Message from the Executive Director

Dear friends,

As 2024 comes to a close, we at TASH are grateful to all of our members, supporters and allies who share our vision of inclusion for all people with disabilities including those with the most significant support needs.

During 2024, TASH continued to play a pivotal role in the Disability Employment Technical Assistance Center (DETAC), was a promotional partner for the annual Disability Policy Seminar (please consider attending in 2025, an especially critical time as we defend Medicaid and other programs vital to people with disabilities), and honored Steven Schwartz, JD, with our Outstanding Leadership in Disability Law award. Just a few weeks ago, over 700 people attended our annual Conference, which featured experts and leaders in inclusive education, employment and community living. You can see some Conference highlights at our TASH Conference blog post.

Now, we look ahead to 2025, which is TASH’s 50th anniversary. We will continue to inform and educate Congress and the Administration on the issues we all care about, including through our Action Center that is an easy-to-use policy advocacy tool. Our highly regarded, peer-reviewed journal, Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities will acknowledge our 50th anniversary with a series of articles from the past 50 years, with contemporary commentaries from experts.

As we come to the end an eventful year, we hope that you will make a donation now to support TASH’s work in 2025. Your donation is fully tax deductible and will help to assure that TASH can continue to advance equity, opportunity and inclusion for people with disabilities through advocacy, research and practice.

With gratitude,

Michael Brogioli

TASH News

Public Policy Advocacy in 2025

As we approach the New Year and the upcoming 119th Session of the U.S. Congress, we have major work ahead of us. As you know, Republicans having slim majorities in both the Senate and the House. Our first priority is to be sure that we retain funding in the current federal budget and preserve federal laws and regulations that benefit and project people with disabilities.

Medicaid is a major target for either capping or putting into a block grant, either of which could be devastating for individuals with disabilities and individuals over the age of 65, since even today, most states have huge waiting lists. We must educate all Members of Congress that Medicaid is much more than doctors, hospitals, labs, x-rays, state institutions, and nursing homes. Most Members of Congress and their staff have little understanding of the millions of individuals with disabilities and their families who rely on Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waivers and the range of community living and community integrated supports that Medicaid funds.

Other threats are the potential elimination of the U.S. Department of Education and its Office of Civil Rights, and putting IDEA funding into a large education “block grant” to states with “no strings attached”, as well as reducing enforcement of the ADA and other civil rights laws at the U.S. Department of Justice. Additional threats include privatizing Medicare and reducing and/or privatizing Social Security.

Please begin to get acquainted with your two U.S. Senators and your Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, regardless of their political party. Our elected officials do work for us; however, they do not have a crystal ball and do not know what is on your priority list until you and your peers and colleagues provide them with information and educate them through personal stories and data – to make them aware of the harm some proposals could cause – and then to persuade them to vote against any of these regressive proposals! You can learn more about and contact your Senators and Representatives via the Action Center and please mark your calendars for the annual Disability Policy Seminar, which takes place in Washington, DC, April 7–9, 2025 which is an excellent opportunity to learn more about critical issues and to join state Teams on visits to Senate and House offices on Capitol Hill.

TASH is offering a 20% discount on new memberships through Friday, January 3, 2025 when you use discount code TASHflash24 at checkout. Now is a great time to become a member of TASH and help us advance equity, opportunity and inclusion for people with disabilities. Learn more about the benefits of TASH membership and sign up here.

2024 TASH Conference Highlights

Michael Rogers, Lisa Latchford and Alison DeYoung discussing “How Artificial Intelligence and Technology Opens the Door for New Employment Opportunities”.

We are thrilled that this year’s TASH Conference was an incredible milestone, bringing together over 700 passionate attendees in New Orleans over three inspiring days. Together, we shared knowledge, forged connections, and advanced our mission of creating inclusive communities.

Your energy, engagement, and dedication were at the heart of this event, and we couldn’t have achieved this without the collective spirit of our attendees, speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, and volunteers. Thank you for making this conference truly unforgettable!

For Conference highlights, click here.

Seeking a Values-Based Employee or Employer?
Post Your Job or Resume on TASH’s New Career Center

TASH has expanded our career offerings with our new full-blown Career Center. When you post your resume as a TASH member, you will be listed higher in search results and e-mails to employers. Job postings start at $199 for a 30-day advertisement for TASH members and $249 for non-members. Join TASH today to make your next career move.

Perspectives on Advancing Competitive Integrated Employment Through Employer Engagement
3:00 – 4:30 PM Eastern, January 14, 2025

Advancing competitive integrated employment (CIE) through employer engagement involves actively partnering with businesses to create meaningful, sustainable job opportunities for people with disabilities. Strategies to foster employer engagement include raising awareness, building partnerships, providing support, and leveraging technology. In this webinar, Arkansas DD Council Executive Director Jonathan “Jon” Taylor will reflect on his professional experiences during his career and offer practical tips for engaging with employers to advance CIE. Joining Jon on the panel will be Gretchen Newton who serves as Director of Business Engagement for Arkansas Rehabilitation Services. Through this presentation and panel discussion, participants will:

1. Learn the importance of building relationships with employers to advance CIE.
2. Learn about the business advantages of hiring people with disabilities.
3. Learn about innovative strategies for building a community of employer champions.
4. Hear success stories from a state vocational rehabilitation agency and self-advocates on their experiences engaging with employers.

Presenters

	Jonathan Taylor Executive Director, Arkansas Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities
	Gretchen Newton Director of Business Engagement, Arkansas Rehabilitation Services

Building Gateways to Employment and Economic Development Through Disability Entrepreneurship

This brief Regina “Gina” Kline discusses in detail how a powerful emerging model of entrepreneurial support is breaking through some of the most persistent barriers, and how this new model presents an opportunity for AoD grantees to play a supporting role in that new model’s growth. Read the brief here.

Regina Kline is the Founder and Managing Partner of Enable Ventures, the first impact venture fund dedicated to closing the disability wealth gap by investing in early-stage companies working at the nexus of technology and disability.

Follow DETAC on social media for news and resources:

Community News

Upcoming Events

Thank You to Our Donors!

We would like to thank everyone who donated to TASH in November 2024. We are grateful to all of our supporters who help us achieve equity, opportunity, and inclusion for people with disabilities. Thank you!

Jessica Bacon, Brenda Bousfield, Cheryl Brown, John Butterworth, Christine Cassedy, Marjorie Dalgarn, Teresa and Brandon Gruber, Jessalyn Ka, Greg Ladner, Christopher Rodriguez, Magen Rooney-Kron, Rita Rubin, Steven Schwartz and Jean Trainor

TASH advances equity, opportunity and inclusion for people with disabilities, with a focus on those with the most significant support needs, in the areas of education, employment and community living through advocacy, research and practice. More information about TASH can be found at www.tash.org.

TASH
1825 K Street NW, Suite 1250, Washington, D.C. 20006 | (202) 808-8148 | info@tash.org

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