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In Solidarity With the Community of Uvalde, Texas

/in , , /by Pam Katz

The Arc released the following statement in the aftermath of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

“We are so saddened by the events that occurred yesterday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.  The families, and the community of Uvalde, will forever be impacted by the loss of these young children and their teachers.

“These tragedies are creating an environment where people no longer feel safe in their schools, places of worship, grocery stores – the communities where they live, work, and play.  And we are deeply concerned that Congress’ failure to act to prevent this violence is undermining basic human rights.

“The senseless violence has to stop. Our elected leaders must put aside differences to comprehensively address the growing problem of gun violence that affects all of us, including people with disabilities and their families.”

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Scientists Say FDA’s Refusal to Ban Neurotoxic Chemicals from Food Processing/Packaging Threatens the Nation’s Children with Lasting Harm.

/in /by The Arc

Prenatal exposures to phthalates are linked to learning and behavioral problems including attention disorders; exposures are higher in children of color.

Washington, DC — Leading scientists and health professionals of Project TENDR say FDA’s refusal to ban phthalates from food processing and packaging flies in the face of rapidly accumulating evidence that phthalates do lasting harm to children’s brains. Contrary to this evidence, FDA today denied two petitions to eliminate the use of phthalates in food packaging and food production equipment, while acknowledging that its own assessment of phthalates’ safety for use in food-contact materials is out of date.

Though FDA simultaneously granted an industry petition to abandon certain food contact uses of phthalates, its decisions leave numerous authorizations in place that perpetuate phthalate contamination of the food supply.

FDA’s failure to grant the petitions poses an egregious and entirely preventable threat to expectant parents, infants, and children. In 2021, Project TENDR researchers published a seminal article in American Journal of Public Health identifying phthalates as neurotoxic chemicals that increase children’s risks for learning, attention, and behavior disorders.

Starting in 2016 and as recently as April 2022, Project TENDR experts submitted scientific comments to FDA in strong support of two petitions filed by the Natural Resources Defense Council, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Center for Environmental Health, Center for Food Safety, Clean Water Action, Consumer Federation of America, Earthjustice, Environmental Defense Fund, Improving Kids’ Environment, and Learning Disabilities Association of America, requesting that FDA eliminate its approval of ortho-phthalates as food additives in food contact substances.

While nearly everyone – including pregnant women – has detectable levels of phthalates in their bodies, Black and Latina women have higher exposure to phthalates than White women, independent of income level. Phthalates readily transfer from the mother to the fetus. In addition to lasting impacts on children’s brains, phthalates have long been known to harm reproductive tract development in male babies.

“There are dozens of studies finding adverse associations between phthalate exposure and multiple aspects of brain development, including effects on behavior, cognitive function and even brain structure, says Dr. Stephanie Engel, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health, who in 2021 founded an NIH and EPA-funded brain imaging center to identify changes resulting from phthalates exposures. “There is no compelling rationale to continue waiting for more evidence when phthalates can be eliminated now from food packaging and processing.”

“FDA’s failure to act to get phthalates out of food is creating a serious public health problem of great magnitude,” says Dr. Ami Zota, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health and an internationally recognized expert on the racial and socioeconomic disparities in phthalates exposures and health effects. “Until FDA reverses course, the health burdens from phthalate exposure in food will continue to disproportionately harm people of color, people of low wealth, and babies and young children undergoing critical periods of growth and development.”

Dr. Russ Hauser, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School, and co-author of the 2014 Chronic Health Advisory Panel (CHAP) report on phthalates that was used by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to justify banning certain phthalates from toys, states: “Eight years after the CPSC acted to protect children from phthalates in toys, the FDA still refuses to protect children from phthalates in food. No pregnant woman or child should unknowingly be ingesting phthalates with their breakfast, lunch or dinner.”

