Sam Crane
@samanticka.bsky.social
Disability policy consultant, Board Chair of Autistic Self Advocacy Network, Treasurer of Not Dead Yet, opinions my own.
Extremely excited to announce that I am now Director of Policy and Legal Advocacy at CommunicationFIRST! Communication access has been a big part of my work for a decade or more. I'm also thrilled to be working with some of my favorite people and to meet the rest of the CommunicationFIRST team.
Welcome our new Director of Policy & Legal Advocacy, Sam Crane! Sam is a Harvard-trained lawyer with particular legal & policy experience in #CommunicationRights, long-term supports & services, & supported decision-making as an alternative to guardianship. lnk.to/crane
@samanticka.bsky.social
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@samanticka.bsky.social
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![[Image: A fair-skinned person with light brown, shoulder-length hair, and dark brown eyes sits looking at the camera with a slight smile. She is wearing glasses and a knitted shawl fastened by a clasp.]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:rttsf4zrtbea47kiv56ec4vb/bafkreiar35nve7emy5dc3rgqio67t4g5enf25kjib7mazr77yla7i2zefe@jpeg)
November 14, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Extremely excited to announce that I am now Director of Policy and Legal Advocacy at CommunicationFIRST! Communication access has been a big part of my work for a decade or more. I'm also thrilled to be working with some of my favorite people and to meet the rest of the CommunicationFIRST team.
Is it a little cringe to write about how the latest viral thing actually teaches valuable lessons about politics? Yes. Did I do it anyway? Absolutely yes, because this time it's totally true. And because I genuinely love KPop Demon Hunters, having had to watch it 10 times already.
What KPop Demon Hunters Gets Right About Activism
But seriously, hear me out.
sammka.substack.com
October 4, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Is it a little cringe to write about how the latest viral thing actually teaches valuable lessons about politics? Yes. Did I do it anyway? Absolutely yes, because this time it's totally true. And because I genuinely love KPop Demon Hunters, having had to watch it 10 times already.
Reposted by Sam Crane
The full ruling explaining why NIH grant cuts are illegal came out today.
It's just as blistering as the judge's oral remarks. And it uncovers fresh details in DOGE's role orchestrating the cuts — and on the cuts at Columbia.
Here are my top highlights from the 103-page ruling. 🧵
It's just as blistering as the judge's oral remarks. And it uncovers fresh details in DOGE's role orchestrating the cuts — and on the cuts at Columbia.
Here are my top highlights from the 103-page ruling. 🧵
After ruling the NIH grant cuts were illegal yesterday, Judge Young, a Reagan appointee on the bench since 1985, ended the hearing with a blistering 15-minute speech.
I've cleaned up my notes — here are his remarks in full. 🧵
I've cleaned up my notes — here are his remarks in full. 🧵
Judge rules against NIH grant cuts — and calls them discriminatory
The decision means that the US biomedical agency has to restore funding to hundreds of research projects, but the government will likely appeal.
www.nature.com
July 2, 2025 at 11:55 PM
The full ruling explaining why NIH grant cuts are illegal came out today.
It's just as blistering as the judge's oral remarks. And it uncovers fresh details in DOGE's role orchestrating the cuts — and on the cuts at Columbia.
Here are my top highlights from the 103-page ruling. 🧵
It's just as blistering as the judge's oral remarks. And it uncovers fresh details in DOGE's role orchestrating the cuts — and on the cuts at Columbia.
Here are my top highlights from the 103-page ruling. 🧵
People in wheelchairs are getting arrested right now in the Russell Senate Office Building in DC. They showed up to tell Congress not to cut their Medicaid, because they cant afford health care without it. If you look closely you can see the zip ties on their hands. #WeWontGetOverLosingMedicaid
June 26, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Reposted by Sam Crane
Lovely to see @samanticka.bsky.social get some attentio. She has done so much for the #ActuallyAutistic community and she's right: I know plenty of autistic lawyers, both who got diagnosed as kids and those who got diagnosed as adults after law school.
"There’s a stereotype that autistic people are generally drawn to STEM fields & that law is an anomalous profession for us to go into, but in my experience that is not true. I have known & worked with quite a few openly autistic lawyers." @samanticka.bsky.social:
www.americanbar.org/groups/diver...
www.americanbar.org/groups/diver...
Lawyer Spotlight: Sam Crane
Sam Crane, a late-diagnosed autistic individual, discusses the stereotypes associated with autistic people in law, the role the law plays in disability advocacy, and the advice she would give to aspir...
www.americanbar.org
April 13, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Lovely to see @samanticka.bsky.social get some attentio. She has done so much for the #ActuallyAutistic community and she's right: I know plenty of autistic lawyers, both who got diagnosed as kids and those who got diagnosed as adults after law school.
Reposted by Sam Crane
"There’s a stereotype that autistic people are generally drawn to STEM fields & that law is an anomalous profession for us to go into, but in my experience that is not true. I have known & worked with quite a few openly autistic lawyers." @samanticka.bsky.social:
www.americanbar.org/groups/diver...
www.americanbar.org/groups/diver...
