Disability Communities Defending Democracy

Disability Communities Defending Democracy

@dcddemocracy.bsky.social

Disability organizers founded DCDD in 2025. We empower disability communities to defend inclusive democracy and our communities from anti-democracy groups, movements, and narratives. We are based in the Pacific Northwest. dcddemocracy.org

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Disability Communities Defending Democracy reposted

Western States Center
@westernstatescenter.org

Federal agents searched Rep. Ilhan Omar’s home three weeks before the midterms, after months of officials publicly calling her guilty when no charges had been filed. Every person has the right to take part in our democracy without fear of retaliation. Our statement:

Disability Communities Defending Democracy
@dcddemocracy.bsky.social

People who write anti-trans laws do not want transgender people to be who they are. They don’t want transgender people to live in and enjoy their communities. Anti-trans laws are anti-democracy.

dcddemocracy.orgInclusive Democracy Means Including Transgender PeopleWords to Know Accessible means that disabled people can easily use it. This includes disabled people with all kinds of disabilities. Anti-democracy groups are organizations that want to get rid of …

Disability Communities Defending Democracy reposted

The Nexus Project
@nexusproject.bsky.social

Replying to @nexusproject.bsky.social

This is part of a larger trend of threatening and targeting elected officials. We condemn it and everyone else should too.

Disability Communities Defending Democracy reposted

The Nexus Project
@nexusproject.bsky.social

This is an undemocratic attack on an elected official just weeks before the midterm elections. We find reports that the justification is immigration paperwork from her childhood to be deeply upsetting, too.

nytimes.comFederal Agents Search Home of Rep. Ilhan OmarThe search takes place within the 60-day window of the midterm elections, when the Justice Department has historically avoided such investigative steps related to political candidates.
Disability Communities Defending Democracy
@dcddemocracy.bsky.social

I-001 and I-638 make a lot of changes to Washington State's laws. I-001 changes your rights at school (K-12). I-638 is about who gets to play school sports. It bans trans girls from girls school sports teams. And it also makes girls who are not trans prove they're girls to play school sports.

dcddemocracy.orgYour Ballot in Plain Language: An Easy Read Guide to Initiatives I-001 and I-638Your vote matters. Learn what I-001 and I-638 might do. And make your choice. This resource is available in both Easy Read and Plain Language formats.
Disability Communities Defending Democracy
@dcddemocracy.bsky.social

We think everyone deserves accurate information. We think everyone should have what they need to make an informed choice. That is why we made an easy to read guide on these initiatives. Both of these initiatives affect civil rights. Both affect inclusive democracy. Learn more by clicking the link:

dcddemocracy.orgYour Ballot in Plain Language: An Easy Read Guide to Initiatives I-001 and I-638Your vote matters. Learn what I-001 and I-638 might do. And make your choice. This resource is available in both Easy Read and Plain Language formats.
Disability Communities Defending Democracy
@dcddemocracy.bsky.social

This guide will not tell you how to vote. That is your choice. This guide is here to give you information. It's here to give information in a way that's easy to understand. Content warning: this guide talks about abuse.

dcddemocracy.orgYour Ballot in Plain Language: An Easy Read Guide to Initiatives I-001 and I-638Your vote matters. Learn what I-001 and I-638 might do. And make your choice. This resource is available in both Easy Read and Plain Language formats.
Disability Communities Defending Democracy
@dcddemocracy.bsky.social

Want to learn more about your ballot? Join us at The Arc of King County to learn more about two initiatives. These initiatives could affect your rights. One says who gets to play school sports. One is about rights in school. This event is a safe space to learn and make your choice.

Disability Communities Defending Democracy
@dcddemocracy.bsky.social

We believe that transgender people should get to live in and enjoy their community. Transgender people should not have to leave their homes and communities to feel safe.

dcddemocracy.orgInclusive Democracy Means Including Transgender PeopleWords to Know Accessible means that disabled people can easily use it. This includes disabled people with all kinds of disabilities. Anti-democracy groups are organizations that want to get rid of …

Disability Communities Defending Democracy reposted

Alliance for Justice
@afj.org

Election season is brewing ☕️🗳️ Here are five cool ways your nonprofit can educate, advocate, and empower your community — while keeping it nonpartisan. Get the guide here: afj.org/resource/fiv...

