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The Washington Connection 10-2-26

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 October 2, 2026. Messages 4 and 7 are new.

Thank you for calling the Washington Connection.

Accessible Medication Label Experiences at Walgreens

 

If you are blind or have low vision and have tried to get medication from a Walgreens pharmacy since August 2025, but were not provided an accessible medication label, or had an issue with the accessible medication label provided, we want to hear about your experience.

Please tell us:

  • When this happened (date or approximate timeframe)
  • Where it happened (Walgreens pharmacy location)
  • What happened, including what you requested and how the pharmacy responded
  • Whether you ultimately received an accessible label or another accessible way to identify your medication
  • If you did receive an accessible way of identifying your medication, whether you had any issues with quality or usability of the accessible way of identifying the medication

Your experience can help us understand whether Walgreens pharmacies are meeting their obligations to blind and low vision customers. Please email your responses to advocacy@acb.org.

 

Production of Accessible $10 Bill Pushed to 2027

 

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing has filed their court-ordered semi-annual report on their efforts to make U.S. currency accessible. Unfortunately, the BEP asserts that they have run into additional testing and calibration needs for the accessible $10 note. Therefore, the note is now scheduled for production in 2027, instead of 2026. ACB is disappointed with this news.

Additional updates included in the report were that BEP continues to work with various entities across the United States to distribute currency readers to constituents, including libraries, Veterans Affairs Blind Rehabilitation Centers, and others. As of September 3, 2026, BEP states that the program has distributed more than 120,000 currency readers. Further, BEP continues to support mobile device applications which can function as currency readers. As of September 3, 2026, there have been more than 229,000 app downloads.

ACB will continue to keep members informed of progress on this issue.

 

New Speak4 Campaign for the Stop the Wait Act of 2025

 

We are excited to announce a new Speak4 campaign for the Stop the Wait Act of 2025. This bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas and in the Senate by Sen. Andy Kim of New Jersey. This legislation would phase out the up to five-month waiting period for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits after approval. The SSDI waiting period would be fully phased out by 2030. Additionally, for disabled individuals who cannot afford minimum essential medical coverage, this bill would also eliminate the current 24-month waiting period before Medicare eligibility. 

ACB has supported this bill in the past, and we are proud to continue that support today.

To read Senator Kim's press release on the bill, use this link: https://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/senator-kim-introduces-bill-to-eliminate-delays-for-americans-with-disabilities-to-receive-social-security-and-medicare-benefits/

To read the full text of this bill, use this link: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/930/text

To access ACB's Speak4 campaign in support of this bill, use this link: https://speak4.app/lp/js01lso3?ts=1790176686

 

UN General Assembly Adopts Resolution on Access to Assistive Technology

 

On September 2, 2026, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution called Access to Assistive Technology. The resolution was drafted and negotiated by Ms. Saima Saleen, Pakistan’s first blind career diplomat. This resolution recognized the need to make assistive technology more affordable and to integrate it into national systems, including healthcare, education, employment, and social services. The resolution recognized that access to assistive technologies such as screen readers, prosthetics, hearing aids, wheelchairs, and more supports quality education, reduces inequality, and improves well-being. The resolution showed international consensus that can be used as a tool for supporting national legislation and policy reforms regarding assistive technology. The resolution also calls upon Member States and the United Nations to invest in and support global efforts to provide technical and economic assistance to achieve universal access to assistive technologies.

ACB appreciates this resolution as a positive step toward an accessible future for all, as assistive technology provides a strong foundation for users to build independent lives with equal access to education, healthcare, and full participation in society.

Agenda Item 25, Access to Assistive Technology, can be found at the following link:

https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/ltd/n26/214/84/pdf/n2621484.pdf

A press release of the UN’s adoption of the resolution on Access to Assistive Technology, including the list of member states who co-sponsored the resolution, can be found at the following link:

https://atscalepartnership.org/news-stories/un-general-assembly-adopts-landmark-resolution-access-assistive-technology

 

Final Ruling in Texas v. Kennedy Case

 

Yesterday, September 23, 2026, the judge in Texas v. Kennedy issued his final ruling and closed the case. The judge granted the parties' proposed order which vacates the specific integration-related provisions of the Section 504 Rule from 2024. Put simply, the 2024 Rule will no longer contain references to the integration mandate. To be clear, this ruling does not abolish the integration mandate or invalidate the Supreme Court's ruling in the case Olmstead v. LC. The integration mandate still exists. However, the rules that bolster and clarify that mandate have just been weakened at the joint request of the federal government and the remaining states in the lawsuit.

