As we reflect on 2025, one thing is clear: people with disabilities in Florida continued to face barriers that are deeply rooted and slow to change. While these challenges are not new, this year reinforced how much work remains to ensure that everyone can live, work, and participate fully in their communities.
Across the state, individuals and families encountered complex eligibility rules, limited funding, and persistent attitudes that underestimate the value and capabilities of people with disabilities. These barriers affected where people could live, how they accessed care, and whether their rights were fully respected. Long waiting lists for home- and community-based services forced families into impossible decisions. The shortage of affordable and accessible housing left many without safe, appropriate options. Food and nutrition insecurity also increased, particularly for people with disabilities who rely on consistent supports and specialized diets.
In late 2025, the prolonged federal government shutdown added new uncertainty. Although core benefits such as Social Security and Medicaid continued, delays and confusion disrupted other services and left many people unsure where to turn. Disability Rights Florida received calls from individuals and families seeking answers during this period, underscoring how fragile many systems become when funding and operations are interrupted.
Despite these challenges, 2025 was not defined by barriers alone. Progress occurred through steady advocacy and persistence. Florida expanded access to home- and community-based services through improvements to its Medicaid program, helping more people with intellectual and developmental disabilities live where and how they choose.
Disability Rights Florida also played a key role in a major legal victory against the Agency for Health Care Administration after the state stopped providing Medicaid coverage for incontinence supplies when individuals turned 21. The outcome restored access to medically necessary supplies for thousands of adults, protecting health, dignity, and independence statewide.
At the national level, cuts to funding and staffing at the U.S. Department of Education threatened oversight and enforcement of special education protections. Disability Rights Florida joined a national coalition of advocates to raise concerns, push for accountability, and ensure that the rights of students with disabilities remain visible during a time of significant uncertainty.
These advances did not resolve every challenge, but they mattered. As you read this annual report, we invite you to see 2025 as a year of persistence—marked by ongoing barriers and meaningful progress driven by consistent advocacy and action.
Together in this vital work,
Alissa Smith