When Access Disappears

There was a time when White House press briefings included sign language interpreters. People who are deaf or hard of hearing could follow along, knowing someone had made sure they weren’t left out. Now, that access is gone.

The interpreters have stopped appearing, captions and ASL translations have been removed from videos, and even the webpage dedicated to accessibility has stopped working. For many, it doesn’t just feel like something was forgotten—it feels like they were.

This shift is part of something bigger. Programs meant to support people with disabilities are being scaled back, defunded, or eliminated. Efforts focused on diversity and inclusion—especially those that helped people feel seen and supported—are being erased. Changes at agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services have removed key services that helped people stay in their homes, get meals, and receive support. These weren’t extras—they were essentials.

The Administration for Community Living, once a central source of help for older adults and people with disabilities, is being dismantled. That office helped fund centers across the country that made independent living possible. With those resources now at risk, many are left asking what happens next.

Early on, the current administration signed an order that pushed aside diversity, equity, and inclusion work. The consequences have been wide-reaching. HIV-related programs lost funding, disability-focused research was cut, and support for studies that looked at things like job barriers and transportation challenges just disappeared. Research at the National Institutes of Health that once focused on chronic health conditions, intellectual disabilities, and rare diseases is now at risk, too.

Groups that support older LGBTQ+ adults, veterans, and people with disabilities are facing budget threats or have already lost federal funding. It’s not just about money—it’s about what the decisions say. When programs that support inclusion are removed, the message is that those individuals don’t count in the same way.

These decisions affect more than services. They change how people with disabilities are treated and viewed. Some federal protections are now harder to enforce. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which handles workplace discrimination cases, lost key leaders. Without a quorum, it can’t move forward on certain cases. Meanwhile, disability-related complaints are increasing.

The Federal government has long been a leader in hiring people with disabilities. However, current downsizing and targeted layoffs—especially of workers in probationary periods—are making it harder to keep that promise. And because the hiring process for many people with disabilities includes a longer probation period, those cuts are hitting this group especially hard.

Still, advocates and advocacy groups are speaking up. Many are calling for interpreters to return, for funding to be restored, and for people with disabilities to be treated with the same dignity and respect as anyone else. Inclusion isn’t about politics. It’s about fairness and belonging.

Even when it feels overwhelming, small actions still matter. Whether you’re directly affected or standing in support, there are ways to help keep inclusion on the table:

• Share accurate information with friends, family, and coworkers
• Contact local representatives and ask them to protect programs that support people with disabilities
• Support organizations that center disability inclusion
• Ask for accessibility in your workplace, schools, and community spaces
• Listen to and uplift the voices of people with disabilities

Change doesn’t always begin in headlines. Sometimes it starts in conversations, small decisions, and steady reminders that access isn’t optional—it’s essential.

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