Disclaimer: The views of this post are those of myself and do not represent any entity that I have worked for or currently work for. These are my personal views.
It has been awhile since my last blog post, and there has been a reason behind the absence. Our family decided to make a significant life change as we moved out of Florida and headed north - Connecticut to be exact. I am a Florida native, as is my husband, so this move didn't come easy, but I hope I can share with you a little about why we made the voyage north.
I have gone back and forth whether I would write this post for awhile but recently, as I shared with many of my friends, I was inspired by one of the most important people in my life, Halle Grace - the young woman behind this foundation. So, before I share the reasons behind the changes in the Heilman household, I want to share why Halle inspires me daily and gave me the courage to finally write this post.
Halle only lived 15 years, but that time with her was like a daily lesson in humility, grace, courage, and love. If you didn’t have the honor of knowing Halle, let me tell you one of her biggest dreams...to become a history professor like her Great Grandpa Don. She devoured books. I mean she read hundreds of books on WWII, the Civil Rights Movement, the American Red Cross, and so much more. I remember asking her, when she was in Hospice those final days, why she loved history so much. Her response shook me to the core. She said, “mom, if we don’t learn from the mistakes of our past and celebrate its successes…how will we ever make the world a better place.” She was only 15-years-old and she was dying. She got it. I am so proud to be her mom.
Sidebar: Many of those books she read are now banned. But that is another story.
These weeks since the election have been difficult as we have a president that doesn’t understand that fundamental lesson on history that my sweet girl shared with me. Our country is going backwards and people’s lives are at risk. My children’s lives are at risk. I have lost one baby already and I will fight every day to protect my other two. This means standing up loudly for the laws and policies that protect them. Many of those laws and policies are being taken away or compromised under the current political leaders. Section 504. Reproductive rights. The right to affordable health care. The protection of laws under the Department of Education for students with disabilities. Access to world health education and cooperation with other countries. The right to live who you are and love who you want no matter your gender identity, sexual orientation, race, or ethnicity. I moved out of the state of Florida, 18 months ago. The state I was born and raised in. The state my family and friends live in. The state my life and career were in. I did not want to move, but had to move. Those laws protecting my family were diminishing faster than most were willing to acknowledge.
You see, two years ago, my professional ethics were challenged by Florida's governor’s office. In April 2023, as an assistant professor and rehabilitation counselor, I was offered the opportunity to train over 500 Rehabilitation Counselors under the State’s Vocational Rehabilitation program on their new professional code of ethics. A code, that among other things, emphasized multicultural competencies in counseling. Cultural competencies are a critical element to learn as professionals, as we seek to best support our clients based on their specific backgrounds, while also acknowledging our own internal bias so that we can create a fully inclusive counseling environment. I was excited to collaborate with the State VR program to share new standards and practices in the profession. Unfortunately, that training was stopped in its tracks, as the governor’s office contacted the State VR office notifying them my workshop was not permitted under their new DEI policies.
Soon after, in May of 2023 Governor DeSantis signed a bill into law banning state public universities from spending money on diversity, equity, and inclusion, this included training professional counselors on their ethical obligations as professionals (NPR, 2023). I tried to explain to the powers that be, that people with disabilities are from all demographic backgrounds and counselors needed to learn these cultural differences to support the vocational and mental health goals of our clients. I even offered to do the workshops for free. Again, I was told I could not lead that workshop because DeSantis did not permit DEI in higher education.
This is just one example of how recent political agendas have negatively impacted the lives of people with disabilities. In this case, the state of Florida removed the ethical obligation of training professionals working with people with disabilities. DeSantis has worked to dismantle DEI efforts in government agencies, including institutions of higher education. Colleges and Universities live under the threat of funding being withheld if they do not comply with political mandates to eliminate courses, programs, student organizations, support services and so much more that support diversity, equity and inclusion. Those state level efforts seen in Florida a few years ago, are now at the forefront of American politics. The long-term impact of these efforts are truly unimaginable, as we have a president that has set a culture in the U.S. that, among other things, does not value people with disabilities.
In recent weeks we have heard and seen diversity, equity, and inclusion policies spoken about in press conferences, executive orders, company agendas, and various media releases as the current administration is actively working to dismantle DEI in both the public and private sectors of our country. As I listen to the news and watch our country weaken to the call for the elimination of practices that support DEI, I am reminded of one of our country’s largest minority groups, people with disabilities, accounting for 28.7% of the U.S. population (CDC, 2024). In fact, the CDC reports that more than 1 in 4 Americans or 70 million individuals are currently living with a disability in the U.S. These are people from various age groups, racial identities, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, socioeconomic statuses, religious/spiritual ideologies and other backgrounds. Disability is all encompassing when it comes to DEI. Disability doesn’t discriminate against who is impacted by a diagnosis, but we are seeing blatant discrimination towards people with those diagnoses. A level of discrimination that we have not seen in over 50 years. The full impact this president is going to have on people with disabilities is difficult to comprehend.
Disability is DEI - plain and simple.
There are several of Trump's 2025 initiatives that directly impact people with disabilities and are setting a culture of discrimination, prejudice, and exclusion.
