Disability News: United States and The Americas | Publications
Summary: The "Disability News: United States and The Americas" section of Disabled World features a diverse collection of articles, research papers, and announcements addressing critical issues related to disabilities, seniors, and broader societal concerns focused on disability-related topics across North and South America. Topics include accessibility challenges in elections, the impact of gun violence on disability, systemic healthcare issues, and legislative updates like disability rights protections. These publications range from peer-reviewed studies and surveys to informative reports and opinion pieces, offering insights into public policy, healthcare trends, social justice, and community efforts. The content is valuable for its ability to inform readers about current challenges and advancements affecting people with disabilities, providing data-driven analysis, expert commentary, and updates on advocacy efforts that are useful for professionals, policymakers, and individuals seeking to stay informed.
Searching the Database: The data table below lists items that may have been updated or revised, but the table defaults to sorting by descending publication date; you can search and sort by clicking column headers (JavaScript required). Items in this category are also distributed via our Disability News: United States and The Americas RSS feed.
| Title and Description | Ed | Publish Revised |
|---|---|---|
| Senators Oppose Removing Gender Dysphoria Disability Status Senators oppose HHS rule removing gender dysphoria from disability protections under Rehabilitation Act, warning of broader discrimination risks. | ✓ ✓ | 23 Jan 2026 |
| NYC's Opening Doors Challenge Seeks Accessibility Ideas NYC launches Opening Doors challenge to gather innovative ideas for improving building accessibility, inclusion, and safety citywide. | ✓ ✓ | 15 Sep 2025 |
| UVA Partners in NIH Study to Identify Failures in Systems for People with Disabilities UVA researcher partners on NIH study to help the nation discuss, and better address, the concept of structural ableism and where it may result in healthcare disparities. | ✓ ✓ | 4 Nov 2024 31 Jan 2026 |
| Accessibility Challenges for Voters with Disabilities in the 2024 Election Research shows that disability accessibility in voting during the 2024 presidential election is more important than ever. | ✓ | 26 Oct 2024 |
| U.S. Supreme Court's Credibility Plummets to Historic Low Recent poll reveals deep distrust in the US judicial system, with 33% of Americans expressing no confidence that courts will act in their best interest. | ✓ | 2 Oct 2024 3 Mar 2025 |
| California Droughts Fuel Rising Valley Fever Case Surges UC San Diego and UC Berkeley research links California drought cycles to intensified Valley fever seasonal surges, with implications for public health preparedness. | ✓ ✓ | 3 Sep 2024 13 Apr 2026 |
| U.S. State Gun Laws Reduce Child Suicides but Have Limited Impact on Homicides While U.S. firearm laws such as requiring safe storage are associated with lower suicide rates, they do not appear to reduce homicide rates. | ✓ ✓ | 11 Jul 2024 17 Feb 2025 |
| Gun Violence Affects Nearly 60% of Black Americans and Predicts Disability Exposure predicted elevated rates of disability in both sexes, but different exposure types connected more significantly to various disabilities in men and women. | 21 May 2024 17 Feb 2025 | |
| Bill C-64: Rushed Pharmacare Proposal Endangers Seniors and Families Proposed Canadian Federal Pharmacare Legislation, Bill C-64, risks being rushed ahead to the detriment of seniors and their families. | 16 May 2024 | |
| Majority of NYC Run Psychiatric Hospitals Deny Patients Any Outdoor Access An investigation revealed patients deprived of all outdoor access at majority of New York City (NYC) run psychiatric hospitals. | ✓ | 9 May 2024 6 Feb 2025 |
| Infection Control Professional Calls for Action Before Next Pandemic The leadership of Infection Prevention and Control Canada calls for Canadian federal government to take urgent action to be ready for the next pandemic. | 29 Apr 2024 | |
| Gun Manufacturers Target Women in Advertising Efforts to Drive Sales Study reveals gun manufacturers are appealing to women as serious students of firearms in their advertising - a shift in strategy that may be contributing to increased gun sales. | ✓ ✓ | 13 Mar 2024 17 Feb 2025 |
| Reintroducing CVTA to Make Communication Tech Accessible for Americans with Disabilities Lawmakers propose legislation to update technology accessibility regulations to ensure full and equal participation for people with disabilities in the digital age. | 25 Jul 2023 | |
| Americans Falsely Denying Gun Ownership Some individuals are falsely denying firearm ownership, resulting in research not accurately capturing the experiences of all firearm owners in the U.S. | ✓ ✓ | 24 Jun 2023 17 Feb 2025 |
