When the federal shutdown stretches on, the risks for people with disabilities go beyond headlines about furloughed workers: the steady scaffolding that keeps many of us fed, housed, and cared for starts to wobble. Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid payments are continuing for now, but staffing cuts and paused discretionary programs mean benefit verifications, SNAP/EBT processing, and other essential support functions are slowing — and delays can quickly become crises for people who have no financial or care buffer.

Advocates warn the longer the shutdown lasts, the more likely essential supports — like EBT food benefits — will be disrupted. Last week I wrote about how many people rely on EBT to survive, especially those of us who already have limited income. Now, with the shutdown stretching into November, those warnings have become reality as states prepare to pause SNAP benefits. For people living with disabilities who already face higher living costs and food insecurity, losing access to groceries isn’t an inconvenience — it’s an emergency.

This is not an abstract budget fight. It is a test of whether policy decisions protect the most vulnerable or force them to shoulder the cost. People with disabilities are not disposable, and every day without resolution puts real lives at risk. Community support and advocacy matter now more than ever: shutdowns may be a political strategy to some, but to us, it is a threat to survival.

My Thoughts

When it comes to education, just placing a student with a disability in a general classroom and hoping it works is not inclusion — it’s setting them up to struggle. People with disabilities need specific support, and teachers in regular education classrooms are not automatically trained to meet those needs. Without proper training, tools, and understanding, educators can’t truly support disabled students. Inclusion is not about putting us in the room and walking away — it’s about making sure we have the support to succeed once we’re in the room. And when federal oversight is weakened during a shutdown, the risk grows that students with disabilities get left behind because the systems that enforce accommodations and support are strained.

And as I already talked about, the longer this shutdown drags on, the more essential services we start to lose — especially for people who depend on programs like EBT and disability benefits to survive. This situation didn’t just happen overnight; it happened because political leaders couldn’t agree, and once again the people who have the least safety net are the ones paying the price. When the government can’t function, it’s not just some headline — it shows up in whether people can eat, whether students get support, and whether disabled people can access the services they depend on. We live day-to-day with systems that barely work when things are “normal,” so when the government shuts down, it doesn’t just inconvenience us — it threatens our stability.

Question to Consider

If people with disabilities are always the first to feel the impact when government services break down, what does that say about how our society values disabled lives?

Sources

• Social Security Administration — “Social Security and SSI payments will continue during the federal government shutdown; however, services like benefit verifications and customer-service operations may be delayed.” (cbsnews.com (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/social-security-government-shutdown-2025-impact-benefits-checks-services/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) • The Arc — “Core programs such as Medicaid and Medicare remain in place, but a prolonged shutdown adds uncertainty for programs like SNAP, housing inspections and new casework for people with disabilities.” (thearc.org (https://thearc.org/blog/federal-government-shutdown-what-people-with-disabilities-should-know/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) • AAPD — “About 80% of SNAP households include a child, a person with a disability or an older adult; despite that, SNAP benefit issuance for November is at risk if the shutdown continues.” (aapd.com (https://www.aapd.com/explainer-what-the-government-shutdown-means-for-snap-wic-and-disability-programs/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))