Experts available for interview:

Stephanie M. Engel, PhD, Professor, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Dr. Engel’s research considers the impact of environmental exposures and innate susceptibility factors on adverse pregnancy outcomes and neurodevelopmental impairment in children. Her research has identified a link between prenatal phthalates exposures and increased risk of attention disorders in children. Dr. Engel is Director of the UNC Center for Early Life Exposures and Neurotoxicity, and Deputy Director of the Center for Environmental Health and Susceptibility. In 2021, she was awarded major EPA and NIH grants to investigate the developmental impacts of neurotoxic chemicals. As part of Project TENDR, Dr. Engel is lead author of the seminal article, “Neurotoxicity of Ortho-Phthalates: Recommendations for Critical Policy Reforms to Protect Brain Development in Children,” American Journal of Public Health, February 2021.

Ami Zota, ScD, MS, Associate Professor, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University:

Dr. Ami Zota is an internationally recognized expert in environmental health science and environmental justice. Her scientific research focuses on how the public is exposed to phthalates and the disproportionate harm phthalate exposure causes to people in certain populations, such as Black and Latina women of reproductive age. Her research has increased awareness of the link between fast food and phthalate exposures among the scientific community, policy makers, and the general public. Most recently, her research group found widespread detection of phthalates and other plasticizers in popular fast food meals, demonstrating that phthalates leach from processing equipment and packaging into food. She is a co-author of the 2021 Project TENDR phthalates article in AJPH.

Russ Hauser, MD, ScD, MPH, Frederick Lee Hisaw Professor of Reproductive Physiology, and Professor of Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School

Dr. Hauser’s research focuses on the effect of environmental chemicals on male and female fertility, pregnancy outcomes and children’s health. He led a 20-year NIH-funded study of the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals, including phthalates, on male and female reproductive health. Dr. Hauser is currently conducting an NIH-funded study on the effect of maternal and paternal exposures to environmental chemicals on children’s health, growth, and neurobehavior.  Dr. Hauser was co-author of the 2014 Chronic Health Advisory Panel (CHAP) report on phthalates that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) used to ban certain phthalates from toys. He is a co-author of the 2021 Project TENDR phthalates article in AJPH.

Project TENDR which stands for “Targeting Environmental Neuro-Development Risks,” is a collaboration of leading scientists, health professionals, and advocates protecting children’s brains from toxic chemicals and pollutants. Project TENDR is a program of The Arc.

The Arc advocates for and serves people wit­­h intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), including Down syndrome, autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, cerebral palsy, and other diagnoses. The Arc has a network of nearly 600 chapters across the country promoting and protecting the human rights of people with IDD and actively supporting their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes and without regard to diagnosis.

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The Arc Rejects Hate, Honors Lives Lost and Wounded Survivors of Racially Motivated Shooting in Buffalo, New York

/in , , , /by The Arc

Washington, D.C. – The Arc released the following statement in reaction to the racially motivated mass shooting at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York.

“We are horrified by the racially motivated mass shooting in Buffalo, New York Saturday. We reject hate and no one should be in danger of being murdered because of the color of their skin. The motives and actions of the shooter, and the racist and antisemitic white supremacist conspiracy theories he, and those who sympathize with him, have espoused are sickening.

“Our country is experiencing an undeniable and very long crisis. White supremacy has been woven into the fabric of our existence for centuries, and despite incremental progress –we clearly have a long way to go. We must take down all systems of oppression that threaten and stand in the way of race equity and inclusion.

“The disability community includes individuals who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) and we are in allyship with the Black community in Buffalo and everywhere. We refuse to stay silent when time after time, racist extremists in our country terrorize people of color, a deep-rooted sickness that should anger us all.

“We are all people. Everyone belongs. We honor the people who lost their lives and those wounded in Buffalo at the hands of this evil. We reject racism and hate, with the strong resolve to help tear down these walls of racism, white supremacy, and oppression,” said Peter Berns, CEO, The Arc.

The Arc advocates for and serves people wit­­h intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), including Down syndrome, autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, cerebral palsy and other diagnoses. The Arc has a network of nearly 600 chapters across the country promoting and protecting the human rights of people with IDD and actively supporting their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes and without regard to diagnosis.

