ANCOR

Ever wonder why community-based disability services are so vital? Here’s why it’s crucial that we strengthen—not weaken—the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services program. #disability #disabilityinclusion #ltss #hcbs #medicaid

In highlighting The State of America's Direct Support Workforce Crisis, ANCOR's Barbara Merrill and Tom Rice share why underinvestment in disability services and the impact of pending Medicaid cuts are fueling the direct support workforce crisis in the latest from McKnights Home Care.

Thank you @debbiedingell.house.gov, Reps. Fitzpatrick, Lawler, Kean, @scanlon.house.gov & @replsimon.bsky.social for introducing a resolution recognizing the Olmstead v. Lois Curtis decision & reaffirming the right of people with disabilities to live in their communities.

In the latest from @disabilityscoop.bsky.social, ANCOR's Barbara Merrill & Tom Rice share why services for people with disabilities may appear to exist on paper, but will become impossible to access in practice if we don't combat the direct support workforce crisis now.

Following the issuing of a final order in the Texas v. Kennedy case, ANCOR CEO Barbara Merrill condemns the actions of the DOJ and HHS as they step back from their role as enforcer of the integration mandate. Read her statement ⬇️

StoryCorps, in partnership with @librarycongress.bsky.social, invited two DSPs from EPI, Kimberly Bumgardner Bergman and Danielle Knavel, to share their COVID-19 experiences as part of the COVID-19 American History Project.

ANCOR is proud to join @nhelp.bsky.social, @centerforpublicrep.bsky.social and 68 organizations in filing an amicus brief in Massachusetts v. Oz, detailing how the administration’s Medicaid work requirements rule will threaten coverage for people with serious illnesses & disabilities.

TIME published an op-ed from Barbara Merrill and the Honorable Tony Coelho addressing the current attacks on disability rights that threaten the promised right to inclusion for people with disabilities. Read here:

ANCOR CEO Barbara Merrill and the Honorable Tony Coelho share in @time.com why the foundation of our nation’s wide spectrum of community-based services is crumbling & how continued attacks risk the inclusion promised to people with disabilities through the ADA. Read our op-ed ⬇️

ANCOR is proud to support the HCBS Access Act reintroduced by @lujan.senate.gov & @kaine.senate.gov. This bill will make much-needed investments into the Medicaid HCBS system and strengthen access to community-based services for people with disabilities. Learn more ⬇️

Today, the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee voted the Recognizing the Role of DSPs Act unanimously out of committee. Help us keep up the momentum. Take action today & ask your members of Congress to support the direct support workforce!

In the latest from @washingtonpost.com, Lydia Dawson, ANCOR Vice President of Government Relations, shares why we're concerned about the administration's commitment to community integration. Read more ⬇️

Next up for the Recognizing the Role of DSPs Act: a markup in the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee on 8/5. We need your help to keep up the pressure to pass this bill. Take action & ask your members of Congress to support the direct support workforce!

In politico.com's West Wing Playbook newsletter, ANCOR CEO Barbara Merrill shares why ANCOR is fighting for community living for people with disabilities in light of the U.S. Department of Justice's new guidance. Learn more ⬇️

Each July, Disability Pride Month invites us to celebrate the strength, diversity, and contributions of people with disabilities while recognizing the importance of creating communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. by Jordan Baker, Relias www.ancor.org/connections/... #connections

ANCOR is proud to endorse the Disabled Access Credit Modernization Act introduced by @mcbride.house.gov & Rep. Hill. This bill will expand the Disabled Access Credit, giving small businesses more resources to make workplaces accessible for employees with disabilities. Learn more ⬇️

On July 26, the disability community will mark the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. That makes the weeks following the anniversary an especially important time for advocates to engage with members of Congress. www.ancor.org/connections/...

