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Disability Communities Defending Democracy

@dcddemocracy.bsky.social
92 followers 53 following 34 posts

Disability organizers founded DCDD in 2025. We empower disability communities to defend inclusive democracy and our communities from anti-democracy groups, movements, and narratives. We are based in the Pacific Northwest. dcddemocracy.org

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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
This guide will not tell you how to vote. That is your choice. This guide is here to give you information. It's here to give information in a way that's easy to understand. Content warning: this guide talks about abuse.
dcddemocracy.org
Your Ballot in Plain Language: An Easy Read Guide to Initiatives I-001 and I-638
Your vote matters. Learn what I-001 and I-638 might do. And make your choice. This resource is available in both Easy Read and Plain Language formats.
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
We think everyone deserves accurate information. We think everyone should have what they need to make an informed choice. That is why we made an easy to read guide on these initiatives. Both of these initiatives affect civil rights. Both affect inclusive democracy. Learn more by clicking the link:
dcddemocracy.org
Your Ballot in Plain Language: An Easy Read Guide to Initiatives I-001 and I-638
Your vote matters. Learn what I-001 and I-638 might do. And make your choice. This resource is available in both Easy Read and Plain Language formats.
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
I-001 and I-638 make a lot of changes to Washington State's laws. I-001 changes your rights at school (K-12). I-638 is about who gets to play school sports. It bans trans girls from girls school sports teams. And it also makes girls who are not trans prove they're girls to play school sports.
dcddemocracy.org
Your Ballot in Plain Language: An Easy Read Guide to Initiatives I-001 and I-638
Your vote matters. Learn what I-001 and I-638 might do. And make your choice. This resource is available in both Easy Read and Plain Language formats.
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Today!
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
We believe everyone has a right to accessible information. That is why this is in plain language. And that is why our event won't tell you how to vote. Thank you to our cosponsors: @autisticadvocacy.org, @awnnetwork.org, Ed Wiley Autism Acceptance Lending Library, and The Arc of King County!
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Want to learn more about your ballot? Join us at The Arc of King County to learn more about two initiatives. These initiatives could affect your rights. One says who gets to play school sports. One is about rights in school. This event is a safe space to learn and make your choice.
Image text is 'Your Ballot in Plain Language: Initiatives 1-001 & 1-638 Your vote matters Learn what 1-001 and 1-638 might do. And make your choice. When: Tuesday 10/6 6:30 Where: The Arc of King County Office. 2650 S. 200th Street, Suite 101 , WA 98198. Image also has two trans flag banners and the DCDD, Autistic Self Advocacy Network, Neurodiversity Lending Library, Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network, and The Arc of King County logos.
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
We believe that transgender people should get to live in and enjoy their community. Transgender people should not have to leave their homes and communities to feel safe.
dcddemocracy.org
Inclusive Democracy Means Including Transgender People
Words to Know Accessible means that disabled people can easily use it. This includes disabled people with all kinds of disabilities. Anti-democracy groups are organizations that want to get rid of …
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Anti-trans laws are anti-democracy. Any laws that discriminate against a group of people hurt inclusive democracy. DCDD believes that transgender people should be free to be who they are.
dcddemocracy.org
Inclusive Democracy Means Including Transgender People
Words to Know Accessible means that disabled people can easily use it. This includes disabled people with all kinds of disabilities. Anti-democracy groups are organizations that want to get rid of …
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Alliance for Justice @afj.org · 19/08/2026
Election season is brewing ☕️🗳️ Here are five cool ways your nonprofit can educate, advocate, and empower your community — while keeping it nonpartisan. Get the guide here: afj.org/resource/fiv...
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Julia Métraux @juliametraux.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
An ICE agent directed Emilio, a Venezuelan Deaf man, to get onto a bus. He asked for an interpreter and didn’t get one. When he saw a Mexican flag, he realized he was being deported to Mexico, sans passport. My latest for @motherjones.com. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
motherjones.com
How Trump’s deportation machine deprives Deaf people of their humanity
An extra layer of cruelty is added by limiting communication access for Deaf people.
