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Advocates for people with disabilities praised initial federal efforts at the start of the pandemic such as expanding food access through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). But they worry efforts since then have fallen short. In addition, support programs are subject to closures or limited access for safety reasons. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights issued guidance to Indian Health Service facilities for serving the needs of individuals with disabilities. We’ll discuss what that guidance means and whether it’s working for Native people with disabilities.
Guests:
Hoskie Benally (Navajo) – president of the Navajo Nation Advisory Council on Disabilities and community government liaison for the Native American Disability Law Center
Joseph Ray (Laguna Pueblo/ Zuni/Maidu) – the vice president board of directors for United Nursing Homes in Tribal Excellence and chairman of the National Congress of American Indian’s disability subcommittee
Melissa Wassana (Navajo) – executive director of Education for Parents of Indian Children with Special Needs
Break 1 music: Coming In “Tewa” Song (song) Sidney Poolheco (artist) Heartfelt Songs (album)
Break 2 music: I Rise (feat. Murray Porter & Sandy Scofield) Russell Wallace (artist) Unceded Tongues (album)
