As we wind down this year, facing a whirlwind of change and uncertainty with the incoming administration, it’s hard to find that classic holiday cheer. And while Santa means well, and Oprah’s “Favorite Things” list still sparkles in our memories, we’re overdue for some real upgrades. (Let’s be honest—it’s been years since Oprah gifted cars to her audience.) So here we are, a community of people with disabilities, putting together a list Santa really needs to read.
Spoiler alert: festive trinkets won’t quite cut it.
Representation and Data that Counts Us In
Let’s kick off with some facts, Santa. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 1 in 4 U.S. adults (that’s over 70 million people) live with a disability. Yet, we’re often invisible in policy data and rarely represented in meaningful ways. It wasn’t until COVID-19’s impact became impossible to ignore that the world scrambled to acknowledge our needs. Now, Long COVID has been officially recognized as a disabling condition under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). But to truly meet our needs, we need quantitative and qualitative data that sees us, values us, and is made accessible to us.
Our Narratives, Our Voices
Santa, we’re tired of decisions made about us, without us. True equity starts when people with lived experience are not just sitting at decision-making tables, but at the head of them. It’s time to elevate our narratives and give people with disabilities the power to shape policies that directly impact our lives.
Access to Equitable Healthcare
Santa, here’s our “big ticket” item for the holidays: access, access, access! Not just to any healthcare, but to equitable healthcare. Only last year did the National Institutes of Health finally recognize people with disabilities as a population facing health disparities. The ADA was signed back in 1990, yet we’re still fighting for basic access to healthcare. Equity in healthcare doesn’t end at physical access; it’s about addressing the social determinants of health that can affect our ability to thrive. New Yorkers with physical disabilities are wishing for a statewide plan that addresses our unique health needs. Maybe you can dispatch your most creative elf to help the NY Department of Health come up with a plan that considers where we live, learn, work, and play, and ensures we’re supported at every step.
Inclusive Education and Employment Opportunities
Education opens doors, but for people with disabilities, those doors are often closed or too narrow to go through. A high school diploma shouldn’t be an achievement that eludes us due to lack of accessible education. Similarly, let’s make every month about hiring people with disabilities, not just October. Just like you did with Rudolph when you recognized what was different about him was also his superpower, celebrating our unique strengths and talents should be a year-round commitment.
Economic Stability: Raise Income, Reduce Poverty
We need financial empowerment, Santa. Far too many people with disabilities live below the poverty line, often surviving on incomes of under $15,000 a year. Let’s address this disparity head-on by improving income opportunities and changing the arcane outdated regulations that force us to impoverish ourselves to access the life sustaining home and community based care we need. Medical appointments and prescriptions go missed, not because we don’t need them, but because we can’t afford them. It’s not right, Santa!
Food Security
No holiday wish list is complete without food. But here’s the reality: too many in our community face food insecurity. Ensuring access to healthy food options would improve our well-being and bridge another gap we face year-round. Everyone wants a full belly and a jolly laugh, just like you Santa!
Solidarity Every Day, Not Just Once a Year
Santa, here’s what we need most of all—allies and advocates who stand with us daily, not just during Disability Awareness Month. Equitable living means continuous access to safe, accessible transportation, healthcare, and social support systems. And it means holding policymakers accountable for eradicating ableism and promoting true inclusion. This is the spirit of the season we need: one that takes intentional, transparent action toward equality. Happy Holidays!
Opinions expressed are solely those of the writer(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Able News at The Viscardi Center and/or The Viscardi Center.