| Prohibiting Discrimination in Jury Service Based on Age and Disability During Disability Awareness Month, Sen. Markey and Rep. Porter introduce legislation to prohibit discrimination in jury service based on disability and age. | 31 Mar 2023 | |
| Americans No Longer United by Threats from Common Enemy A series of experiments found that exposing partisans to information about a common enemy instilled in Republicans a more profound distrust of Democrats. | 3 Dec 2022 6 Apr 2025 | |
| Senator Markey Calls for Biden Admin to Strengthen Protections for College and University Students with Disabilities Senator Markey sends letter to DOE and DOJ stressing need for stronger policies to avoid limiting students access to higher education based on disability through the use of involuntary medical leaves of absence. | 30 Nov 2022 31 Mar 2023 | |
| U.S. Deaths from Firearms Reach Unprecedented Levels Study analysis shows the sheer magnitude of firearm fatalities in the U.S. over the past 32 years and the growing disparities by race and ethnicity, age, and geographic location. | ✓ ✓ | 30 Nov 2022 17 Feb 2025 |
| Americans Most Likely to Share Covid-19 Fake Information Americans are considerably more likely to share theories to promote or show support for them and use it as a way to connect with others. | ✓ ✓ | 8 Nov 2022 31 Jan 2026 |
| Corporate Vampires Suck Campaign Targets CVS Pharmacy AHF launches Corporate Vampires Suck ad campaign against CVS over anti-competitive pharmacy practices that harm HIV and AIDS patients and small pharmacies. | ✓ ✓ | 11 Jul 2021 27 Feb 2026 |
| 2nd Round of Changes to Support Healthcare system During COVID-19 Pandemic President Trump administration issues second round of sweeping changes to support U.S. healthcare system during COVID-19 pandemic. | 30 Apr 2020 14 Sep 2023 | |
| Action to Support Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic $24 Million in temporary wage increases for direct support professionals in group homes and supervised apartments; new guidance for hospitals on families and loved ones. | 30 Apr 2020 23 Aug 2021 | |
| Millions of Americans with Disabilities Cannot Get Food During Pandemic Many disabled are vulnerable to COVID-19 because of health conditions, people who are blind and those who use wheelchairs are finding it impossible to maintain social distance. | 11 Apr 2020 24 Jan 2022 | |
| Disability Discrimination Complaint Filed Over COVID-19 Treatment Rationing Plan in Washington State Health care professionals in US developing protocols including COVID-19 treatment rationing that will determine who will and will not have access to life-saving treatment. | 24 Mar 2020 23 Aug 2021 | |
| Trump Seeks to Slash Social Security Benefits for Disabled Under proposed change the U.S. government would look more closely at whether certain disability insurance recipients still qualify as disabled after they have already been awarded benefits. | 15 Jan 2020 28 Sep 2023 | |
| ILCSC 43 Years of Independence - Awards Dinner a Big Success Supporters joined in the celebration at Encino Banquet and Garden in Tarzana, to share in the presentations of this year's ILCSC Awards. | 24 Nov 2019 5 Oct 2023 | |
| JAR 914: Father Declares War on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy New Jersey dad declares war on son's incurable disease - Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. JAR of Hope nonprofit funds start of medical infusions to slow rare disease that effects 20,000 in U.S.. | 19 Nov 2019 | |
| Disability Affects 74% of Likely U.S. Midterm Election Voters Candidates for office ignore the disability community at their peril as 74% of likely voters have a disability or have a family member or friend with disabilities. | 8 Oct 2018 10 Feb 2019 | |
| Morgan's Wonderland Outstanding Benefactors of Those With Special Needs Morgan's Wonderland Wall of Fame honors individuals from coast to coast who have distinguished themselves in doing great things for people with special needs. | 8 Jun 2018 20 Aug 2025 | |
| Disability Information and Statistics for Central America and Mexico Disability related information focusing on Central America and Mexico including statistics on disabilities in the region. | 23 Dec 2017 1 Jul 2024 | |
| Urging Congress to Alter Federal Policies that Disadvantage People with Disabilities National Council on Disability recommends decoupling eligibility for cash and health benefits; amending small business act to benefit business owners with disabilities. | 28 Oct 2017 15 Mar 2018 | |
| Airport Security Experts, Disability Rights Advocates Call for Emergency Preparedness Training at Key Airports New report finds less than half of passenger service workers surveyed at DEN trained in emergency response and evacuation and UC Berkeley study shows livable wages improve airport security by keeping experienced workers on the job. | 18 Oct 2017 19 Oct 2017 | |