Editor’s Note: The Arc is not an acronym; always refer to us as The Arc, not The ARC and never ARC. The Arc should be considered as a title or a phrase.

The United States Capitol Building

Testimony: The Crucial Importance of Social Security Benefits for People With Disabilities

/in /by Pam Katz

This week, The Arc testified before the Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Social Security, in the U.S. House of Representatives on the urgent need to strengthen Social Security—including their customer service—for people with disabilities.

Below is a summary of Lilly’s remarks before the committee. You can access her full testimony here.

Chairman Larson, Acting Ranking Member Hern, and members of the Subcommittee, thank you for inviting me to testify about the importance of the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) customer service for people with disabilities. My name is Bethany Lilly and I am the Senior Director of Public Policy at The Arc of the United States.

As you noted, I am testifying on behalf of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Social Security Task Force. I will focus my remarks on three things: the importance of Social Security providing strong customer service to people with disabilities, the current backlog of cases, and the solutions needed to address these customer service challenges.

For millions of people with disabilities, including veterans, Social Security disability benefits provide crucial income support. In 2021, the average disability benefit was $1,143 per month, which is less than $14,000 a year. These benefits are extremely modest, but they help people with disabilities and their families pay the rent and buy groceries.

To access these benefits, people with disabilities must navigate the incredibly complex disability determination process. It shouldn’t take a law degree to navigate these labyrinthian rules, especially since these benefits are designed to help those with disabilities who often, by definition, will require assistance with paperwork. But this complexity requires high-quality service from SSA to ensure a well-trained staff can answer complex questions.

While disability benefits are SSA’s most complicated programs, SSA also helps people with retirement benefits, name changes, enumeration for new citizens and new babies, Medicare enrollment, and many other functions.

In March 2020, all of these functions abruptly shifted online, over the phone, or via mail as the hundreds of Field Offices across the country closed due to the pandemic. The agency managed this transition despite over a decade of underfunding that has left SSA at distinct disadvantages, especially with regard to staffing and outdated technology. As Tracey Gronniger from Justice in Aging discussed in more detail, there is a desperate need for in-person services, especially for low-income older adults and people with disabilities who face disparities in access to the internet and may have limited phone minutes.

We are glad that SSA began reopening their offices last month, in no small part because of the growing challenges that SSA faces. Estimates suggest that more than half a million people have not received the SSA disability benefits to which they are entitled over the past two years, even taking into account recent declining trends in applications. And while we are not sure how many people experiencing continued symptoms from a COVID-19 infection (those known as long-haulers or people with Long COVID), will meet the extremely strict Social Security disability standard, we do know that Long COVID can complicate other existing conditions, so more SSA cases should be expected.

Part of this decline is no doubt related to the current backlog of people who have applied and are awaiting an initial or reconsideration decision. There are now 1 million of these cases and on average, people are waiting 6 months for an initial decision and 6 months for a reconsideration appeal. This is nearly twice as long as in the past. As Congress did when we faced a similar backlog issue for hearings before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), this issue can be addressed with targeted funding for backlog reduction. SSA has shown that when it is given the right funding, it can get the job done.

And as I mentioned before, SSA has also been underfunded for over a decade. Since 2010, SSA’s operating budget has fallen 14 percent, with an associated drop in staffing of 13 percent. During the same time period, the number of Social Security beneficiaries has grown by 21 percent. It is a credit to the employees of SSA that the millions of people who turn to SSA in their times of need are able to be served at all, even if such service is often minimal and in many cases inadequate.  This long-term funding deficit is a problem that Congress must act now to address!

In addition to addressing this funding crisis, we would urge action on the Chairman’s Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust Act which has a number of benefits and customer service improvements. In particular, we are glad that Acting Commissioner Kijakazi addressed the inflationary concerns raised by advocates and increased the representative’s fee cap last week, but it would be very helpful for Congress to index the cap to inflation as the Chairman’s bill does. And there are other desperately needed improvements detailed in my testimony.

Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. I look forward to taking your questions.

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Intersection of Disability & Race Explored at Free, DEI Virtual Conference: Civil Rights Advocate Kimberlé W. Crenshaw & Disability Activists to Present

/in , , , , , /by The Arc

BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – As issues at the intersection of disability and race remain under-recognized due to a lack fluency or awareness, nonprofit agencies AHRC Nassau and The Arc of the United States are responding with a free, online conference on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 to connect attendees of all abilities and backgrounds with research, best practices, and most importantly, with each other.

The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Virtual Conference, “Beyond the Comfort Zone: Understanding and Eradicating Injustice, Racism and Inequality in the Field of Developmental Disabilities,” will explore the history, the latest research, and opportunities for the increased inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) as well as recognition for direct care staff, who are primarily Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC).

“Disability is an underdeveloped area of DEI. For those with no prior connection to the experience of disability or the underlying issues related to race, there can be shame and hesitation in trying to discuss these issues—or worse, silence,” said Stanfort J. Perry, Conference Chair and CEO of AHRC Nassau. “The purpose of this online conference is to create a platform offering the latest insight on the intersectionality of issues pertaining to ableism and racism—to encourage questions, conversations, and above all, shine a spotlight on those whom society has marginalized.”

More than 30 years since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, people with disabilities remain one of the most marginalized groups – at high risk of violent crimes to contracting and dying from COVID-19. Their essential support staff, who make tasks of daily living and participation in the wider community possible, are predominantly women of color who have spent years advocating for a living wage. According to a report from the University of Minnesota – Institute on Community Integration and The National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals, “Black/African American Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) were paid less per hour than white DSPs, and a higher percentage of Black/African American DSPs worked 40 or more additional hours per week.”

Though there is overwhelming need, an overall lack of funding has resulted in a 43% national turnover rate in the direct care workforce and a staffing crisis. Self-advocates, like Jessica Campbell, have advocated for years for necessary funding to ensure services and supports to lead an independent life. “Imagine not being able to get medication, access money, stay clean, cook, do your job, or go out into the community—that’s what a staffing crisis means to us,” said Campbell, who is currently a member of AHRC Nassau’s Board of Directors and a Field Assistant for the Long Island Region at the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State.

The upcoming DEI Virtual Conference is important to Campbell because in addition to addressing some of these issues during a conference panel, she hopes “more people have a chance to be understood and that more people can begin to understand the experience of disability.”

For Peter Berns, CEO of The Arc of the United States, “Disability providers, at the state and federal level, are working within legal, legislative, and service frameworks that can be complex and difficult to navigate regardless of whether you receive services, work in the industry, or seek to understand as an outside observer.

“Within these systems, people with disabilities and their direct care staff can become further and further removed from the action of daily life, and lead lives in parallel to their peers without disabilities—with few interactions, largely unseen and unheard,” said Berns. “The DEI Virtual Conference speaker lineup will offer valuable perspectives on how meaningful change must be the result of collective partnership and advocacy across all facets of society.”

Conference keynote and civil rights advocate Dr. Kimberlé W. Crenshaw will provide insight into the “intersectionality” framework—a concept she pioneered—addressing how overlapping identities, such as disability, gender identity, and race, can lead to complex, and sometimes under-recognized, issues of inequity and inequality.  Dr. Crenshaw currently serves as the Isidor and Seville Sulzbacher Professor of Law at Columbia Law School, as well as a Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Examining the existing support systems and how to reach a more inclusive future is the focus of the plenary session lineup. Plenary Speaker Kerri E. Neifeld, Commissioner of the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) in New York State, will present how her office is working to stabilize, professionalize, and strengthen the direct support workforce following the pandemic, while also advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the developmental disabilities field.

