We had a great time in Washington, DC this week with nearly a thousand disability rights advocates from across the country, and a strong contingent from Texas! Disability advocates took to Capitol Hill for The Arc U.S. Disability Policy Seminar and to remind elected officials that disability rights are human rights! We rallied to protect Medicaid and urged officials to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)–because health and education are foundational to the wellbeing of people with disabilities! Watch a 30-second recap here.

There's a lot happening at the federal level that has serious impacts on people with disabilities. Here's a few helpful resources to make sense of it all:

• What's happening with Medicaid? Medicaid is at the center of a major budget debate in Washington, DC. But what does this mean for people who rely on Medicaid and how will proposed changes, including work requirements and spending cuts, impact health care for people with disabilities, seniors, and low-income families? Check out The Arc U.S. webpage dedicated to the Medicaid fight, advocacy tools, and the latest updates. You can urge your Congressperson to protect Medicaid with one click–use this quick form, which includes the message they need to hear and is automatically sent to the correct officials based on your zip code.
• What's happening with the U.S. Department of Education? On March 20, President Trump issued an Executive Order to close the U.S. Department of Education. Though there are many unknowns, The Arc U.S. created a fact sheet to help you understand the potential impact on children with disabilities.
• What’s happening at the Social Security Administration? Millions of people with disabilities rely on Social Security benefits to survive. Recent changes at the Social Security Administration may make accessing these benefits harder than ever. Long wait times, office closures and staff cuts, and policy rollbacks are already raising concerns and exacerbating customer service issues. What people with disabilities need to know.

Disability Rights Texas is conducting the 2025 Disaster Resilience Survey of Texans with Disabilities to hear how prepared you are for disasters, what you're worried about, and what you need to be more prepared. The survey, which closes May 31, is for people with disabilities and others who have a connection to the disability community. Your feedback could help with the creation of new resources, community trainings, and education for emergency managers. For help completing the survey, contact disaster@drtx.org or 1-800-948-1824. It is also available in Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL).

In our self-paced, 60-minute onboarding course, “Breaking Barriers: Supporting Texans with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Conditions,” get an understanding of disability frameworks, dual diagnosis, legal requirements, and communications strategies. While the course is intended primarily for mental health providers, it is available to anyone interested in the intersection of mental health and IDD. This is a product of The Arc of Texas Whole Person Project, which seeks to expand access to quality mental health services for Texans with IDD. 

Following months of research and interviews with individuals living and working at the intersection of this co-occurrence, The Arc of Texas released an investigative report, “Out of Options: Addressing Inequities in Care for Texans with IDD and Mental Illness.” The 45-minute webinar recording explores the report's key findings and solutions.