Current Topics

11/3/25

Department of Education Condemned for Ending Support for Students with Disabilities

A broad coalition of national, state, and local disability, civil rights, and education organizations is sounding the alarm over sweeping layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education. These cuts have gutted key offices—including the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), and the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE)—threatening decades of progress in protecting students with disabilities.

To read the full article, click here


10/27/25

What You Need to Know About SNAP and WIC if the Government Shutdown Continues

If the government shutdown continues, people who rely on SNAP and WIC may not receive their full food benefits starting November 1, 2025. SNAP is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps.

To read the full article, click here


10/23/25

Important Update: Temporary Pause in November SNAP Benefits

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), under the direction of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), has been instructed to temporarily pause the issuance of November SNAP benefits.

We understand this may cause concern for families and individuals who rely on SNAP to meet their food needs. Please know there are community food resources available to help during this time.

To read the full press release, click here

 

Oakland Provider Alliance Members Organizing Ongoing Food Drive

Members of the Oakland Provider Alliance and their supporting agencies are working together to conduct an ongoing food drive to help support persons served in our community.

Items can be dropped off at any of the following agencies:

New Gateways Inc
5195 Pontiac Lake Rd, Waterford

Family Living Center
2350 Franklin Rd, Ste. 220, Bloomfield Hills

Community Living Centers, Inc.
28104 Orchard Lake Rd, Ste. 117, Farmington Hills

JARC
6735 Telegraph Rd, Ste. 100, Bloomfield Hills

Life Skills Centers
465 S. Glaspie St, Ste. G, Oxford

Items Needed:
Non-Perishable Food Items

Proteins: Canned chicken, tuna, salmon, beans, and peanut butter
Grains: Pasta, rice, cereal, oatmeal, and granola bars
Canned Goods: Vegetables (low-sodium options preferred), fruits (packed in juice), and soups
Baking and Cooking Supplies: Flour, sugar, oil, and baking mixes
Kid-Friendly Items: Applesauce, pudding, fruit cups, and shelf-stable milk
Other: Pasta and rice sides, jelly, and hot chocolate

Personal Hygiene Items:
Soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, and feminine hygiene products

 

Free Food Distribution – Gleaners Community Food Bank

Location: Oakland County Farmers Market
2350 Pontiac Lake Rd, Waterford, MI 48328


10/16/25

Federal Government Shutdown: What People with Disabilities Should Know

The federal government shut down because Congress did not approve funding for Fiscal Year 2026 beginning October 1, 2025. Since Congress did not pass the budget legislation, many federal government agencies and programs that rely on annual funding will be paused. Many people with disabilities and their families want to know how this affects benefits and services.

To read the full article, click here


8/27/25

Supreme Court Clears Path for Dismantling of Education Department, Putting Students with Disabilities in Harm’s Way

In a fast-moving case with massive consequences for education, the U.S. Supreme Court has allowed the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education to continue while a legal challenge plays out. The decision came without a full hearing or written explanation, and it greenlights layoffs of federal employees that could devastate services for students with disabilities.

To read the full article, click here


7/30/25

A New Limit on Disability Rights Lawsuits? What the Supreme Court’s Decision in Trump v. CASA Means

Can a federal court stop the government from enforcing a harmful policy that violates people’s rights, even if those people aren’t part of a lawsuit? That’s the core question in Trump v. CASA, a U.S. Supreme Court case that could reshape how civil rights cases are handled, including those brought by and for people with disabilities.

To read the full article, click here

 


7/30/25

A Supreme Court Loss for Retirees with Disabilities: What Stanley v. City of Sanford Means

What happens when a worker with a disability retires and then faces discrimination in the benefits they were promised? That was the question at the heart of Stanley v. City of Sanford, a case that made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court this year. The answer the Court gave was disappointing: under federal law, workers with disabilities lose protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) once they fully retire.

To read the full article, click here


7/25/25

National Disability Groups Condemn Executive Order Taking Away Civil Liberties

The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, the National Disability Rights Network, the Center for Public Representation, the National Health Law Program, the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, and The Arc of the United States condemn the issuance of an Executive Order on “Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets.”

To read the full article, click here


7/22/25

How One Day at the Ballpark Meant the World to Families with Disabilities

What does a perfect day look like for a family that’s often navigating a world that excludes them? On July 9, families connected to The Arc of Ohio found out, thanks to our national partnership with Lids and the Lids Foundation.

To read the full article, click here


7/21/25

The ADA at 35: A Legacy Worth Celebrating and Defending

To read the statement from Katy Neas, CEO of The Arc of the United States on the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, click here