1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

I am your constituent from Cortland County, NY. I am a disabled parent and a professional coach and educator who works with disabled, chronically ill, and neurodivergent people navigating conception, pregnancy, and parenthood. I am writing with urgent concern about the withdrawal of HHS Funding Opportunity HHS-2026-ACL-NIDILRR-RTCP-0216, the only federal funding opportunity dedicated to research, training, and information on parents with disabilities and their families. The National Research Center for Parents with Disabilities' current federal grant ends August 31, 2026. Without immediate action, the nation's only research center dedicated to parents with disabilities will be forced to close. This issue is both personal and professional for me. As a disabled parent, I know how difficult it can be to find information and support that reflects the experiences of disabled people as they become parents and raise children. In my professional work, I support people navigating these same questions. I also created and host the Disabled Parenthood Podcast, where I have conversations with disabled people about pregnancy and parenthood. I see how little research and how few resources exist specifically for disabled parents and parents-to-be. We cannot afford to lose the only federally funded center in the U.S. dedicated to this work. I'm asking you to act quickly by: - Urging the Administration for Community Living to use its administrative authority to extend or supplement the Center's existing award to prevent a lapse in funding. - Urging NIDILRR to reissue the Notice of Funding Opportunity so organizations can compete to continue this essential work. Please work with ACL and NIDILRR to prevent this vital national resource from disappearing.