Today is the 35th anniversary of the ADA and I have a question — Can Politicians Afford to Ignore a Voting Bloc of 60 Million? Sixty million Americans live with disabilities -- a nation within a nation. Add in their parents, siblings, friends, and advocates. You’re looking at a voting bloc that touches well over half the country.
So, no — the smart money says you absolutely cannot write them off.
Many in power are acting like this community isn’t paying attention. That’s a mistake. They see what is in that “big beautiful” bill that recently became law. Cuts to Medicaid. The rollback of student loan forgiveness. Shrinking Pell grants. Financial burdens shifted from the federal government to states. The gutting of federal agencies. This gutting affects nonprofits doing work here and abroad in the areas of disability rights and community accessibility. So, yes, this 60+ million bloc of voters cares.
This voting bloc is a true reflection of America: red states and blue. MAGA and not. Immigrant and native-born. Wealthy, working-class, poor. Religious, secular. Straight or something else, every race, every identity. Republicans. Democrats. Independents. As well as military families and disabled veterans.
This voting bloc looks like everybody.
Here’s a warning to those in elected office and those who want to be: Wake up. Wise up. You have a choice. You can support and restore the programs and policies that matter to voters with disabilities — or you can pretend they don’t matter and face the consequences at the ballot box.
Thank you.
Common Grounder
PREACH.
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