Over the last 5+ years, the COVID-fighting “toolkit” should’ve expanded, not narrowed. Now, RFK Jr's attacks on the COVID vaccines throw into harsh relief the reality that we only have one "tool" left. Where is the institutional mitigation? My latest: www.thegauntlet.news/p/with-rfks-...

Today’s announcement by RFK Jr. will likely lead to blaming parents if their children are diagnosed with autism & discouraging the safe use of Tylenol to appropriately manage pain and fever during pregnancy. www.americanprogress.org/press/statem...

Mia & I joined Eddie Ytuarte on Pushing Limits to discuss our report, The Trump Administration’s War on Disability. In just 6 months, executive actions, budget cuts, layoffs, & legislation have drastically limited disability rights, including Medicaid & education access. @seemiaroll.bsky.social

Today, Maryland took additional actions to protect COVID access: - Issued a standing order so vaccines can be administered based on guidance developed by medical professional societies instead of the federal government - Confirmed they have joined the Northeast Public Health Collaborative

D.C. friends! City council passed emergency legislation that allows D.C. residents to get COVID-19 vaccines without a prescription. This will be in place for 90 days, so don't wait if you want to get a vaccine! www.wusa9.com/article/news...

Excited to join the Disability Economic Policy & Research Consortium! This week we discussed closing research gaps, shaping policies that work for our communities, & removing barriers to full economic participation for disabled people. Explore the new website & research hub:

RFK Jr is holding a panel on Long Covid the day before Covid vaccines are discussed at ACIP. I wonder if he's going to claim that Covid vaccines cause Long Covid.

As someone who identifies racist & ableist dehumanizing approaches to policy for a living, this is breathtaking. Like an actual breath of fresh air.

Glad they can wear masks now, but masks should not have been banned! "The U.S. government will provide wildfire fighters with masks to protect against smoke — reversing a decades-long ban that exposed workers to toxins known to cause cancer & other serious diseases" www.nytimes.com/2025/09/09/u...

The Virginia Department of Health has issued a standing order so that people can get the COVID vaccine without a prescription. You can print out the order here: www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uplo...

How many Palestinians in Gaza were shot and killed today? How many of them were children? How many of them didn’t ask for nor celebrate nor perpetuate the kind of violence they’re subjected to on a daily basis? How many of you care?

I know this isn't the news right now. But I have some updated info on Covid vax availability. Several states where CVS/Walgreens weren't offering them or required Rx 1.5 wks ago now have them without Rx because of state officials' actions. But still 13 states where CVS and/or Walgreens require Rx.

Come join my team! We at @newdisabledsouth.org are looking for a digital fundraising manager. Apply at go.newdisabledsouth.org/digi-fundraising

It’s Disability Voting Rights Week! I’m researching voting rights for people under guardianship & looking to speak with someone currently under guardianship who cannot vote. We can connect however works best for you, & I’ll send questions in advance. DMs welcome and reposts appreciated!

🚨 UPDATE on the current COVID vaccine access situation in the US. Please note that this is based on state laws but different things may be happening on the ground, and some pharmacies are defaulting to federal guidelines instead of state laws.

This is a great piece by @unbiasedscipod.bsky.social with helpful tips for addressing COVID misinformation. As a science communicator, my experience is that the best way to win people over is with empathetic real world conversations and it's work we all need to do if we want to turn things around.

Again, I do this for a living: If you're going to take action against RFK Jr, if you're going to spend your time and energy on opposing this fucking monster, the time is now.

If you want to resist, wear a mask If you care about future generations, wear a mask If you care about your long term health, wear a mask If you want to fight fascism, wear a mask Your resistance effort must be inclusive of everyone … and that includes disabled people Masking is community care

"This report sets examples of Kennedy’s costly, chaotic, and corrupt actions from EVERY DAY he has served as Secretary." From Feb 13- Sept 4. 203 days of sowing chaos and spreading misinformation; dismantling HHS research, prevention and health care and more. www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/do...

The Trump admin withdrew a proposed rule that would have phased out a waiver allowing employers to pay disabled workers less than the federal minimum wage. Subminimum wages keep disabled workers in poverty. Learn more: www.americanprogress.org/article/the-...

Disability and ableism are interminably linked to the capacity to work. Unions were created due to the increasing cost labor had on the body, leaving many disabled and economically devalued. This #LaborDay, I celebrate disabled workers who helped gain safer working conditions and better benefits.

Black women have every right to be furious. The irresponsible choices of white voters has for many of us, taken our livelihood with consequences for our homes, the education of our children, our ability to care for parents. It’s unconscionable. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/31/u...

