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American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) #EconomicPower & #PoliticalPower of #PWDs. Retweets do not equal endorsements. Instagram: aapdofficial

Washington, D.C.
Joined August 2008
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Election Day is here! Save this thread with resources and info you can use if you have any trouble at the polls.
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If you are prevented from voting: Say you are requesting accommodations to vote. Ask for the Election Judge if needed. If you’re told you are ineligible to vote, you have a legal right to fill out a backup ballot called a provisional ballot. Call the Election Protection Hotline: 866-OUR-VOTE or 866-687-8683. Document everything: Names, locations, times, etc., and report if not resolved.
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After you vote: Track your ballot to ensure it gets counted. We know most people are ready to stop receiving election-related emails, texts, and phone calls! We get it. But please monitor for anyone contacting you to cure your ballot. Also, be sure to monitor for any recounts or runoffs in any of the races you voted in.
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Since 2018, there have been 734 elections decided by 10 or fewer votes (source: Ballotopedia). Your vote is your power. Now go use it! Run into any issues? You do not have to handle voting barriers alone. Call us at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) to speak to a trained volunteer. ID: White text on a navy background that says "vote". A power symbol is in place of the letter O.
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Congratulations to our former Board Chair and longtime board member @TedKennedyJR on this recognition as lawyer of the year from the Bar Association of D.C.!
Congratulations to @TedKennedyJR, named the Bar Association of D.C.’s 2026 Lawyer of the Year—the organization’s highest honor. Ted has spent his career advancing disability rights and equal access. We’re proud to have him on our team. hubs.la/Q04C_Y8v0 #DisabilityRights
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Today, October 29, 2026, a federal judge agreed with a coalition of 25 states and the District of Columbia in their lawsuit challenging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) definition of “medical frailty” in CMS’s work requirements rule. The states sued CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz because CMS’s definition of “medical frailty” was stricter than Congress’s definition in the final law. The federal government’s stricter policy ensured that, even though they are legally exempt from CMS's work requirements due to their disability, they would lose their Medicaid coverage under CMS’s stricter definition. Today, a federal judge said that CMS cannot propose and enforce a stricter definition than the law does. Effective immediately, nationwide, the “medical frailty” exemption for Medicaid work requirements goes back to its original definition as Congress wrote it. This is a small – but truly meaningful win. Today’s ruling does not end work requirements entirely, but it does eliminate some harmful aspects of how work requirements are administered. You can learn more about what this means in AAPD’s Community Update: aapd.com/community-advocacy-… Progress often happens one small action at a time. Let’s all celebrate this successful action and continue to share our stories about how Medicaid makes every part of our lives possible – our advocacy is powerful. ID: White text on a navy background: "We Have Good News About Medicaid! (Yes, you read that right!) Today, a federal judge agreed with 25 states + DC that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) must end a policy that would make it even harder for disabled people to be exempt from Medicaid work requirements. 25 states + DC sued CMS because their definition of “medical frailty” was much stricter than the definition that Congress wrote in H.R. 1. A federal judge agreed with the states, declaring that CMS cannot propose a stricter definition than Congress did. Before today, CMS’s proposed definition meant that many people who were supposed to qualify for a medical exemption would still be forced to work, attend school, or volunteer 80 hours a month to keep their life-saving Medicaid coverage. Now, the definition of medical frailty goes back to the original one that Congress wrote! This means more disabled people will be rightfully exempt from needing to fulfill work requirements to keep their healthcare. Go to our profile to learn more."
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Election day is NEXT WEEK! Vote as early as you can if you haven't already. If you have any questions, concerns, or run into any issues when voting, call the Election Protection Hotline. English: 1-866-OUR-VOTE Spanish: 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA Arabic: 1-844-YALLA-US For Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi, Urdu, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and more: 1-888-API-VOTE. Your local Protection and Advocacy organization (P&A) can also provide information about accessible voting and assist with disability-related voting issues. ID: Blue and red text on a cream background with the same information on the graphic as is in the text of this post.
