Message from the Executive Director

As we close out June and look ahead to Independence Day, TASH remains steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that the promise of liberty, equality, and opportunity extends to people with disabilities. Last week, we shared our statement expressing deep concern over the Administration’s plans to move the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) from the U.S. Department of Education to the Administration for Community Living and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to the U.S. Department of Justice. These interagency agreements raise important questions about protecting students’ rights, maintaining accountability, and preserving strong federal leadership for inclusive education. I encourage you to read our statement as we continue to advocate for policies that uphold the rights and dignity of children and adults with disabilities.

Looking ahead, I hope you will join us on July 21 at TASH’s upcoming Outstanding Leadership in Disability Law Symposium, where leading advocates, attorneys, policymakers, and scholars will explore some of the most pressing legal and policy issues facing our community. This year’s program includes a timely panel examining the rapidly changing special education landscape and what those developments mean for students with disabilities, families, educators, and advocates. It promises to be an engaging and important conversation.

As you celebrate the Fourth of July with family and friends, all of us at TASH wish you a safe and happy holiday. Our nation’s founding ideals remind us that the work of expanding freedom, justice, and belonging is never finished. Together, we will continue striving for communities where people with disabilities are valued, included, and empowered to live, learn, work, and participate fully in all aspects of life.

With appreciation,

Michael Brogioli

TASH News

The Outstanding Leadership in Disability Law Symposium Offers Virtual Attendance Options and Continuing Legal Education Credits

TASH’s 2026 Outstanding Leadership in Disability Law Symposium and Award Celebration offers both virtual and in-person attendance options. The daytime Symposium – which provides Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits – will be available in person and via video conference. The evening Award Celebration will be held exclusively in person. You have the flexibility to attend any combination of events. You can earn your CLEs remotely or in person! Learn more and register here.

2026 TASH Conference News

• Early bird registration is open through September 15.
• Awards nominations, scholarships and volunteer sign up opens tomorrow.
• The discounted room rate at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel is available through November 2.
• The complete Conference schedule will be published in August.

The 2026 TASH Conference will be held at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 3 – 5, 2026. This year’s Conference theme is Liberty and Justice for All Visit the Conference webpage for the schedule, registration, hotel discounts and more.

TASH attended the 19th Annual Conference of State Parties (COSP19) on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) at the United Nations on June 9-11 in New York. This photo is TASH Executive Director Michael Brogioli with Ambassador Luis Gallegos, who was a primary architect of this historic UN Convention.

While exhibiting at the The 150th AAIDD Annual Meeting, Dan Middleton of Catalight and Cather Ficker Terrill, AAIDD past president, stopped by the TASH table to catch up with TASH Executive Director Michael Brogioli.

PennTASH Webinar: Community Life Engagement In Action

Community Life Engagement (CLE) in Action is growing a network of service providers seeking to increase CLE for the people they support. CLE is defined as access to and participation in the community as part of a meaningful day, and can include activities such as recreation, volunteer work, continuing education, civic engagement, and participation in faith communities. Pennsylvania TASH’s webinar, presented by Jennifer Sulewski, Ph.D. and Kelly Doran, Ph.D., originally streamed live on June 3. You can watch it as a recording from TASH’s YouTube channel.

Policy & News Updates

DOJ Says States Are Not Required to Provide Services in Community Settings

On June 18 the Department of Justice, Office of Legal Counsel released a legal opinion stating that the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Olmstead v. LC Supreme Court decision cannot require states to provide services to people with disabilities in a community setting. You can read the Department of Justice, Office of Legal Counsel opinion here and news reports by Bloomberg, CBS, NPR or PBS. You can read statements in opposition to the opinion by the ACLU, The Arc, ASAN and the Bazelon Center.

Department of Education Announces Partnerships with the Department of Justice and Health and Human Services

See the Department of Education announcement of recent new Interagency Agreements with the Department of Justice and Health and Human Services.

