A crowd of graduating students against a black backdrop. They are all raising their right arm and turning the tassels on their caps to the other side.

Unlocking Dreams: The Power of Student Loan Forgiveness for People With Disabilities

/in /by The Arc

Many see college as a path to a better life and unlocking their dreams. But student debt often stops this, especially for people with disabilities. A major reason is due to income. People with disabilities experience poverty more than double the rate of individuals without disabilities.

A study found that nearly 3 in 5 people with disabilities with student loans struggle with food insecurity and paying house or utility bills. Facing these challenges can force borrowers to take additional jobs to pay for debt. It can stop people from buying houses or cars or seeking more education. On average, people with disabilities graduate with $27,490 in student loan debt and many have a debt of over $100,000.

The Arc has been a leader in advocating for changes to the Total and Permanent Disability (TDP) Discharge Program to include automation, simplifying the program, and eliminating the monitoring period. TDP is a program that relieves people who are totally and permanently disabled from repaying certain federal student loans.

The Biden administration has made significant changes to TDP. Now, more than half a million people with disabilities have received student loan forgiveness since 2021.

A woman wearing a graduation cap and gown. One of those people is Renee.

Renee’s dream was to be a nurse. She was excelling in a nursing program and working in an intensive care unit while she finished her degree. Unfortunately, she injured her spine while moving a patient and that started her personal disability journey. Due to this injury, Renee’s nursing education ended. Determined to earn a degree to help others, she returned to school to pursue a bachelor’s degree in human and community services and a master’s degree in social and public policy.

Right before graduating from her master’s program, Renee needed emergency spine surgery. The surgery and recovery made her unable to complete the required internship for her program. Because of this, she couldn’t work in her chosen field.

By this point, Renee was over $100,000 in debt with no way to get a good-paying job in her field. Her family was unable to make the $1,000 monthly student loan payments, and it made it more difficult for them purchase the things they needed for their family. Renee learned about the TPD loan forgiveness opportunity. She applied and she later discovered that her student loans were discharged. Renee stated that this relief was a blessing. Not only were they able to purchase things that their family needed, but it opened doors for her family to buy a home.

Student loan debt is a disability rights issue. The Arc has relentlessly advocated for changes to relieve people with disabilities from student loan debt. Learn more about TDP here.

The Home Depot logo

The Home Depot Collaborates With Disability Community to Enhance Employment Access for Job Seekers With IDD

/in /by The Arc

In an innovative partnership, The Home Depot has collaborated with leading disability rights organizations to remove barriers and improve job access for applicants with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The Home Depot worked closely with The Arc of the United States, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), and Equip for Equality (EFE) to develop policy changes that will create a more equitable hiring process for this underrepresented talent pool.

As part of this process, The Home Depot undertook a comprehensive review of its entry level hiring and reasonable accommodation process and, with advice and input from The Arc and ASAN, made adjustments to avoid the potential for unintended screen out of applicants with IDD. The changes that The Home Depot has implemented include explaining up front, and in plain language, more details about the steps in the company’s hiring process and the availability of reasonable accommodations, including by providing examples of specific accommodations for applicants with IDD, such as obtaining assistance from a job coach or support person and the ability to ask for a waiver of The Home Depot’s online assessment, as well as conducting additional training on inclusive and accessible hiring practices that includes the recent changes.

Research from a collaboration between Accenture, Disability:IN, and the American Association of People with Disabilities shows that companies that employ people with disabilities financially outperform companies that don’t. In addition, people with disabilities, on average, stay in their jobs longer than their counterparts without disabilities. Despite this, people with IDD continue to face unemployment and underemployment. Roughly 85% of people with IDD are unemployed. Many want to work and have skills to contribute but are not given serious consideration or opportunities. Among those who are employed, people with IDD are working fewer than 13 hours a week on average and less than one-fifth of them are getting any workplace benefits. This collaborative partnership is paving the way for more inclusion.

A good job is a key part of living a meaningful and inclusive life in the community for many people with IDD,” said Katy Neas, Chief Executive Officer, The Arc. “For too long, this talented and capable workforce has faced barriers that shut them out from reaching their full potential. Today’s announcement represents a pivotal step forward. By proactively listening to people with disabilities, The Home Depot is taking decisive action to dismantle employment obstacles. This collaborative approach marks a shift toward true equity and respect for people with IDD to pursue meaningful careers.”

“Progress has been achieved today through dialogue and partnership between disability advocates and Home Depot,” said Zena Naiditch, President and CEO, Equip for Equality. “We are delighted to partner with Home Depot to develop solutions that will ensure greater access to employment for job seekers with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The proactive approach Home Depot is taking is critically important to ensuring greater access to employment for people with disabilities.”

“We’re hopeful that this collaboration will result in a more inclusive hiring process and job opportunities for people with IDD,” said Avery Outlaw, Executive Director, Autistic Self Advocacy Network.