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In a new blog for AAPD, disability advocate Lilly Grossman wrote about why it's so important for disability support services to be portable across states. Read the blog at ow.ly/1mzZ51019kH. ID: Photo of Lilly, a white woman with dark blonde hair wearing a pink jacket. The text reads, "I believe that disability support service portability is the next frontier of disability civil rights. A person pursuing employment, higher education, or opportunities in another state should have access to clear, reliable processes for maintaining essential disability supports across geographic boundaries."
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Disabled students and young people deserve opportunities to explore career paths, connect with mentors, and receive encouragement as they pursue their dreams. Help make these opportunities possible and spread the word to others who can support them! Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) has officially started! Learn more about becoming a DMD coordinator on our website: aapd.com/disability-mentorin… ID: White text on a blue-to-purple gradient background with white text on it surrounded by a dark blue stroke. The text says "Be a coordinator for Disability Mentoring Day"
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Election Day is November 3, just two weeks away. Early voting has already begun in many states! The 2026 midterm elections will affect health care, education, jobs, housing, transportation, civil rights, and more. People with disabilities deserve a say in decisions that affect our lives. One way to have a say? Vote! Use AAPD’s My Plan To Vote form: docs.google.com/document/d/1… to make your voting plan today! It’s available in eight languages: American Sign Language (ASL), Chinese, English, Hindi, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. Each version of the form is written using plain language. ID: Text that says Election Day is two weeks away with a November 3 calendar date circled in red.
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It’s Disabled Women’s Equal Pay Day. Too many disabled women are forced to live in poverty due to asset limits and work requirements that restrict access to lifesaving programs like Medicaid, home health care, and SNAP. We deserve better. Help fight for economic security for disabled women: aapd.quorum.us/campaign/5763…
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Earlier this week, the disability community lost Becky Ogle, one of our greatest advocates. Throughout her career, Ogle embraced and cultivated the power of the disability community. She became a central figure among the coalition of disabled leaders campaigning to pass the ADA. Ogle was a leader in numerous presidential campaigns across the past 30 years, and regularly worked to ensure that candidates seeking public office recognized the disability community as an important political constituency. She was also one of AAPD’s most dedicated supporters throughout the organization’s history. Ogle will be deeply missed. Her legacy lives on in AAPD’s work. ID: A photo of Becky Ogle on a white background. Above the photo are the words "in loving memory". Below the photo are the words "AAPD Mourns the Passing of Disability Rights Champion Becky Ogle". The photo of Becky is from AAPD's Spirit of the ADA Torch Relay in 2000. She's smiling very large and wearing sunglasses and a yellow shirt.
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There's still time to submit a comment opposing the changes to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Comments close October 20th at 11:59 PM ET Leave a comment: aapd.quorum.us/campaign/1708…
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AAPD's 2026 Fall Interns have arrived! 🥳 Read more about them at: aapd.com/meet-the-fall-2026-…
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Early voting starts in 13 states this week! Check your registration at vote.gov, review your options for voting in your state, and vote as early as you can!
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There's still time to participate and complete our Community Input Survey for our new learning program. Learn more at: ow.ly/ivUs50ZW64I
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Concerned about protecting disabled people's independence and civil rights? You’re invited to join the Defend Community Integration Coalition’s (DCIC) Community Briefing on Texas v. Kennedy and Community Integration, tomorrow, October 8, from 3-4 PM ET. The briefing is intended for advocates at any level, and will cover recent developments affecting the right of people with disabilities to live and receive services in their communities — what we call "community integration." us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi… ID: Graphic that looks like a calendar highlighting a webinar on October 8 from 3 - 4 PM ET about Defend Community Integration Coalition's community integration efforts.
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Voter registration deadlines are quickly approaching! 11 states have voter registration deadlines today. Check your registration status or complete your registration at vote.gov.
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