Five takeaways on defending autistic autonomy in the face of federal attacks on autistic communities, from @sesmith.lol: 1. The current federal administration’s proposal to find a “cure” for autism echoes eugenic talking points. Autism is a natural expression of neurodiversity. (🧵 1/6)

Today, August 14, is the 90th anniversary of the Social Security Act of 1935, a landmark law that established the provision of financial benefits to Americans over 65, unemployment insurance, and financial support for single mothers. Learn more in this blog from @nwlc.org:

@lgbtfunders.bsky.social We can't wait! 🥳

We're thrilled to have co-sponsored last month's ADA 35 celebration with MacArthur Foundation, hosted at Access Living's incredible space. This event featured a panel on the @amexperiencepbs.bsky.social documentary Change, Not Charity, directed by Oscar-nominee @jimlebrecht.bsky.social. (🧵 1/3)

Today, August 6, is the 60th anniversary of the #VotingRightsAct of 1965, a landmark federal law that outlawed racist and discriminatory voting practices, such as requiring voters to pass literacy tests before voting. (🧵 1/4)

✨ There are 3 incredible disability research fellowships at Northwestern’s Center for Education in Health Sciences! CRDJ is a mentorship site. If you’d like to work with us, mention CRDJ in your personal statement and select us as your fellowship site! Learn more ⬇️

Calling all qualified disabled leaders: Apply now for the Disability Rising Fellowship! - Media training & coaching - Speaking & publishing opportunities - $5000 individual or org stipend Ready to shift the narrative? Apply: tinyurl.com/DisabilityRising Deadline: 8/22/25, 11:59 p.m. ET

At the Disability & Philanthropy Forum, we honor and celebrate the disabled LGBTQIA+ community year-round! The LGBTQIA+ community, and especially trans and non-binary people, are undergoing severe and rapidly worsening attacks at the federal, state, and local levels. 🧵 Thread 1/9

Access is not a one-size-fits-all checklist. Meeting the needs of the disability community requires constant evolution, creative problem-solving and collaboration. @sesmith.lol breaks down collective access in this new blog:

"While we feel a deep sense of sorrow and, at times, even outrage, our resolve remains strong." The Disability & Philanthropy Forum, and philanthropic organizations committed to disability solidarity, are responding to the passage of H.R. 1. Learn more and sign on to the statement: buff.ly/uFmVp9x

In the newest episode of Disability Inclusion: Required, host Justice Shorter welcomes Marcus Walton (Grantmakers for Effective Organizations) and our Executive Director Sandy Ho to discuss the transformative practice of disability solidarity in philanthropy. Tune in to the episode: buff.ly/Ju0dq3o

It’s Disability Pride Month! In honor of the 35th Anniversary of the #AmericansWithDisabilitiesAct, we’re sharing 35 ways your organization can honor, educate, and be in solidarity with disabled movement leaders and advocates. Read the full list: disabilityphilanthropy.org/resource/thi...

As we recognize the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the words in this new letter from our executive director, Sandy Ho, serve as a beacon in uncertain times. Read the letter: disabilityphilanthropy.org/resource/dea...

We’ve received 100+ responses on how the first 100 days of changes in public leadership have impacted disabled-led and -serving organizations. Serin Bond-Yancey, MSW (they/any pronouns, Executive Director of @transwa.bsky.social) shares how the lack of philanthropic support is harming organizations:

We’re so grateful to have hosted a joyous gathering of the Presidents’ Council on Disability Inclusion in Philanthropy in the Bay Area this month! The power of disability solidarity and the importance of disability justice, rights, & inclusion was palpable. Photo credit: @movementphotog.bsky.social‬

Responses are pouring in from disabled individuals and organizations on how the first 100 days of changes in public leadership have impacted their work. Violet E. Horvath, Ph.D., MSW, MFA, and a person with a disability, shares how dire the situation is for people with disabilities:

Today, we honor the legacy of Stacey Park Milbern, a groundbreaking leader in the Disability Justice movement and one of the creators of the 10 Principles of Disability Justice.

With mounting ableist rhetoric and policies targeted at autistic communities, it’s more important than ever to center autistic perspectives. In the newest episode of Disability Inclusion: Required, host Justice Shorter and Eric Garcia discuss resisting these ableist narratives:

“I’m just trying to be one of many people to try and help create a world that’s filled with our culture.” www.huffpost.com/entry/alice-...

Do you want to better understand the connection between climate and disability justice? Then make plans to attend our first-ever Learning Institute this November! We've just launched the first look at buff.ly/FNNk3IG.

📢 To the disability community: The Disability & Philanthropy Forum is conducting a survey to understand how the first 100 days of leadership and policy changes (federal, state, and local) have impacted disabled-led and/or -serving organizations. Please share with your networks! buff.ly/uq8Abhu

In "Power in Disability Solidarity," a new Disability & Philanthropy Forum report, five stories showcase disability solidarity in efforts from Black liberation, participatory grantmaking, art funding, community foundations, and much more. Read the stories:

Tune into the new episode of Disability Inclusion: Required with host Justice Shorter, Jalyn Radziminski (Count US IN), and Henry Claypool on the urgency of protecting #Medicare, #Medicaid, and other health policies for people with disabilities. View the episode: bit.ly/DIR-Episode-21

My first piece as @prismreports.org’s new contributing writer, focused on disability justice! prismreports.org/2025/04/03/d...

