2024 Policy Retrospective: Thank You for a Year of Progress!

Thank you to all our members, advocates, and allies for making 2024 one of our strongest years yet and promoting policies that benefit our nation's wheelchair users. We made the skies friendlier to fly and helped improve care support. Our spinal cord injury model systems received much-needed support, and healthcare became more accessible.

January 2024

Our New Care Support Page Went Live

Michael Kiel

Our Policy Care Support page went live, providing advocates with much-needed resources in one section. "Without attendant care, I would be forced to watch out a window as the seasons of my life pass by. I can't move below my neck, not a thing," said Michael Kiel, a United Spinal Advocate from Pennsylvania, in our announcement about the new page. "But with attendant care, I work, I play, I travel. I drink in the events that unfold around me daily-not as a helpless observer but as a driving force. I have a purpose."

February

First of Many 2024 Landmarks in Our Fight to Fly Safely

We ramped up our multi-year fight for wheelchair users to fly safely by organizing around a Department of Transportation proposed rule that helps protect our equipment and physical safety. Not to skip ahead, but this was the beginning of a generational shift in air travel for passengers with disabilities.

March

Building Partnerships for the Joint Model Systems

United Spinal advocates led the fight to increase funding for Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems. While the number of people with SCI increased by 50% over the last decade, the number of these one-of-a-kind programs dwindled, and funding stagnated.

We bucked the trend. We enabled Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Memorial Hermann Health System, the University of Michigan, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham to return to the Model Systems Program, restoring badly needed lost capacity. All 18 Model Systems have benefitted from United Spinal's advocacy for the comprehensive care they provide and cutting-edge research. Click here for more information.

April

Kicking Off a Conversation with FEMA

United Spinal hosted Sherman Gillums, Jr., Ed.D, Director, Office of Disability Integration and Coordination, U.S. Federal Emergency Management Association for a couple of events with United Spinal Association throughout 2024. We are proud of our Ready to Roll program's work to keep our community informed and safe. To be a part of this critical work, consider joining our Emergency Preparedness Working Group.

May

Historic Update to Section 504 is Now Official

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in federally funded programs and activities. On May 1, the highly anticipated first comprehensive update in over 40 years made disability rights history. One of the most exciting reforms requires most doctors' offices to have an accessible exam table and weight scale within two years. Thanks to all who commented.

Care Support Improvements

A rule was finalized to improve and advance access to home-and community-based services and other quality care and support. It established a Medicaid Advisory Committee and Beneficiary Advisory Council and strengthened oversight of Home and Community-Based Services. We have seriously prioritized this area of work in the past year, and you can learn more at our extensive landing page about our work on care support! If this is a central issue for you, join our Care Support Working Group.

A Tennessee Medicaid Win

Robby Barbieri

Governor Bill Lee signed the TennCare for Working Individuals with Disabilities Act, which allows qualified disabled individuals to pay a premium to access Medicaid's long-term support services if their income exceeds the current Medicaid eligibility requirements. Click here for more information, including learning more about our Advocate of the Year Robby Barbieri, who helped make this policy change possible.

June

Our 12^th Roll on Capitol Hill

In 2024, nearly 200 United Spinal advocates and allies, representing 36 states and Puerto Rico, took the Hill virtually at ROCH. We held an astounding 187 meetings with Congressional offices!

We especially made our voices heard on three key themes: Wheelchair Service and Repair Reform, Expanding Access to Care Support, and Maximizing Rehabilitation Outcomes.

July

Celebrating Olmstead

The landmark Olmstead v. L.C. Supreme Court decision turned 25 on June 22, 2024. It was the first time the Americans with Disabilities Act protected the rights of people with disabilities to receive care in their own communities rather than institutions.

Coinciding with this landmark anniversary, United Spinal Advocate Garret Frey celebrated a big Olmstead win in Iowa for increased hours and care support worker pay. Garret is flanked by Alexandra Bennewith, Vice President, Government Relations on his left and Stephen Lieberman, Director, Advocacy & Policy on his right.

August

Accessible Healthcare Victories

United Spinal Association's Government Relations department has worked tirelessly to challenge persistent inaccessibility in healthcare settings. This hard work paid off in multiple ways as summer wound to a close, with the U.S. Access Board ruling on transfer heights for Medical Diagnostic Equipment to make it easier for us to get the tests and exams we need, and the Department of Justice ruling to require most doctors' offices have an accessible exam table and weight scale within two years of September 2024.

September

United Spinal Celebrates the ADA Anniversary at the White House

United Spinal Association Policy Fellow Kent Keyser and retired U.S. Representative Jim Langevin (D-RI) celebrate the ADA at the White House. Jim is the first quadriplegic elected to serve in the U.S. Congress.

October

Department of Transportation's Historic Fine on American Airlines for Disability Discrimination

As the leaves changed, we celebrated the Department of Transportation forcefully prioritizing dignified travel for all wheelchair users with a significant fine on American Airlines. Our leadership on this issue shone when President and CEO Vincenzo Piscopo shared our viewpoint on this historic fine with MSNBC!

Historic Coalition Launches to Improve Air Travel Access and Safety for Wheelchair Users

United Spinal Association, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), and the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) joined forces to highlight the challenges facing passengers with disabilities and explore the intersection between workers' rights and disability rights.

November

United Spinal, SEIU, AAPD and NDRN Joint Event Unites Air Travel Advocates and Workers

United Spinal Board member and former Ms. Wheelchair America, Ali Ingersoll, joined Ari Ne'eman and Kwaku Agyeman of SEIU to discuss how our successful campaigning around safe and dignified air travel for wheelchair users has had a mutually beneficial impact on low-wage workers and people with disabilities.

December

Seasoned Disability Advocate Now on AMTRAK Board of Directors

Thanks to Senator Tammy Duckworth's leadership, United Spinal Association board member and former U.S. Access Board Executive Director David Capozzi will serve on Amtrak's Board of Directors. The full Senate unanimously voted for his confirmation on December 20. Congratulations, David!

Final Air Travel Win of the Year: Generational Change for Passengers with Disabilities

As the year wound down, our fight for safe and dignified air travel reached new heights. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced sweeping protections for airline passengers with disabilities that will go into effect on January 16, 2025. Learn how this "generational" rule impacts the assistance we receive, training for airline workers, and the treatment of our wheelchairs.

The photo at the top of the page shows U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, United Spinal Vice President, Government Relations Alexandra Bennewith and U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at the event celebrating the rule's finalization.

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