Lawyer Spotlight: Sam Crane
Sam Crane, a late-diagnosed autistic individual, discusses the stereotypes associated with autistic people in law, the role the law plays in disability advocacy, and the advice she would give to aspir...
www.americanbar.org
April 11, 2025 at 10:57 PM
"There’s a stereotype that autistic people are generally drawn to STEM fields & that law is an anomalous profession for us to go into, but in my experience that is not true. I have known & worked with quite a few openly autistic lawyers." @samanticka.bsky.social:
www.americanbar.org/groups/diver...
www.americanbar.org/groups/diver...
Reposted by Sam Crane
Lovely & informative interview with
@samanticka.bsky.social
Sam Crane, who has over 15 years of experience in disability law & policy, including senior roles at the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) & Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities…
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www.americanbar.org/groups/diver...
@samanticka.bsky.social
Sam Crane, who has over 15 years of experience in disability law & policy, including senior roles at the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) & Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities…
1/
www.americanbar.org/groups/diver...
Lawyer Spotlight: Sam Crane
Sam Crane, a late-diagnosed autistic individual, discusses the stereotypes associated with autistic people in law, the role the law plays in disability advocacy, and the advice she would give to aspir...
www.americanbar.org
April 9, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Lovely & informative interview with
@samanticka.bsky.social
Sam Crane, who has over 15 years of experience in disability law & policy, including senior roles at the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) & Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities…
1/
www.americanbar.org/groups/diver...
@samanticka.bsky.social
Sam Crane, who has over 15 years of experience in disability law & policy, including senior roles at the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) & Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities…
1/
www.americanbar.org/groups/diver...
"The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers"
Trump: "We have a lot of law firms that we're going to be going after, because they were very dishonest people. They were very, very dishonest. We have a lot of law firms that we're going after."
March 9, 2025 at 7:34 PM
"The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers"
Reposted by Sam Crane
@samanticka.bsky.social's reminder that advocacy can be joyful really resonates with me.
"Combine a lot of angry advocates together, and the situation gets even worse. Conflicts can’t de-escalate. People can’t problem-solve and understand each other."
sammka.substack.com/p/why-should...
"Combine a lot of angry advocates together, and the situation gets even worse. Conflicts can’t de-escalate. People can’t problem-solve and understand each other."
sammka.substack.com/p/why-should...
Why Should Advocacy Be Joyful?
This week we're getting personal about the feelings - good and bad - that come with being an advocate, why joy matters, and how to build towards it even when everything is on fire
sammka.substack.com
March 5, 2025 at 10:59 PM
@samanticka.bsky.social's reminder that advocacy can be joyful really resonates with me.
"Combine a lot of angry advocates together, and the situation gets even worse. Conflicts can’t de-escalate. People can’t problem-solve and understand each other."
sammka.substack.com/p/why-should...
"Combine a lot of angry advocates together, and the situation gets even worse. Conflicts can’t de-escalate. People can’t problem-solve and understand each other."
sammka.substack.com/p/why-should...
Reposted by Sam Crane
My latest newsletter post takes a bit of a broader view of our task right now: buttondown.com/sbagen/archi...
Balancing the Present and the Future
When I began this newsletter, I did not want it to be simply an anti-Trump, “resistance” vehicle. I knew that the second Trump Administration would engage in...
buttondown.com
February 15, 2025 at 11:04 PM
My latest newsletter post takes a bit of a broader view of our task right now: buttondown.com/sbagen/archi...
Reposted by Sam Crane
Our messaging should be along the lines of: "diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (sometimes called DEIA)"
Write out the words.
Include accessibility (the feds do, and those are the policies directly under attack.)
Write out the words.
Include accessibility (the feds do, and those are the policies directly under attack.)
February 1, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Our messaging should be along the lines of: "diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (sometimes called DEIA)"
Write out the words.
Include accessibility (the feds do, and those are the policies directly under attack.)
Write out the words.
Include accessibility (the feds do, and those are the policies directly under attack.)
Reposted by Sam Crane
StopRFKjr.com is a simple link you can send to your friends, family, colleagues that makes it incredibly easy for them to call their U.S. Senators and tell them to oppose the disastrous nomination of RFK Jr to run all federal health programs.
Please share StopRFKjr.com as widely as you can
Please share StopRFKjr.com as widely as you can
Call TODAY to stop RFK Jr
RFK Jr is a danger to every single American… and Trump wants him to lead Medicare. Help us stop him!
StopRFKjr.com
January 31, 2025 at 10:56 PM
StopRFKjr.com is a simple link you can send to your friends, family, colleagues that makes it incredibly easy for them to call their U.S. Senators and tell them to oppose the disastrous nomination of RFK Jr to run all federal health programs.
Please share StopRFKjr.com as widely as you can
Please share StopRFKjr.com as widely as you can
Reposted by Sam Crane
Just sent emails to the superintendent and school principal, asking them to publicly push back on the "Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling" EO. Also found the board meeting schedule.
If anyone wants to join me, I'm linking a couple of templates below that helped me write mine.
If anyone wants to join me, I'm linking a couple of templates below that helped me write mine.