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
We appreciate @awnnetwork.org's leadership. The administration attacks both trans and autistic people. And the administration wants to divide our communities. This is bad for: -Healthcare -Civil rights -Disability rights -Trans rights -Inclusive Democracy Thank you AWN for speaking out.
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Lawmakers should listen to us when they make policy. Nothing about us without us is not just a slogan. It's what we need to make good policy. It's what we need to make policy that includes us, not excludes us. It's what we need for inclusive democracy.
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Thank you to the Senators fighting to keep voting rights for people with disabilities (PWD). Democracy is incomplete without people with disabilities. That includes people in nursing homes. Some anti-democracy people in power think PWD should not vote. They don't think we can. They're wrong.
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seasonally appropriate ghost of kate b. @katebitz.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
on that note, i am deeply thankful for this resource from @dcddemocracy.bsky.social which lays it all out in accessible plain language. bsky.app/profile/dcdd...
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seasonally appropriate ghost of kate b. @katebitz.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
but the universe doesn’t work like our instincts tell it does. and we need to watch out for those who intentionally validate those instincts in order to manipulate us.
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seasonally appropriate ghost of kate b. @katebitz.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
i think it’s super understandable that we all want the scale of the reason for these wildfires to somehow match the scale of both the destruction, and our feelings about it. a dry year, a windy day and an alleged individual arson don’t feel like enough.
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seasonally appropriate ghost of kate b. @katebitz.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
i talked to @aaronhedge.bsky.social for @rangemedia.co about the people who are barging in to capitalize off of spokane’s grief and trauma in the midst of these wildfires, in all the worst ways: www.rangemedia.co/tragedy-vult...
rangemedia.co
Tragedy vultures
From chem trails to data centers, conspiracy theories are distracting from the real stakes of what’s happening in our community.
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Joan Braune @joanbraune.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Almost immediately as fires in Spokane led to evacuations and displaced what would eventually be some 65,000 people, conspiracy theories and scapegoating began. But so did mutual aid and care. This guide by Disability Communities Defending Democracy is a helpful resource in accessible language.
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Plain language is a way of writing that is easier to read. It is more accessible to many kinds of people with disabilities. For example, people with intellectual disability. We hope this resource helps you. We hope it helps conversations about conspiracy theories about the fires.
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
There's been a lot of conspiracy theories about the fires in Spokane. This hurts a community that's already hurt by fire and smoke. This resource is about the fires. And it is about the conspiracy theories about the fires. It is in plain language.
dcddemocracy.org
DCDD Plain Language Resource on Spokane Fires and Conspiracy Theories
This resource is in plain language. Plain language is a way of writing that is easier to read. This resource talks about the fires in Spokane. It also talks about conspiracy theories about the fire…
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Institute for Research on Male Supremacism @irms.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
📢 LAST CALL to register for the Intro to Male Supremacism course: Discussion sections are scheduled for Tuesdays at either 1pm ET/17:00 GMT or 8pm ET/00:00 GMT. First session: Aug 11, after which enrollment closes. Register here: www.theirms.org/course-regis...
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CommunicationFIRST @communicationfirst.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Are you worried about #Olmstead? The Bazelon Center made a guide to resisting DOJ’s harmful memo. It includes a statement for your governor and attorney general to sign in support of our right to live in the community: lnk.to/olmbkg. @bazeloncenter.bsky.social 📸 #VisibleAAC photo by Shira Wakschlag
[Image: Photographed from behind, a young AAC user sits at a school desk with her AAC device. A teacher reading a storybook is projected onto a screen at the front of the classroom.]
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s. e. smith @sesmith.lol · 04/08/2026
Disability advocacy orgs quietly nuking their DEI content to comply in advance is not great, and a good reminder that the best groups are disability justice-focused and working directly in community.
theemancipator.org
Some Disability Advocacy Groups Quietly Shifted Diversity Language After Trump Took Office
An Emancipator investigation examining 74 disability advocacy groups found that around thirty percent of well-funded organizations that receive significant federal grants and contracts likely changed ...
