Biden on Disability
Earlier in the race,
Biden received criticism for lacking a disability plan.
His website now lists a partial plan, with more details to come.
An estimated 43 million Americans have a disability, including 1 out of every 4 adults. Thus, Joe believes that every policy should be developed with consideration for impacts on people with disabilities. Below are just a few highlights of how his current plans do exactly that. In the months ahead, Biden will propose additional steps he will take as president to ensure that people with disabilities are treated with dignity and have a chance to be a part of the middle class.
The Biden Plan for Educators, Students, and Our Future. Read the full plan at joebiden.com/education
Biden will ensure that no child’s future is determined by their zip code, parents’ income, race, or disability. This includes making sure children with disabilities have the support to succeed. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act promised to provide 40% of the extra cost of special education required by the bill. Currently, the federal government only covers roughly 14% of this cost, failing to live up to our commitment. The Biden Administration will fully fund this obligation within ten years. We must ensure that children with disabilities get the education and training they need to succeed.
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The Biden Plan for Strengthening America’s Commitment to Justice. Read the full plan at joebiden.com/justice
Too often, people with disabilities end up in our criminal justice system or injured because of interactions with law enforcement that should never have happened at all or should have happened differently. To change the nature of these interactions, the Biden Administration will fund initiatives to partner mental health and substance use disorder experts, social workers, and disability advocates with police departments. These service providers will train police officers to better de-escalate interactions with people in severe emotional distress before they become violent. They’ll also help police officers learn how to better approach individuals with certain disabilities, like those with autism or who are deaf, so misunderstanding does not lead to incarceration. And, these service providers will respond to calls with police officers so individuals who should not be in the criminal justice system are diverted to treatment for addiction or mental health problems, or are provided with the housing or other social services they may need.
