NEWS
Remembering Patty Berne
The legacy of Disability Justice is woven from stories of courage, solidarity, and the tireless pursuit of
equity. At its heart are visionaries whose voices reimagined liberation for disabled people, and whose
artistry inspired movements far beyond the boundaries of law and policy. Among these, the life and
work of Patty Berne shine brightly, bridging generations and galvanizing communities to recognize
the fullness of each individual’s worth.
Patty Berne, a friend and ally of the NBDC, passed away on May 29, 2025. Renowned as a
transformative artist and a principal architect of the Disability Justice Movement, Patty shaped what is
now recognized as the movement’s second phase, which took root in the early 2000s. Disability
Justice was revolutionary, forging connections between the fight for disabled liberation and the
broader pursuit of social freedom.
The first wave of disability rights organizing, beginning in the 1970s and continuing through the
1990s, led to important milestones such as the Americans with Disabilities Act. However, this era did
not fully address the impacts of racism and other intersecting forms of oppression on disabled lives,
nor did it recognize how disabled people could advance justice in other movements. In response,
Patty Berne and fellow disabled activists gathered in Berkeley in the early 2000s to confront these
shortcomings. Their efforts launched a new wave of activism—one that centered a wider range of
experiences and celebrated the strengths of disabled communities, including resilience, adaptability,
and a deep ethic of mutual care.
Some twenty years ago, Patty partnered with NBDC to honor Rev. Calvin Peterson of Disabled in
Action in Atlanta, Georgia in a public acknowledgment of his work, including participation from
members of the Georgia State Legislature. Rev. Peterson, a black disabled leader, had spoken
about injustices long before the passage of the1973 Rehabilitation Act. Patty’s commitment to
Disability Justice called her to recognize and uplift his contributions whose decades of service to
poor disabled communities had gone largely unrecognized.
Patty Berne was the co-founder of the dance company Sins Invalid. She taught that each person
holds inherent value, regardless of the complexities they face. Patty understood that living with a
disability often means living with mortality close at hand. In her final months, Sins Invalid staged the
play “Stages of Grief,” continuing her legacy of art and advocacy.
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Patty is remembered for her powerful words: “A Disability Justice framework understands that all
bodies are unique and essential, that all bodies have strengths and needs that must be met. We
know that we are powerful not despite the complexities of our bodies, but because of them.”
Remembering Pam Gaston
Pamela Lynn Gaston served over 50 years at the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Her career was marked by a deep commitment to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
Pam was also a dedicated writer, and coordinator. She was a founding member and past president of the NJ Network of Organizations for the Blind & Visually Impaired and a long-time member of the NJ Cultural Access Network.
Her work included coordinating grassroots initiatives that led to the creation of the Statewide Parent’s Advocacy Network (SPAN), Heightened Independence and Progress (HIP), and Beyond the Eyes.
Pamela was honored by the Global Women’s Leadership Collaborative of NJ and former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan for her role in organizing the collection and shipment of a ton of surplus educational materials and equipment to the Akropong School for the Blind in Ghana.
Pamela was recognized as “The Keeper of the Flame of Hope” by three consumer groups advocating for the blind and visually impaired. She also received the Excellence in Public Service Award from the NJ Civil Service Commission and recognition from the NJ Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind.
Pamela passed away in August of 2025.
August 29, 2025 | By Shaun Heasley
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​Labor Department Seeks To Roll Back Disability Hiring Mandate
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Federal officials are looking to walk back a decade-old rule designed to compel businesses to employ people with disabilities in greater numbers.
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The U.S. Department of Labor is seeking to do away with a 2013 regulation that requires most federal contractors to work toward a goal of ensuring that at least 7% of workers within each job group in their workforce are people with disabilities.
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Under the Obama-era rule, many contractors must take specific steps with regard to recruitment, training, record keeping and policy dissemination in order to bolster disability employment. If they do not meet the 7% goal and are unable to provide documentation showing that they are working toward that end, they can lose their government contracts.
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“While the Section 503 regulations state that the use of quotas is prohibited, contractors may, in practice, be induced to use quotas to meet the utilization goal,” the Labor Department says in its recent proposal.
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The agency also wants to eliminate a requirement that contractors invite applicants to self-identify their disability status.
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“DOL has concerns that the self-identification and utilization goal regulations are inconsistent with the (Americans with Disabilities Act),” the proposed rule states. “Inherent in any utilization goal … is the need for applicants with disabilities to identify their conditions to the employer. But the ADA is clear; an employer may not, prior to an offer of employment, make any disability-related inquiries, even if that inquiry is related to the job.”
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In addition to the ADA concerns, the Labor Department noted that the self-identification and utilization analysis requirements are “burdensome” and not explicitly mandated under the law.
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The move to drop the 7% goal for federal contractors and a proposal to end a similar expectation for apprenticeship programs will only make it harder for people with disabilities — a traditionally underemployed population — to find work, said Maria Town, president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities.
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Together, federal contractors employ almost 4 million people, accounting for one of the largest workforces in the country, AAPD said.
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“It is especially insulting that the Trump administration has justified removing the 7% disability hiring aspirational goal for apprenticeships and federal contractors by claiming such requirements may violate the Americans with Disabilities Act,” Town said. “These requirements were created to strengthen ADA enforcement.”
July 28, 2025
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HAYES, BLUMENTHAL INTRODUCE RESOLUTION DECLARING FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced a joint resolution reaffirming federal support of the Americans with Disabilities Act and legislation instructing publicly-funded infrastructure projects to be made fully accessible to all.
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This resolution aligns U.S. policy with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a widely supported international treaty ratified by over 85% of United Nations member states. The Convention recognizes global disability across various areas, including infrastructure design, communications, and accessibility.
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“Every person deserves equal respect and protection under the law. It is unacceptable that all government buildings are not fully accessible to all Americans,” said Congresswoman Hayes. “I remain fully committed to promoting legislative efforts that make access to opportunities available to all persons with disabilities. This resolution is a continuation of the transformative, bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which includes provisions to enhance accessibility and inclusivity for individuals with disabilities and deliver on the promise of equity.”
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“Many federal buildings remain inaccessible for Americans with disabilities—creating a physical barrier to vital services. Our resolution reaffirms every American’s right to equal opportunity by pledging to ensure that all federally funded buildings, housing, and infrastructure work for everyone,” said Senator Blumenthal.
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This resolution builds on several years of efforts by Congresswoman Hayes to support Americans living with disabilities. Congresswoman Hayes has championed legislation to increase wages and phase out subminimum wages for individuals with disabilities, and she has advocated for increased funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) for eligible persons with disabilities. In March 2021, Congresswoman Hayes voted for the American Rescue Plan, which provided relief for people with disabilities, including additional support for behavioral health services and significant investments in HCBS. Congresswoman Hayes and Senator Blumenthal have introduced similar resolutions in previous Congressional sessions that recognize the need to improve physical access to federally funded facilities.
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Hayes and Blumenthal were joined by Reps. Steve Cohen (TN-9), Donald G. Davis (NC-1), Debbie Dingell (MI-6), Dwight Evans (PA-3), Pablo Jose Hernandez (PR-At Large), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Darren Soto (FL-9), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Dina Titus (NV-1), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul Tonko (NY-20), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).
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This resolution is endorsed by the following organizations: The ARC, the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD), Family Voices, the National Black Disability Coalition, and the United States International Council on Disabilities.