A coalition comprised of The Native American Disability Law Center, Disability Rights Idaho, Disability Rights California, Parents Reaching Out (PRO), Native parents of children with disabilities, and the National Congress of American Indians Disability Sub-Committee, worked together in an organized effort to respond to the Biden-Harris Transition Team’s inquiry regarding issues facing Native Americans with disabilities. The coalition presented policy statements with short and long term goals, addressing Community and Home Based services, Education and Medical Services in urban and tribal communities.
The coalition encouraged the Biden-Harris Administration to review current policies, regulations, and funding through a holistic approach and with a goal of improving tribally based services that support the ability of Native Americans with disabilities to be able to live and thrive in their respective communities enhancing a high quality of life, and increase treaty obligated funding that impacts the educational and medical services they receive in their tribal communities. Policy statements were prepared and read before the Biden-Harris Transition Team and Deb Haaland (D) New Mexico, Secretary of the Interior Nominee, requesting more funding for these key areas that have consistently been underfunded.
For the Idaho team; Nancy Grant, a Non-Attorney Senior Advocate with Disability Rights Idaho participated. She is a member of the Potawatomi and Ottawa Tribes; Hannahville Band. Her husband, Wesley Edmo MSW, also participated and is a member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. They reside on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in Southeastern Idaho. If you would like more information on this project, please contact our office.