Let’s ensure people with disabilities, older adults and veterans have opportunity to contribute to their communities and build lives they choose

At a powerful, two-day event in Washington, D.C., in 2023 Easterseals launched The State of Disability Equity and Access report. The first day of the event included a press briefing and panel discussion with national Easterseals president and CEO, Kendra Davenport, as well as national disability advocates. The panel addressed the strides that have been made since the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990 and the significant work that still needs to be done to achieve full equity and access for the millions of people with disabilities in transportation, education, health care and employment.

Voya’s underwriting of this report — by The Coelho Center for Disability Law, Policy and Innovation at Loyola Law — is a continuation of a strong and successful collaboration with Easterseals and both the employment extender and disabled veterans research studies. Voya is proud to support this top provider of disability services to help people who are disabled, aging and veterans achieve financial self-sufficiency.

The eye-opening dialogue from the briefing was followed up on day two by the inaugural Building an Inclusive Future: Easterseals Policy and Partnership Forum. Moderated by Symone Sanders, author, political analyst and MSNBC host, a series of panel discussions convened national policymakers, thought leaders on IDEA (Inclusion, Disability, Equity and Access), corporate change makers, and representatives from the disability community to build upon the findings from the report and discuss solutions to create a more inclusive world for people with disabilities, veterans and seniors.

The report is a must-read, not only for the disability community, but for everyone who is increasingly likely to become physically or mentally disabled as part of the aging process or who will be caring for an aging family member. 

We all have a stake in advancing disability inclusion across every pillar of society. Once the findings of the report are read, they are difficult to ignore. We believe the next step is to reach out to legislators to advocate for programs and policies that address the disparities cited in the report and encourage corporations to act to advance disability inclusion. A concerted effort — one involving nonprofits, corporations and legislators — can have the needed impact to ensure people with disabilities, older adults and disabled veterans have every opportunity to contribute to their communities and build lives of their choosing.