Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies
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ihdps.bsky.social
Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies
@ihdps.bsky.social
120 followers 170 following 91 posts
To conduct timely and meaningful research and evaluation to inform health and disability policy, with the goal of improving access and quality of care for all people, particularly for those with disabilities and chronic illnesses.
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ihdps.bsky.social
Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies @ihdps.bsky.social · Aug 5
The 2025 National Survey on Health and Disability (NSHD) is now closed!

While we look at the information people have shared, we invite you to sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop about disability research news, resources, and other opportunities: tinyurl.com/ycxepyzk
Text: Thank you to everyone who participated in the National Survey on Health and Disability (NSHD) by contributing your voice, sharing the survey with the disability community, or conducting research that guides disability policy. Without your efforts, our work would not succeed! Image: A large diverse group of people, including people with disabilities
ihdps.bsky.social
We are greatly saddened to learn of the passing of Bob Kafka.

Rest in power Bob.
npr.org NPR @npr.org · 2d
Bob Kafka was an organizer with ADAPT (American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today), a group which advocates for policy change to support people with disabilities. n.pr/4pWshr5
Disability rights advocate Bob Kafka dead at 79
Bob Kafka was an organizer with ADAPT (American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today), a group which advocates for policy change to support people with disabilities.
n.pr
December 30, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Reposted by Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies
npr.org
AN NPR survey finds that people with disability still find hotels unaccommodating, even 35 years after passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. n.pr/48VPxj2
35 years after ADA, people with disabilities still find hotels unaccommodating
AN NPR survey finds that people with disability still find hotels unaccommodating, even 35 years after passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
n.pr
December 24, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Reposted by Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies
aahealthdisability.bsky.social
Our final #PolicyBlog of 2025 reviews the legal protections that help combat discrimination against people with disabilities, with a focus on healthcare:
aahd.us/2025/12/heal...

Sign up for our newsletters to follow our policy work in 2026:
bit.ly/AAHD-Subscribe
#PolicyFocus #DisabilitySky
Health Equity - AAHD
Health equity becomes more possible when every person with a disability can access the supports and services they need to live a full life. Through legal and policy approaches, US public health…
aahd.us
December 17, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Reposted by Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies
disabledinstem.bsky.social
Particularly looking for more mentees and mentors in the following time zones: UTC+0, UTC+1, UTC+3, UTC+10! #DisabledInSTEM
disabledinstem.bsky.social DisabledInSTEM @disabledinstem.bsky.social · Oct 20
It's that time of year again... time for #DisabledInSTEM 2026 Mentorship applications! I'm so excited to be running this program for the sixth year and seeing the growth over the years!

Mentee form: forms.gle/um5DvYnBi3tn...
Mentor form: forms.gle/BvaxnQm8uhUR...

Applications due December 5th!
Promotional graphic for the DisabledInSTEM 2026 Mentorship Program. The background is a dark blue gradient with flowing wave-like patterns in blue and gold. At the top, white text reads: “DisabledInSTEM 2026 Mentorship Applications Now Open.” Below, a yellow box with black text says: “Seeking Disabled Mentees and Dedicated Mentors to Champion Inclusion in STEM.” At the bottom, white text states: “Applications due December 5th.” In the lower right corner, there is the DisabledInSTEM logo.
December 6, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Reposted by Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies
kulifespan.bsky.social
A KU study to increase access to fitness for people with disabilities is expanding. In #Lawrence, so is Kaw Valley CrossFit, with increased space for adapted equipment and training. The public is invited to a ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. Dec. 19 to learn more. https://loom.ly/htRwLhs
Grant to expand community-based research project focused on people with mobility disabilities
With new federal funding, a University of Kansas project is expanding access to exercise for people with disabilities. Life Span Institute researcher Lyndsie Koon says the community-based functional fitness program has shown strong results.
lifespan.ku.edu
December 18, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Reposted by Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies
npr.org
New court documents reveal a list of nearly 200 words or phrases the Trump administration told Head Start programs it does not want to see in their funding requests. n.pr/497P6C4
Head Start centers told to avoid 'disability,' 'women' and more in funding requests
New court documents reveal a list of nearly 200 words or phrases the Trump administration told Head Start programs it does not want to see in their funding requests.
n.pr
December 11, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Reposted by Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies
crdjustice.bsky.social
Accessing disaster aid can be overwhelming, especially for disabled people, elders, people of color, & low-income communities. FEMA is often the main system people are directed to after a disaster, but navigating it is not always transparent or easy. This guide breaks down the real steps. [1/7]
A snowy residential street with cars buried in snow is shown. Overlaid text reads “Accessing FEMA Disaster Relief.” The U.S. Department of Homeland Security seal appears on the left. Text at the bottom reads “Katherine Scala, CRDJ Intern,” and the Center for Racial & Disability Justice logo appears in the lower left corner.
December 4, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Reposted by Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies
aahealthdisability.bsky.social
We’re now accepting applications for our 2026 Scholarship on Health & Disability! This award is made each year to undergraduate/ graduate students pursuing studies in the broad field of #DisabilityHealth. Due: March 6, 2026
Share this opportunity: aahd.us/initiatives/...
#Disability #DisabilitySky
Disability & Health Scholarship Program now accepting applications. American Association on Health and Disability.
December 9, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Reposted by Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies
disabilityscoop.bsky.social
The U.S. #SupremeCourt is set to hear arguments in a case that advocates say could have major implications for how #IntellectualDisability is defined. #disabilities #SCOTUS
Supreme Court To Hear Case On Intellectual Disability
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in a case that advocates say could have major implications for how intellectual disability is defined.
www.disabilityscoop.com
December 8, 2025 at 5:17 AM
ihdps.bsky.social
This project from the @center4ds.bsky.social documented the experiences of disabled and chronically ill people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