| State Revenue Declines Lead to Cuts in Child Medicaid Benefits and Education Spending Combined cuts to Medicaid and education suggest that spending cuts during economic downturns fall more heavily on children than the elderly. | 3 Jul 2017 21 Sep 2023 | |
| Post-Election Anxiety Grips Americans, Especially Vulnerable Groups Many Americans, including seniors and the disabled, continue to suffer anxiety and stress from the 2016 election results, highlighting a lasting mental health impact. | ✓ ✓ | 20 Apr 2017 4 May 2025 |
| ASAN Condemns White House Autism Proclamation Autistic Self Advocacy Network condemns Presidents World Autism Awareness Day proclamation, and announcement that the White House will be participating in Light It Up Blue campaign. | 2 Apr 2017 | |
| President Trump Signs Abraham Gun Rights Bill Into Law The bill repeals a rule from the Obama administration that stripped Second Amendment rights from certain disabled Social Security beneficiaries. | 4 Mar 2017 11 Dec 2023 | |
| Trump Issues Order to Reverse Federal Agency ACA Policies Trump signs executive order to decrease economic burden of policies and regulations that impact constituencies of the Affordable Care Act. | ✓ ✓ | 24 Jan 2017 21 Feb 2025 |
| Pentagon Case May Mean Billions for Women, Minorities, and Veterans Benefits of winning ASBL case against Pentagon would be prodigious for women, minority, and service disabled veteran owned small businesses as they are currently only receiving fraction of contracts they are legally entitled to. | 12 Dec 2016 | |
| U.S. Elections - Guide for American Voters with Disabilities Learn how you or a loved one with a disability can prepare for Election Day with this guide from USAGov. | 3 Nov 2016 15 Mar 2018 | |
| White House Event Celebrates Hiring of 100,000 Federal Employees With Disabilities White House celebration marks fulfillment of President Barack Obama goal to hire 100,000 people with disabilities into the federal government. | 27 Oct 2016 10 Oct 2023 | |
| Bridging the Economic Divide for Americans with Disability Summit addressed financial knowledge and skill gaps of Americans with disabilities and barriers that prevent their full participation in the economic mainstream. | 25 Oct 2016 7 Oct 2023 | |
| Hillary Clinton Vows to Protect Rights of People with Disabilities Hillary Clinton outlines her vision for an Inclusive Economy in the latest in her Stronger Together series of speeches. | 21 Sep 2016 17 Mar 2023 | |
| High Intensity LED Street Lighting: Human and Environmental Effects AMA adopts community guidance to reduce the harmful human and environmental effects of high intensity street lighting. | 17 Jun 2016 4 Jun 2022 | |
| Get Protected - Fake Emails From Social Security Scam The scam comes in an email seeming to be sent from the Social Security Administration with the subject line Get Protected. | 9 Feb 2016 30 Mar 2026 | |
| Call for U.S. Ziplining Safety Standards As popularity of ziplining grows so do related injuries so researchers call for adoption of uniform safety standards across America. | 14 Jan 2016 26 Oct 2023 | |
| Executive Actions on Gun Violence Violates Civil Rights Executive actions on gun control falsely link mental health conditions and gun violence, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) violate civil rights. | ✓ ✓ | 10 Jan 2016 17 Feb 2025 |
| Executive Actions to Reduce Gun Violence and Make Communities Safer U.S. White House press release regarding actions to reduce gun violence and make American communities safer. | ✓ ✓ | 5 Jan 2016 17 Feb 2025 |
| Wells Fargo 25th ADA Anniversary Events Wells Fargo & Company announce celebration of 25th anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act with events across the U.S.A.. | 20 Jun 2015 16 Aug 2021 | |
| Ending Lives of Disabled Infants by Denial of Health Care - Resign Now Peter Singer Disability activists urge Princeton University to denounce Professor Peter Singer comments, and call for his resignation. | 9 Jun 2015 | |
| 10% of Americans in U.S. Want to Move Out Nearly 10% of residents dissatisfied with current housing, neighborhood, local safety or public services to the point they want to move. | 20 Mar 2015 30 Sep 2020 | |
| Quadriplegic Teacher Faces Losing Career, Home, Independence The Oakmont High School teacher lost everything she has worked for including her livelihood, her independence, and her ability to teach and make a difference in the lives of her students. | 31 Dec 2014 24 Sep 2021 | |
| Persistent Barriers to Economic Success for Americans with Disabilities Senator Tom Harkin unveiled a report that he instructed his staff to investigate barriers that people with disabilities face as they seek to rise out of poverty and enter the middle class. | 25 Sep 2014 17 Dec 2020 | |
