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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body bgcolor="#FAFAFA" lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;background:#FAFAFA;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td valign=top style='background:#FAFAFA;padding:6.75pt 0in 6.75pt 0in'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=600 style='width:6.25in;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td width=600 valign=top style='width:6.25in;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div align=center><table 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valign=top style='background:white;padding:6.75pt 0in 6.75pt 0in;background:cover;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;background-size: cover;background-position-x:50%;background-position-y:50%' id=templateBody><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=600 style='width:6.25in;border-collapse:collapse;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><tr><td width=600 valign=top style='width:6.25in;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='max-width:6.25in;border-collapse:collapse;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;min-width: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:6.75pt 0in 0in 0in;max-width:100%;min-width: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;float:left'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;margin-left:-2.25pt;margin-right:-2.25pt;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;word-break:break-word'><tr><td width=600 valign=top style='width:6.25in;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;margin-left:-2.25pt;margin-right:-2.25pt'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:0in 13.5pt 6.75pt 13.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center;line-height:150%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><strong><span style='font-size:16.5pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#202020'>Leading Disability Organizations: President Trump’s Blame of Deadly Plane Crash on Disabled Federal Workers Is Baseless, Irresponsible</span></strong><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#202020'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#202020'>For Immediate Release: January 30, 2025<br>Contact: Jess Davidson at <a href="mailto:jdavidson@aapd.com"><span style='color:#007C89'>jdavidson@aapd.com</span></a>; 202-975-0960<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#202020'>WASHINGTON D.C. - In remarks today at the White House, President Trump cast potential blame for the tragic and deadly plane crash that occurred last night near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on people with disabilities employed by the Federal Aviation Administration.<br><br>Soon after the President’s comments, multiple news agencies <a href="https://aapd.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=08dab5cd58ad9250c3f56519f&id=465eaf4598&e=27b846664b"><span style='color:#007C89'>reported</span></a> that the air traffic control tower was understaffed at the time of the crash. Despite these reports, the White House has <a href="https://aapd.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=08dab5cd58ad9250c3f56519f&id=e85603fd68&e=27b846664b"><span style='color:#007C89'>continued to double down on their baseless claims</span></a>.<br><br>In response,<strong><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> the American Association of People with Disabilities, American Council of the Blind, Autistic Self Advocacy Network, Disability Rights, Education and Defense Fund, United Spinal Association, National Federation of the Blind, and other leading disability rights organizations</span></strong> issued the following statement:<br><br>The President’s remarks today suggesting the deadly crash of Flight 5342 may have been the fault of public servants with disabilities are irresponsible, disparaging, and wrong. It is extremely inappropriate for the President to use this tragedy as an opportunity to advance his anti-diversity hiring agenda. The focus of the federal government and the entire nation should be on the emergency response, a thorough investigation, and most of all, supporting the families and communities who lost their loved ones in this tragedy.<br><br>People with disabilities proudly serve our nation through government service in every federal department and agency. Disabled employees, like non-disabled employees, are hired because they meet the qualifications needed to do the job. The Federal Aviation Administration has rigorous standards for hiring Air Traffic Controllers and all other FAA employees.<br><br>Diversity hiring initiatives seek to expand the pool of potential qualified talent for a role – they do not supersede the qualifications and skills that the role requires. The implication that people are being hired to do a job for which they are unqualified is an unfounded lie that further reinforces harmful stereotypes against disabled people. <br><br>“The President is deliberately spreading falsehoods to demonize the quarter of American adults who live with disabilities rather than directing federal resources towards ensuring such a devastating tragedy never happens again. This is part of a broader coordinated attack on civil rights and equal opportunity across government. These attacks do nothing to keep Americans safe and actually threaten our ability to ensure safety by building the strongest possible aviation workforce,” <strong><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>said American Association of People with Disabilities President and CEO Maria Town</span></strong><b><br><br><strong><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Scott Thornhill, the Executive Director of the American Council of the Blind, stated, </span></strong></b>“The tragic accident that occurred last night near Reagan Washington National Airport is one we all are deeply saddened about. This is not a time for political posturing or speculation. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who devastatingly lost their lives. We strongly denounce any insinuation that hiring individuals with disabilities had any part in this horrific event.”<br><br>“One of the biggest factors keeping people with disabilities out of the workforce is baseless stigma around our ability to do our jobs. Despite ample data showing the capability and productivity of disabled workers, disclosing a disability still makes job applicants 26% less likely to even get a preliminary interview. Programs like the one President Trump attacked have been part of the federal government’s work to eliminate that stigma. It is deeply disappointing to see our government now deciding instead to make it worse,” <strong><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>said Colin Killick, the Executive Director of Autistic Self Advocacy Network</span></strong><br><br>“The President’s harmful speculation unfairly targets disabled workers and reinforces dangerous and baseless stereotypes,” <strong><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>added Nicole Bohn, Executive Director of the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund.</span></strong> “Disability is not a liability, and these narratives only serve to fuel discrimination, exclusion, and stigma—particularly for disabled BIPOC workers who already face compounded barriers in employment. Right now, the focus must be on supporting the families and communities affected by this tragedy and ensuring a fact-based investigation—not on scapegoating disabled people who belong in every workplace, including aviation and public safety.” <br><br>“The cause of the terrible plane crash at DCA last night remains unknown,” s<strong><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>aid Marlene Sallo, Executive Director of the National Disability Rights Network.