The Advocator

10/15/2026

Celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month!

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), a time to recognize the value and contributions of workers with disabilities. The 2026 theme is “Celebrating Value and Talent.”

Want to turn awareness into action? The Administration on Disabilities Disability Employment Technical Assistance Center and NACDD have created an NDEAM Action Checklist with practical steps to advance competitive, integrated employment for people with disabilities in your community.

Find the checklist here:https://aoddisabilityemploymenttacenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/DETAC_NDEAM_Action_Checklist_Final.pdf

10/15/2026

Understanding your voting rights can help you prepare to participate with confidence.

Join the Region 4 Community of Practice for a virtual session with Ms. Formeca Tripp from ARISE and Jim Newton.

The meeting will cover:
• Voting rights and protections under the ADA
• Accessible polling places and voting equipment
• Voter registration and identification requirements
• Getting assistance at the polls
• Absentee and mail-in voting procedures

Thursday, October 15, 2026
6:00 p.m. CT
Virtual session

10/15/2026

09/30/2026

09/30/2026

Bringing a trusted support person to a healthcare appointment can help you feel more prepared.

A support person could be a family member, friend, caregiver, advocate, or someone else. They just need to be a person you trust.
They can help you ask questions, take notes, remember important information, and understand your care and next steps.

Before the appointment, talk about how you would like them to support you.

During the visit, you can ask your healthcare provider to:
• Speak directly to you
• Use plain language
• Repeat or write down important information
• Give you more time to ask questions or respond

Your voice and choices matter. A support person is there to help you understand your options and communicate with your healthcare team, not to speak over you.

What helps you prepare for a healthcare appointment?

09/30/2026

As National Preparedness Month comes to a close, it’s a good reminder that emergency preparedness matters all year long.

Extreme heat can become dangerous quickly, especially for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Knowing the warning signs, having a plan, staying hydrated, and knowing where to find cooling resources can help people stay safer during a heat emergency.

ACDD is sharing “Cooling the Crisis: Heat Emergencies and People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities,” available in both Plain Language and Easy Read versions.

These resources include practical heat safety information, cooling strategies, emergency planning tips, and places to turn for help.

Visit the ACDD website to explore the resources and share them with someone who may find them helpful.

09/30/2026

09/23/2026

Blue Envelope program event to help first responders communicate with people with disabilities FULL STORY ⬇️

09/23/2026

📣 Applications are open for two federal caregiving advisory councils!

The Administration for Community Living is seeking nominations for:

🔹 RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council
Open to family caregivers, people with disabilities, older adults who use long-term services and supports, service providers, advocates, and other caregiving experts.

🔹 Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
Open to grandparents, older relative and kinship caregivers, and professionals who support them.

Council members will help shape federal strategies and recommendations supporting family caregivers across the country.

📅 Deadline: October 14, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET

Learn more and review the nomination requirements:
https://buff.ly/OgwatWZ
To be considered for selection:
Nominations must include all requested information and attachments and be submitted electronically to [email protected] .

09/18/2026