| Access for All Agenda for Americans with Disabilities Senator Tom Harkin Harkin introduces three new bills as part of his Access for All agenda to help Americans with disabilities achieve economic independence and reach the middle class. | 24 Sep 2014 28 Mar 2024 | |
| Statement of Solidarity with Victims of Police Violence in Ferguson National Council on Disability (NCD) joins the legion of civil rights and civic organizations to call for greater justice and accountability. | ✓ | 10 Sep 2014 6 Feb 2025 |
| Call for Ratification of Disability Treaty Senate Foreign Relations Committee takes crucial final step toward ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. | 22 Jul 2014 19 Jun 2021 | |
| Swift Ratification of Disability Treaty Urged After Supreme Court Decision National Council on Disability urges swift ratification of the Disability Treaty after recent Supreme Court Decision. | 9 Jun 2014 9 Mar 2024 | |
| U.S. Ratification of the UN CRPD Urged by AAAS AAAS Board of Directors strongly urges United States to become a party to United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. | 2 May 2014 | |
| Counterfeit Contraceptives: 28% of Emergency Contraceptive Pills Falsified or Substandard Survey of emergency contraceptive pills in Peru found that 28 percent of batches studied either substandard quality or falsified . | 24 Apr 2014 30 Jul 2021 | |
| Colombia Court Allows Forced Sterilization of Disabled Colombian Constitutional Court permits surgical sterilization of minors with disabilities without consent, sparking international condemnation and debate. | ✓ ✓ | 21 Mar 2014 31 Dec 2025 |
| Implementing Medicaid Managed Care Without Harming Americans with Disabilities NCD outlines principles to guide design and implementation of managed care services for Americans with disabilities. | 19 Mar 2013 12 May 2021 | |
| Seniors Go Hunger Due to Cuts to US Food Stamp Program Feeding America warns that pending cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) will put many of our nation's seniors at risk of hunger. | 26 Aug 2012 8 Aug 2021 | |
| Senate to Approve Ratification of Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities U.S. International Council on Disabilities effort to get the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ratified in America. | 27 May 2012 9 Mar 2024 | |
| Canada Strengthens Ties With Brazil Agreement on Social Security between Canada and Brazil will coordinate pension benefits and provide retirement disability and survivor benefits to eligible Canadians and Brazilians. | 9 Aug 2011 23 Dec 2017 | |
| U.S. Deaths Caused by Poverty, Low Education and Social Factors A new study on U.S. death rates finds that the numbers are in the same range as deaths from heart attacks and stroke. | 23 Jun 2011 17 Apr 2023 | |
| U.S. Life Expectancy Falls Behind Healthiest Nations More than 80% of American counties fell in standing against the average of the ten nations with the best life expectancies in the world. | ✓ ✓ | 15 Jun 2011 23 Feb 2025 |
| Brazil's Health Care System Expands Coverage Brazil has vastly expanded health care coverage improved the populations health and reduced many health inequalities but universal and equitable coverage remains elusive. | 10 May 2011 23 Dec 2017 | |
| Armadillos May Transmit Leprosy to Humans in US South Study reveals armadillos as a leprosy source in the southern US, with genetic evidence linking shared infection strains between animals and humans. | ✓ ✓ | 28 Apr 2011 18 Dec 2025 |
| HHS Plan to Reduce Health Disparities Among Minorities Federal health disparities action plan targets racial and ethnic minorities, addressing preventive care gaps and expanding access to quality healthcare nationwide. | ✓ ✓ | 8 Apr 2011 25 Jan 2026 |
| High Welfare Use by US Immigrants Data show the share of immigrant-headed households legal and illegal with children using at least one welfare program continues to be very high. | 5 Apr 2011 | |
| Creating Developmental Disabilities Policy Developmental Disabilities Act Revisited recommends Congress change to develop a more uniform national policy that will support goals of Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act. | 19 Feb 2011 | |
| Mobility Providers Ask White House to Address Gross Mismanagement of Mobility Benefit Attention must be focused on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services supervision of the Medicare power mobility benefit. | 10 Feb 2011 | |
| Americans Financial Unpreparedness for Living Longer than Expected Nearly Half of Americans Ages 45 to 70 Have No Plans to Protect Themselves Against Outliving Assets or the Rising Cost of Healthcare in Later Life. | 5 Jan 2011 15 Apr 2016 | |
| Funded Status of U.S. Pensions Rises to 84.3 Percent Funded status of the typical U.S. corporate pension plan 3.8 percentage points higher to 84.3 percent. | 5 Jan 2011 | |
