The 2024 elections are over. Maybe the candidates you supported won, and maybe they lost. Or maybe, as I experienced, it was a mixed bag. I know we are all exhausted, and if you are like me and don’t see another political ad on your TV for the rest of your life, it will still be too many. I get it.
But here’s the thing: public policy never stops. Government never stops, and decisions that affect our lives are made every day.
Last September, the Reeve Foundation held a Virtual Advocacy Day, allowing people with disabilities, their families, and allies to speak with our Congressional representatives over Zoom and make our voices heard. We advocated for continued funding for the National Paralysis Resource Center (NPRC) and successfully protected $10.7m in funding for the NPRC. This allows the Foundation to continue serving individuals living with paralysis, particularly in underserved communities, ensuring broader access to resources, mentoring, and education.
We also requested continued funding for the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), and for sponsorship of the Alleviating Barriers for Caregivers (ABC) Act. The staff of the Foundation did an amazing job of preparing us for these discussions, making sure we had the facts at our fingertips to make the most persuasive arguments. I have been a professional lobbyist, and have taken part in citizen action for decades, and I have never seen a more well-organized and effective program.
In 2024, the Reeve Foundation also played a pivotal role in advancing federal regulations requiring accessible medical diagnostic equipment in healthcare settings. Working with key federal agencies, the Reeve Foundation ensured that people with mobility impairments can undergo diagnostic procedures with dignity and without barriers.
And in collaboration with disability advocacy coalitions, the Reeve Foundation influenced stricter enforcement of the Air Carrier Access Act, resulting in improved reporting, accountability, and commitments from airlines to enhance accessibility.