We post our bi-weekly bulletin to keep you up to date on disability-related resources, news, and other items of interest. This information is being provided solely for non-commercial, nonprofit educational purposes, including news reporting and research. It is not intended for commercial purposes. Further, we understand that our readers generally read the articles and information online, at the websites provided in the hyperlinks, rather than relying solely on our synopses or copies. We are not responsible for the accessibility or the content of other websites. Please be aware that some links provided are time sensitive, and may become inactive at any time.
We include links to articles, editorials and opinion pieces, press releases, and other materials that represent diverse perspectives. Inclusion does not imply endorsement of any products, services, sources, information, or opinions expressed in these materials.
General News
REV UP: Building the Power of Voting
The REV UP campaign encourages civic engagement among people with disabilities and works to improve the accessibility of elections. REV UP stands for “Register, Educate, Vote, Use your Power!”
Learn more about how you can get involved, exercise your right to vote, and make sure every vote is counted.
2026 DD Awareness Month: We’re Here: Then, Now, Always
Join the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) in observing March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Check out their resources and tools to support the “We’re Here: Then, Now, and Always” campaign, which recognizes that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have always been part of our communities — and always will be.
The National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC) also highlights research and development projects working to identify barriers and explore innovative practices that improve community-based services, supported employment, and other opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
March: Brain Injury Awareness News
The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) observes Brain Injury Awareness Month with opportunities to learn, share, raise awareness, and support help, hope, and healing for brain injury survivors.
Opinion: “What Bad Bunny’s Halftime Show Revealed About Deaf Inclusion”
This writer, noting the backlash sparked by the lack of English-language captions for this year’s Spanish-language Super Bowl halftime show, found it interesting “how quickly exclusion became intolerable once it affected the majority,” while individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing routinely experience the frustrations of watching programs with missing, inaccurate, or delayed captions.
The article goes on to discuss the ways that environments that focus on the “average” individual and the dominant culture ultimately weaken employment opportunities and harm us all.
Employment News
DOL Videos Highlight Recovery and Return to Work
The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) at the Department of Labor published a video series, RETAIN Success Stories: A Bridge Back to Employment. The six videos share the stories of workers who participated in the Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness Network (RETAIN) program, which helps coordinate healthcare and employment services to support workers with disabilities in choosing whether or how to return to work after injury or illness.
Business News
“Inclusive Dining Tech: The New Must Have for Foodservice”
This article highlights the benefits for both businesses and patrons when restaurants make the most of accessible, flexible, and inclusive technologies to present menus, facilitate ordering, and support efficient food preparation and service.
Transportation News
Proposed Tesla Tunnel Loop Met with Opposition by Nashville Metro Council: Concerns Include ADA Compliance
A proposed tunnel loop under the streets of Nashville was met with opposition from the metro council, which passed a resolution to put their concerns about safety, transparency, and a lack of local input on the record.
The planned system is intended to operate with a fleet of dedicated Tesla vehicles driven by trained drivers, but local citizens and officials have expressed concerns that potential geological and environmental risks, as well as ADA compliance and the accessibility of the system, have not been adequately addressed.
ADA Legal News
Pennsylvania: Geisinger Health Entities to Pay $450,000 in EEOC Disability and Retaliation Lawsuit
Geisinger Health, Geisinger Health System Foundation and Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, collectively a Pennsylvania health care system, will pay $450,000 and take other steps to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, Geisinger engaged in ongoing practices that denied reasonable accommodations to workers with disabilities. The EEOC charged that Geisinger’s policies limited job-protected leave to a specified duration and required employees returning from leave to apply and compete for their own positions if vacant, or compete for other positions, while the company manipulated vacancies and job postings to interfere with employees’ efforts to return to work.
In addition to the monetary relief, the two-year consent decree also requires Geisinger to consider policy modifications and non-competitive reassignment as potential forms of accommodation, train all employees and managers on disability discrimination and the ADA, and submit periodic reports to the EEOC regarding employees terminated after taking leave.
Michigan: William Beaumont Hospital to Pay $30,000 in EEOC Disability Discrimination Lawsuit Charging Failure to Reassign Employee
William Beaumont Hospital, a healthcare provider now known as Corewell Health East, will pay compensatory damages and take other actions to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
The EEOC’s lawsuit alleged Beaumont refused to transfer a qualified nurse into a vacant part-time position when she needed to reduce her work hours due to disability-related medical restrictions, instead forcing her to apply and compete for openings over a period of several months.
Kenneth Bird, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Indianapolis District Office, said “In some cases, federal law requires employers to reassign a qualified employee with a disability to a vacant position as a reasonable accommodation. Simply offering the employee an opportunity to compete for a vacant position does not meet employer obligations under federal law.”
In addition to monetary relief, the consent decree requires compliance-related reporting to the EEOC, training for human resources employees and managers on the ADA and reasonable accommodations, and posting of a notice in the workplace informing employees of their rights.
Education News
Families Turn to States for Civil Rights Support as Complaints Stall at U.S. Department of Education
Families and advocates in many states are hoping states will implement new provisions and expand existing options to address discrimination experienced by students in public schools. As the federal agencies, including the Office for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Educations, are downsized and priorities shift, some parents feel that their children have been left unprotected from discrimination based on race, disability, sex, and other factors.
Health and Wellness News
“Patients Hit Dead Ends with Insurance ‘Ghost Networks.’ Now, Some Are Suing.”
This article highlights consumer efforts to hold health insurance companies accountable for “ghost networks” – inaccurate provider directories that mislead and frustrate patients seeking care.
Sports and Recreation News
“A Guide to the Sports, Events and Classifications of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Paralympics”
If you’re not already tuning in to this year’s Paralympics, check it out! Events continue through the week and the games wrap up this weekend.
“A Drunk Driving Mistake Left Him Paralyzed. It Also Turned Him into a Paralympian.”
This article highlights the story of Steve Emt, currently representing the U.S. in the Paralympics, for the third time.
“Accessible Walks Bring Joys of Birding to People with Mobility and Other Limitations”
This article highlights organizations, resources, and events that seek to expand opportunities for people to participate in birding.
Training, Events, and Opportunities to Participate
Webinar: Funding Accessibility: How Local Grants Help Businesses Meet ADA and Grow
March 25, 2026
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Accessibility upgrades aren’t just about compliance – they help businesses grow by welcoming more customers and strengthening community trust. This session highlights how local business grants can fund practical, ADA-aligned improvements, reduce barriers for small businesses, and support more accessible commercial districts.
Webinar: Post, Share, Amplify: Turning Social Media Stories into Assistive Tech Advocacy
April 22, 2-26
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
The Mid-Atlantic ADA AT Champions Program equips young adults with disabilities to use social media as a strategic tool for Assistive Technology (AT) advocacy. Through mentorship, collaboration, and skill-building, participants developed and shared authentic stories to increase awareness and understanding of AT.
This webinar will highlight the program’s model, key lessons learned, and the measurable impact of online storytelling. Presenters will also discuss considerations for organizations interested in developing or adapting similar youth-led digital advocacy initiatives.
FDA Seeks Feedback from Rare Disease Community
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeks input on the clarity, relevance, and usefulness of educational materials currently available through two programs: the Rare Disease Innovation Hub and the Learning and Education to Advance and Empower Rare Disease Drug Developers. The FDA is interested in feedback from people with rare diseases, advocates, professionals engaged in development of treatments and interventions, and other stakeholders. Comments may be submitted through April 3, 2026.