YOU Can Make a Difference!
Legislative advocacy is about making your voice heard and taking action that involves acting on behalf of yourself or others. Legislative advocacy can involve working personally with legislative staff to bombarding legislators with phone calls, letters and tweets about a particular issue. Legislative advocacy is not a one-time thing! In general, we recommend several different types of legislative advocacy when working with elected officials:
How to find your legislators!
Legislative Tracker
If you are interested in state-level legislation currently supported by APSE, select the state in the "Key Legislation" drop down below. Not seeing a specific bill? Email julie@apse.org.
More detailed information on Federal and State legislation supported by APSE, including letters of support and other resources, can be found by scrolling down this page.
Federal Legislation that APSE Supports (118th Congress)
Last Update: March 30, 2023
- Better Care Better Jobs Act (S100)
- A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to expand access to home and community-based services (HCBS) under Medicaid, and for other purposes.
- Stop the Wait Act (HR993)
- To amend titles II and XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the disability insurance benefits waiting period for individuals with disabilities, and for other purposes.
- Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (HR1263 / S533)
- A bill to assist employers providing employment under special certificates issued under section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 in transforming their business and program models to models that support people with disabilities through competitive integrated employment, to phase out the use of such special certificates, and for other purposes.
- Read APSE's Letter of Support
Below is a list of legislation supported by APSE during the 117th Congress. We continue to work with Congress in support of these issues.
- ABLE Age Adjustment Act
(HR 1219 / S 331)
Read CCD's Letter of Support - Disability Employment Incentive Act
(S 630)
Read APSE's Letter of Support - National Apprenticeship Act
(HR 447)
Read CCD's Letter of Support - Raise the Wage Act
(HR 603 / S 53)
- Relaunching America’s workforce (HR602 / S200)
- Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act
(HR 2373 / S3238)
Read APSE's Letter of Support (HR2373) and Letter of Support (S3238) - SSI Restoration Act (HR3824/S2065)
Read CCD's Statement - Work without Worry Act (HR4003/ S2108)
Read CCD's Letter of Support
State Legislation
For a list of state legislation that is supported by APSE, visit our State Legislation page.
Check Out APSE's Action Center
Click HERE to take action on current advocacy campaigns. You can also search Federal and State legislation based on topics of interest to Employment First.
White Papers, Position Statements and Response to Public Comment
Read APSE's white paper on the Trends and Current Status of 14(c). (7/1/23)
Read APSE's letter to the Senate HELP Committee leadership regarding the intent to reauthorize WIOA. (4/8/21)
Read the summary of APSE's Impact of COVID-19 on Disability Employment Services and Outcomes: Results from a National Provider Survey (12/1/21)
Read APSE's response to RSA on the proposed guidance that clarifies the Department of Education’s policy on the criterion for an integrated employment location in the definition of “competitive integrated employment,” for purposes of the State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services program. (4/8/21)
Read APSE's response to ODEP on the proposal to move the Ticket to Work program from SSA to DOL. (11/13/20)
Legislative Strategies
Legislative advocacy is about making your voice heard and taking action that involves acting on behalf of yourself or others. Legislative advocacy can involve working personally with legislative staff to bombarding legislators with phone calls, letters and tweets about a particular issue. Legislative advocacy is not a one-time thing!
In general, we recommend several different types of legislative advocacy when working with elected officials:
Organizing an APSE Day at the Capitol is an effective way that a few APSE chapters have utilized to raise awareness and engage with stakeholders. Contact info@apse.org to learn more!
The objective of the Take Your Legislator to Work Day is to raise awareness about the benefits of hiring individuals with disabilities and to show our legislators “Real Jobs with Real Pay!”
The most effective way to build connections with your legislators is to go on a personal visit to the office.
For more information about working with and developing coalitions, review the Bolder Advocacy Coalition Checklist here.
APSE's Employment First Legislation and Policy Update
APSE's E1 Legislation and Policy Update provides a list of state-level Employment First initiatives, organized by type. Links are provided to state legislation, executive orders and policies aimed at increasing competitive, integrated employment outcomes for people with disabilities.
(Last update: Feb. 2021)
APSE's Update on 14(c) and Subminimum Wage
Learn about what is happening federally and at the state level to ensure fair wages for people with disabilities. APSE's Update on 14(c) and Subminimum Wage is updated regularly with the latest data and links to legislation.
(Last update: Jan. 2021)
Competitive Integrated Employment Data Fact Sheets
Employment outcomes for people with disabilities vary by state. Having up to date information is important when approaching legislators. APSE provides available PDFs for download, sharing, or printing. Prepare to tell the Employment First story!
(Last update: 2020)
State Disability Employment Snapshots
Be prepared with data. Using the data from the 2019 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium / American Community Survey (2018), APSE has prepared state data snapshots available PDFs. These 1-page resources are useful when sharing information about Employment First in your state!
Public Policy Priorities
Read more about APSE's Public Policy Priorities and efforts, updated annually and as the year evolves. Check it out for more resources about specific issues.
Employment First – A Guide for Advocacy
Check out APSE's Legislative Advocacy page where you can find tools to continue start, continue, or grow your Employment First toolkit!
Want to receive policy updates from APSE?
APSE’s Legislative Action Center keeps you up to date on proposed policy changes that could impact Employment First – and provides tools and tips to make your advocacy easy and effective.