Center for Disabilities Studies

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that states could request a change in the way the federal government pays its share of Medicaid expenses. Called the “total expense model,” it would replace the current funding system – the federal contribution is determined based on each state’s per capita income – with a capped federal grant. While proponents say a spending limit would promote innovation and efficiency, disability advocates and others warn the new model could lead to essential health care services being reduced or eliminated.

People with disabilities are becoming a political force. One sign of the demographic’s new clout is the detailed, wide-ranging disability policy packages released by frontrunners for the Democratic nomination Joe Biden and Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Disability community leaders attribute the shift in part to large-scale efforts including #CripTheVote and the health care bill protests in 2017.

In an open letter, 72 actors, directors and others in the entertainment industry called on their colleagues to pledge to audition actors with disabilities and cast qualified performers with disabilities. The pledge campaign was organized by the Ruderman Family Foundation, which advocates for disability inclusion. CBS was the first company to sign the pledge, doing so in June 2019.

For many Iowans with disabilities, participation in primary elections is difficult or impossible due to the inaccessible design of the candidate selection process. Iowa uses a caucus system, which requires all who want to participate to be physically present in a specific room, without leaving, often for hours. While the Iowa Democratic Party had planned on piloting a system that allowed remote attendance, the plans were scrapped.   

This feature, which arises from news coverage of Saturday’s Special Olympics Delaware (SODE) State Bowling Tournament, illustrates how SODE promotes community inclusion as well as athletes with disabilities’ fitness and life skills. This year about 500 athletes competed in the tournament.