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Independent Living News & Policy from the National Council on Independent Living

Disability Integration Act Essay Contest for Young Adults

Your essay could win you a trip to Washington, D.C. to meet with Members of Congress about the Disability Integration Act!

2018 Disability Integration Act Essay Guidelines

The Disability Integration Act (DIA) is a bill that introduced by Senator Schumer in the Senate and Representative Sensenbrenner in the House to address the fundamental issue that people who need Long Term Services and Supports can be forced into nursing homes and other institutions in order to receive the assistance they need. This means that people are losing their homes, family and freedom simply because they need assistance with daily living. The legislation (S. 910 / H.R. 2472) would ensure that seniors and people with disabilities are able to receive home and community-based services as an alternative to institutionalization.

NCIL logo - National Council on Independent LivingIn 500 – 2000 words tell us what the Disability Integration Act means to you and how your life will be impacted when the bill passes.

Extended Deadline: Tuesday, June 26, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern

For any questions, contact [email protected].

Essay Contest Rules 2018

Eligibility: Young adults between the ages of 13 and 22 years are eligible to participate in this contest. Young adults do not need to be disabled, but must be able to demonstrate how the Disability Integration Act would impact them. 

Length: Your essay should be at least 500 words but should not exceed 2000 words (word count does not apply to the list of sources).

Content and Judging: Successful entries will answer all aspects of the prompt and demonstrate an understanding of the Disability Integration Act. Essays must be the original work of the young adult. All decisions of the judges are final.

Sources: Essays need not include additional resources, but if a young adult chooses to use sources, the sources must be formatted consistently throughout using any citation format the individual prefers.

Submission:

  • All entries must be emailed to [email protected]. In the body of the email the entrant must include their name, age, email address, and phone number. The essay should be attached in a Microsoft Word file with a title. Entries must be typed, double-spaced, in 12-point Calibri or an equivalent font with a one-inch margin on all sides of the page.
  • To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact [email protected].
  • Your essay will be disqualified if it does not meet the requirements or is submitted after the submission date of 11:59 p.m. Eastern on June 26, 2018.

Prizes: The writer of the winning essay will receive an all-expense paid trip to the nation’s capital from anywhere in the U.S. for the winner and one other person (for minors, the other person must be a parent or guardian) to attend the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) Conference from July 22 to July 26, 2018. The winner will have the opportunity attend a rally on Disability Rights and attend legislative meetings to discuss the importance of the Disability Integration Act. The winner will also receive $200.

Your essay will become the property of the National Council on Independent Living once it is submitted, and will not be returned.

Thank you for your essay submission and good luck!

See also: Disability Integration Act Art Contest for children 12 and under.