Law Mandates National Disability Services Clearinghouse
The federal government will soon be required to roll out a tool to help people with developmental disabilities access services in their communities.
President Joe Biden signed the Think Differently Database Act earlier this month. The law mandates that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services establish a clearinghouse of federal and state resources and information for people with disabilities, their caregivers and families.
The website must include details about long-term support services available through Medicaid as well as information about health care, mental health care and more.
IRS Raises ABLE Account Deposit Limit
Starting this month, individuals with disabilities can accrue more money than ever before in a special type of account that allows people to save without jeopardizing access to Medicaid and other government benefits.
Contributions to ABLE accounts can total up to $19,000 for 2025. That’s an increase from $18,000 last year.
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Lego Increases Disability Inclusion In Its Product Line
Lego is introducing new characters outfitted with an internationally recognized lanyard designed to quietly indicate that a person has a hidden disability and might need some extra support.
The company said this month that it is adding the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyard to characters in a variety of sets. People can also create their own minifigures wearing the special Sunflower symbol at all 55 Minifigure Factories around the world “to give fans additional opportunities to design the character they want to see themselves, a friend or family member represented as.”
In addition, Lego Group said it plans to make the Sunflower lanyard available to its employees and to offer training for employees about the symbol and how to show support for those wearing it.
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Uber Launches Improvements To Boost Accessibility
Uber is rolling out new features to assist riders with disabilities and is adding training for drivers to help better accommodate them.
The ride-sharing company said this month that it will offer riders who are deaf or hard of hearing as well as those who are blind or who have low vision the option to self-identify on the app and set communication preferences.
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Google Releasing Bevy Of Accessibility Improvements
Google is unveiling a slew of accessibility updates while also announcing new efforts to support people with disabilities creating content online.
The technology giant said recently that it will enhance features aimed at those with blindness or low vision, individuals with cognitive disabilities and physical accessibility needs.
The company is also launching a six-month fellowship program for influencers with disabilities and investing $5 million in a fund backing nonprofits making coding and computer science education more accessible to students with disabilities.
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Social Security Finalizes Rule Expanding Access to SSI
Under a new rule, more people will soon qualify for Supplemental Security Income and some current beneficiaries will see their monthly payments increase, the Social Security Administration said.
The changes will come under a regulation finalized recently broadening what counts as a “public assistance household.”
The agency is expanding the definition to include households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, payments as well as households where not everyone receives public assistance.
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Classroom Converted Into Simulated Apartment To Boost Life Skills
NAZARETH, Pa. — A simulated apartment wasn’t something AJ Kise had heard of in other school districts, but it was a vision he had for Nazareth Area High School.
That vision has been realized, with the recent unveiling of the fully furnished space in what had been a run-of-the-mill classroom.
“Imagine a world where every student, regardless of their abilities, walks through the doors of opportunity — a world where barriers crumble, differences are celebrated and education empowers all to reach their full potential,” Kise, the Nazareth Area schools’ director of special education, said during a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony. “Today we stand at the threshold of making that dream a reality.”
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Children’s Books Recognized For Stories About Disabilities
Several new children’s books are claiming honors alongside the famed Newbery and Caldecott Medals for featuring storylines focused on the experiences of those with disabilities.
The American Library Association named three winners and six honorees of its Schneider Family Book Awards this month.
The annual awards recognize an “author or illustrator for the artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences” and are handed out in three categories targeting various age groups — kids up to age 8, those ages 9 to 12 and teens.
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Feds Move To Enforce Accessibility Standards For Medical Equipment
Doctor’s offices often lack examination tables, weight scales and other diagnostic equipment that are accessible to people with disabilities. Now, the U.S. Department of Justice is trying to change that.
The agency is proposing a rule under the Americans with Disabilities Act that would adopt technical standards spelling out the responsibilities that hospitals and health care clinics operated by state or local governments have under the law.
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IRS Raises ABLE Account Limit
With the new year, individuals with disabilities will be allowed to put aside more money than ever before in a special type of account that permits them to save without jeopardizing their government benefits.
The Internal Revenue Service said that the federal gift tax exclusion increased to $18,000 effective at the start of this month. The annual deposit limit for ABLE accounts is tied to that measure, so it will rise as well.
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