Topics: Direct Support Professional (DSP) crisis, public charge rule, ableism in U.S. immigration law, underrepresentation

Addressing the DSP Crisis through Intersectional Policy Analysis

This project uses legal mapping to identify actionable labor and migrant justice policies and strategies within allied health fields to improve the work conditions of migrant Direct Support Professionals and the quality of life of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). 

Partners: Supported by the Pennsylvania Disability Advocacy Fund of the Foundation for Enhancing Communities.

U.S. Migration Policy as Public Health Policy and the Experiences of Disabled Migrants and Migrants in the Direct Care Workforce

Research team members K. Eva Weiss and Grace Cooper, along with Mustafa Rfat of Washington University, St Louis, presented on the historical connection of migration and disability, the experiences of disabled migrants, and the direct care workforce crisis at the 2022 AUCD annual meeting.

Mobilities Conference and Coalition

We participated on the steering committee of the first annual Mobilities: Migration and Disability Conference, a virtual conference series that brought together legal and social science scholars, law professionals, and members of the migration and disability service sector. Conference recordings, presentations, and resources can be found at Mobilities. The aim is to develop the annual conference into a national coalition to raise awareness and better serve individuals of multiply marginalized communities.

USCIS

In 2017, we designed and presented “Best Practices when Interacting with Foreign Nationals with Disabilities” for staff at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offices in Philadelphia.   

Census

Census2020 Counts Philadelphians with Disabilities
Supported by the Digital Literacy Alliance, and in partnership with Liberty Resources Inc., worked to increase Census2020 participation by Philadelphians with disabilities through the production of a PSA video, accessible and plain language webinar, and real-time support to complete the Census.