Skip to main content

The Washington Connection 6-2-26

Welcome to the Washington Connection, the legislative and information service of the American Council of the Blind. The Washington Connection is brought to you by the ACB national office. If you have any questions or comments on the information provided, don’t hesitate to contact us and ask to speak with Claire Stanley.

The Washington Connection is updated any time we have new information to share with you. The following articles are available as of June 2, 2026. Messages 1, 3, 7 and 8 are new.

Thank you for calling the Washington Connection.

Convention Registration Opens Thursday

 

Registration for the 2026 ACB Conference and Convention opens on Thursday, June 4th. This year’s virtual portion will run July 13-21, and the combined in-person and virtual portion will run July 24-31 at the St. Louis Hyatt Regency Arch Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri. 

This year’s theme, “Soaring to New Heights,” recognizes the power of advocacy, technology, and collaboration to create a more accessible future. Attendees can expect an exciting lineup of programming, including compelling keynote speakers, breakout sessions, guided tours, a vibrant exhibit hall, and opportunities to network and engage with peers from across the country.

“Our annual convention is a time for our community to come together, learn from one another, and strengthen the work we do year-round to expand accessibility and opportunity,” said ACB Executive Director Scott Thornhill. “Whether attending virtually or in person, participants can build new connections, discover innovative technology, and help shape the future of inclusion for people who are blind or have low vision.”

Convention registration is open to both ACB members and non-members. Non-members are encouraged to join ACB by June 12 for $10, enabling them to receive a $5 discount on their registration. The deadline to register is July 6, and early sign-up is strongly encouraged to ensure access to the full slate of convention offerings. 

The 2026 ACB Conference and Convention would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. Their partnership helps create an engaging experience for attendees, reflective of a shared commitment to advancing opportunity and equality for people who are blind or have low vision.

For full details, including registration instructions, schedules, and hotel accommodations, visit www.acbconvention.org.

 

Encourage Your Congressmember to Oppose the ACCESS Act

 

Congress is considering a bill which would amend the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This is a "notice and cure" bill which takes away a disabled person's right to sue a business for noncompliance with the ADA, unless that person first provides detailed written notice of the ADA violation, waits 60 days for the business to provide a written description of how they plan to address, or cure, the violation, and then waits another 60 days for substantial progress to be made in addressing that violation. That means there could be at least 120 days before a business makes itself accessible, or a person with a disability gains the right to sue for noncompliance. The ACCESS Act would weaken the enforcement of the ADA, and businesses would not have incentive to make their buildings and websites accessible until they receive notice. 

To encourage your Congressmember to oppose the ACCESS Act, you can access the Speak4 campaign here: https://speak4.app/lp/rt01psna?ts=1777908806. 

 

IDEA Parts B and C to Receive Additional Funds

 

The U.S. Department of Education has announced that IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) Part B and C program funds will receive an additional $144 million this year. IDEA Part B covers special education and additional services for children and youth with disabilities ages 3 through 21. IDEA Part C covers early intervention services for children with disabilities from birth through age 2 and their families. The Department also released new guidance which allows states to use IDEA Part C funds for supporting expectant families of infants with disabilities. Under the new guidance, states may use IDEA Part C funds to conduct child find, public awareness, and referral activities for expectant families of infants with disabilities.

 

ACB Statement Regarding the ADA Title II Interim Final Rule

 

The American Council of the Blind (ACB) is deeply troubled by the Interim Final Rule (IFR) published on April 20 by the U.S. Department of Justice regarding Title II website regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Accessing websites has become so ingrained in daily life that most Americans are likely unaware how often they rely on them. However, because many websites are coded improperly, people who are blind or have low vision are often partially or completely unable to use them due to incompatibility with assistive technology.

The disability community has long advocated for regulations that require covered entities to design websites that are fully accessible. This process followed all required administrative steps, with ample opportunity for public comment. When the regulations were finalized in 2024, entities were given two years to comply. Yet, after that 14-year process, the federal government has delayed implementation. Accessible websites were within reach, and this IFR has unnecessarily delayed that progress.

ACB urges the federal government to rescind the IFR and implement the Title II website regulations as intended. We, along with many other disability advocacy organizations, will be submitting comments to the Department of Justice underscoring the need for these regulations and the harm caused by this delay. We also encourage allies to submit their own comments in response to the recent publication. 

To access the Federal Register notice and submit a comment, go to: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/04/20/2026-07663/extension-of-compliance-dates-for-nondiscrimination-on-the-basis-of-disability-accessibility-of-web.

 

Tell Congress to Support the Same-Day Paratransit Innovation Act! 

 

For many people with disabilities, paratransit rides must be scheduled 24 hours or more in advance, making it difficult to handle last-minute needs like medical appointments, work changes, or daily errands.

The Same-Day Paratransit Innovation Act (H.R. 8128), recently introduced in the House, would expand access to same-day paratransit services. This gives riders greater flexibility, independence, and control over their schedules.

This bill would:

  • Reduce barriers caused by advance scheduling requirements
  • Leverage modern technology to improve service
  • Expand mobility and opportunity for paratransit users

Reliable, flexible transportation is essential to full participation in daily life. Join ACB in urging Congress to support H.R. 8128 and improve access to same-day paratransit. 

Take action here: https://speak4.app/lp/az01hshx?ts=1775134296

ACB’s Claire Stanley shares a summary of this proposed legislation on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/xQt6gyh-RwU

Note: the text of the Same-Day Paratransit Innovation Act is not yet up on Congress.gov. However, you can use the links below to find more information on the text of the bill.

