Blue Ridge Independent Living Center

08/08/2025

**** Roanoke County Housing Market Analysis ****
Please make sure Roanoke County gets input into this housing market analysis from individuals with disabilities, advocates, family and friends.

https://www.roanokecountyva.gov/3118/Housing-Market-Analysis-Study

08/06/2025

*** Everyone should have access to affordable insurance ***
Almost everyone with insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace will see their premiums skyrocket in 2026, forcing millions of people to drop their health insurance entirely.

Because the enhanced premium tax credits that keep insurance premiums affordable weren’t extended in the Big, Ugly Bill, they are slated to expire at the end of 2025. Without the enhanced subsidy, people with ACA marketplace insurance are expected to see premium payments go up by a whopping 75 percent this coming January. Because healthier people will drop out because of the higher cost but sicker people who need more care must stay insured, costs will rise for insurers. Marketplace insurers are adding up their increased costs and requesting premium increases of 10-20% for 2026.

Congress has to fix this now.
Sign the petition telling Congress to extend the enhanced ACA tax credits now.
https://click.actionnetwork.org/ss/c/u001.qUXRBnqZ7T8nxbpAcIVwoUsWLkUMWlo_0JmZttSlm38UvbFaE4H1HDhLKVizLW_rRh4Qk_XyDCUQnklWEckPTRqim7LcWfyy2R1kJLcSHvx8gFNYX0lU9SO4c_2Jy8uw24SpAkAgF-_FP92xZUpRpH5WzTHkGb_s-_IlJeegl84m5IIbMrdcUzVKPzBNKAe5OIcs8yOlDU3cwKbARKk9Pz9uz1W3AAz98OldWtsctz0udZAiPlrhQr0dqVfuFQ1jbB4u2qMovNyaFPuVdyoWRJlgAcK3pBrMh2vYpcR3OHQr7TVDa4aB0EqCHIfY5GYmXMd-9-0I8DnNOqbp16UT3SRkRHuev_sRBjnW3hm8iD0C2494js-wLLGwJzB6QnOFe6Fjrn1g3qA8or9iOWLKQAT8zeeWU7g94fRklt-Sh8THy8rkidb0-eMeb_kEeSPIHzKJXYereXXyyX0r2SiQ3Q/4it/BPwbybdHTuyARX8-07P2Fw/h1/h001.vVqZ36hINoIKxZI2qPvpxMdMPVIZhmdIQ1hvOnBq9eo

ADD YOUR NAME
https://click.actionnetwork.org/ss/c/u001.qUXRBnqZ7T8nxbpAcIVwoUsWLkUMWlo_0JmZttSlm38UvbFaE4H1HDhLKVizLW_rRh4Qk_XyDCUQnklWEckPTRqim7LcWfyy2R1kJLcSHvx8gFNYX0lU9SO4c_2Jy8uw24SpAkAgF-_FP92xZUpRpH5WzTHkGb_s-_IlJeegl85NXchNxsTKMJDKri-5oheQ_ctvUIYjYIWidCICEEb1IYgbgC1FfpO7FRtGuoxzg3d4H_W053kUS4oow3l7orhmYF_fCa8HRVEBFcgBJ0s4QRn-Y3Uofip4vACy_3twefRJ_QiWxjDpuB0DQjFzMlOVViRTDkBQ1G8U3Wuvhe74t_Q1Ixr9f7DUIaDcsJi0iIsj7uksOQicrcitsUlCqqoLplJuAC5EKBMJvjOK0rKQKOPOsHO4TP-MgkJh9nqqi2pDq-kTNgFEynUDhJBGKAzp1lWrcjMmd3JO-5i0u6nq6g/4it/BPwbybdHTuyARX8-07P2Fw/h2/h001.921ZQtYIQ6iKHmcfjEv7TCSU1Xt1lkhm9QEOh-d6ty4

The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law by former President Joe Biden, reduced Affordable Care Act marketplace insurance premium payments by 44%. Because the increased premium tax credits made insurance far more affordable, the number of people insured through the ACA marketplace jumped from 11.2 million in 2021 to 23.4 million in 2025.2 But if the enhanced premium tax credit is allowed to expire, the cost of marketplace insurance would be expected to rise by $700 per month3 - simply out of reach for many.