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Julia Métraux @juliametraux.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Trump's DOJ released a dubious legal memo this morning that signals the Trump admin wants to force more people into psychiatric institutions via bad faith and incorrect interpretations of ADA, Section 504, and Olmstead. New from me at @motherjones.com. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
motherjones.com
Trump DOJ outlines dubious path to force people into psychiatric institutions
"This administration is trying to take away one of the most fundamental rights that people with disabilities have fought for."
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
The right to live in the community is important. It is a basic part of inclusive democracy. This letter from the DOJ is bad for democracy. And it uses anti-democracy lies. This hurts everyone because it hurts inclusive democracy. And it especially hurts homeless people with disabilities.
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worm boy autism MPH @gosuperdonnie.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
To add to this in (somewhat) plain language: Getting people out of institutions does not cause homelessness by itself. The problem is when people get out of institutions and don’t have community support or services to help them stay housed. So people end up homeless from lack of support.
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
You can also read more about attacks on homeless people with disabilities at this interview: threewayfight.org/disability-a...
threewayfight.org
Disability and the Far Right: Joan Braune interviews Esther Warwick
Esther Warwick discusses the relationship between disability movements and the far right, and how eugenics has influenced laws that harm people with disabilities and people experiencing homelessness.
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
This opinion is bad. It can hurt people with disabilities. It can especially hurt homeless people with disabilities. It is bad for democracy. You can read the slip opinion here: www.justice.gov/olc/media/14...
justice.gov
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
The opinion lies about homeless people and deinstitutionalization. It says deinstitutionalization caused homelessness. This is not true. It also says that forcing people into institutions is not discrimination. This is not true.
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
The integration mandate is an important tool that keeps people with disabilities in the community. The right to be in the community is foundational to a truly inclusive democracy. This opinion says the integration mandate is against the law.
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Disability Communities Defending Democracy (DCDD) is very concerned by a "slip opinion" the Department of Justice put out today. A slip opinion is an opinion on the law. It is not a law itself. The slip opinion is about the "integration mandate" in Olmstead.
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Institute for Research on Male Supremacism @irms.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Dehumanization and Dangerous Speech Entitlement and Justification of Violence Mental Health and Safety in Anti-Supremacist Work Concerns in Research and Reporting on Male Supremacism Learn about all these topics in our summer introductory course on male supremacism. www.theirms.org/course-regis...
theirms.org
Intro to Male Supremacism Course — Institute for Research on Male Supremacism
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Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) @autisticadvocacy.org · 16/06/2026
Today, the Department of Education (ED) said they are moving the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services and the Office of Civil Rights away from ED. This hurts disabled students. Keeping students safe means keeping these offices in ED. autisticadvocacy.org/2026/06/movi...
Moving the Department of Education Offices Will Hurt Disabled StudentsThe U.S. Department of Education (ED) made another bad decision that will hurt students with disabilities. They are moving two important departments away from ED. One is the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OCERS). OSERS is going to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS is a part of the United States government that works on health care. Another is the Office of Civil Rights (OCR). OCR is going to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

ASAN’s Policy Director, Greg Robinson, said, “Students with disabilities deserve protection. Students with disabilities deserve civil rights. Students with disabilities deserve a government that helps them and cares about them.” 

This is a bad decision. This decision will hurt students with disabilities. ASAN wants the government to keep OCR and OSERS in ED.
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
We can't accept this attack on students with disabilities and their families. We can't accept this attack on disability communities and disability inclusion. We can't accept this attack on democracy.
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
The agencies these offices are moving to include the Department of Justice and Health and Human Services. The person in charge of civil rights enforcement at the DOJ is ableist. So is RFK Jr. at HHS. And so are the anti-democracy groups pushing to get rid of the Department of Education.