Link to Congresswoman Simon's press release, which includes links to the one-pager and bill text: https://simon.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-simon-introduces-legislation-support-more-flexible-and

Link to the Congresswoman's one-pager on the bill: https://simon.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/simon.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/same-day-paratransit-innovation-act-one-pager-march-2026.pdf

Link to the text of the bill: https://simon.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/simon.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/final-paratransit-bill-text.pdf

 

South Dakota Drops Out of the Texas v. Kennedy Lawsuit

 

Last week, we sent out an announcement that Indiana had withdrawn from the Texas v. Kennedy lawsuit which aims to weaken disability rights, especially the rights of people with disabilities to live and fully participate in their communities. We are thrilled to announce that South Dakota has also withdrawn from this damaging lawsuit. Congratulations to our South Dakota advocates on their successful advocacy work! 

The remaining seven states which are part of this lawsuit are Texas, Alaska, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Montana. If you live in one of these states, we strongly encourage you to contact your state governor and attorney general to urge them to withdraw from this lawsuit. Contact info for the offices of each state still involved is listed below. Keep advocating!

Alaska Governor's Office: 907-465-3500

Alaska Attorney General's Office: 907-269-5100

Florida Governor's Office: 850-717-9337

Florida Attorney General's Office: 850-414-3300

Kansas Governor's Office: 785-296-3232

Kansas Attorney General's Office: 785-296-2215

Louisiana Governor's Office: 225-342-0991

Louisiana Attorney General's Office: 877-297-0995

Missouri Governor's Office: 573-751-3222

Missouri Attorney General's Office: 573-751-3321

Montana Governor's Office: 406-444-3111

Montana Attorney General's Office: 406-444-2026

Texas Governor's Office: 512-463-2000

Texas Attorney General's Office: 512-463-2100

 

ACB Partners with OneCourt to Bring Tactile Broadcasts to Blind or Low Vision Sports Fans at Home

 

Exciting news! ACB and OneCourt are pleased to announce a special member benefit for ACB members to be among the first to experience tactile sports broadcasts at home or on the go. OneCourt’s patent-pending haptic tablet and All-Access subscription, powered by official NFL, NBA and MLB live data, allow fans to literally feel the game through vibrations — experiencing every pitch, dunk, and touchdown in real time.

While supplies last, ACB members can use promo code ACB26 at checkout for one free month of the All Access subscription. Pre-order here:  https://www.onecourt.io/preorder.

Read more in our press release: https://www.acb.org/american-council-blind-partners-onecourt-bring-tactile-broadcasts-blind-or-low-vision-sports-fans.

 

Important Update About Medicaid Work Requirements

 

WASHINGTON, June 1, 2026 – Today, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services shared their intent to publish an Interim Final Rule on Wednesday, June 3rd, regarding new Medicaid community engagement and work requirements. The IFR provides guidance to states on implementing the Medicaid community engagement requirements enacted last July as part of the sweeping changes and cuts to Medicaid in H.R. 1, the 2025 budget reconciliation bill. 

Under these provisions, all 41 states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will be required to implement work requirements for Medicaid recipients beginning January 1, 2027. The Medicaid work and community engagement requirements will apply everywhere except Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

There will be a comment period following the formal publication of the IFR on June 3. The comment period is currently scheduled to close on July 31, 2026. AAPD encourages people with disabilities, our family members, and allies to submit comments on this interim final rule. AAPD will be creating tools and resources to support comment submissions in the coming days. 

While AAPD digs into the specifics of this IFR, we know that Medicaid work requirements are a direct threat to the health, independence, and lives of millions of people with disabilities who depend on Medicaid for essential medical care, home- and community-based services, long-term supports, and life-sustaining treatments. 

The research could not be clearer: work requirements do not increase workforce participation or help people get jobs; work requirements get people kicked off of Medicaid. For the millions of Americans with disabilities who depend on Medicaid not just for doctor visits but for the personal care, medications, employment supports, and services that keep them alive and living in their communities, a loss of coverage is not a mere inconvenience; it can be a death sentence.

In Arkansas, which implemented work requirements between 2018 and 2020, 18,000 people were kicked off Medicaid after work requirements went into effect. These 18,000 individuals did not lose their Medicaid because they were no longer eligible, but rather, because they could not navigate the administrative and bureaucratic barriers of work requirements. No one should be forced to prove the legitimacy of their disability over and over again in order to keep their health care coverage.

The disability community faces numerous barriers when attempting to navigate the documentation and reporting mandates for Medicaid work requirements. Many individuals lack the stable internet access, reliable transportation, or specialized assistive technology required to fulfill digital reporting obligations.

Furthermore, obtaining the necessary government identification, legal documentation, and up-to-date medical certification required to prove exemption eligibility presents a significant challenge — even for those who clearly qualify. The consequence of this policy is predictable: individuals with disabilities who rely on Medicaid will be stripped of their coverage. 

Despite the promises made by Congress and exemptions listed in the rule, people with disabilities will not be protected. They will lose their lifeline not because they are ineligible, but because the administrative obstacles created by this guidance are too great to overcome. 

While these consequences are predictable, they do not have to be inevitable. Just as they voted for these changes last year, Congress can vote to reverse them. CMS and state governments can work to make the exemptions to this rule as broad as possible and can ensure that outreach and information sharing are conducted in the most accessible ways possible.

AAPD and numerous partner organizations from across the country worked to defeat these work requirements and accompanying cuts to Medicaid last year, warning Members of Congress of these exact consequences.

AAPD will be releasing additional resources for the community in the coming days regarding these new Medicaid work and community engagement requirements, how they operate, who is exempt, and how you can best prepare for implementation.