The White House invited ECNV and its first Black female Executive Director, Dominique Dunford-Lack to two recent events. The first was a visit to Springfield, VA to highlight work to stimulate the economy and employment, especially for marginalized communities, with significant impact in the disabled community. It is important to note that even in an expanding economy with unemployment rates at a 50-year low, people with disabilities remain unemployed and underemployed and it is important that we not be left behind. Dominique had the opportunity to share the important work that CILs do, ECNV’s work, and the need for the Administration to continue to support disabled Americans with its healthcare and economic policies – especially the disabled BIPOC community. We will share Dominique’s pictures with President Biden as soon as we receive them.
The second invitation was to visit the East Wing of the White House to honor prominent African American history makers. We welcome you to view Respectability’s Black Americans with Disability page to become familiar with famous leaders with disabilities.
The White House released a FACT SHEET: The Biden-Harris Administration’s Work to Support Black Disabled Americans on February 22, 2023. Black Americans with disabilities are deserving of dignity, respect, and equal opportunity to achieve the American Dream. Black History Month celebrates the resilience and talents of Black people, including Black disabled people. This country was founded upon the idea that all people are created equal and should be treated equally. However, it is important to acknowledge that racism and ableism together are longstanding barriers to the full participation and independence of Black people with disabilities. America has made significant progress, but there is more work to do to become an inclusive, accessible, and equitable nation.
Across the whole of the federal government, agencies are examining their policies and programs for disparities that have made it difficult for Black Americans and people with disabilities to thrive in their communities – at work, at school, and at home. This fact sheet includes issues, stats, and resources related to:
- Apprenticeships
- Financial Empowerment.
- Understanding the role of Black disabled workers in the economy.
- Promoting equitable disability determinations.
- Race equity research, statistics and data resources Identifying inequities in Social Security programs
- Implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL): Prevention and elimination of digital discrimination.
- Addressing disproportionate use of school discipline on Black students with disabilities.
- Addressing inequities in services to young Black children with disabilities and their families.
- Strengthening nondiscrimination in health care
- Measuring the quality of home- and community-based services (HCBS) and promoting equity for Black older adults and individuals with disabilities. .
- Enforcing the integration mandate of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Improving Equity in Entrepreneurship.
- Protecting Black Americans’ access to housing by combating housing discrimination.
[Images: Image ECNV Executive Director, Dominique Dunford-Lack with daughter, Delaney Lack a the White House Open House for Black History Month; President Biden speaks about the economy in Springfield, VA].