The issue is that the CDC's immunization committee has not yet recommended the shots. Although the FDA label includes a broad list of conditions that will allow you to self-attest to get the vaccine, pharmacies are worried that the CDC could restrict this further, so are waiting to see what happens.

COVID vaccine update: Pharmacies in these states won't give you a shot unless you have a prescription. CVS: CO, FL, GA, KY, LA , ME, NY, NC, PA, UT, VA, WV, DC Walgreens: AZ, CO, GA, IN, LA, MO, MT, NM, NY, OR, SC, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI CVS is not yet offering COVID shots at all in MA, NV, and MN.

Today is #NHPIWomensEqualPayDay. For every dollar earned by white, non-Hispanic men working full-time, year-round in 2023, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander women were only paid 65 cents. Check out our analysis with @napawf.org on the labor market experiences of AANHPI women:

For 12 months, America had a limited proof of concept for universal healthcare, and it was so uniformly successful we had no choice but to obliterate our society

Since the 90s, men have most often cited disability as their primary reason for not working/women have cited caregiving. Now, fewer young women leave work for caregiving, while disability rates continue to rise. More from my colleagues @americanprogress.bsky.social:

RFK Jr's post on Elon Musk's X . com says the vaccines will be available "for all patients who choose them after consulting with their doctors." Pfizer has announced they have begun immediately shipping vaccine. Analysis is at: www.patreon.com/posts/137487...

So the worst of the worst rumors didn't come into fruition. This isn't *good* news but it is a huge relief that at least over 65 & people with underlying conditions will be able to get Covid shots!! Remember, the list of underlying conditions is very long. www.statnews.com/2025/08/27/f...

My councilwoman @janeese4dc.bsky.social put out a plea to neighbors to not order food delivery because of law enforcement targeting delivery drivers.

States can and should resist federal overreach when it comes to voter data!

I started my 20th year of school (lol) and my partner started his 8th year of teaching today. We are sending love to all the students and teachers out there. Happy back to school! 🫶😷

If you're in a city with an immigration court, court watching is a very useful and concrete thing you can do!!

Trump’s VA plan: 83k layoffs & 585+ canceled contracts (addressing exposure to burn pits/Agent Orange, cancer research, & suicide prevention). Disabled veterans will lose vital services—just one front in Trump's war on the disability community. www.americanprogress.org/article/the-...

My article from last week ft a quote from @caseydoherty.bsky.social 👇

Administrative burden is a great way to slowly squeeze people out of benefits programs.

We definitely need to use words more like kidnapped or disappeared. They are disappearing people.

⚠️ Israel performed a “double tap” attack on the only functioning hospital remaining in southern Gaza. After the initial strike on the hospital, journalists and first responders rushed in, and then Israel struck again. Israel killed twenty people, including five journalists, in the strikes.

And for Omicron the waning happens earlier. Sadly public health sold us on an annual "vax and relax" strategy The half-life of vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic infection was ~87 days for Omicron compared with ~316 days for Delta jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

This is a solid point to remember. Get vaxxed, but important to add the reduction in transmission rapidly wanes by 3-4 months

"I don’t know how to convince everyone that we can’t give up. So many people consider COVID to be endemic, or accept that everyone will eventually become infected, thinking nothing more can be done... but I know a better world is possible and we will move forward together."

Important new piece: ‘people with disabilities reported spending 20% of their income (or $1 for every $5 dollars they have) on their disability-related expenses and that for many the costs are considerably higher.’ Tracks my own experience too.

Excited to begin year two of my PhD tomorrow! Grateful for the growth & support in year one, & looking forward to deepening my research experience & bridging scholarship with real-world impact. This year I’ll focus on analyzing accessible education policy & diving more into quant research. Let's go!

This was very popular a few months ago so I thought I would repost it #MEcfs #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #CFS #PwME 1/

Another Long Covid advocate using limited energy to share what it’s like living with chronic illness. Thank you for helping to educate others on how a “mild virus” can impact a person’s life.

I live with unrelenting pain and fatigue every day. In sharing my story with HealthCentral, I talked about how Long COVID and ME shape my disability policy work, relationships, and how I spend my limited energy. As always, a reminder to mask up if you can! 😷🩷 www.healthcentral.com/condition/co...

Access to government programs/activities/info is a right, not a privilege. Yet the WH removed key accessibility tools—ASL in press briefings, its accessibility webpage, & ADA guidance for businesses—violating Section 504. This is just one way the Trump admin is attacking the disability community.

For disabled Americans, mail-in voting isn’t a convenience—it’s a vital right to vote safely and independently. As I told @juliametraux.bsky.social: “Eliminating this option would not only be unconstitutional, it would add to the barriers disabled voters already face.” shorturl.at/Tel5D