disabilitycovidchronicles.nyu.edu

#Covid19 #LongCovid #disability
Disability Covid Chronicles
Documenting the experiences of disabled and chronically ill people during the current COVID-19 pandemic, organized by the NYU Center for Disability Studies
disabilitycovidchronicles.nyu.edu
December 3, 2025 at 7:25 PM
ihdps.bsky.social
The @bazeloncenter.bsky.social has released a short guide for states to support people with disabilities in light of impending changes to Medicaid.

Read more at:

Guide:
www.bazelon.org/wp-content/u...

Bazelon's site:
www.bazelon.org
www.bazelon.org
December 2, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Reposted by Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies
ukresearch.bsky.social
UK’s Human Development Institute (HDI) received $3.2 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Education to support a nationwide effort to engage employers and improve job opportunities for people with disabilities.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3MAklNd
HDI grant to advance employer engagement strategies in vocational rehabilitation | UK Research
The UK Human Development Institute received $3.2 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Education to support a nationwide effort to engage employers and improve job opportunities for people wi...
bit.ly
December 2, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Reposted by Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies
lauralew105.bsky.social
Medicaid is the bare minimum for people with Long COVID and other complex conditions. But instead of improving it, amid skyrocketing disability claims, the Trump administration is making it worse. The impact could be catastrophic.
My feature for @thesicktimes.org: thesicktimes.org/2025/12/02/t...
The future of Medicaid is “really scary” for people with Long COVID - The Sick Times
The deep cuts to Medicaid funding in the Trump administration’s spending bill of almost $1 trillion — as well as new requirements making Medicaid more difficult to obtain and maintain — will hit disad...
thesicktimes.org
December 2, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Reposted by Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies
bhanlon15.bsky.social
'Long COVID patients face more than double the healthcare costs after diagnosis'

'"Long COVID is a debilitating disease for patients, presenting in a myriad of ways, with far-reaching implications for those affected."

www.news-medical.net/news/2025120...
Long COVID patients face more than double the healthcare costs after diagnosis
People with Long COVID use the health service significantly more than they did before their diagnosis. These patients need to use GP, outpatient, inpatient and emergency department services more than ...
www.news-medical.net
December 2, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Reposted by Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies
northwestada.bsky.social
Not long after passage of the ADA came the regional centers today comprising the ADA National Network. They were created to help communities understand the ADA and its provisions. Learn more about the different types of services offered by your regional center!

adata.org/factsheet/AD...
What Types of Services Can the ADA National Network Offer You? | ADA National Network
adata.org
November 24, 2025 at 6:25 PM
ihdps.bsky.social
Guide from NCHPAD shows ways to engage as a person with a disability with a local CIL in many different roles - including consumer, advocate, peer, staff and more!

www.nchpad.org/resources/un...

#Disability #PeerSupport
Unlocking Opportunities: Engaging with Your State’s Center for Independent Living
How people with disabilities can become active service recipients, staff members, leaders and advocates within their local centers for independent living.
www.nchpad.org
November 20, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Reposted by Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies
kucdisabilities.bsky.social
🎉 KU Transition to Postsecondary Education has received a grant to increase access to college in Kansas for students with intellectual disabilities!

To learn more, visit loom.ly/3lpS24U
Five people wearing black caps and gowns smile at a graduation ceremony
November 6, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Reposted by Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies
disabilitybelongs.bsky.social
Housing is a basic human need that is out of reach for hundreds of thousands of disabled people. Read the thread for some key facts, and then check out our blog post at the link below to learn more.

Image Description: An unhoused person sleeping on a sidewalk.

