For decades, disability advocates have fought to break down barriers and to be seen, valued, and included—not as a charity case or as a box to be checked but as equal members of society. Despite advances, current changes in diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) policies are erasing important gains. In some situations, these policies were misunderstood and misapplied and are now being used against disabled people.
Recent legislative changes in the United States are creating a harmful and discriminatory narrative, threatening to reverse decades of progress for disabled people. If economies, such as the United States, begin to get rid of DEI initiatives, the impact will be seen around the world.
For example, 25-year-old Bobby Whalen was a medical supply clerk at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda Maryland. He is autistic. A program called Schedule A allowed him to land his job.
According to The Social Security Administration’s Choose Work page, Schedule A allows the federal government to hire people with major disabilities for federal jobs without needing them to compete against non-disabled job seekers. Federal agencies employ Schedule A employees on a probationary basis.
This means that Schedule A workers work on a trial basis. At the end of their probationary period, if they have received positive job performance reviews, they may be eligible for conversion to a career-conditional appointment within competitive service.
Sadly, on February 14, Whalen lost his job. He was laid off alongside over 1,000 other probationary NIH employees. “It’s frustrating and disappointing,” Whalen told NBC4 Washington.
Bobby’s mother Molly, believes that investing in her son was a wise financial decision for the federal government. “He’s paying taxes. He’s putting money into the economy,” she said. “Now he’ll be off that, back on Social Security, which is about $15,000 per year or the like, and, you know, not contributing to society.”
Whalen, like hundreds of other federal employees contributed to the economy through Metro rides, lunches, rent and mortgage payments, and even vacations. He eventually wanted to take a vacation to Disney World or Disneyland.
Disabled Americans have never stopped fighting for our rights. We can’t be silent about our rights. We have made a lot of progress in terms of inclusion, but getting rid of diversity, equality, and inclusion initiatives is a step backward.
Sources:
Bensen, Jackie. “‘Disappointing’: Fired NIH Worker Trained Others Hired in Disability Inclusion Program.” NBC4 Washington, NBCUniversal, 18 Feb. 2025, http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/frustrating-and-disappointing-fired-nih-worker-reacts-to-cuts/3846889/?amp=1.
Guynn, Jessica. “‘Kick in the Teeth’: Disabled Federal Workers Fear for Their Jobs after Trump Remarks.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 5 Feb. 2025, http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/02/05/disabled-federal-employees-dei-trump/77976332007/.
“Have a Disability? Interested in Federal Employment? Questions and Answers about ‘Schedule A.’” Choose Work, The Social Security Administration , choosework.ssa.gov/library/federal-employment-initiatives/schedule-a. Accessed 18 Feb. 2025.
Smith, Jessica. “The Harsh Truth About Disability Inclusion.” Time, Time USA, LLC, 26 Feb. 2025, time.com/7261675/disability-inclusion-dei-cuts-essay/.