| President Signs Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act law will protect the blind and other pedestrians from injury as a result of silent vehicle technology. | 5 Jan 2011 | |
| Enable America Reaches New Heights in 2010 Enable America launched more new programs and services assisting people with disabilities than in any previous year. | 17 Dec 2010 8 Oct 2018 | |
| People with Disability Experience Double the Rate of Violent Crime Nearly 730,000 nonfatal violent crimes and about 1.8 million property crimes were experienced by people age 12 or older with a disability. | 9 Dec 2010 | |
| Is This the Wrong Time to be Disabled in America The increasing incidence of disability in recent years has increased the need for quality Disability Income protection even more. | 11 Nov 2010 13 Jun 2013 | |
| Americans Less Healthy Than English - But Live as Long or Longer Older Americans are less healthy than their English counterparts but they live as long or even longer than their English peers. | 5 Nov 2010 23 Sep 2016 | |
| Guarantee Women's Access to Health Care - Argentina Thousands of women and girls in Argentina suffer needlessly every year because of negligent or abusive reproductive health care. | 17 Oct 2010 23 Dec 2017 | |
| American Life Expectancy Continues to Fall Behind Other Countries Analysis of US life expectancy trends highlights disparities across states, emphasizing need for targeted healthcare reforms to improve longevity and health equity. | ✓ ✓ | 7 Oct 2010 23 Feb 2025 |
| America, Land of Excessive Incarceration While attempting to take a bite out of crime has become a bipartisan pastime, America's prisons have filled with more than murderers, rapists and violent gang members. | ✓ | 22 Aug 2010 6 Feb 2025 |
| Harold Dow a CBS News Correspondent has Passed Away Well known CBS News Correspondent Harold Dow has died at age 62. | 22 Aug 2010 | |
| Health Impact of Gulf Coast Oil Spill Hazardous but Improving Oil spill along the United States Gulf Coast poses health risks to volunteers fishermen clean-up workers and members of coastal communities. | 16 Aug 2010 | |
| Most Livable U.S. Cities for Wheelchair Users Seattle, Denver, Chicago Among Top 20 Most Livable U.S. Cities for Wheelchair Users. | 26 Jul 2010 | |
| Family Reunited After Wrongful Seizure of Child National Federation of the Blind succeeded in a legal fight to bring two-month-old infant Mikaela Sinnett, home to her parents. | 22 Jul 2010 | |
| Journey of Hope - Cycling Across the US for People with Disabilities Davenport Welcomes Fraternity Men Cycling Across the Country for People with Disabilities. | 22 Jul 2010 | |
| Americans Believe Social Life Would Suffer More than Sex Life from Hearing Loss Americans believe their social life and their safety would suffer the most if they had a substantial hearing loss. | 21 Jul 2010 | |
| Joni Eareckson Tada to Undergo Surgery for Breast Cancer International disability advocate artist and quadriplegic Joni Eareckson Tada has been diagnosed with breast cancer. | 24 Jun 2010 16 Feb 2015 | |
| Cleanlogic Adds Braille to Bottles of Body Wash and Lotion Cleanlogic is Helping to Improve the Lives of the 70% of blind adults in America who are unemployed. | 17 Jun 2010 | |
| OAS Participates in Opening of New POETA Center in Peru The POETA Program objective is to provide access and training in the use of Information and Communication Technologies to people with disabilities to improve their education and job opportunities. | 5 Jun 2010 23 Dec 2017 | |
| Offset State Mental Health Crisis and End Disability Backlog Greater Research is Needed for Mental Illness Along with Federal Action to Offset State Mental Health Crisis and End Disability Backlog. | 17 May 2010 | |
| U.S. Disability and Veterans Parking Privileges The laws supporting disability parking privileges are there to ensure that Persons with Disabilities have access to parking spaces. | 10 May 2010 22 Jul 2019 | |
| Americans Live to Work But Don't Prepare for Illness Few Americans readily make the connection between staying healthy and staying on the job. | 30 Apr 2010 | |
| City Agrees to Resolve Significant Accessibility Concerns with JATRAN Equal access to public transportation is a critical right that is guaranteed for people with disabilities, ensuring their ability to live independently in the community. | 24 Mar 2010 1 Aug 2024 | |
| Sports and Music Stars Drive 6,000 Miles for COPD In 2010, a coalition of entertainment, sports, and healthcare organizations launched DRIVE4COPD, a campaign to screen Americans at risk for COPD. | ✓ ✓ | 6 Feb 2010 25 Feb 2025 |
| The Arc Condemns Use of R-Word by White House Aide White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel used an epithet relating to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. | 28 Jan 2010 5 Sep 2024 |
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