Disability Communities Defending Democracy reposted

Julia Métraux
@juliametraux.bsky.social

An ICE agent directed Emilio, a Venezuelan Deaf man, to get onto a bus. He asked for an interpreter and didn’t get one. When he saw a Mexican flag, he realized he was being deported to Mexico, sans passport. My latest for @motherjones.com. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

motherjones.comHow Trump’s deportation machine deprives Deaf people of their humanityAn extra layer of cruelty is added by limiting communication access for Deaf people.
Disability Communities Defending Democracy
@dcddemocracy.bsky.social

We appreciate @awnnetwork.org's leadership. The administration attacks both trans and autistic people. And the administration wants to divide our communities. This is bad for: -Healthcare -Civil rights -Disability rights -Trans rights -Inclusive Democracy Thank you AWN for speaking out.

Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN)@awnnetwork.org

AWN & APOC condemn harmful healthcare initiatives on vaccines and gender affirming care. Full statement here: awnnetwork.org/awn-and-apoc...

awnnetwork.orgAWN and APOC Fund Condemn Harmful Healthcare Initiatives - Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN)The Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN) and the Autistic People of Color Fund (The Fund) strongly condemns two actions taken this week for the purpose of limiting young people’s access to healthc...
Disability Communities Defending Democracy
@dcddemocracy.bsky.social

Thank you to the Senators fighting to keep voting rights for people with disabilities (PWD). Democracy is incomplete without people with disabilities. That includes people in nursing homes. Some anti-democracy people in power think PWD should not vote. They don't think we can. They're wrong.

Mother Jones@motherjones.com

Senators sound alarm on voter intimidation in nursing homes

motherjones.comSenators sound alarm on voter intimidation in nursing homes"The changes to CMS’s guidance will result in the disenfranchisement of nursing home residents.”

Disability Communities Defending Democracy reposted

Joan Braune
@joanbraune.bsky.social

Almost immediately as fires in Spokane led to evacuations and displaced what would eventually be some 65,000 people, conspiracy theories and scapegoating began. But so did mutual aid and care. This guide by Disability Communities Defending Democracy is a helpful resource in accessible language.

Disability Communities Defending Democracy@dcddemocracy.bsky.social

There's been a lot of conspiracy theories about the fires in Spokane. This hurts a community that's already hurt by fire and smoke. This resource is about the fires. And it is about the conspiracy theories about the fires. It is in plain language.

dcddemocracy.orgDCDD Plain Language Resource on Spokane Fires and Conspiracy TheoriesThis resource is in plain language. Plain language is a way of writing that is easier to read. This resource talks about the fires in Spokane. It also talks about conspiracy theories about the fire…
Disability Communities Defending Democracy
@dcddemocracy.bsky.social

There's been a lot of conspiracy theories about the fires in Spokane. This hurts a community that's already hurt by fire and smoke. This resource is about the fires. And it is about the conspiracy theories about the fires. It is in plain language.

dcddemocracy.orgDCDD Plain Language Resource on Spokane Fires and Conspiracy TheoriesThis resource is in plain language. Plain language is a way of writing that is easier to read. This resource talks about the fires in Spokane. It also talks about conspiracy theories about the fire…

Disability Communities Defending Democracy reposted

Julia Métraux
@juliametraux.bsky.social

Trump's DOJ released a dubious legal memo this morning that signals the Trump admin wants to force more people into psychiatric institutions via bad faith and incorrect interpretations of ADA, Section 504, and Olmstead. New from me at @motherjones.com. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

motherjones.comTrump DOJ outlines dubious path to force people into psychiatric institutions"This administration is trying to take away one of the most fundamental rights that people with disabilities have fought for."
Disability Communities Defending Democracy
@dcddemocracy.bsky.social

The right to live in the community is important. It is a basic part of inclusive democracy. This letter from the DOJ is bad for democracy. And it uses anti-democracy lies. This hurts everyone because it hurts inclusive democracy. And it especially hurts homeless people with disabilities.

Mother Jones@motherjones.com

“This administration is trying to take away one of the most fundamental rights that people with disabilities have fought for.” Trump DOJ outlines dubious path to force people into psychiatric institutions

motherjones.comTrump DOJ outlines dubious path to force people into psychiatric institutions"This administration is trying to take away one of the most fundamental rights that people with disabilities have fought for."
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy reposted

Institute for Research on Male Supremacism
@irms.bsky.social

Dehumanization and Dangerous Speech Entitlement and Justification of Violence Mental Health and Safety in Anti-Supremacist Work Concerns in Research and Reporting on Male Supremacism Learn about all these topics in our summer introductory course on male supremacism. www.theirms.org/course-regis...

theirms.orgIntro to Male Supremacism Course — Institute for Research on Male Supremacism
Disability Communities Defending Democracy
@dcddemocracy.bsky.social

Moving OSERS and OCR away from the Department of Education is part of the plot to destroy inclusive democracy. You can't have an inclusive democracy if you don't include disabled people in every day life--that includes education. You can't have inclusive democracy without civil rights protection.