Plenary Speaker Tawara Goode, Associate Professor and Director, Georgetown University National Center for Cultural Competence, will evaluate cultural and linguistic competence in the industry’s collective efforts to advance DEI, and more specifically, what it means to achieve outcomes in the IDD space, while Plenary Speaker Atif Choudhury, CEO of the UK-based company, Diversity & Ability, will share insights from his lived experience and career on topics ranging from how to evaluate an organization’s progress toward a fully inclusive culture to proactive acknowledgments of intersectionality.

“The quality of insight and dedication to advancing social justice outcomes at this conference is exceptional,” said Perry. “With more than 30 sessions, including speakers from a variety of professional disciplines and backgrounds, we are anticipating a day of learning and connection that advances a more inclusive and equitable future for all. That’s why the conference recordings and an event toolkit will be freely available for a year following the event. This event is intended to serve as a resource, informing and empowering more organizations and individuals.”

The DEI Virtual Conference “Beyond the Comfort Zone: Understanding and Eradicating Injustice, Racism and Inequality in the Field of Developmental Disabilities” will be held on Wednesday, May 18 from 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. ET at ahrc.org/deiconference. The event is free and open to all. Closed captioning will be available for all sessions; American Sign Language is available for plenary and select sessions.

FREE NASW Continuing Education Credits Available NASW-NYS is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers (Provider ID #0014), licensed mental health counselors (Provider ID #MHC-0053), and licensed marriage and family therapists (Provider ID #MFT-0037), and licensed psychologists (Provider ID #PSY-0088)

About Us
AHRC Nassau, a chapter of The Arc New York, is one of the largest agencies in New York State supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Based in Nassau County, the nonprofit empowers people to lead fulfilling lives, together with family, friends and community. AHRC’s programs include a wide array of supports for people with disabilities and their families, including vocational and employment services, adult day habilitation and community-based services, guardianship, family support services and respite/ recreation opportunities, as well as residential services. AHRC Nassau is part of an elite group of international agencies accredited by CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership for Person-Centered Excellence Accreditation With Distinction. AHRC is also one of four agencies accredited by New York State’s Office for People With Developmental Disabilities as a Compass agency, which is the highest level of accreditation offered. For more information, visit www.ahrc.org.

The Arc of the United States advocates with and serves people wit­­h intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), including Down syndrome, autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, cerebral palsy, and other diagnoses. The Arc has a network of nearly 600 chapters across the country promoting and protecting the human rights of people with IDD and actively supporting their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes. For more information, visit thearc.org.

For more information, please contact Nicole Zerillo, assistant director of Community Resources, AHRC Nassau, at 516.626.1075, ext. 1134, or nzerillo@ahrc.org.

SOURCE AHRC Nassau

Editor’s Note: The Arc is not an acronym; always refer to us as The Arc, not The ARC and never ARC. The Arc should be considered as a title or a phrase.

A teenage girl with Down syndrome standing in a yard in front of a white fence with an older family member. The woman is laughing, with her hands on her granddaughter's shoulders. They are both looking at the camera.

Thank You, Moms!

/in , , , /by Pam Katz

Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate mothers and the mother figures who strengthen and support us in our lives. We want to recognize and honor the fierce mom advocates who have shared their stories and struggles, and the strength to fight for families nationwide.

This past year, moms nationwide raised their voices for a historic investment in Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) so that everyone can get the support they need to live in their community.

Andrea from Virginia, Julie from Texas, and their families shared their struggles as they wait for nearly a decade for HCBS that can help their children get the critical care they need at home. While family time comes with much joy and love, Julie knows that “[she’s] not going to live long enough to be her [child’s] direct caregiver forever.”

In October 2021, Pennsylvania disabled mom and activist, Latoya, came to Washington, D.C., to a storytelling vigil at the U.S. Capitol to share why HCBS matters to her and her family.

I came here today because I am literally fighting for my life and freedom…. Home and community-based services and accessible housing keep me from being stuck in an institution to get my needs met-something nobody of any age wants. I want Congress to understand that their political games are putting my life and my freedom at risk, and to stop the posturing and realize what your inaction is doing to real people.

