We have a chance to make disabled voices heard. In December, the Senate Special Committee on Aging is having a hearing. The hearing is about helping people with disabilities be part of their communities. That means getting the services and supports that help disabled people live, work, and go to school alongside people without disabilities.

To get ready for the hearing, people who work for Senators on the Committee are collecting stories from people with disabilities. You can use our tool to share your story [[link removed]]! These stories will help Senators understand why services that help us be independent are important. Your story could help Senators make important policy choices. The form will close at 11:59PM ET on December 7th, 2025. That means you can not submit a story for the hearing after that time.

You can share your story here [[link removed]]! Your story should be about the programs that help you live, work, and go to school in your community. Your story could also be about someone you care about. You can talk about the help someone else gets so they can be in the community.

The Senate Special Committee on Aging wants to hear a lot about how Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) help people with disabilities stay in our communities. Home and Community Based Services give people with disabilities the services and supports we need inside our home. That means HCBS helps us stay out of institutions and hospitals. HCBS is part of Medicaid. The Senate Special Committee on Aging also wants to hear about how Centers for Independent Living (CILs) help people with disabilities. Centers for Independent Living are places that help people with disabilities make our own choices about our lives. Every state has one or more CIL. You can read some examples you could talk about in your story here [[link removed]].

After you submit your story here [[link removed]], ASAN will send it to someone who works for the Senate Special Committee on Aging. If you submit your story, your story and your name will be part of the hearing's Congressional Record. The congressional record is public information about what happens every day in Congress. Do not submit your story if you do not want it in the Congressional Record. Your story could get read out loud at the hearing. But this might not happen.

Make sure disabled voices are heard — share your story today [[link removed]]!


Autistic Self Advocacy Network
PO Box 66122
Washington, DC 20035
United States
If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe: [link removed] .