E-Bulletin

E-Bulletin: March 25, 2025

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.

Visit the Trainings section for more information on ADA and disability related trainings, meetings, and conferences.

General News

Change Not Charity: The Americans with Disabilities Act

Check out the trailer for this new documentary, which will premiere today, March 25, on the PBS series American Experience. The film tells the story of the disability rights movement that led to the passage of the ADA in 1990.

“Justice Department Announces Actions to Combat Cost-of-Living Crisis, Including Rescinding 11 Pieces of Guidance”

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), in an effort to streamline ADA compliance resources for businesses, announced the withdrawal of several outdated ADA-related guidance documents, many of which focused on issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The DOJ is also highlighting the tax incentives that businesses may be able to use to offset costs of improving accessibility to expand opportunities for customers and employees with disabilities.

Update on Texas v Becerra, Lawsuit Seeking to Have Section 504 Declared Unconstitutional

This brief overview from the Great Plains ADA Center provides an update on the lawsuit that challenges recent rules issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as the constitutionality of Section 504 itself.

Section 501: “Frequently Asked Questions on the Rights of Federal Employees with Disabilities”

This new document answers questions from federal executive branch workers who are concerned about removal of reasonable accommodations, lay-offs, or other adverse employment actions. The publication explains that these actions may be discriminatory if based on workers’ disabilities rather than considerations applied to workers with and without disabilities.

Social Security to Reinstate Overpayment Recovery Rate

The Social Security Administration announced an increase in the default overpayment withholding rate, from 10% to 100% of a beneficiary’s monthly benefit, beginning March 27. It is important to note that the new policy will not affect:

  • Overpayments that occurred before March 27
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI) overpayments; the withholding rate for SSI overpayments will remain 10%

“Social Security Could Soon Take 100% of Your Benefit Check if You’re Overpaid. Here’s What to Know”

This article reports on the upcoming policy change related to overpayments of some Social Security benefits. The changes may cause confusion for some beneficiaries, including those whose Medicare premiums are deducted from their monthly benefits.

“What the Education Department Layoffs Could Mean for Students with Disabilities”

Massive layoffs initiated this week at the Education Department could hamstring the federal government’s efforts to assist students with disabilities, former officials and education experts said, citing blows to the agency’s civil rights and research divisions. 

Twenty-One States File Lawsuit Seeking to Halt “Dismantling” of Education Department

Attorneys general in more than 20 states across the country filed a lawsuit claiming the massive layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education are unconstitutional and will harm students, especially those from low-income families and those with disabilities.

HLAA: Hearing Loss Toolkit

This new toolkit from the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) includes practical tips, resources, and strategies to identify and successfully manage hearing loss.

“Empowering or Excluding: New Research and Principles for Inclusive AI”

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) conducted a study to synthesize expert opinions about where artificial intelligence (AI) is headed and how it will likely impact people with disabilities. The findings emphasize the shared responsibilities of AI developers, businesses deploying AI, people with disabilities, and policymakers to ensure that AI expands access and inclusion.

Guides for Inclusive High School Sports

Move United offers resources to integrate adapted athletes into existing high school athletic programs. This can be achieved without altering rules for athletes without disabilities or imposing significant administrative challenges. A new series of publications include practical guidance for addressing policies, equipment, safety, and more.

“Good Trouble Launches AbleToPlay to Help Gamers with Disabilities Find Accessible Games”

This new service helps gamers with disabilities find games that fit their accessibility needs.

Virtual Conversation: Distinguishing Disability Inclusion from Affirmative Action

April 9, 2025
12:00 – 1:30 p.m. Eastern
Ann Deschamps, Director of the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center, and Robin Jones, Director of the Great Lakes ADA Center, will lead a virtual conversation on disability inclusion in the context of the ADA. The discussion will include the distinction between equity and equality, a review of reasonable accommodations, and the ADA’s objective to level the playing field, not to create preferential treatment. Bring your questions about disability inclusion and the ADA to this interactive and engaging 90-minute conversation.

Webinar: Fair Housing for Tenants with Disabilities: Understanding Reasonable Accommodations and Reasonable Modifications

April 16, 2025
2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Eastern
Join e.v. yost and Luciene Parsley, attorneys at Disability Rights Maryland (DRM), to learn about federal fair housing laws that protect tenants with disabilities, the role of protection and advocacy systems across the country, and the work DRM does to protect the fair housing rights of people with disabilities in Maryland.

In this session, you’ll gain a better understanding of rights to reasonable accommodations and modifications under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Amendments Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. You’ll also improve practical skills and knowledge about how to write effective letters requesting reasonable accommodations, obtain needed resources, and enforce the right to equal access and benefits in housing!

Webinar Series: The Human Experience of Black People with Disabilities and Their Rights Under the ADA

Join us as we unpack our research findings and provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the opportunities, as well as the challenges and barriers, faced by Black individuals with disabilities in accessing information and exercising their rights under the ADA. The series features four free sessions, and you can register for any or all of them:

June 3, 2025: Intersectionality: Unpacking Discrimination, Stigma, and Multiple Marginalization
September 2, 2025: Fighting for Civil and Disability Rights: Strategies to Overcome Barriers
December 2, 2025: The Power of Visibility and Community Advocacy

Bryn Mawr College Job Vacancy: Assistant Director of Access Services

Bryn Mawr seeks an Assistant Director of Access Services to promote inclusion for undergraduate, graduate, and postbaccalaureate students with disabilities.