Dismantling Department of Education (DOE).
The DOE provides protection. Seventeen states are actively working to eliminate 504 plans in their state’s education system. The absence of strong federal oversight would leave millions of students vulnerable to discrimination and lacking valuable resources needed to be successful in school.
The DOE oversees federal funding for K-12 schools servicing students with disabilities and handles any discrimination complaints in education, including ADA non-compliance. “Roughly 7.5 million students, or 15 percent of the student population, receive special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which provides $15 billion to support students with disabilities. This program could be transferred to another agency, making it significantly less likely that students with disabilities receive the services and support they need and deserve” (Walker, 2025). Without the Department of Education, we are at risk for losing funding for students with disabilities, as well the ability to enforce allocation of services to these students.
The DOE provides funding to Title 1 Schools. Federal dollars target schools in low-income areas in order to “provide all children significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education, and to close educational achievement gaps by allocating federal funds for education programs and services” (NCES, 2025)
The DOE oversees federal student aid to students attending college. Dismantling the DOE could impact trillions in loans, grants and school in federal student aid.
2. Healthcare.
On January 20th, President Trump repealed Executive Order 14087, “a measure from the Biden administration aimed at reducing prescription drug costs and increasing access to innovative cell and gene therapies for Medicaid recipients” (Gerlach, 2025).
On January 27th, the Trump Administration issued an order that temporary froze Medicaid and other government funded programs. Access to Medicaid portals were down in all 50 states during this time. These executive orders on their own won’t change the law, but Trump and his administration have set the tone for what their intentions are and what they do and don’t value in this country. This administration does not value marginalized populations and people with disabilities intersect with every cultural group whether that be race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and more. People with disabilities represent all communities.
Pulling out of the World Health Organization and ceasing communication from federal health agencies. CDC and FDA – Food recalls, critical medical information and research not being disseminated to the public.
Reproductive rights and women’s healthcare is diminishing at a rapid rate that doctors and patients no longer have the lead in a patients care.
Removing rights and protections for those in the LGBTQIA+ community. They are at risk for loss of healthcare and need more mental health supports.
3. White House Accessibility Statement. The Accessibility Statement on the White House website does not exist under the Trump administration. This lack of visibility and accessibility demonstrates the lack of concern for people with disabilities in our country. Previous administrations had visible accessibility statements: Biden. Obama.
I created this foundation to educate professionals working with people with disabilities, to support families of those facing medical challenges, and to empower those individuals living life daily with a disability. I feel as if I would be doing a disservice to this foundation and to the girl behind its mission if I did not stand up for those whose voice is being muted. Disability is Diversity. Disability is Equity. Disability is Inclusion. Disability Rights are Human Rights. Disability Rights are Civil Rights. I cannot turn a blind eye to the strategic maneuvers in our country’s politics. These leaders are making calculated decisions to change the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans living with disabilities. As one of the driving forces behind the Halle Grace Foundation, I am choosing to use my voice to advocate for those that I have stood behind the past decade. I choose to continue to educate, support, and empower.
What Can You Do?
Take a Stand. Find something that matters to you. Pick an issue that is important for you and your family and run with it. Educate yourself and those around you. Make a difference one person at a time.
Use your voice. Advocate for disability rights. Call/write your local paper, your local politician, governor, congress person, state representative, vice president, president. You can find and contact your representatives by visiting https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
Find other sources for vital information. Find online sources that are filling the gap for disseminating critical information.
Start Grass Roots efforts in your community that focus on supporting people with disabilities.
Check in on people being affected by these changes. Let them know they are not alone.
Read your history books…don’t let it repeat itself.
Practice self-care. Go for a walk. Have dinner with a friend. Listen to music. Dance. Paint. Laugh. This is a marathon, not a sprint. We all need to take care of ourselves.
Halle I am sorry I did not have the courage to say this sooner. You are always my inspiration. I will do my best to read those banned books and learn from history, just as you did.
References:
2024. Case No. 2:24-cv-00225. States of Texas, Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah and West Virginia vs XAVIER BECERRA, in his official capacity as Secretary of Health and Human Services; UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Berkley Public Health (2025). US Withdrawal from WHO could bring tragedy to home and abroad.
Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification. (2023). Code of Professional Ethics for Certified Rehabilitation Counselors.
CDC. (2024). CDC Data Shows Over 70 Million U.S. Adults Reported Having a Disability.
Diaz, J. (2023). Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs a bill banning DEI initiatives in public colleges. NPR.
Gerlach, A. (2025). Reversal of Executive Order 14087 Raises Questions About Future Drug Pricing Reforms. Pharmacy Times.
Luhby, T. (2025). Trump’s federal grant pause creates confusion over Medicaid funding. CNN Politics.
Mrsspeechiep. What is 504? Instagram story
National Center for Education Statistics (2025). Title 1 Fast Facts.
Olson, E. (2025). Action Alert: Save Section 504. Access for Independent Living.
Walker, T. (2025). How Dismantling the Department of Education Would Harm Students. NEA News
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