Meng Introduces Legislation To Improve Interactions Between First Responders And People With Disabilities

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) announced today that she introduced the Disability ID Act of 2022, a bill that would establish a new grant program for states to facilitate the placement of a discrete and voluntary disability identifier symbol on drivers' licenses and other forms of state-issued identification in order to improve interactions between first responders and people with disabilities.

Disabilities can be misjudged or disregarded, leaving many people with disabilities worried that their interactions with first responders may escalate. That is why it is vital to give individuals with a disability the option to have a disability identifier symbol placed on their driver's license or ID card, while also providing first responders with training to better understand the needs of people with disabilities.

The legislation would also provide funding for training first responders to recognize the disability identifiers and interact appropriately with such individuals.

"This legislation will do so much to help keep our fellow Americans with disabilities safe and treated respectfully," said Congresswoman Meng. "People with disabilities should not be subjected to unfair and sometimes violent treatment because of circumstances out of their control. Situations where first responders are needed often cause severe anxiety and fear, but by providing identifier symbols on different forms of ID, first responders will be better suited to use the training this bill also provides to handle complex situations with people who have disabilities. I look forward to my bill moving through the House."

Some states, like Alaska and Colorado have already pioneered state laws that provide an option for a person with a disability to request a discreet disability identifier symbol on their form of identification. Meng's bill would help provide these same choices to people with disabilities and provide training for first responders across the country.

"We are so grateful to Representative Meng for proposing the Disability ID Act of 2022, because it will help law enforcement and others recognize limitations that may not be readily visible but that significantly impact a person, such as decreased lung capacity caused by scleroderma," said Mary J. Wheatley, CEO of the National Scleroderma Foundation. "Scleroderma is a rare disease that causes fibrosis in the skin (localized) or internal organs (systemic sclerosis) and can be life-threatening. The National Scleroderma Foundation advances medical research, promotes disease awareness, and provides support and education to people with scleroderma, their families and support networks."

"The Invisible Disabilities Association is excited to partner with Congresswoman Meng to help states provide a designated disability ID symbol on government IDs and driver's licenses," said Jess Stainbrook, Executive Director of the Invisible Disabilities Association. "We are seeing this important initiative protect and support people living with invisible disabilities and the interactions with law enforcement, first responders, educators and businesses all over the globe. The new ID symbol helps specify that an invisible disability is present and may need some type of accommodations."

"The Disability ID Act of 2022 will provide first responders with the awareness, training, and resources that are critical to interacting with individuals with a disability in their communities," said Rachel C. Morgan, Founder, President of the Adam Morgan Foundation. "Many times, first responders interactions with someone with a disability is when there is a crisis situation that can cause increased anxiety and fear. This bill will facilitate a proactive program for first responders that will allow them to build trusting relationships with the disability community in order to be more effective in their future interactions."