March 20, 2026
The Boost News
SPOTLIGHT: PEOPLE + DISABILITIES = ‘DUMB’
This past week, President Trump again did the disability community wrong. This time around, he claimed that California Governor Gavin Newsom Shouldn’t Be President Because He Is Dyslexic.
Then he doubled down: “I know it’s highly controversial to say such a horrible thing — the president of the United States. Gavin Newscum [his very presidential nickname for the governor] admitted that he has learning disabilities, dyslexia, everything about him is dumb.
Trump’s highly offensive and discriminatory ableist language is part of a well-established GOP strategy of punching down and treating vulnerable people as “other.” Let’s not forget this when the mid-terms role around.
SSI
SSI Could Be Updated For 7.4 Million Americans A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced the Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act; it would raise key thresholds, end the marriage penalty, extend coverage to U.S. territories, and index changes to inflation. (Newsweek)
HOME CARE
Fair Wages for Home Care Workers Act Introduced in Senate and House U.S. Sens. Patty Murray and Andy Kim introduced the bicameral Fair Wages for Home Care Workers Act -, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced companion legislation in the House, to address the exclusion of home care workers from the Fair Labor Standards Act. (Murray.senate.gov)
AUTISM
New independent autism group meets to counter MAHA’s ‘ideological agenda’ (NPR)
Here’s Why Dozens of Autism Publications Were Retracted Springer Nature has retracted publications that relied on images with the faces of allegedly autistic children; however, there were major problems with how it was put together. (MedPage Today)
SPECIAL ED
Governors promote special ed initiatives in annual addresses They were a priority for governors in states including Idaho, Kansas, New Mexico and Pennsylvania. (K-12 Dive)
STATE NEWS
Note: This starts with New York, where a majority of The Boost’s readership currently is based, and continues alphabetically by state.
NYS disability advocates urge lawmakers to boost pay for direct care workers (Rome Sentinel)
Commentary: Senate must act to ensure disabled New Yorkers always have a voice Legislation to protect the communication rights of people with disabilities is stuck in committee. (Times Union)
NY’s CDPAP overhaul could upend insurance coverage for aides (Crain’s New York/paywall)
OPINION: Commentary: New York’s home care transition was a mess. Here’s a chance for accountability. (Times Union)
Special ed teacher arrested in NY district roiled by ‘timeout box’ controversy (Times Union)
‘Unbelievably cruel’: Conn. advocates decry threat to home care program (CT Mirror)
Dept. of Ed says District of Columbia Public Schools discriminated against kids with disabilities Some students wait four months or longer for evaluations. (NBC Washington)
Georgians with disabilities, advocates describe urgent need for support There are over 1,000 people in urgent need of Medicaid waivers that help pay for daily support at home or in community homes. (gpb.org)
How will the Idaho Legislature cut the Medicaid budget? Likely disability services, lawmakers say (Idaho Capital Sun)
More Iowa care homes cited for violations related to disabled residents’ money State inspectors allege that residents’ debit cards and gift cards were used for ‘fraudulent’ purchases. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)
Maryland advocates notch some gains, but say $126 million cut to DDA funds is still ‘painful’, ‘unacceptable (Maryland Matters)
TRAVEL
Adult-Size Changing Tables To Be Required At Major Airports Under the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act, all medium and large airports seeking federal airport development project grants must have at least one private universal changing station in each terminal starting in 2030. (Disability Scoop/Paywall)
REPORTS
Zero Project Report 2026 The annual Zero Project Report on innovative practices and policies supporting the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD): 82 innovative solutions from 51 countries. (Zero Project)
THE R-WORD
Down syndrome non-profit CoorDown issues a powerful plea to retire the R-word For World Down Syndrome Day 2026 (March 21), CoorDown launched “Just Evolve,” an international campaign urging society to leave the R-word, and all offensive language about disability, in the past. (The Drum)
GOOD IDEAS
Doctor creates adaptive crayons for children with developmental disabilities (Wkow.com)