IMPORTANT COMMENT OPPORTUNITY TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF DISABILITY AND HEALTH DATA
@mariatown.bsky.socialMaria Town
@mariatown.bsky.social
Disability Advocate. Cat Mom.
@mariatown.bsky.social
@mariatown.bsky.socialWe have an opportunity to tell the CDC to stop these changes to the NHIS and continue capturing accurate data on disability that will help improve the health of our nation overall. You can submit comments via the link below by Monday, October 19 at 11:59 pm ET. aapd.quorum.us/campaign/170...
@mariatown.bsky.socialThe NHIS is the longest-running household health survey. It provides info for research & policymaking on our nation’s health, including sources of coverage, chronic conditions, and health trends. This information directly feeds into how the government determine priorities & allocate resources.
@mariatown.bsky.socialThis information gap exists for people with developmental disabilities broadly, not just CP, and contributes to health disparities faced by people with disabilities writ large. The National Health Interview Survey is the only national survey that counts people with I/DD.
@mariatown.bsky.socialWhy is this important? There are more adults with cerebral palsy alive now than there are kids w/ cerebral palsy. Yet CP is treated as a childhood disability with limited information on CP in adulthood. This makes it difficult to navigate health care & to know what to expect as people with CP age.
@mariatown.bsky.socialIn 2026, questions were added to the National Health Interview Survey to monitor the long-term health of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. And, within the same year, the CDC has proposed removing these questions for future versions of the survey. aapd.quorum.us/campaign/170...
@domesticemployers.bsky.socialReposted by @mariatown.bsky.social"“Losing that clear direction is a serious setback... Disabled people should not have to enter an institution to get the services they need.” - @mariatown.bsky.social, president of the @aapd.com
#CommunityIntegration 🧵 1/4
@nicolechung.bsky.socialReposted by @mariatown.bsky.socialPeriplus, a mentorship collective serving US-based early-career writers of color, is now accepting applications for our 2027 class of fellows! Apply by Oct. 11: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
You can learn more about Periplus (including fellowship eligibility requirements) at bit.ly/periplusfaq
@mariatown.bsky.socialDisability Mentoring Day: For many young people with disabilities, having access to mentors that can support and guide them through career exploration and the process is crucial. Consider becoming a coordinator & hosting an event at your org. Qs - email [email protected]. www.aapd.com/disability-m...
@mariatown.bsky.socialWe have a Survey open for folks people have long term health conditions where their body or mind is changing. This can be people who have been sick for a long time, are aging, or just got a new diagnosis. Our survey is in English, Spanish, ASL/voiceover, & Easy-Read. www.aapd.com/community-in...
@mariatown.bsky.socialIf you’re already working, another way to get involved is hosting an AAPD intern at your organization or serving as a mentor. Interns are paired with mentors based on their interests and goals. Many of these relationships last well beyond the summer. Email [email protected] to learn more.
@mariatown.bsky.socialSummer Internship Program: Apply by Oct 1
This is a paid professional opportunity for a student or recent grad with a disability to gain job experience and build their network. Interns are placed in government agencies, disability organizations and more. www.aapd.com/summer-inter...
@mariatown.bsky.socialThis is a final call for Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leaders Award applicants. The deadline is tomorrow September 23rd. There's no time like the last minute for an emerging disability leader to apply for $25,000 to make their idea a reality. Email [email protected] with ?s.
www.aapd.com/paul-g-hearn...
@mariatown.bsky.socialThere are many opportunities at @aapd.com to support the growth of disability community and leadership. Here's a thread of all of them. All of these opportunities can be found on our linktree here: linktr.ee/aapd
PS - I just learned that this might also be called a skeet storm, and I......why????
@mariatown.bsky.socialDisability Voting Rights Week kicks off on Monday Sept 14 and goes through September 18. During this time, people across the country come together through events, trainings, webinars, & rallies to highlight the power of the more than 40 million eligible disabled voters. www.aapd.com/disability-v...
@mariatown.bsky.socialThank you to the random green haired person who complimented my jewelry as you exited the DC metro. You made my night.
@mariatown.bsky.socialMoving special education to the Department of Health and Human Services will not help students with disabilities. It will not help families. It will not help teachers. It will send us back, 50 years if not more. This will re-segregate students with disabilities. www.aapd.com/ed-transfer-...
aapd.comAAPD Outraged by Unlawful Transfer of Special Education, Civil Rights Offices From Department of Education to Other Agencies - AAPDFor Immediate Release: June 16, 2026 Contact: Jess Davidson, [email protected]; 202-465-5528 WASHINGTON, DC — The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) strongly condemns today’s ...