Washington Update

TASH’s June Washington Update newsletter included updates on the Medicaid Work Requirements Interim Final Rule, funding changes in the House Fiscal Year 2027 Labor-HHS-Education Funding Bill, a new Home and Community Based Services tracker app and more. If you missed Washington Update in your inbox, you can access it from the TASH blog here.

Driving Independence:
Integrating Transportation Supports into Workforce Development
Tuesday, July 14, 2026, 3:00 – 4:30 PM Eastern

Throughout America’s history, transportation has been a hallmark of progress by connecting people to opportunity, strengthening communities, and expanding pathways to independence. As we commemorate both the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and our nation’s 250th anniversary, DETAC will explore how transportation continues this legacy by helping people with disabilities access competitive, integrated employment and fully participate in community life. Join national transportation expert Dr. Judy L. Shanley of Easterseals, Ashley Gettys and Lukas Smith of the Easterseals Northeast Indiana affiliate, and DETAC Strategic Advisor Dan Middleton of Catalight to explore practical strategies for strengthening transportation supports in workforce development. Participants will learn how to identify and coordinate transportation resources, leverage mobility management and travel training, and build partnerships—including with employers—to integrate transportation into employment services and address barriers to job attainment and retention.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Describe current national trends and challenges related to accessible transportation.
• Identify strategies and solutions to address transportation barriers.
• Apply resources and tools to support accessible transportation options.

Presenters

Judy Shanley, PhD National Director, Transportation and Mobility Group; Assistant Vice President, Education & Youth Transition Easterseals National	Ashley Gettys Director of Day Services Easterseals Northeast Indiana
Dan Middleton, MBA Clinical Excellence Planning and Development Leader Catalight	Lukas Smith Disability Advocate Easterseals Northeast Indiana

Follow DETAC on social media for news and resources:

Spotlight on Research

Two OnlineFirst Articles Available from Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities

Volume 50, Issue 3 of Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities won’t be out until September, but two OnlineFirst Articles from that issue have already been posted on the SAGE website:

• Academic Experiences of Students With Complex Communication Needs, by Alison Zagona, Jennifer Kurth and Elissa Lockman
• Mixed-Methods Evaluation of Caregiver-Assisted Virtual Math Instruction During the COVID-19 Pandemic, by Jenny Root, Sarah Cox, Addie McConomy, Taryn Wade, Deidre Gilley, Alice Williams and Denise Dennis

Accessing RPSD

To access RPSD, you need to be signed in to your TASH member account, then choose “RPSD” from the “Resources” menu and you will be redirected to the publisher website.

Community News

• Updates to the Secure Your Financial Future Toolkit
  The U.S. Department of Labor has recently updated its “Secure Your Financial Future” toolkit with practical tools and information to help disabled workers and the people who support them. The updates include budgeting resources, information about ABLE accounts, worksheets, and guides to help families and service providers talk through financial decisions with confidence. Learn more and access the toolkit: bit.ly/4nNCiq9.
• Direct Support Professional Webinar
  Is your state or community feeling the impact of the direct support professionals (DSPs) shortage? Other states are finding new ways to work together and make a difference in their recruitment and retention of DSPs. Access the latest LEAD Center webinar archive on how cross-agency collaboration can help address the DSP shortage crisis: bit.ly/4uxtnM2.
• State Initiatives Advancing Disability Employment Webinar
  States are turning collaboration into real employment outcomes for people with disabilities. Learn how by checking out the LEAD Center webinar archive, “From Collaboration to Action: State Initiatives Advancing Disability Employment”: bit.ly/4wQxeph.

Employment Opportunities

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

Post your job listing or resume to TASH’s Career Center as a member to receive discounts and prime ranking in search results and communications. Join TASH today to make your next career move.

Upcoming Events

Thank You to Our Donors!

We would like to thank everyone who donated to TASH in June 2026. We are grateful to all of our supporters who help us achieve equity, opportunity, and inclusion for people with disabilities. Thank you!

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
P.O. Box 10026, Washington, D.C. 20018-0026 | (202) 808-8148 | info@tash.org

Copyright © 2026 TASH, All rights reserved.

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