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ACTION NEEDED: ASK CONGRESS TO INCLUDE THE CRITICAL NEEDS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE 4th COVID-19 RELIEF PACKAGE!

Congress has already passed three legislative bills to address the Coronavirus pandemic, but people with disabilities are getting left behind! We need to call, email and tweet at Congress NOW to make them realize that #WeAreEssential and deserve more resources and supports during this crisis! We need you to contact your Senators and Representatives to urge them to include the following priorities in the 4^th COVID-19 Relief bill:

1. More funding for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS)

People with disabilities rely on a network of services to remain in their homes and communities. Many of these services have shut down, and people with disabilities are at risk of being institutionalized. Investment is needed in HCBS infrastructure, supports and more resources for caregivers and direct support professionals (DSPs), housing and residential programs, meaningful day activities including employment, as well as other lifelong supports. Please ask Congress to allocate $20 billion to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid, Home and Community Based Services. (For more details about HCBS funding and other priorities needed, see http://www.c-c-d.org/fichiers/FINAL-CCD-Asks-for-COVID-19-Package4.pdf).

2. Protect rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

In the last COVID-19 bill, Congress required Secretary DeVos to report to Congress within 30 days if she thinks any additional waivers are necessary for IDEA, as well as Every Student Succeeds Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, in order to provide schools with "limited flexibility.” NDSC prepared an in-depth analysis of relevant sections of IDEA, U.S. Department of Education guidance, and proposed waiver requests, which has been shared with Capitol Hill, the U. S. Department of Education, and other disability organizations. This analysis shows that broad waivers of IDEA are not necessary and would diminish fundamental civil rights. Read the report here: https://www.ndsccenter.org/wp-content/uploads/Analysis-IDEA-Waiver-Req.pdf. Please tell Congress NOT to authorize any IDEA waivers, and that sufficient flexibility is available under existing guidance.

3. More funding for IDEA

IDEA has been historically and continuously underfunded. The COVID-19 pandemic has placed even more strain on state and local education systems, as they are incurring enormous costs to make investments in technology, products, services and personnel training in their move to distance education. Unfortunately, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act enacted on March 27 provided no dedicated funding for serving students with disabilities. Please ask Congress to allocate $12.5 billion in IDEA funding under Parts B, C and D to support school and related service personnel in the provision of special education supports and services to students with disabilities infants through age 21. (For more details and a breakdown of this funding request, see http://www.c-c-d.org/fichiers/CCD-Ed-TF-letter-on-IDEA-COVID-funding.pdf).

The entire country is facing the health and economic impacts of COVID-19, but people with disabilities are particularly vulnerable as they are more likely to have underlying health conditions, live in poverty, and have barriers to virtual education. Use the hashtag #WeAreEssential and tell Congress to include people with disabilities in the next COVID-19 bill!

Call your Members of Congress:

Call the Capitol Switchboard at: (202) 224-3121 (voice) or (202) 224-3091(tty) and ask to be connected to your Senators.
You can use this easy tool to find your members of Congress.

Thank you for your advocacy efforts!

The NDSC Policy & Advocacy Team

We encourage you to stay engaged in our advocacy efforts by: (1) Registering for NDSC Action Alerts- click "Quick Sign Up"; (2) Subscribing to the NDSC Policy & Advocacy Newsline; (3) Joining our national grassroots advocacy program, the National Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition and (4) "liking" NDSC Policy & Advocacy on social media .

Easy Call Script

Hello, this is [Name]. I’m a resident of [Town, State].

I am calling to ask [Senator’s or Representative’s Name] to please ensure that the next Coronavirus bill addresses the needs of people with disabilities. The first three COVID-19 bills have provided some relief, but much more must be done now to meet the needs of people with disabilities, who are especially impacted by this crisis.

I ask that you also ensure any future COVID-19 legislation include:

Increased funding of $20 billion to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid, Home and Community Based Services so that people with disabilities can receive the resources and supports necessary stay in their homes and communities and
Increased funding of $12.5 billion for IDEA to support school and related service personnel in the provision of special education supports and services to students through virtual and distance learning.
Congress must also ensure that student/parent rights under IDEA are protected. There is sufficient flexibility already provided by U.S. Department of Education guidance.

Thank you!

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Subject: INCLUDE THE CRITICAL NEEDS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE NEXT COVID-19 RELIEF PACKAGE!

Message:

Hello, this is [Name]. I’m a resident of [Town, State]. I am emailing to ask [Senator’s or Representative’s Name] to please ensure that the next Coronavirus bill addresses the needs of people with disabilities. The first three COVID-19 bills have provided some relief, but much more must be done now to meet the needs of people with disabilities, who are especially impacted by this crisis. I ask that you also ensure any future COVID-19 legislation include: •	Increased funding of $20 billion to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid, Home and Community Based Services so that people with disabilities can receive the resources and supports necessary stay in their homes and communities and •	Increased funding of $12.5 billion for IDEA to support school and related service personnel in the provision of special education supports and services to students through virtual and distance learning. •	Congress must also ensure that student/parent rights under IDEA are protected. There is sufficient flexibility already provided by U.S. Department of Education guidance. Thank you!

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