There has been increasing cultural and workplace awareness around neurodivergence and how it shows up in different parts of society. Television shows like Everything’s Going to Be Okay are sharing the stories of people with neurodivergence in an accurate and relatable way, even casting Kayla Cromer, an actress with autism. Studies have also shown that parents of children with presentation of autism are more likely to seek a diagnosis for their child if they live near someone with a condition.

Policy change has played a role in increasing awareness  where the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended screening for all children for autism during routine pediatrician visits at 18 - 24 months of age. Increased awareness has lead to innovations, like helping caregivers who have dependents with disabilities, therapy, and better education and community support.

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As the economy makes progress in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals with disabilities are returning to the workforce in larger numbers, surpassing the pre-pandemic levels. This promising trend marks an improvement
in the longstanding and significant disparities between individuals with and without disabilities in the workforce. 

The pandemic-induced changes in business practices, such as increased flexibility in work schedules and remote work opportunities, have created more openings for individuals with disabilities who previously had limited access to these types of jobs and faced stigma when applying and interviewing in-person. In addition, flexibility in working and living has enabled people with disabilities to stay connected with different communities and support systems.

ABLE accounts (Achieving a Better Life Experience accounts) are an investment and savings account for people with disabilities, similar to a 529 college savings account. The newly enacted ABLE age adjustment, which raised the age cut-off from 26 to 46 will expand the number of Americans with disabilities who can access this financial benefit, potentially serving 8M more Americans. This is especially beneficial to those who develop disabilities later on in life. It is also a huge support in terms of financial caregiving, helping individuals and families to maximize their hard earned dollars towards the care they deserve.

Additional ABLE reform is potentially on the horizon, with Senator Bob Casey’s recent proposal of the ABLE MATCH Act, which aims to remove financial barriers for low-income individuals with disabilities enrolling in the ABLE program, by allowing  them to save beyond the $2,000 asset limit required by federal assistance programs. The act proposes a dollar-for-dollar federal match for new and existing ABLE accounts held by individuals earning $28,000 annually or less, encouraging savings for disability-related expenses and improving the financial well-being of those with lower incomes.

The pandemic created a window into the true lives of families and how they deal with care. This public dialogue has given space to families and individuals with disabilities to advocate and share how they are coping and the needs that they have. 

The prevalence of long covid has added to the awareness of people living with disabilities as 24 - 50 million Americans are struggling with chronic illness. Hopefully with increasing awareness, increased education, accomodations, advocacy, and allyship will follow for those who are living with or have a loved one with a disability.

Due to technology and connectivity, it has never been easier for people with disabilities to find the care that they need. This ranges from education, communities, treatments, caregivers - and this is especially helpful for specialty care. 

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Innovations like Sleuth and Joshin help families get connected to resources and caregivers ranging from ADHD to autism. Specialty care providers are now more visible, as their practices become digitized with an online presence and families can get the help that they deserve.

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The pandemic set off a surge of worker demand in healthcare settings (i.e., hospitals, clinics, front line workers), leaving families with in-home needs behind. In-home nurses who support children with special needs have become close to impossible to find and retain, from reports in the field. Even interventions to get family caregivers paid are narrow, like Respite for ME, which requires caregivers to be over 55 and the care recipient to be between 15 - 50 years old.

Families struggle to navigate the complexities of getting disability support, which is different in every state. In a 2012 report by the Government Accountability Office, officials from 34 programs collectively reported using at least 10 different definitions of disability, and 10 programs reported having no specific definition at all. In addition, the 45 programs reported at least 26 specific limitations to eligibility, such as limiting services to Native Americans or people who are blind. 

In 2021 qualitative research conducted by The Holding Co., one of the top themes that emerged from caregivers of children with disabilities is the fact that information and support is consistently hard to find and fragmented. On top of that, the paperwork associated with obtaining benefits adds to caregiver burden and burnout.

Innovation in the disability space has come a long way in the past few years. Solutions like hearing aids, audio books, smart wheelchairs, adaptable clothing, high-tech prosthetics, and text-to-speech software has been tremendously
helpful in supporting people with disabilities. 

However, these solutions come at a cost that often leaves out low-income individuals and families. Product innovation needs to be more universal and accessible in order to support the full range of people with disabilities, not just those with financial resources.

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