I have long been a part of the disability community as a sibling, an educator, and an advocate. Despite all I’ve learned, the rapid-fire law and policy changes that have been hitting our community in recent months leave me with more questions than answers.
🏛️ What’s at stake for my loved ones and colleagues if a federal court in Texas tosses out Section 504 healthcare regulations?
🍎 What does the dismantling of the Department of Education mean for special education students, teachers, and advocates?
🤕 How can I better advocate for people with disabilities affected by ramped up immigration enforcement and cuts to benefits programs?
On July 21st, TASH will gather leading law and policy experts and practitioners at the American University Washington College of Law to provide answers to these and many other pressing questions that members of the disability community have. The afternoon Symposium includes a virtual attendance option. At the evening Award Celebration, we will hear from Jennifer Mathis, who directs the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law’s policy and legal advocacy, and our honoree, Frank Laski, who has led, trained, and inspired a generation of disability rights lawyers. Please share these event details with people in your networks who would also benefit from the legal and policy know-how that will be on display.
Last, as with so many things, hosting this vital conversation at such a critical time would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. Please consider joining our group of incredible sponsors (download the sponsorship prospectus here) to help TASH continue to advance equity, opportunity, and inclusion for all people with disabilities.
With appreciation,
Hezzy Smith, Esq.
Chair, OLDL Planning Committee and TASH Board Member
Director of Advocacy Initiatives, Harvard Law School Project on Disability
TASH News
2026 TASH Conference Early-Bird Registration is Now Open
Early-bird registration is now open for the 2026 TASH Conference! It’s never too early to start making plans to join us at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on December 3 – 5, 2026! This year’s Conference theme is Liberty and Justice for All. Early-bird rates are available through Tuesday, September 15, 2026. For more information or to register, click here.
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. Join the Pennsylvania TASH Chapter and Jennifer Sulewski, Ph.D. and Kelly Doran, Ph.D., from the CLE in Action project with the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire, for an introduction to the Four Guideposts for Community Life Engagement and the Community Life Engagement Toolkit. Learn more and register here.
Policy & News Updates
Washington Update
TASH’s May Washington Update newsletter included updates on appropriations, the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, a Section 504 investigation into Houston Independent School District, the Texas v. Kennedy court challenge to section 504, new legislation on the Home and Community Based Services waiver and the long-term care workforce and more.
If you missed Washington Update in your inbox, you can access it from the TASH blog here.
Webinar & Office Hour:
Scaling Supported Employment with Large Businesses: Lessons from the Evolution of Microsoft’s Supported Employment Program
DETAC’s May webinar highlighted Microsoft’s Supported Employment Program as a model for building partnerships with large employers to advance competitive, integrated employment. Speakers from the Washington Initiative for Supported Employment (Wise), Microsoft, and their supplier-partners discussed how they’ve aligned funding streams, addressed benefits concerns, and collaborated with vocational rehabilitation and service providers to scale supported employment hiring across Microsoft’s supplier network. The session featured a supported employee and her manager who shared firsthand perspectives on how effective supports enable meaningful work and career growth. Participants will leave with strategies they can adapt to their own programs and partnerships. You can watch the webinar and the office hour as recordings. You can access the slides from the webinar page on the DETAC website.
Follow DETAC on social media for news and resources:
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.
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Virtual Community Summit
The 2026 Community Summit is a one-day virtual conference on June 3, bringing together self-advocates, families, friends, partners, and allies to collaborate in building more inclusive communities. Learn more and register here.
TransCen 2026 Virtual Transition Conference
Join colleagues from across the country on June 16 or 17 for this one-day conference as we share proven transition practices, break down common challenges, and equip you with the tools and resources that make an immediate impact on the lives of individuals with disabilities. Learn more and register here.
Maryland Coalition on Inclusive Education, Summer Institute
Breaking Barriers for Authentic Inclusion is a two-day, in-person inclusive education summer institute on June 23–24, for district and school leaders who know inclusion is more than placement. It’s for the people doing the hard, structural work of building schools where students with disabilities, multilingual learners, and other historically marginalized students are valued, supported, and genuinely part of the community. Learn more and register here.
Employment Opportunities
Seeking a Values-Based Employee or Employer? Post Your Job or Resume on TASH’s Career Center
We would like to thank everyone who donated to TASH in May 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.
I have long been a part of the disability community as a sibling, an educator, and an advocate. Despite all I’ve learned, the rapid-fire law and policy changes that have been hitting our community in recent months leave me with more questions than answers.
The 2026 Community Summit is a one-day virtual conference on June 3, bringing together self-advocates, families, friends, partners, and allies to collaborate in building more inclusive communities. Learn more and register 
Join colleagues from across the country on June 16 or 17 for this one-day conference as we share proven transition practices, break down common challenges, and equip you with the tools and resources that make an immediate impact on the lives of individuals with disabilities. Learn more and register 
Breaking Barriers for Authentic Inclusion is a two-day, in-person inclusive education summer institute on June 23–24, for district and school leaders who know inclusion is more than placement. It’s for the people doing the hard, structural work of building schools where students with disabilities, multilingual learners, and other historically marginalized students are valued, supported, and genuinely part of the community. Learn more and register 
Post your job listing or resume to TASH’s 
