One of the most powerful ways to create change is to share your story directly with the decision makers who can protect and make progress on rights.
Your Voice Matters – Use It!
Every email sent, every call made, every story shared, it all adds up. Lawmakers work for us, and they need to hear from you.
We provide scripts to make it easy for you because disability rights are human rights and together we can make sure no one is left behind.
Phone Call Script
This is a sample phone call script. There are many things listed out below. Do not feel you must say the entire thing. It is only here to make it easier to make the call.
Caller:
Hi, my name is [Name], and I’m a [describe role — parent, veteran, community member] from [City].
I’m calling to express my deep concern about the ongoing attacks on disability rights under the current administration and to ask for your support in protecting our rights. I’d like to talk about a few key issues that are at risk.
Decades of progress are under threat, and that affects all of us — not just people with disabilities, but families, communities, and the future we’re building together.
This issue matters to me because [brief personal reason].
I’m urging you to stand with us and protect the rights of people with disabilities. We need you to:
1. Oppose any efforts to cut Medicaid or weaken Section 504 protections.
2. Support the full funding and preservation of the Administration for Community Living.
3. Fight against the closure of disability programs at USAID and ensure the protection of global disability rights.
4. Ensure that any research initiatives, like the proposed autism registry, respect privacy and consent.
5. Work to restore and strengthen the Office for Civil Rights and its role in enforcing IDEA and other civil rights protections.
I’m asking for your commitment to fight for these issues and protect the rights of all Americans with disabilities.”
Thank you for your time and for your commitment to disability rights. I look forward to hearing your position on these critical issues.
Will you commit to standing up for our rights?
Email Script
This is a sample email script. There are many things listed out below. Do not feel you must use the entire script. It is only here to make it easier to send your message.
Subject:
Protect Disability Access for All
Message:
Dear [Representative/Senator Name],
As a [constituent/parent/person with a disability/ally], I urge you to protect and expand access for people with disabilities. There are an estimated over 65 million people with disabilities in America. That is 1 in 4 people of your constituents.
Opportunity, dignity, and independence are values we all hold. Access isn’t about special treatment — it’s about what benefits everyone. Your leadership can make a real difference in the lives of millions of families like mine.
The following issues are of great concern: (Only choose what is important to you–this is just to make it easier to copy paste!)
Section 504 Protections:
Section 504 guarantees equal access to education, workplaces, and public spaces for individuals with disabilities. Recent proposals threaten to weaken this essential law, which could strip millions of disabled individuals of the accommodations they rely on every day. I urge you to support the full preservation of Section 504 protections.
Medicaid Cuts:
Medicaid provides essential healthcare services to over 80 million low-income and disabled Americans. There are proposals to cut Medicaid funding, introduce work requirements, and roll back Medicaid expansion. These changes would result in devastating consequences for those who depend on Medicaid for their health and well-being. I ask you to oppose any efforts to reduce or limit Medicaid services.
Elimination of the Administration for Community Living (ACL):
The Administration for Community Living plays a crucial role in helping individuals with disabilities live independently and avoid institutionalization. The potential elimination of the ACL would have severe consequences for millions who rely on its services. I urge you to protect and fund the ACL to ensure continued support for disabled individuals in our communities.
Disability Programs at USAID:
Disability programs at USAID, which help improve lives for disabled individuals globally, are being dismantled. We cannot afford to lose these critical programs that provide support and resources to disabled people around the world. Please advocate for the preservation and expansion of these programs.
National Autism Database Concerns:
There are proposals for a national autism registry that could track individuals’ personal health data without consent. While autism research is crucial, privacy concerns must be addressed, and no one should be tracked or targeted without explicit permission. I ask for your support in ensuring that research initiatives respect individual privacy and consent.
Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Reductions:
The recent closure of several OCR offices and staff reductions in the Department of Education severely limits the enforcement of civil rights protections, including those under IDEA, Section 504, and the ADA. This jeopardizes the rights of disabled students who rely on these protections to access education. I urge you to support efforts to restore and strengthen OCR’s capacity to enforce these vital protections.
I ask for your commitment to these critical issues and to stand firm in protecting the rights of disabled Americans. The stakes are high, and the time to act is now.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to hearing from you about how you plan to support disability rights and ensure that every person, regardless of ability, can live a full and independent life.
Sincerely,
Your Full Name
Your Address
Your Contact Information