ACB is deeply disappointed in this outcome. The sections of the rule being vacated had helped clarify that health and social services should support people with disabilities in community settings when appropriate. The loss of the integration provisions in the 2024 Rule is a serious blow. However, it is important to remember that Olmstead, Section 504, and the Americans with Disabilities Act are still the law of the land. Although this is a significant setback, ACB will continue to advocate for disability rights, including the rights of disabled people to receive care in their communities.

The final judgement can be found here: https://www.aapd.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/125._Order_and_Final_Judgment.pdf

The statement released by AAPD can be found here: https://www.aapd.com/aapd-statement-on-ruling-vacating-community-integration-provisions-in-2024-section-504-rule/

 

Supreme Court Blocks New Policy to Restrict Mail Ballots for 2026 Midterm Elections

 

We are very happy to announce that the Supreme Court has blocked a new policy which attempted to restrict mail ballots in the 2026 midterm elections. This decision means that states can continue sending out and accepting mail ballots for the upcoming midterm elections as they have done in years past, which is a win for the disability community. 

The mail ballot restrictions would have included a requirement for all states to have the same envelope style and to submit lists of eligible voters in an online portal, which was still not operational less than two months out from the midterm elections. The Postal Service could then refuse to deliver ballots to states who did not comply and could toss out millions of ballots if there was even a single barcode error. ACB previously submitted comments in opposition to these proposed restrictions, which can be found at the following link: ACB Comments to the USPS Regarding Access to Mail Ballots (Word doc)

The Supreme Court's decision protects voting by mail for the 2026 midterm elections. 

An article from AP News covering this story is linked here: https://apnews.com/article/trump-mail-voting-executive-order-lawsuit-78a4fbeb48d9c5fd27d1c865529fc65f

 

Urge Congress to Reaffirm the Integration Mandate

 

In response to the recent challenges to community integration, a bipartisan House Resolution reaffirming the right of disabled people to live in their homes and communities has been introduced by Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania. H.Res.1586 maintains that the Congressional intent of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act was affirmed in the Supreme Court decision of Olmstead v. L.C. This resolution clearly states that the integration mandate is the law, and that unnecessarily segregating people with disabilities into institutions is a form of discrimination. This resolution also details the history of the integration mandate and its firm placement in the law today. It calls on all levels of government to champion policies that promote community integration for people with disabilities.

ACB applauds this resolution in the House and calls on the Senate to put forward a similar resolution. To reach out to your House representatives and encourage them to sign onto this resolution and affirm disability rights, you can use our Speak4 campaign at this link: https://speak4.app/lp/at01eszb?ts=1790867190

To read the full text of the resolution, please use this link: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-resolution/1586/text?s=1&r=1&hl=hres1586

 

ACB to Receive the 2026 Navigator Award

 

We’re proud to announce that ACB® has been selected to receive the 2026 Navigator Award from the American Printing House for the Blind (APH)!

The Navigator Award recognizes collaborative efforts to remove barriers and create opportunities for people who are blind. APH is honoring ACB for its longstanding advocacy for audio description and its work to make this important access feature more widely available across entertainment and educational programming.

From advocating for legislative and regulatory action beginning in the early 1990s to helping advance audio description requirements in the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, ACB has worked for decades to expand access to described programming. APH also recognized ACB’s role in providing information about described programs, advancing the quality of audio description, and recognizing leaders in the field.

ACB will accept the award during APH’s annual meeting in October.

We’re honored to receive this recognition and grateful to APH for highlighting the importance of audio description and the work that has helped make it an increasingly common part of accessible entertainment and education.

We also want to thank APH for the important work it does every day to expand access to information and educational opportunities for people who are blind or have low vision. APH has been a valued partner of ACB, and we’re grateful for our shared commitment to creating greater access and opportunity.