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 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. 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!

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 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. 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). 

You can have your say on subminimum wage by joining the Department of Labor’s listening session 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 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, and RSVP on Facebook 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