Some of the people most impacted by the loss of the premium tax credits are speaking out:
“I would have to trade one specialist for another and figure out what I absolutely had to be able to afford and what I can afford to let go. It’s a hard choice because what condition do I stop treating? What specialists would I let go? What doctor visits would I stop doing?” — Lisa, from Ohio

“It is super expensive to pay for a medical consultation with a general practitioner. It is super expensive to pay for an ultrasound. I wouldn’t have access to these types of exams [without insurance]. [Not having insurance] would be severe for me.” – Darling, from Florida
“It would [not] be an option for us. If it is like that, I would not pay it. Lowering the amount of the monthly premiums makes it possible to have insurance…especially because of the economy right now.” — Ana, from Texas

Congress must fix this now. We can’t allow millions to suffer due to their inaction.

Join us in calling for Congress to extend the ACA premium tax credit.

08/05/2025

A prominent disability justice activist will soon appear on quarters issued by the U.S. Mint as part of a special program honoring notable American women.

07/29/2025

*** Employees, consumers and friends of Blue Ridge Independent Living Center enjoy the film "Change Not Charity", in BRILC's Conference Room on Monday, July 28th, in observance and recognition of the 35th Anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. ***

07/29/2025

*** Survey for individuals who use wheelchairs ***
This survey is part of a research-based development project that has been put together by a VMI Cadet along with two professors. Our goal is to provide navigation-based assistance to wheelchair users by learning about the most common issues and working to fix them.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSekDn8abm7cgisNGGJNtbZXOuSshNq_3gm0KokhuhcNN4LbSw/viewform

Please share with others who might be interested in responding to the survey.

07/28/2025

07/28/2025

** Urgent update on disability employment regulations! **
On July 1, 2025, the Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) published in the Federal Register proposed changes to the Section 503 regulations that would remove the requirement for federal contractors to solicit disability status from applicants and employees and eliminate the 7% disability utilization goal. Doing so rescinds progress made over a decade ago to advance disability employment.

Comments are due September 2, 2025. Click HERE to submit a comment.

Learn more from this article published in Mother Jones.

This is personal to me as I worked hard to convince President Obama to advance the existing rule for federal contractors. By just asking firms contracting with the federal government to work toward a staff that was at least 7 percent disabled, we reduced the rate of disability unemployment and achieved jobs for hundreds of thousands of qualified candidates with disabilities. This is not charity. This is jobs for qualified individuals who happen to have a disability. I hope and pray federal contractors and subcontractors will ignore the administration’s action and continue to hire qualified people with disabilities. People with disabilities want to work, pay taxes, and earn a paycheck to support themselves and their families. We want to advance in our careers. We want economic independence.

As noted in the article, instead of supporting jobs for people with disabilities, the Department of Labor introduced a proposed rule that would both end the disability hiring goal for federal contractors and the practice of collecting information about it—supposedly on the basis that those practices violate Americans with Disabilities Act “restrictions on pre-conditional job offer disability inquiries.” As the author of the ADA, I know how inconsistent this is with the legislative intent of the law. I should not be surprised that this administration is again attacking our community. But to warp and mangle intent of the biggest civil rights law of the last 35 years to undermine the ability of people with disabilities to work, play and live in our communities as intended by the ADA and to somehow use the ADA to justify such a regression of our ability to work goes beyond what is imaginable. And to do it on the 35th anniversary of the ADA is deeply disappointing to me. We should be celebrating right now and instead we are fighting for our rights and our lives.

Feel free to view my views on LinkedIn as well. I hope you will join me in this fight to stop the administration from taking us backward in employing people with disabilities.

07/27/2025

We partnered with the City of Roanoke to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA was the beginning but not the end!