January 30, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Just sent emails to the superintendent and school principal, asking them to publicly push back on the "Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling" EO. Also found the board meeting schedule.
If anyone wants to join me, I'm linking a couple of templates below that helped me write mine.
If anyone wants to join me, I'm linking a couple of templates below that helped me write mine.
Reposted by Sam Crane
in case any media wants to have a chat with a former Department of Transportation employee who can speak first-hand to what the disability accommodation practices look like in the Department, I'm here
they were not that great even under Buttegieg. the idea of hiring ATCs unfit to perform is lunacy.
they were not that great even under Buttegieg. the idea of hiring ATCs unfit to perform is lunacy.
Let's fact check this claim about disability. The language he's citing seems to be taken from federal Schedule A hiring authority, which lets people with disabilities apply to federal jobs outside competitive process. But it doesn't override medical requirements for air traffic controllers
January 30, 2025 at 6:21 PM
in case any media wants to have a chat with a former Department of Transportation employee who can speak first-hand to what the disability accommodation practices look like in the Department, I'm here
they were not that great even under Buttegieg. the idea of hiring ATCs unfit to perform is lunacy.
they were not that great even under Buttegieg. the idea of hiring ATCs unfit to perform is lunacy.
Reposted by Sam Crane
I hope you’ll pardon me jumping in. You could also post the audio of ATC diverting 19 flights after the collision with cool, calm precision.
archive.liveatc.net/kdca/KDCA1-T...
archive.liveatc.net/kdca/KDCA1-T...
archive.liveatc.net
January 30, 2025 at 5:59 PM
I hope you’ll pardon me jumping in. You could also post the audio of ATC diverting 19 flights after the collision with cool, calm precision.
archive.liveatc.net/kdca/KDCA1-T...
archive.liveatc.net/kdca/KDCA1-T...
Reposted by Sam Crane
RFK Jr. isn’t just pushing anti-vaccine rhetoric—he’s cashing in on it. Sen. Kaine revealed he receives contingency fees from Gardasil lawsuits. He has a financial stake in undermining vaccines. #StopRFK
January 30, 2025 at 4:18 PM
RFK Jr. isn’t just pushing anti-vaccine rhetoric—he’s cashing in on it. Sen. Kaine revealed he receives contingency fees from Gardasil lawsuits. He has a financial stake in undermining vaccines. #StopRFK
Reposted by Sam Crane
If you want to know why so many people are worried about Gabbard's visit to Bashar al-Assad, read @richardhalljourno.bsky.social and @andrewfeinberg.com.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Tulsi Gabbard’s history with Russia is even more concerning than you think
One expert says her views are ‘so wildly fringe that her potential appointment as DNI is genuinely alarming’, Richard Hall and Andrew Feinberg write
www.independent.co.uk
January 30, 2025 at 4:22 PM
If you want to know why so many people are worried about Gabbard's visit to Bashar al-Assad, read @richardhalljourno.bsky.social and @andrewfeinberg.com.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Another comment on this kind of blame game because it's on the left too. We have no idea what actually happened. Was the air traffic controller ACTUALLY disabled? Was this airport's staffing level ACTUALLY affected at that time by a hiring freeze? Was this preventable by air traffic control at all?
January 30, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Another comment on this kind of blame game because it's on the left too. We have no idea what actually happened. Was the air traffic controller ACTUALLY disabled? Was this airport's staffing level ACTUALLY affected at that time by a hiring freeze? Was this preventable by air traffic control at all?
Let's fact check this claim about disability. The language he's citing seems to be taken from federal Schedule A hiring authority, which lets people with disabilities apply to federal jobs outside competitive process. But it doesn't override medical requirements for air traffic controllers
January 30, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Let's fact check this claim about disability. The language he's citing seems to be taken from federal Schedule A hiring authority, which lets people with disabilities apply to federal jobs outside competitive process. But it doesn't override medical requirements for air traffic controllers
Reposted by Sam Crane
He literally said this yesterday 👇
January 30, 2025 at 3:31 PM
He literally said this yesterday 👇
Reposted by Sam Crane
If you think today's news headlines are horrific, check out this one from 1906. Chilling.
January 30, 2025 at 12:05 PM
If you think today's news headlines are horrific, check out this one from 1906. Chilling.
Reposted by Sam Crane
Judge MCCONNELL will *grant* the restraining order, saying the withdrawal of the "hugely ambiguous" OMB order is only a distinction without a difference "based on comments by the president’s press secretary.”
January 29, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Judge MCCONNELL will *grant* the restraining order, saying the withdrawal of the "hugely ambiguous" OMB order is only a distinction without a difference "based on comments by the president’s press secretary.”
Reposted by Sam Crane
NEW: While some of Trump’s first-week actions are popular, voters oppose a majority of those we tested — including his “Gulf of America” directive, eliminating the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, and ending a policy that helped states enroll residents in Medicaid.
January 29, 2025 at 9:12 PM
NEW: While some of Trump’s first-week actions are popular, voters oppose a majority of those we tested — including his “Gulf of America” directive, eliminating the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, and ending a policy that helped states enroll residents in Medicaid.