When I first heard about the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” I expected to be angry. After all, anything with that kind of branding usually means someone’s trying to sell you something while cutting you out of the deal. But as I started reading through the bill, I noticed something strange: the language wasn’t explicitly anti-disabled. No line in bold saying “remove wheelchairs, cancel ramps, or silence the disabled.”
So why are disabled people across the country freaking out?
Because the most dangerous part of this bill isn’t what’s in it—it’s what’s missing.
Let’s break it down.
The Fear Isn’t Just About What’s There—It’s About What’s Not
This bill includes:
- Tax cuts for high earners
- A massive boost in defense and border spending
- Deep cuts to Medicaid and food programs
- Temporary, surface-level help for working families
But when it comes to the disability community? Crickets.
No mention of accessibility enforcement.
No expansion of home- and community-based services.
No support for accessible housing, transportation, or assistive technology.
We aren’t mentioned because we’re not being prioritized. And when you live in a country that only responds when you scream, being ignored is terrifying.
We’ve Seen This Movie Before
The disability community knows exactly what happens when Medicaid gets cut and work requirements get introduced.
- People with invisible disabilities get denied coverage because they “look fine.”
- Caregivers are told to find full-time jobs or lose food assistance.
- People with chronic or fluctuating conditions spend hours uploading paperwork to glitchy portals, chasing doctors for forms, or sitting on hold just to prove they still qualify for help.
This bill may not say “strip disabled people of their rights,” but we know how these policies actually play out in the real world. And that’s why so many are sounding the alarm now—before it’s too late.
Housing: No Cuts on Paper, But No Help in Practice
This is where a lot of people are confused. The bill doesn’t slash HUD’s programs for disabled people—but it doesn’t grow them either, and that’s a problem.
- There is no dedicated increase for HUD’s Section 811 (Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities) or Section 202 (Housing for the Elderly).
- The bill extends the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) through 2029, which helps general affordable housing—but doesn’t guarantee accessible or disability-adapted units.
- Funding remains flat, which means programs that help create ramps, roll-in showers, or supportive living spaces get left behind.
With rising rent prices and aging infrastructure, a flat budget is the same as a shrinking one.
Want to verify it for yourself? The bill’s housing section can be viewed here on Congress.gov.
🗑️ It Feels Like Erasure—Again
We’ve been erased from too many conversations:
- Education policy? Rarely includes students with physical disabilities.
- Employment support? Assumes we’re either unable to work or fully independent, no in-between.
- Housing bills? Forget ramps and accessible bathrooms—those are considered “luxury features.”
Now comes this bill, doling out tax cuts to people who already have full plates, while we’re still trying to afford a wheelchair cushion or a working elevator in public spaces.
It’s not just an oversight. It’s a pattern. And it’s personal.
Not All Disabled People Are the Same—But the Impact Is Collective
Some people are afraid because they rely on Medicaid.
Others are freaking out because they care for a disabled child or aging parent.
Some are worried their SNAP benefits will disappear.
Others see that there’s no new support for disability-owned businesses, adaptive housing, or accessible transit.
So no, it’s not just one thing in the bill—it’s the whole message it sends:
“You’re not important enough to protect.”
Silence Is Loud
The scariest part of this bill isn’t the headline or the spin. It’s the silence.
The silence around our needs.
The silence around our future.
The silence around our survival.
We’ve seen how quickly policy can become punishment when you’re disabled in America. And that’s why so many of us are freaking out.
Because we know: when they don’t say our name, it’s usually because they’re preparing to cut us out.
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