Action Center
Resources
United Spinal Association encourages everyone to get involved and be an advocate and activist. We can facilitate change but only if we actively pursue it.
Mobilization
The District Mobilization Initiative is focused on two primary goals: recruiting committed advocates all across the country who will commit to sending United Spinal’s action alerts to their members of Congress, and having those advocates serve as ambassadors for the SCI/D community with their lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
Priorities
We focus resources and expertise on advancing opportunities, social equity, and disability rights for all people living with a spinal cord injury or disease.
Action Alerts
Protect the Disability Community Against Drug Resistant Infections
Antibiotic resistance is a dangerous public health threat, killing millions globally and causing over 2.8 million infections in the U.S. alone. The disability community faces increased risks of infections and complications from antibiotic-resistant bacteria, leading to hospitalizations and even death.
United Spinal supports the PASTEUR Act of 2023 (H.R. 2940/ S. 1355) which will establish a Committee on Critical Need Antimicrobials at the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure continued access to antimicrobial drugs.
SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act
United Spinal supports the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act, which would increase outdated limits of $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for a couple to $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for couples and will advance needed economic mobility for the disability community
Improve Home and Community Based Services Now
We deserve to have a real choice of how we receive care support in our homes and communities. The current system fails to meet the needs of millions of people with disabilities.
The HCBS Access Act increases Medicaid funding for home and community-based services; provides grant funding for states to expand their capacity to meet the HCBS needs of people with disabilities; improves the stability, availability, and quality of direct care providers to help address the decades-long workforce shortage crisis; and provides training and support for family care support professionals.
Transform Care Support with the Better Care Better Jobs Act
More than ever, the world is talking about the failures of the care support system. Now is the time to urge your legislators to build a stronger more robust system from the inside out. The Better Care Better Jobs Act would expand access to long-term care, enabling older adults and people with disabilities to receive quality care and remain in their communities.
Support Safer Air Travel for Wheelchair Users
Now is the time to push for legislation that will create new protections and make meaningful policy reform to improve the air travel experience for all wheelchair users. United Spinal Association supports Federal Aviation Administration legislation which includes provisions of the Air Carrier Access Amendments Act – a long-term policy priority of United Spinal.
End Segregated, Subminimum Wage Employment for People with Disabilities
Under current law, employers who obtain what are known as 14(c) certificates are allowed to operate segregated workshops and pay disabled workers subminimum wages far below the minimum wage. The Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (H.R. 1263/S. 533) would phase out the 14(c) certificate program over a period of 5 years and ensure that all people with disabilities who want to work will have the opportunity to do so in an integrated workplace, including community supports and services, while ensuring that they won’t be paid less than non-disabled workers simply because they have a disability.