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
This move takes away important tools for disabled people and their families. It makes civil rights enforcement harder. It makes inclusive education harder. It is part of a larger pattern of trying to take away disability rights. It is part of a larger pattern of contempt for disabled people.
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Moving OSERS and OCR away from the Department of Education is part of the plot to destroy inclusive democracy. You can't have an inclusive democracy if you don't include disabled people in every day life--that includes education. You can't have inclusive democracy without civil rights protection.
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Julia Métraux @juliametraux.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
In bad news, with disability education oversight being moved to the Department of Health and Human Services from the Department of Education, that means Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will have power over disability policy positions. New from me at @motherjones.com www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
motherjones.com
RFK Jr. will oversee disability education policy
The dismantling of the Department of Education continues apace.
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Many anti-democracy groups hope taking away social services will make their country more white. They also like that taking away services will kill many people of color. A movement for Medicaid must also be a movement for democracy. It must be against racism, ableism, and hatred of immigrants. 4/4
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
One service they blame is Medicaid expansion. Medicaid expansion makes sure many people can get healthcare. Many poor white people use Medicaid expansion programs. Racist/ableist anti-democracy groups think work requirements will mean more white people will take jobs immigrants of color do. 3/4
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Many anti-democracy groups believe there is a "great replacement" of white people. They think Jews are making this happen. It's not true. They see people of color working and think white people should have their jobs instead. They think white people don't do those jobs because of services. 2/4
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
These rules are cruel. They're ableist. It will kill people. And that's a feature, not a bug, to them. And they're connected with racist conspiracy theories about immigrants. That last part doesn't get talked about a lot, so let us explain. 1/4
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Iris Smooches @iris-smooches.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
This quote is catchy but do yourself a favor and read the whole interview.
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Joan Braune @joanbraune.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
If you liked this article so much that you want to work for Esther, and you have applicable skills, you can apply here:
idealist.org
Inclusive Democracy Advocate - Job
Disability Communities Defending Democracy (DCDD) is now hiring for the position of Inclusive Democracy Advocate in Portland. Apply today.
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
The same people attacking trans kids are the people taking away Medicaid from people with disabilities. The same people attacking trans kids are the people taking away Black representation in Congress. Disability community organizations need to say "no more" to attacks on trans kids.
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Inclusion means all of us. An inclusive democracy means everyone is 1) free to be who they are 2) get a say in their government 3) get a say in what happens in their community. Attacks on trans kids hurts inclusive democracy--and the people doing it do not want an inclusive democracy.
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
“In the early days of the alt-right, blogs were promoting neurodiversity as a kind of — whether it was genuine or not — that we are these special types of people who are different, and that makes us know better than the globalists,” Warwick told @19thnews.org 19thnews.org/2026/03/nick...
19thnews.org
How the term ‘neurodivergent’ moved from activists to pop culture — and politics
Nicki Minaj is one of the most recent Trump supporters to identify herself as “neurodivergent,” embracing a narrow definition of a once-niche term commonly associated with autism and ADHD.
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
"[The] right’s rhetoric has turned towards outright hatred and hostility towards people with disabilities and adopting a complete 'we should just kill them' sort of idea...very similar to how they talk about unhoused people, which has always been intimately tied with discourses on disability."
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
DCDD Executive Director Esther Warwick sat down with Dr. @joanbraune.bsky.social of @threewayfight.bsky.social a few weeks ago to talk about the intersection of anti-democracy movements and disability communities and the Three Way Fight. threewayfight.org/disability-a...
threewayfight.org
Disability and the Far Right: Joan Braune interviews Esther Warwick
Esther Warwick discusses the relationship between disability movements and the far right, and how eugenics has influenced laws that harm people with disabilities and people experiencing homelessness.
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Disability Communities Defending Democracy @dcddemocracy.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Feel free to dm or email "DisCoDefendDemocracy [at] proton [dot] me" if you have questions or need help navigating the application.
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