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ASAN October Newsletter
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Dear friend,
It’s the most boo-tiful time of year, but we’re still fighting some of the scariest things our community deals with, like discriminatory health care systems, subminimum wage, and lack of supports. Here’s what we’ve been working on this month.
In September, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed updates [[link removed]] to its Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 regulations — the first updates since the regulations came into effect in 1977! ASAN held a webinar called “Pushing for Change: Commenting on the Proposed 504 Regulations,” all about the proposed updates to Section 504 and how to submit your own comments. You can watch the recording here. [[link removed]] This update is important because we have the chance to protect the rights of disabled people. We can make sure people with disabilities can access health care and vital services without discrimination. This is something the administration can do without Congress, and it will make many people’s lives better. Our community needs to show our support for these changes! You can submit your comments on or before November 13th here! [[link removed]]
Earlier this month, ASAN welcomed the announced reevaluation of the 14(c) program and called on the Department of Labor (DOL) to completely eliminate subminimum wage for people with disabilities. The 14(c) subminimum wage program has created unfair and abusive conditions for disabled workers. A report released earlier this year [[link removed]] from the Government Accountability Office, the agency that monitors government programs and spending for Congress, found that most people working under the program earn less than $3.50 per hour- less than half the federal minimum wage. ASAN supports laws that give disabled people real work for real pay [[link removed]] . We will continue to work with DOL to end the 14(c) program and take further necessary steps to promote competitive integrated employment for workers with disabilities, as well as calling on Congress to pass the Transition to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (TCIEA) [[link removed]] .
You can have your say on subminimum wage by joining the Department of Labor’s listening session [[link removed]] on 14(c) , coming up on November 15th from 5:30 to 7:00pm Eastern Time. If you have experience with leaving sheltered work for competitive integrated employment, or if you want to share what supports have helped you find and keep a job in the community, use the meeting registration form [[link removed]] to sign up to speak.
Join us on Thursday, November 16 to say farewell to our Executive Director Julia Bascom and celebrate the ways in which we all weave networks of support for our communities! This year’s theme is We Weave Our Own Story, a tribute to the ways in which we create communities together and support each other. This will be our fourth virtual gala, and we’re so excited to continue to share it with our community across the country. Register now to reserve your spot [[link removed]] , and RSVP on Facebook [[link removed]] so you don’t miss a thing. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
We love a good scary story or haunted house this month, but there are some things we shouldn’t have to be scared of — including inaccessible health care and unfair pay for our work. We continue to fight for our community’s rights, and we’re grateful for your support in doing so!
Sincerely,
The Team at ASAN
* ASAN, as part of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Rights, Education, and Technology and Telecommunications Task Force, urged the Department of Justice [[link removed]] to eliminate the exceptions to Title II of the ADA and adopt the latest WCAG standard
* Joined the National Coalition on Accessible Voting to comment on on the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)’s proposed rule [[link removed]] establishing specific requirements and technical standards for accessible websites and mobile apps
* ASAN coordinated the CCD's comments on FR–51552 Requirements Related to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) [[link removed]] , supporting the overall improvements in the rule but urging for alignment with disability rights principles. ASAN also submitted our own comments, which called on the Administration to deprioritize ABA.
* ASAN signed onto CCD's Social Security and Housing Task forces' comments [[link removed]] on the SSI housing assistance ISM NPRM

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Watch Pushing for Change: Commenting on the Proposed 504 Regulations [[link removed]]
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Join us for the 2023 virtual Annual Gala! [[link removed]]
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Show support for proposed Section 504 changes by submitting a comment! [[link removed]]
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Tell the Department of Labor your thoughts on subminimum wage [[link removed]]
Autistic Self Advocacy Network
PO Box 66122
Washington, DC 20035
United States
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