Yesterday, our federal government leadership changed as President Joe Biden ended his term and President Donald J. Trump was inaugurated for the second time. We would first like to thank the many disability advocates who served in the Biden Administration during the last four years, advancing historic disability-informed updates in areas such as transportation, education, employment, healthcare, and home/community based services. Their work resulted in new opportunities and greater legal protections for people with disabilities.
We know that many of you are very anxious about the next four years. For months, the media has reported on the likely goals of the new administration’s leaders. Many could negatively impact people with disabilities, such as possibly dismantling or reducing the U.S. Department of Education, restructuring the funding of Medicaid and installing Medicaid work requirements, ending equity initiatives, and reducing civil rights protections such as in housing, or for transgender people. The press have also reported that the new administration aims to act fast, which adds to the pressure.
Keep in mind that such changes face significant legal and administrative challenges. Many require public input and must go through a legislative, court or administrative process. It will take months, if not years, to see these through. Civil rights groups have already begun filing challenges to at least some of the new Presidential Executive Orders. If you are feeling overwhelmed, remind yourself that it’s okay to take time to process and decide where you may want to do some advocacy. Access Living and our partners are monitoring the federal developments, to ensure that the new federal administration will face close disability scrutiny.
Immigration is at the top of mind for many of us. As an organization based in Chicago, thousands of our friends and neighbors are immigrants with varying status, and Chicago is a sanctuary city. Many immigrants are also people with disabilities, and it is critical that we fight against any possible instances of medical deportation. Deporting many immigrants with disabilities who require health services not available in their countries of origin may actually be a death sentence. We also know that right now, many of our community members are afraid. If you or your family or friends are unclear about your immigration rights, please look at the website of our longtime partners at the Illinois Coalition on Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), one of a number of immigrant rights organizations working to protect people of all immigration status.
We stand by our trans community members. President Trump has made it very clear that he will do what he can to eliminate protections for transgender and non-binary people. Trans and nonbinary folks are an important part of our disability community and in fact, a high number of disabled people identify as transgender or nonbinary. We are monitoring attacks on trans and nonbinary protections, and will continue to support the work of organizations such as Equality Illinois and the Chicago Therapy Collective.
Above all, just keep in mind that wherever there is a federal attack on marginalized groups, legal and community advocates will be there.
Take your time, process, get the facts, and contact Access Living if you want to get involved with our work. Take care of yourself and your loved ones—the time for action will be when you are ready.