Delaware will issue its March SNAP benefits on March 5 – earlier than usual for some recipients – due to the disruption caused by the government shutdown. To avoid losing SNAP funds during the shutdown, all states distributed February’s benefits on Jan. 20. Moving up the March distribution date (which for some recipients was as late as March 23) makes it less likely families will run out of food during the wait.
Bills to reauthorize the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support (CARES) Act were introduced last week in both chambers of Congress. They would appropriate more than $1 billion for federal agencies to continue research programs, education campaigns, housing support and other initiatives. This version of the Autism CARES Act explicitly broadens federal focus to supporting individuals with autism across the lifespan.
M&T Bank has awarded a $30,000 grant to Delaware’s Veteran Watchmakers Initiative, a watchmaking school for veterans with disabilities. The 16-month-old program already has a 400-person waiting list comprised of veterans from around the country. Chairman Samuel Cannan says the grant will help fund an eight-person dormitory, expand classroom space and potentially contribute to the purchase of a second location.
The Delaware Department of Labor (DOL) is requesting more money from the state to clear waiting lists for several services including job training for approximately 600 people with disabilities. The DOL secretary says those services were cut from last year’s state budget during the effort to make up for a $350 million revenue shortfall.
Major League Baseball, spurred by disability advocacy groups such as the Ruderman Family Foundation, has changed the name of its “disabled list” to “injured list.” This is to combat the misconception that disabilities necessarily prevent individuals from playing sports. There is no change to the rules governing the MLB injured list, which allows teams to temporarily remove injured players from the active roster.