This Saturday, April 5, is the anniversary of the 1977 504 Sit-In, a 25-day protest led by groundbreaking disabled activists in San Francisco calling for #Section504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to be signed and enforced. (🧵 1/3)

In this replay clip from our webinar on Black Disabled Leadership, @labelleverite.bsky.social explains why collaboration between racial justice advocacy and disability rights efforts is so essential in the face of attacks on #Section504. View the clip: buff.ly/68V7AWg

If upholding the promise of disability justice and rights is a commitment to current and future disabled communities — this current trajectory is rife with broken promises.

"These cuts are deliberate acts of economic violence against the people who can least afford them. They are policy choices that will force millions of disabled, poor, and BIPOC Americans into deeper poverty, illness, and preventable death." - @crdjustice.bsky.social

The U.S. Department of Education provides critical supports and services to disabled students. Learn more about how cuts to this department impact students with disabilities: dredf.org/dredf-denoun... Source: @dredf.bsky.social

"Today’s Black disabled organizers are...boldly envisioning a world filled with care, health equity, and belonging for us all." Learn how Borealis Philantropy's grantee partners are carrying forward Black disabled organizing:

"Kids are told they can’t succeed because of their disabilities. Disabled job candidates are disproportionately turned away. And inaccessible technologies continue to be mass-produced." @berkeleyblink.bsky.social for @latimes.com :

We're excited that our Program and Communications team - Senior Director Gail Fuller and Senior Associate Olivia Williams - will moderate the ABFE #Harambee2025 session, "Tired of Being Sick and Tired: Stories of Blackness and Disability Justice." Learn more: www.abfe.org/harambee-con...

Did You Know? When people say “You don’t look disabled” or “You must be faking it,” it casts doubt on those with non-apparent disabilities. It implies that disability has a specific appearance and invalidates invisible disabilities. #EndAbleism

If you weren't able to join us live, the recording of our webinar on Black disabled leadership with Patrick Cokley @rwjf.bsky.social, Mel Brown at Deep Space Mind 215, and @labelleverite.bsky.social is a must-watch! View the webinar: bit.ly/4jrjUkx

Legal threat to long-standing disability law sets precedent for future civil rights attacks, advocates warn. Texas v. Becerra targets Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act after the Biden administration included gender dysphoria as a protected disability, @shruti-rajkumar.bsky.social reports.

NEW: Today, CDT’s @arianaaboulafia.bsky.social published a report with @aapd-disability.bsky.social that provides recommendations for community members, the private sector, and state/local/federal agencies on how to build a disability-inclusive #AI ecosystem. cdt.org/insights/bui...

#FundingOpportunity: The request for proposals for the Disabilities Fund at Chicago Community Trust, a member of our Presidents' Council on Disability Inclusion, closes March 12th! Learn more and apply: buff.ly/4hUshne

In anticipation of #InternationalWomensDay taking place on March 8, we're celebrating women and non-binary people, especially disabled Black, Indigenous, Latine, and Asian trans women and non-binary people. Learn more about the connections between gender and disability: buff.ly/43xxTzR

Today, we honor the legacy of Judy Heumann, widely recognized as one of the founding leaders of the disability rights movement in the United States. She remained determined in her fight for disability justice, rights, and inclusion.

What if you could have a dedicated guide traveling with you on the journey to disability justice, rights, and inclusion? In this new video, learn how our personalized, nimble, and responsive learning options meet philanthropy's needs in a rapidly changing landscape. View the video: buff.ly/3DfL9y7

In 2024, disabled people were nearly twice as likely to be unemployed as nondisabled people. Read more about what we can do to eliminate this disparity in this blog from @npwf.bsky.social: buff.ly/3EWdXfv

We are excited to announce that @newdisabledsouth.org is launching the Black Disability Institute’s Anthology Series, uplifting stories on Black disability & mental health! ⏳Submit by April 30, 2025 🔗Submit your story here: bit.ly/BDIstory 📄 Full RFP and details here: bit.ly/BDIrfp

Rainier Miles, Disability Justice Program Director at Black Trans Fund, reminds us of the life-saving impact of funding trans joy. Learn more in Episode 20 of Disability Inclusion: Required: buff.ly/4gBoNF4

There's still time to register! Join us this Thursday, 2/27 at 1:00pm ET for a conversation on Black disabled leadership with Patrick Cokley @rwjf.bsky.social, Mel Brown at Deep Space Mind 215, and @labelleverite.bsky.social. #BlackHistoryMonth Register:

Missouri Foundation for Health, member of our Presidents' Council on Disability Inclusion in Philanthropy, shares how crucial #Medicaid is for the health of nearly 1.4 million Missourians:

Aldita Amaru Gallardo, Director of the Action for Transformation Fund at Emergent Fund, reminds us that it's essential to uphold our commitments to #RacialJustice, #DisabilityJustice, and #TransgenderLiberation. Learn more in Episode 20 of Disability Inclusion: Required: https://buff.ly/4gBoNF4

Check out this toolkit from @autisticadvocacy.bsky.social on understanding and navigating #Medicaid, with both an Easy Read Edition and a Plain Language Version: autisticadvocacy.org/policy/toolk...

You have probably heard a lot recently about diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEI/DEIA). That's why AAPD put together a new resource to explain what DEIA is, why it is essential for disabled Americans, and explaining recent federal actions on DEIA. www.aapd.com/explaining-d...

“So many Black women are tasked with the stereotype of strong Black women. But we break too…We need consolation [and] self-care.” A reminder this #BlackHistoryMonth from Heather Watkins: fund support systems that alleviate societal weight on Black women. Learn more:

Learn more about #Section504 and how to protect it: dredf.org/protect-504/