Bill Overview
Title: Disability ID Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a competitive grant program for states and tribal governments to implement programs that allow individuals with disabilities to have discrete disability identifier symbols placed on their state-issued identification cards. DOT may not award a grant to a state or tribal government that exceeds $200,000.
Sponsors: Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals with disabilities
Estimated Size: 40000000
- The bill aims to benefit individuals with disabilities by allowing them to have discrete identifiers on their state-issued identification cards, which might improve their accessibility to services.
- Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that over 1 billion people, about 15% of the world's population, have some form of disability.
- While this bill primarily affects the United States, understanding a global context is essential for broader implications.
Reasoning
- The policy is focused on individuals with disabilities in the United States, a group estimated to be over 40 million by the U.S. Census Bureau.
- Considering the budget and the cap of $200,000 per grant, the policy will likely target initiatives in several states and tribal governments, focusing on those areas with higher populations of people with disabilities.
- We included a range of individuals, some highly impacted by identification barriers and others less so, reflecting a diverse pool within the target group.
- Not everyone in the disabled population will choose to or need to obtain a discrete identifier, so the impact of the policy on self-reported wellbeing will vary.
- The interviews include perspectives from rural and urban areas, different genders, ages, and occupations to reflect the diversity of the disability community.
Simulated Interviews
Graphic Designer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think having an option to show my needs on my ID could improve access.
- It would help with public transport and in emergencies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Accountant (New York, NY)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could prevent uncomfortable personal disclosures when accessing services.
- I wonder how widely it will be accepted.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am excited about this policy! Something like this would help avoid misunderstandings.
- It would ease interactions at the campus office.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Retired (Austin, TX)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this program rolls out soon, it could make life easier at airports and hotels.
- Integration into everyday life is key.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Teacher (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a good idea, but I wonder about the stigma attached.
- Would I be comfortable using such an ID?
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Retail Worker (Miami, FL)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- An identifier could be helpful at work, especially during emergencies.
- I hope there’s training for those who need to understand it.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
IT Specialist (Minneapolis, MN)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this policy comes with privacy protections.
- It sounds positive but execution matters a lot.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Marketing Executive (Denver, CO)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Might make everyday tasks like traveling simpler.
- I'm concerned about misuse or misunderstanding of the symbol.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Sculptor (Houston, TX)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I wish I had this option during my working years.
- Could be useful in quieting some of the social difficulties.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Customer Service Representative (Chicago, IL)
Age: 23 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Such a program could remove barriers in retail settings.
- I worry about potential discrimination if not handled right.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $7000000, High: $15000000)
Year 2: $11000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $16000000)
Year 3: $12000000 (Low: $9000000, High: $17000000)
Year 5: $14000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $18000000)
Year 10: $16000000 (Low: $11000000, High: $20000000)
Year 100: $20000000 (Low: $13000000, High: $25000000)
Key Considerations
- The success of the program heavily depends on state and tribal governments' willingness and capability to operate the disability identifier initiative.
- Monitoring and evaluation will be crucial to measure the program's effectiveness in increasing service accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
- Costs might increase if additional outreach or technical support for grant implementation is needed.