Policy Pulse Newsletter - July 2023
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July 31, 2023 | 33 Years of Progress
The Autism Speaks monthly advocacy newsletter shares the latest news, updates and opportunities within our federal and state government affairs work.
With school around the corner, this edition highlights the story of a special educator and takes a look at some new federal education bills. We also dive into some of the state policy wins that came out of this year's legislative sessions.
Advocate Spotlight
Meet Cidmarie from New York
Cidmarie was called to serve people with special needs from an early age. As a sibling to autistic brother and now a special education teacher, she has dedicated her life to helping people with autism and other disabilities overcome challenges and live up to their full potential.
Americans with Disabilities Act
White House celebrates 33rd ADA anniversary
July is Disability Pride Month, a time that recognizes the progress we've made in supporting people with disabilities and spurs conversation on the work that still lies ahead. Appropriately timed during this month is the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
On July 26, we honored the 33rd anniversary of the ADA and its transformative impact. This landmark federal civil rights law laid the foundation for equality, opportunity, and independence for those with disabilities by prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability. The White House honored the anniversary in a number of ways.
- White House ADA Proclamation: "The ADA has had a profound impact, but we still have much more work to do. Disabled Americans are still three times less likely to have a job; and when they do, they often earn less for doing the same work. Voting locations, transit, and public spaces are too often inaccessible. And we need to continue building a culture that not only protects disability rights but also celebrates disability pride."
- Vice President Kamala Harris hosted a roundtable to discuss transportation accessibility with disability rights leaders. The event press release explains how the administration has made different forms of transportation more accessible to people with disabilities through investments in programs such as the All Station Accessibility Program and Airport Terminals Program.
- A new proposed rule was announced that aims to improve online accessibility of state and local public services for the nearly 50 million people with vision, hearing, cognitive and manual dexterity disabilities.
Congress works on special education
Proposed legislation hopes to improve resources
Autism Speaks works to ensure meaningful access to quality education services for all students with autism. We advocate on initiatives based not only in the classroom or school building, but also in local communities, and at all ages. These initiatives range from Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment benefits to PreK-12 special education, postsecondary transition, career and technical education and higher education. Learn more about a few of the bills we currently support.
RISE Act (S.1071/H.R.2401)
What? The Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower (RISE) Act addresses challenges faced by students with disabilities and their families as they prepare for postsecondary education.
Why? Students with disabilities are graduating high school and enrolling in college at an all-time high, but these students often face barriers in college that prevent them from truly excelling.
How? The bill authorizes $10 million for the National Center for Information and Technical Support for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities, which is charged with supporting disability training for college faculty and providing information to students and families. It also requires institutions of higher education to:
- allow students to use certain existing documents (i.e. IEPs, 504 plans, or documentation from the armed services) to establish their disabilities.
- adopt transparent policies regarding disability services.
- widely share and disseminate disability services information to students and families.
PARA Act (H.R.4550)
What? The Preparing and Retaining All Educators (PARA) Act helps address paraeducator shortages by providing financial and professional support to keep paraeducators in schools.
Why? School districts are facing a dire shortage of paraeducators making it impossible to provide essential services to students in special education. Recent surveys found that school officials identify paraeducators among the hardest vacancies to fill and more than a quarter of paraeducator respondents said they're likely to leave their jobs within the next year and go into a field outside of K-12.
How? The bill creates a grant program to support the retention and recruitment of paraprofessionals in public preschool programs as well as elementary and secondary schools.
Funding Early Childhood is the Right IDEA Act
Soon to be introduced!
What? Funding Early Childhood is the Right IDEA Act sets new funding levels for IDEA Part B Section 619, which authorizes additional preschool formula grants, and IDEA Part C, which authorizes early intervention programs.
Why? When IDEA legislation passed in 1975 and Congress mandated that all students had a right to a free and appropriate public education, the federal government committed to pay 40% of the average per pupil expenditure for special education. This commitment has never been met in the 45+ past years. Current funding is at ~15.7%.
How? This bill requires annual increases in IDEA spending over the course of 10 years, at which point the 40% commitment would be reached.
Contact Congress about important autism policy!
