Verification Hard Launch

25% of adult Americans live with a disability and nearly 75% of those live with family members. Most don't have a plan for when family members can no longer take care of the person. This is because there is no system in place . Advocates are trying to get legislators to understand that there needs to be a better system in place. 

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Family Caregiver Involvement | Hospital Discharge Survey:

GWAAR, in partnership with our grassroots caregivers, are conducting a survey to collect Wisconsin family caregiver experiences at the time of a loved one/care recipient’s hospital discharge. The intent is to learn about caregiver involvement at the time of discharge. The survey will take less than five minutes of your time to complete. Please complete it yourself if you are a family caregiver and please promote this survey on your social media, websites, within your caregiver support groups, and in newsletters using the QR code or link to the survey below.

For this survey, a “family caregiver” is defined as any relative, partner, friend, or neighbor who has a significant personal relationship with and provides a broad range of assistance for, an older person or an adult with a chronic or disabling condition. Responses to this survey will be combined with overall results to understand the hospital discharge process in urban cities, rural communities, and elsewhere throughout the state of Wisconsin. The data collected will be shared to promote advocacy efforts related to legislation, administrative rules, and healthcare systems and associations. Information collected will be kept anonymous.

Survey link: https://forms.microsoft.com/r/Jhw6C5KmBa

Millions of people living in the United States are feeling the effects of one of the worst affordable housing crises in a generation. But for the growing number of people with disabilities, finding and retaining quality housing they can afford is even more challenging. This report explains some of the barriers people with disabilities face. 

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As this year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month ends, there is at least some rare good news. U.S. employment statistics over the last several months show an improvement in employment rates for people with disabilities. Specifically, people with disabilities seem to be entering the job market and getting jobs at a slightly higher rate than non-disabled people..

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In a series of anonymous interviews with 22 U.S. doctors, some admitted to refusing care to people with disabilities, making the excuse that they weren't taking on new patients. There was one finding that 82% of doctors think that people with disability have worse quality of life than other people.

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