The Disability Squeeze

Maryland Delegate Aaron Kaufman discusses his experience making bipartisan legislation happen —from fixing broken wheelchair repair systems to making special education lawsuits more fair for families.We talk about his political strategy, the fight to protect Medicaid and SNAP, and what it takes to move disability policy forward in a divided political landscape.Topics include:Legal costs in special education and IDEA enforcementThe right-to-repair movement for mobility devicesABLE accounts and financial securityBipartisan paths to disability rights legislationWhat advocates and researchers can do nextYou can read the full transcript here.

Tracking how federal disability policy in the United States is shifting feels overwhelming — with major proposals, executive actions, and agency changes unfolding almost daily. In this episode featuring an interview with Binghamton University Professor ⁠Matt Borus, we discuss the key areas of disability policy to watch closely and why it matters. The interview draws on a recent piece published in The Conversation by Matt, which offers a clear roadmap for understanding the risks disabled people now face and how these moves could intensify the Disability Squeeze.*Read the full transcript.

In this episode, Kevin Gotkin lays out why many disabled people simply can't afford to participate in guaranteed income programs drawing on their new report CRIP COIN: Disability,Public Benefits, and Guaranteed Income. You can sign up for Kevin's newsletter on disability arts and politics here: https://www.cripnews.com/You can find the full transcript of our conversation here.

What can governments do to address the disability squeeze? In this conversation with Dr. Daniel Mont, co-founder and CEO of the Center for Inclusive Policy and a leading global expert on the extra costs of disability, we discuss what we know about the extra costs of living with a disability, why these expenses matter, and how governments can design policies that help—even when resources are tight and budgets are stretched.You can find the full transcript of our conversation here.

What if just existing cost you 30% more?Living with a disability shouldn’t come with a financial penalty—but in the U.S and around the world, it does. Everyday expenses—like prescription drugs, transportation, home modifications, assistive technology, and caregiving—add up to an invisible tax on millions of people, making it harder to work, attend school, and afford basic needs.I’m Dr. Zach Morris, a professor at Stony Brook University, where I research the extra costs of disability. My work estimates that it takes nearly 30% more per year for a person with a disability to maintain their standard of living in the U.S. But while this financial squeeze shapes daily life for millions, it’s rarely discussed in economic or policy debates.In The Disability Squeeze, we expose these hidden costs through real-life stories and data-driven insights, exploring how systemic barriers—like unaffordable prescription drugs, outdated benefits rules, inaccessible workplaces, and gaps in healthcare—make life more expensive, and what can be done to fix it.We want to hear from you. If you or someone you know has faced the financial strain of living with a disability, ⁠fill out the form linked here⁠. Your experiences help highlight the true cost of disability and push for meaningful change.

Listen to this interview with Carrie Leljedal —a family caregiver turned advocate with big ideas for addressing the disability squeeze. Like millions of Americans, Carrie knows firsthand about the extra costs of disability —whether it’s the astronomical cost of converting a van for wheelchair access or the crushing weight of medical bills.You can read the full transcript here.

Listen to our first interview with Dr. Arielle Silverman, Research Director at the American Foundation for the Blind, on the extra costs of living with a disability. We also discuss her book Just Human: The Quest for Disability Wisdom, Respect, and Inclusion. And be sure to stay to the end for interesting conversation about a basic income guarantee.*You can read the full transcript of the interview here. **Please also read this policy brief published by the American Foundation for the Blind.