Autism Across the Country
HCBS wins from this year's state advocacy work
One of the focus areas for our state government affairs work is improving access to and quality of home and community-based services (HCBS). Medicaid HCBS fund the majority of lifelong supports that people with autism and their families rely on throughout their life spans to live, remain safe and participate in their communities. This includes residential and day supports, respite, recreation, transportation and others.
Unfortunately, lengthy waiting lists exist around the country and the availability, scope and duration of supports varies widely by state. The resulting patchwork system struggles to meet the demands of both families and adults with autism. While this year's policy wins are a step in the right direction, they do not come close to fully relieving the stress of the current HCBS system. We are continuing to push for further changes and monitor the implementation of this year's policy wins to ensure improved access to and quality of supports.
California
- Infrastructure/Process Improvement - Autism Services Branch will be established at the state's Department of Developmental Services which implements waiver services. This specialized focus on autism within the broader I/DD agency should ultimately improve the quality of the HCBS waiver program.
Connecticut
- DSP Wages Increased - The final state budget increased funding for nonprofit human services providers serving individuals with autism and I/DD – a 2.5% increase in FY24 and 3% increase in FY25.
- Expanded Access - The final state budget included $15 million in supportive housing for individuals with I/DD.
- New HCBS Waiver Slots - HB5001 expands the state’s Medicaid waiver for persons with autism to serve at least 600 people by January 1, 2024 (up from 219 people served).
- Infrastructure/Process Improvement - HB5001 requires the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management to develop and recommend new statutory definitions for I/DD and evaluate whether IQ should be used in these definitions. It also creates a statewide autism coordinator position that will report on the status of waiting lists for autism waiver services.
Florida
- New HCBS Waiver Slots - The state budget included $79.6 million to fund 1,200 new waiver slots.
- Expanded Services - SB 2510 creates a pilot program across the metro areas of Miami and Tampa to give those on the waiver waitlist access to a managed care program set of supports.
- Infrastructure/Process Improvement - The state budget included $6million for increased wage rates of waiver support coordinators; $3 million for 35 new regional employee positions; and $4 million toward a new 200-bed forensic developmental disability center.
Georgia
- New HCBS Waiver Slots - The final state budget included 500 new waiver slots.
Illinois
- DSP Wages Increased - The final state budget included a $2.50/hour DSP wage rate increase.
Iowa
- DSP Wages Increased - The final state budget included $5 million increase to the HCBS program to provide higher hourly rates to DSPs.
- Expanded Services - The final state budget included a $215,000 increase in the rent subsidy program for those on the Medicaid waiver.
New York
- DSP Wages Increased - The final state budget included a 4% COLA for DSPs.
Ohio
- DSP Wages Increased (*Proposed, but not in statute*) - The legislature passed a state budget that included a $17/hour base wage rate in FY24 and $18/hour base wage rate in FY25. Despite the governor issuing a line-item veto on putting the rate in statute, we are cautiously optimistic that DSPs will still receive a rate increase because the funds are in the budget and the governor’s objection was just about having specific wage rates in law versus operational policy.
Oregon
- Increased Caregiver Support - SB 91 passed, which funds some continuing allowances for paid family caregivers of children with waivers. This allows them to receive their child's waiver services payment in order to care for them at home (as long as certain requirements are met).
Texas
- New HCBS Waiver Slots - The final state budget funded 2,000 new waiver slots.
- DSP Wages Increased - The final state budget allocated $900 million to fund a DSP pay increase from $8.11/hour to $10.60/hour.
Thanks for joining the Potomac 5K
Congrats to our winners!
Thanks to everyone who celebrated the Fourth of July virtually or in-person with us at our annual Potomac 5K in Potomac, Maryland. We were happy to recognize our 20+ years of advocacy in the nation’s capital and kick off the holiday together.
Congratulations to our "Autism Speaks Advocates" Team participants and gift card winners - Dave Diebold and Erika Hunt!
“July 4 represents a time to celebrate our nation’s independence and for me to be a part of the virtual 5K, it helps spread advocacy work in the community and for the government on the state and local level.” - Mike D., Florida Self-Advocate
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