Disability Discourse Matters Officially Launches

We’re excited to announce the launch of DisabilityDiscourseMatters.org, a new platform that explores how disability is addressed by political leaders and public institutions across the United States.

About the Project

Disability Discourse Matters is a research initiative focused on how disability is talked about in politics, policy, and public life. By analyzing statements from elected officials and government leaders, we’re tracking where disability shows up, how it’s framed, and what that reveals about civic priorities, power, and participation in American society.

Current Data: White House + Cabinet

As of today, our team has logged and analyzed 38 public statements about disability made by White House and Cabinet officials between January 1 and April 17, 2025.

Each statement was scored using our four-point scale, from most harmful to most affirming:

• 2.6% – Score 1: Dehumanizes

• 18.4% – Score 2: Critical

• 60.5% – Score 3: Deficit Frame

• 18.4% – Score 4: Values the Whole Person

  
  

These early findings suggest that most disability-related discourse coming out of the White House continues to reflect deficit-based or narrow framing, with relatively few statements offering affirming, person-centered language.

Coming Soon: Expanded Dataset + Tools

In the coming months, we’ll be expanding our dataset to include public discourse from:

• All 535 voting members of Congress

• All 50 state governors

• The nine U.S. Supreme Court justices

  
  

We’re also building a more interactive dashboard that will allow users to explore the full dataset and engage directly with the data in more meaningful ways.

Visit Us

You can learn more about the project, our methodology, and what’s coming next at👉 DisabilityDiscourseMatters.org