Current Legislative Issues

People with disabilities and Easter Seals have a significant stake in government programs. For many children and adults with disabilities, the quality of their life is dictated by the availability of services and supports, many of which come only from the federal government. Easter Seals’ legislative priorities for the 111th Congress are listed below.

Autism
Congress must invest additional resources to create and validate appropriate services for children and adults with autism spectrum disorders.  Parents and other caregivers need a trusted source of information about appropriate services, thus Congress should establish a National Autism Family Information and Resource Center.

Child Care Development Block Grant
Congress should increase funding for child care services as well as support additional training and technical assistance to increase the supply of child care services for children with disabilities.

Community Choice Act
Congress should pass the Community Choice Act, which would allow Medicaid-eligible Americans with significant disabilities the choice of living in their community, rather than having to live in a nursing home or other institution.

Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act
Congress should create a national voluntary long-term care insurance program to assist people with disabilities who need home and community-based long-term care.

Developmental Disabilities and Bill of Rights Act
Congress should maintain the programs currently established by this law.

Disability Savings Accounts
Congress should establish disability savings accounts through which families of individuals with disabilities can save for their future more easily.

Federal Funding for Programs Serving People with Disabilities
Congress must adopt budget and appropriations legislation that address the unmet needs of people with disabilities.

Health Care Reform
Congress must revise the current health care insurance system to ensure that all people with disabilities have access to comprehensive, affordable health care that meets their individual needs.

Military Service Members and Veterans
Congress should expand services available to veterans with disabilities, service members with disabilities and their families through use of community-based organizations to supplement current capacities.

Javis-Wagner-O'Day Act Modernization
Congress should modernize the AbilityOne program by aligning it with current disability employment policies.

Medicaid
Congress must maintain the Medicaid program, including the Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment program, and expand outreach services so that all eligible individuals are enrolled.

Medicare
Congress must eliminate the cap on outpatient occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech-language pathology services for Medicare beneficiaries and strengthen access to medications under Medicare Part D.  Congress should also extend Medicare coverage for adult day services and other home and community-based services.

No Child Left Behind
Congress must maintain the NCLB accountability system so that children with disabilities receive a quality public education. Students with disabilities must have their academic progress measured with appropriate assessment tools.

Protecting Children's Health in Schools Act
Congress should adopt this legislation so students with disabilities continue to receive in school the health and developmental services they need to be successful.

State Children's Health Insurance Program
On February 4, 2009, the reauthorization of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program was signed into law by President Barack Obama.

Transportation Reauthorization
Congress must increase coordination of human service transportation and grow transit resources dedicated to meeting the unique needs of older adults and people with disabilities including Project ACTION and the National Center on Senior Transportation.

Rehabilitation Act
Congress should improve vocational rehabilitation services by enhancing transition services for youth with disabilities, increasing long-term employment supports for adults with disabilities, refining performance management and expanding partnerships for the vocational rehabilitation system.

Workforce Investment Act
Congress should increase physical and programmatic accessibility within the workforce investment system through WIA reauthorization.