Disability Policy

More than one in four American adults identify as disabled, yet disability remains siloed, misunderstood, or overlooked in policymaking, research, and funding. Despite this being one of the largest marginalized communities in the country and the only protected class that nearly everyone will join at some point, disability is rarely embedded in broader policy conversations.

Show More

New America’s Disability Policy initiative envisions a country where every policy is inclusive, grounded in lived experience, informed by data, and designed to advance the four goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act: equal opportunity, economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and full participation. We are advancing a bold strategy to embed disability across the national policy landscape, elevating the voices of those with lived experience and directly connecting those perspectives to key policy issues.

Rooted in education, workforce, technology, and community participation, the initiative operates across four strategic pillars:

• Improve and align education systems from early childhood through higher education to ensure equal access and opportunities.
• Advance and improve workforce and employment opportunities for workers with disabilities.
• Ensure that technology provides opportunities for youth and adults with disabilities in the workforce; ensure that such technology is accessible; and mitigate bias and risk.
• Promote opportunities to advance independent living and full community participation for people with disabilities.