Disability Policy Director Knackstedt to sit on its Domestic Policy Council

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The following are excerpts from an article in TIME.

In a historic first, the White House has named disability policy director Kimberly Knackstedt to sit on the Domestic Policy Council and ensure the government is prioritizing Americans with disabilities, including those with lingering disabilities caused by COVID-19.

“We have a lot of people that are going to be starting to identify as people with disabilities in light of COVID,” Knackstedt tells TIME on March 11 in her first interview since joining the White House. In this new role, Knackstedt will work alongside experts on climate, health, education, racial justice and Native affairs to shape policy that impacts all parts of Americans’ lives.

Studies estimate between 10 and 30% of people who contract COVID-19 experience lingering symptoms, or what has become known as “long-haul covid”. These Americans may need more health care, new accommodations at work and, potentially more government assistance than ever before. The White House is looking at “disability as an identity,” Knackstedt says, and how it intersects with race, sexual orientation and gender identity when the Administration crafts policy. Long haulers as disabled individuals should be protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) and/or Fair Housing Act (FHA).

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The American Rescue Plan includes new funding for home and community based services through Medicaid, which disability advocates have been calling for since the beginning of the pandemic. The coronavirus has disproportionately killed people living in nursing homes and other group facilities, underscoring the desire of many people to get the support they need to live in their own homes. Aging-in-place home modifications installed with the help of a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) consultant can make this happen.

For the complete article please see TIME.

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ADA Inspections Nationwide, LLC, offers ADA/ABA/FHA accessibility compliance inspections for buildings and facilities, as applicable to the different laws, and expert witness services with respect to ADA/ABA/FHA laws for building owners, tenants and managers. Also, ADAIN offers consulting for home modifications as a CAPS consultant for people wishing to age in place in their homes. For a complete list of services please see ADAIN Services.

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