Children were more likely to be diagnosed with developmental disabilities during the Covid-19 pandemic than they were the year before, Dell is Autism Inclusion Company of the Year, money meant for children with disabilities is being pocketed by government agencies, and more news for the week ending July 15, 2023.

Spotlight

Kids’ developmental disability diagnoses became more common during pandemic, but autism rates held steady, CDC report says A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that rates of intellectual disability and autism diagnoses held relatively steady, but an overall change was driven by increases in diagnoses of other developmental delays. (CNN.com)

Employment

Employment among people with disabilities hits post-pandemic high The number of employed individuals with disabilities climbed by approximately 175,000 in June to 7.6 million, higher than at any point since June 2008. (nbcnews.com)

Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion The 2023 Disability Equality Index Report, the benchmarking tool for disability inclusion in business, is out!

And check out Disability:IN Announces 2023 Inclusion Awards with Winners in 12 Categories: Walgreens Boots Alliance Named Employer of the Year; Dell Technologies Named Autism Inclusion Company of the Year

New York

NYC teachers get raises. Physical and occupational therapists still wait Teachers and other members of their union approved a contract this week, while school-based occupational and physical therapists are holding out for their own deal. (chalkbeat.com)

‘Hometown hero:’ YMCA employee selected as 2023 Special Olympics athlete This is nice: The Eastside Family YMCA in Penfield welcomes home Amanda Vito, a childcare teacher there who took part in the golf rounds of this year’s Special Olympics in Berlin. (Rochesterfirst.com)

National

Foster care agencies take thousands of dollars owed to kids Nationwide, government agencies take money owed to foster children with disabilities or a deceased parent, The Marshall Project and NPR found. Most kids never know it’s gone. (themarshallproject.org)

Mass. has long collected federal benefits meant for children in its care. Some lawmakers want to change that. Thousands of children in Department of Children and Families custody have had most of their federal benefits diverted by the agency into the state’s coffers. (bostonglobe.com)

Opinion

I benefitted from disability rights – but how can I celebrate? A White House event celebrating the 33rd anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act has the Independent’s Washington bureau chief reflecting on his disability, the need to cover disability rights and more. (independent.co.uk)