#Disabilities #Disability
The Housing Crisis in the Disability Community - Disability Belongs™
Nearly half of unhoused individuals live with a disability, yet their unique needs are often left out of housing policy and service design.
www.disabilitybelongs.org
November 12, 2025 at 3:05 PM
ihdps.bsky.social
Researchers use data from the National Survey on Health and Disability to look at cannabis use by people with disabilities

Read more at: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reasons for cannabis use among adults with disabilities: Findings from the 2023-2024 National Survey on Health and Disabilities
People with disabilities disproportionately use cannabis compared to those without a disability; however, little is known about reasons for use among …
www.sciencedirect.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:44 PM
ihdps.bsky.social
What does the government shutdown mean for people with disabilities?

This explainer from American Association of People with Disabilities has information on what to expect, as well as some resources (feedingamerica, Food Security Network) that people can use.

www.aapd.com/explainer-wh...
Explainer: What the Government Shutdown Means for SNAP, WIC, and Disability Programs - AAPD
Update as of October 27, 2025: The federal government shutdown is now in its fourth week, with no immediate end in sight. As you can read about in our previous explainer, Congress has failed to pass a...
www.aapd.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
ihdps.bsky.social
New journal article from IHDPS explores whether having a proxy leads to people with disabilities being incorrectly represented in survey data.

Read the full article at: www.frontiersin.org/journals/res...

#DisabilityResearch #DisabilityData
Text: Does who responds matter?: exploring potential proxy response bias in the Washington Group Short Set disability estimates Aaron Beuoy & Kelsey Goddard Published in Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analytics DOI: 10.3389/frma.2025.1654769 Images: A black man using a wheelchair talks to a woman in a suit who holds a clipboard with information between them, KU The University of Kansas Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies logo
November 4, 2025 at 9:03 PM
ihdps.bsky.social
To follow up on Tuesday's post -

Please visit essentialdata.us

It shows how good data can be crucial for funding and services.

E.g. Today we heard in Langston University RRTC's employment listening session that poor data for special education through employment is leading to a lack of support
America's Essential Data
Highlighting examples of how our essential public data serve the American people.
essentialdata.us
October 30, 2025 at 7:42 PM
ihdps.bsky.social
Datasets from Transportation, Labor, and Commerce departments connect employers with talented Americans with disabilities.

#DisabilityData #ResearchMatters

(Links in comments) - Post 2 of 2
text: A nonprofit disability organization launches a small business accelerator when they learn from the Current Population Survey's disability labor force characteristics data that workers with disabilities are twice as likely to be self-employed than work for someone image: a woman sitting and drawing on an easel text: The bad news is all of these datasets are at risk. The good news resources like EssentialData.us help make the case for how federal datasets benefit American lives and livelihoods. text: learn more at EssentialData.us psst did you know? these graphics are made by a disabled designer heart kate text & images: image credits - man with bus - metropolitan transportation authority via Flickr, woman on couch - resume genius via Unsplash, woman drawing - European disability forum via Flickr, man with pig - U.S. department of Agriculture via Flickr
October 28, 2025 at 7:50 PM
ihdps.bsky.social
U.S. Chief Data Scientist @denicewross.bsky.social worked with the Disability Health Equity Research Network (DHERN) to show the connection between disability data to real outcomes for people with disabilities.

#DisabilityData #ResearchMatters

(Links in comments) - Post 1 of 2
text: federal datasets for national disability employment awareness month that keep disabled Americans going images: man with wheelchair entering bus, man with wheelchair feeding pig, Disability Health Equity Research Network logo, FAS federation of American scientists logo, America's Essential Data logo text: a wheelchair user has an easier commute to work thanks to expanded door-to-door transit services in response to the National Household Travel Survey showing the employment barriers faced by adults with travel-limiting disabilities image: man with wheelchair entering bus text: A cancer patient continues working during treatment because they find info about workplace accommodations that match their symptoms and job duties in the Job Accommodation Network Situations and Solutions finder database, from the Office of Disability Employment policy image: woman sits on couch using her laptop text: A farmworker paralyzed in a combine accident finds the right assistive tech to continue working with help from AgrAbility, a USDA-funded program that exists to serve the 2 in 10 farmers who are living with disabilities, a need made visible by American Survey Data image: a man with a wheelchair feeds a pig
October 28, 2025 at 7:48 PM
ihdps.bsky.social
We are at the last day of Center on KTDRR 's 2025 Virtual Knowledge Translation (KT) Conference this year, and are learning about lots of great KT resources!

One is a pilot project in Nigeria presented by Charles Chibuisi Ehiemere - Familia Solutions. More info in comments.
Website screenshot. Familia Supporting Maternal & Child Health Empowering women of reproductive age with digital health solutions for better maternal and child health outcomes
October 23, 2025 at 7:37 PM