Darryl Wood, a DSP & executive director at ANCOR member LEAP in Maine, urged Senators Collins and King, and @pingree.house.gov and Rep. Golden, to reject all proposals that put community-based services for people with disabilities at risk in the Portland Press Herald. Read his LTE ⬇

ANCOR is proud to support the Supporting Our Direct Care Workforce and Family Caregivers Act reintroduced by @kaine.senate.gov. This bill will improve disability services by making much-needed investments to support the direct care workforce and family caregivers. Learn more ⬇️

On the anniversary of the Supreme Court's Olmstead decision, we must reaffirm our commitment to community inclusion. Read ANCOR CEO Barbara Merrill's response to DOJ's harmful memo that would undermine individuals’ access to community-based services.

Today in @thehill.com , ANCOR CEO Barbara Merrill, @easterseals.bsky.social President & CEO Kendra Davenport, and UCP Interim President & CEO Diane Wilush highlight the caregiver workforce crisis and why policymakers must invest in community-based services. Read our op-ed ⬇️

ANCOR is proud to support the HCBS Access Act reintroduced by @debbiedingell.house.gov & @schakowsky.house.gov. This bill will make much-needed investments into the Medicaid HCBS system and strengthen access to community-based services for people with disabilities. Learn more ⬇️

Thank you @debbiedingell.house.gov, @replsimon.bsky.social & @pettersen.house.gov for honoring the essential work of direct support professionals who empower people with disabilities by introducing a resolution designating April as #CareWorkersRecognitionMonth.

“They didn’t just denigrate family caregivers, they denigrated the work of the professionals in our fields by suggesting that all HCBS could just be done by family caregivers, and it should all be done for free," said ANCOR CEO Barbara Merrill in @nbcnews.com @mikehixenbaugh.com article. Read more:

ANCOR is proud to support the SSI Savings and Efficiency Act introduced by @davids.house.gov and @scanlon.house.gov . This bill will provide a common-sense fix to enable people with disabilities and older adults to access the support they need to remain in their homes and communities. Learn more⬇️

“Cutting more funding from Medicaid—after decades of underinvestment and on top of significant cuts included in H.R. 1—creates great uncertainty for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), their families, and the community providers who support them."

ANCOR CEO Barbara Merrill shared the per person cost of HCBS vs large state institutions during today's House hearing on health care affordability. Thank you @repbarragan.bsky.social for highlighting that HCBS is the most impactful AND cost-effective solution for people with disabilities.

ANCOR is proud to support the bipartisan SSI Restoration Act. Introduced by @warren.senate.gov, Reps. Grijalva, Schakowsky & Moylan, this bill will strengthen critical SSI benefits that support people with disabilities and update the program to meet current needs. Learn more:

*NEW* Analysis from ANCOR & UCP uncovers modest but meaningful improvements in the workforce that supports people with IDD, & proposes policy solutions to ensure that progress is sustainable while facing looming federal funding cuts. Learn more: caseforinclusion.org #disability #medicaid #data

New data from ANCOR’s sixth annual survey of community providers highlights key challenges providers and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) face as a result of Medicaid eligibility and renewal policies. Take a look in our new fact sheet: www.ancor.org/wp-content/u...

"Add to [the ongoing workforce crisis] the nearly $1 trillion in funding cuts passed earlier this year in the budget bill, and it’s not hard to understand why people with disabilities are gravely concerned about the future of their services.” www.mcknightshomecare.com/news/survey-...

This fall, ANCOR fielded our sixth annual survey of community providers of I/DD services, continuing our effort to better understand how providers navigate long-term shortages of direct support professionals (DSPs). Here’s what we learned: www.ancor.org/resources/th...

Autism is not a crisis. It does not destroy families. Help us tell federal policymakers to invest in community-based services and ensure people with Autism have access to critical supports to participate in our communities: www.ancor.org/actions/advo...

@GovMurphy has declared this week to be #DirectSupportProfessionalsWeek! @NJDHS thanks all DSPs who make a difference in the lives of so many by providing necessary supports that enable them to live, work & enjoy life as independently as possible in their community. #DSPRW2025