Julia Métraux@juliametraux.bsky.social

In bad news, with disability education oversight being moved to the Department of Health and Human Services from the Department of Education, that means Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will have power over disability policy positions. New from me at @motherjones.com www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

motherjones.comRFK Jr. will oversee disability education policyThe dismantling of the Department of Education continues apace.
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy
@dcddemocracy.bsky.social

Moving OSERS and OCR away from the Department of Education is part of the plot to destroy inclusive democracy. You can't have an inclusive democracy if you don't include disabled people in every day life--that includes education. You can't have inclusive democracy without civil rights protection.

Julia Métraux@juliametraux.bsky.social

In bad news, with disability education oversight being moved to the Department of Health and Human Services from the Department of Education, that means Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will have power over disability policy positions. New from me at @motherjones.com www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

motherjones.comRFK Jr. will oversee disability education policyThe dismantling of the Department of Education continues apace.

Disability Communities Defending Democracy reposted

Julia Métraux
@juliametraux.bsky.social

In bad news, with disability education oversight being moved to the Department of Health and Human Services from the Department of Education, that means Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will have power over disability policy positions. New from me at @motherjones.com www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

motherjones.comRFK Jr. will oversee disability education policyThe dismantling of the Department of Education continues apace.
Disability Communities Defending Democracy
@dcddemocracy.bsky.social

These rules are cruel. They're ableist. It will kill people. And that's a feature, not a bug, to them. And they're connected with racist conspiracy theories about immigrants. That last part doesn't get talked about a lot, so let us explain. 1/4

Thinking Person's Guide to Autism@thinkingautism.com

However: "This rule is not final. CMS is taking comments on the rule. They take comments until July 31st. People and organizations can tell CMS this is a bad rule that will hurt people. CMS might change the rule because of comments." From @autisticadvocacy.org: autisticadvocacy.org/2026/06/pres...

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Disability Communities Defending Democracy
@dcddemocracy.bsky.social

One service they blame is Medicaid expansion. Medicaid expansion makes sure many people can get healthcare. Many poor white people use Medicaid expansion programs. Racist/ableist anti-democracy groups think work requirements will mean more white people will take jobs immigrants of color do. 3/4

Disability Communities Defending Democracy
@dcddemocracy.bsky.social

Many anti-democracy groups hope taking away social services will make their country more white. They also like that taking away services will kill many people of color. A movement for Medicaid must also be a movement for democracy. It must be against racism, ableism, and hatred of immigrants. 4/4

Disability Communities Defending Democracy
@dcddemocracy.bsky.social

These rules are cruel. They're ableist. It will kill people. And that's a feature, not a bug, to them. And they're connected with racist conspiracy theories about immigrants. That last part doesn't get talked about a lot, so let us explain. 1/4

Thinking Person's Guide to Autism@thinkingautism.com

However: "This rule is not final. CMS is taking comments on the rule. They take comments until July 31st. People and organizations can tell CMS this is a bad rule that will hurt people. CMS might change the rule because of comments." From @autisticadvocacy.org: autisticadvocacy.org/2026/06/pres...

Disability Communities Defending Democracy reposted

Iris Smooches
@iris-smooches.bsky.social

This quote is catchy but do yourself a favor and read the whole interview.

Thinking Person's Guide to Autism@thinkingautism.com

Esther Warwick and "many other disability rights activists have condemned Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) project as harmful, and it has concerning resonances with past policies in American history." threewayfight.org/disability-a... #disability #autism #neurodiversity

Disability Communities Defending Democracy reposted

Joan Braune
@joanbraune.bsky.social

If you liked this article so much that you want to work for Esther, and you have applicable skills, you can apply here:

idealist.orgInclusive Democracy Advocate - JobDisability Communities Defending Democracy (DCDD) is now hiring for the position of Inclusive Democracy Advocate in Portland. Apply today.
Joan Braune@joanbraune.bsky.social

I talked with Esther Warwick, Executive Director of Disability Communities Defending Democracy. We talked about the relationship between disability movements and the far right. We also discussed how eugenics has influenced laws that lead to forced labor for disabled people and homeless people.

threewayfight.orgDisability and the Far Right: Joan Braune interviews Esther WarwickEsther Warwick discusses the relationship between disability movements and the far right, and how eugenics has influenced laws that harm people with disabilities and people experiencing homelessness.