</span></strong> “Now is the time to thoroughly investigate what caused this accident and support the families who lost loved ones. It is not the time to blame or further stigmatize people with disabilities.”<br><br><strong><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, stated, </span></strong>“Blind Americans share in our nation’s mourning for the lives lost in last night’s tragic accident. We are shocked that the President of the United States would reinforce unfounded misconceptions of disability by codifying them in the Keeping Americans Safe in Aviation executive order. We know that people with disabilities are among the best and brightest. We also know that our focus today and in the days to come should be on the lives lost not the misunderstanding of the lives of people with disabilities.”<br><br><strong><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The National Organization of Nurses with Disabilities (NOND), said,</span></strong> “NOND dramatically and strongly disagrees with the statement made by the federal administration that people with disabilities create unsafe conditions for others. The government’s statement is appalling, dehumanizing and blatantly discriminatory. NOND supports DEI which is crucial to promoting the full inclusion of marginalized populations including people with disabilities. Research indicates that with age the incidence of disability and chronic health conditions increases. Disability is not about those of us who are disabled now; it is about our society at large.” <br><br>“Blaming people with disabilities for the deadly crash at DCA is both misleading and deeply misguided. Individuals with disabilities are hired under already stringent standards due to existing biases, and when we secure employment, it is because we have clearly demonstrated our ability to perform the job with excellence,” <strong><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>says United Spinal Association President & CEO Vincenzo Piscopo.</span></strong> “As a person with a disability myself, I can say without hesitation that I have proudly and consistently contributed value in every role I have held. To suggest otherwise is not only unfounded but also undermines the contributions of millions of disabled professionals who excel in their fields every day.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#202020'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#202020'>This statement is provided on behalf of the following organizations:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#202020'><a href="https://aapd.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=08dab5cd58ad9250c3f56519f&id=ddf558dffd&e=27b846664b"><span style='color:#007C89'>American Association of People with Disabilities</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#202020'><a href="https://aapd.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=08dab5cd58ad9250c3f56519f&id=a18857eb05&e=27b846664b"><span style='color:#007C89'>American Council of the Blind</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#202020'><a href="https://aapd.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=08dab5cd58ad9250c3f56519f&id=63c57e5355&e=27b846664b"><span style='color:#007C89'>Autistic Self Advocacy Network </span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#202020'><a href="https://aapd.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=08dab5cd58ad9250c3f56519f&id=02f34a7b33&e=27b846664b"><span style='color:#007C89'>Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#202020'><a href="https://aapd.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=08dab5cd58ad9250c3f56519f&id=89bc038a1c&e=27b846664b"><span style='color:#007C89'>Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law </span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#202020'><a href="https://aapd.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=08dab5cd58ad9250c3f56519f&id=e9eb65c443&e=27b846664b"><span style='color:#007C89'>Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#202020'><a href="https://aapd.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=08dab5cd58ad9250c3f56519f&id=5c3e44fb0b&e=27b846664b"><span style='color:#007C89'>National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#202020'><a href="https://aapd.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=08dab5cd58ad9250c3f56519f&id=f4f54c1a40&e=27b846664b"><span style='color:#007C89'>National Disability Rights Network</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#202020'><a href="https://aapd.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=08dab5cd58ad9250c3f56519f&id=5279aac370&e=27b846664b"><span style='color:#007C89'>National Federation of the Blind</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#202020'><a href="https://aapd.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=08dab5cd58ad9250c3f56519f&id=d41e366fca&e=27b846664b"><span style='color:#007C89'>National Organization of Nurses with Disabilities </span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#202020'><a href="https://aapd.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=08dab5cd58ad9250c3f56519f&id=50f99c2f05&e=27b846664b"><span style='color:#007C89'>Not Dead Yet</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#202020'><a href="https://aapd.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=08dab5cd58ad9250c3f56519f&id=0f7e27187b&e=27b846664b"><span style='color:#007C89'>United Spinal Association</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;min-width: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:6.75pt 0in 0in 0in;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;margin-left:-2.25pt;margin-right:-2.25pt;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><tr><td width=600 valign=top style='width:6.25in;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;max-width:100%;min-width: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;float:left'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;margin-left:-2.25pt;margin-right:-2.25pt;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;word-break:break-word'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:0in 13.5pt 6.75pt 13.5pt'><h1 align=center style='text-align:center'><strong><span style='font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'>***</span></strong><o:p></o:p></h1><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><em><span style='font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#202020'>The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change, increasing the political and economic power of people with disabilities. As a national cross-disability rights organization, AAPD advocates for full civil rights for the over 70 million Americans with disabilities by promoting equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation. To learn more, visit the AAPD website: <a href="https://aapd.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=08dab5cd58ad9250c3f56519f&id=0211356a5c&e=27b846664b" target="_blank"><span style='color:#007C89'>www.aapd.com</span></a>.</span></em><span style='font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#202020'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;min-width: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><tr><td style='padding:13.5pt 13.5pt 13.5pt 13.5pt;min-width: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;border-collapse:collapse;border:none;min-width: 100%;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%'><tr><td style='border:none;border-top:solid #666666 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