07/26/2025

*** Blue Ridge Independent Living Center recognizes today, Saturday, July 26th, 2025, as the 35th Anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. ***

07/25/2025

****** Employees, consumers and friends of Blue Ridge Independent Living Center assemble for the 35th Anniversary Celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act in downtown Roanoke on Monday, July 21st, 2025 ******

07/24/2025

****** Starting today at 9pm: You're invited to join NACDD at the National Mall! ******
We’re Not Backing Down. We’re Showing Up.
Congress has passed, and President Trump signed, a budget reconciliation bill that will make the largest cuts to care in our nation’s history – gutting Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, and other critical programs while handing billions in tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy and expanding funding for harmful institutions like ICE.

This is not politics as usual. It’s a betrayal. NACDD is not backing down and neither should you!

We’re showing up on the National Mall from July 23 to July 26 for a 60-hour Protect Medicaid vigil to grieve what’s been lost, confront who’s responsible, and demand a future rooted in care, not greed.

Here’s how you can get involved:

• In D.C.? Attend the vigil. RSVP to attend the vigil here.
• Can’t make it? Tune into the livestream starting today, Wednesday at 9pm through Friday, 2pm and share it with your friends and family. The event will be livestreamed here.
• Watch Jill Jacobs and Erin Prangley read Medicaid stories from our network on the livestream happening Thursday, 11pm - Friday, 1am.
• Take action by calling your members of Congress anytime during the vigil! Use the Capitol Switchboard to call (202) 224-3121 and ask for your congressperson or senator. Tell them - we will hold them accountable for the massive cuts to Medicaid and that they need to do more to protect home and community-based services!

This month marks the 60th anniversary of Medicaid, but now the program is set on a disastrous course during a time that’s supposed to be a celebration of care access and the progress we’ve made for aging, disability, and health justice.

Because of these cuts, millions will lose their healthcare coverage. Clinics in rural and low-income communities will close. Home and community-based services will be on the chopping block. Families will have to take on even more financial strain.

Medicaid is a lifeline for 80 million people in every community in every part of the country. Together, we will remind Congress why we won’t just “get over it” and show them that we’re not going anywhere.

07/24/2025

***** Policy Brief: The Value of Rebalancing Long-term Services and Supports *****

Rebalancing Medicaid funding for long-term services and supports (LTSS) means spending more to support home and community-based services (HCBS) for people with disabilities and older adults instead of institutional care.

A new policy brief, entitled "The Value of Rebalancing Long-term Services and Supports," discusses efforts to rebalance LTSS, in alignment with the preferences of many older adults and people with disabilities to receive care in their homes. The brief highlights cost savings associated with rebalancing; describes federal and state initiatives that support this transition; and showcases successful strategies in several states.
https://rww89cgbb.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001DZ_SRwieaxtJT58n5zDSybLJcmqVkNTxrPXm2ltWAhaN-Mvn6c6jO9gFDWwWajmemPeJsVlMKKqBe0pGAakNGqw9jaLhVaa3-eV4DYgF0wHe4wFljwSklwXSZKZ5o9Bu-T-6o_k4B7fuStwHO2OHcq7tFHdaB4RiK35Ib4Su0Gv1TUZX_817jVyqnvQQB90zn_Nm--cMEJTlhu_58ewGOjaVkKLYOsGqM8wF24m7lzTL7RLUOOF9u2ebt2Shadav3D_HcrNgRsATu0GABcsJwZpTZEx0wNRy&c=M7QpArTPzJXIaTH341fXs-Ws0_yg5bgrHgelZg4ziRg6QcRMuClEvQ==&ch=zKQEDnurV1wuYcczaiH2xXkCnCZizIOkhBmmaIvNQPBcn-rqu1tgcw==

The brief is authored by leaders at ADvancing States, including Courtney Priebe, MPH, policy associate; Camille Dobson, MPA, deputy executive director; and Rosa Plasencia, JD, director of National Core Indicators – Aging & Disabilities -- in collaboration with the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Home and Community-based Services at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.

In addition to the full policy brief, a clear and accessible plain-language version is available, authored by Shirley Ryan AbilityLab's John Abbate, research assistant and Bridgette Schram, PhD.