Virginia mom and sibling, Laurie, shared her and her sister Amy’s story of transitioning from an institution to receiving HCBS in a group home and how this change helped her sister grow, even though it was a scary change for their family.

California mom, Amparo, was concerned that her son Jesus and other Latino families might struggle to access disability supports and services like HCBS. From this concern, Amparo joined forces with mothers in her state to launch a local chapter of The Arc, Madres Unidas Para Una Mendota Con Igualdad of The Arc. This chapter is dedicated to fearlessly confronting disparities and racism and ensuring all people can access disability services.

On March 30th, New York mom, Laura, spoke about her family’s need for HCBS at a rally at the U.S. Capitol and entreated Congress to act urgently and boldly to support people with disabilities and their families.

The rippling effects of our crumbling care system impact everyone. We have a crisis in this country as the salaries of direct support professionals do not match the important work they do…. We need a well-trained and stable workforce for continuity and quality of care! Building bridges to caregiving leads to the building of bridges in all our lives.

And this past week, moms Dena, Faye, Nancy, and Soojung shared on our Facebook page why HCBS are essential to their families and why services must be preserved and expanded.

Moms nationwide have also fought for other significant changes to protect and support their families and others.

In Iowa, moms Charmain, Heather, Erin, and Nancy all advocated to challenge laws that would ban schools from requiring masks. Because their children experience disabilities and underlying health conditions that would make them particularly susceptible to severe illness or death from COVID-19, they argued that this ban would effectively exclude their children from public schools and deny them equal access to education.

Mom and advocate, Micki, shared her family’s experience with Social Security’s complex rules around benefits – and how earning around $300 too much 14-15 years ago nearly disqualified her son from receiving future benefits that would help him live independently in the community.

And last but certainly not least, Debbi and Kerri both detailed the impact that not being able to access paid leave had on their family. Debbi often worked through the night to meet her deadlines and keep hold of their health insurance that kept her child alive. Kerri and her family were forced to rely on a GoFundMe campaign to pay for their mortgage, utilities, and essentials so they would not lose their home.

THANK YOU to these moms and to all our moms and mother figures in our lives who strengthen us, support us, and work tirelessly to make lives better – not just for their families, but for everyone.

A row of $20 bills

The Arc Supports Bill to Allow People With Disabilities to Earn and Save More Money

/in , , , , , /by The Arc

Washington, D.C. – The Arc supports a bipartisan bill introduced in Congress to finally give people with disabilities and older Americans significantly more freedom to earn and save money without risking the loss of vital benefits, their livelihoods, and their ability to support themselves and members of their family. The SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act, introduced by U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman on Tuesday, updates Supplemental Security Income (SSI) asset limits for the first time since the 1980s. Current SSI asset limits prevent individuals who receive the modest benefit from saving more than $2,000.

The bill raises SSI asset limits from $2,000 to $10,000 for individuals and from $3,000 to $20,000 for married couples and indexes them to inflation moving forward. SSI provides money to 8 million adults and children with disabilities and older Americans. Many recipients are Black, Hispanic, and other people of color and further marginalized – making it even more critical that Congress pass this bill.

“The SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act is a positive step forward in The Arc’s ongoing push to give millions of people with disabilities the economic opportunity they deserve and more financial security to save for emergencies and unexpected expenses. We see too many people with disabilities and their families forced to impoverish themselves in order to maintain critical SSI benefits, instead of being able to save for the future and for emergencies that arise in all of our lives,” said Peter Berns, CEO of The Arc of the United States. “Raising asset limits would significantly improve the lives of people with IDD who receive SSI.”

For many years, The Arc has advocated relentlessly for changes to SSI asset limits and against the existing unfair and discriminatory caps. Along with advocates, we have continuously urged Members of Congress to update SSI asset limits to at least adjust for inflation, so that people with disabilities can take advantage of financial opportunity to provide for themselves and their families and feel a better sense of financial security.

The Arc sent a letter to Senators Brown and Portman in support of the bill. Read it here.