Disability commissioners flag federal cuts, Section 504 rollback and workforce disruptions

At its quarterly meeting, the Massachusetts Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities heard multiple commissioners warn that pending federal actions and policy changes could sharply reduce funding and worsen staffing shortages for disability services.

The commission’s discussion focused on three linked concerns: proposed deep reductions to Medicaid funding, a Department of Education action that panelists said would weaken Section 504 accessibility rules, and immigration enforcement and visa changes that speakers said are already destabilizing the direct-care workforce.

“We do anticipate about a billion dollars cuts, to the mass Medicaid program,” said Charlie Carr, a commission member, summarizing what he and others view as the likely effect of federal budget changes under consideration. Carr said…