Advocacy in Action:
NOD’s Hill Day on Disability Policy

By Paulina Romero | May 21, 2025

A group of seven people pose for a photo in a conference room at the U.S. House of Representatives. Three individuals are in power wheelchairs, while the others stand behind them. Everyone is smiling and dressed in business or professional attire. Behind the group is a large screen displaying an image of the U.S. Capitol and the House of Representatives logo. The setting suggests a formal meeting or advocacy event.
(From left to right) Doug Crandell, Jim Calbi, Congressman Langevin, Josh Basile, Beth, Dr. Tony Antosh, Robby Barbieri pose for a photo in a conference room at the U.S. House of Representatives.

A Hill Day is a coordinated effort where advocates travel to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., to meet with lawmakers and their staff. The goal is to raise awareness, influence legislation, and ensure that the voices of impacted communities are heard at the federal level. 

On May 14–15, the National Organization on Disability and the American Association of People with Disabilities held a two-day Hill Day to advocate for greater opportunity for people with disabilities. Joined by several members of our Disability Policy Roundtable, we focused on advancing three key legislative priorities: 

  • Expanding Medicaid Buy-In Programs: Many people with disabilities risk losing critical healthcare coverage if they earn above certain income thresholds. Expanding Medicaid Buy-In programs would allow them to work and advance in their careers without fear of losing benefits. 
  • Creating Incentives for Section 503 Compliance: Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act requires federal contractors to aim for a 7% disability hiring goal, but there is currently little motivation to meet it. We're advocating for measures that encourage employers to take this goal seriously and invest in disability-inclusive practices. 
  • Ending the Use of Subminimum Wages: Under outdated provisions in Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers can legally pay people with disabilities less than the federal minimum wage. We are pushing to eliminate this discriminatory practice and support fair pay for all workers. 

Our team met with Senators, House Representatives, and legal aides from Alabama, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. Though the conversations reflected the unique perspectives of each state, we were encouraged by the overwhelmingly positive and supportive responses we received. 

We are especially grateful to Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus, for helping make this event possible and sharing her insights during the briefing. We also thank Congressman Jim Langevin and Congressman Gabe Amo, for joining us to open the discussion.  

We look forward to continuing these conversations in the months ahead, with the goal of advancing these critical priorities over the coming year.

To learn more about NOD and AAPD's Disability Policy Roundtable, please click here.