Disability advocates rally in front of Alabama State House

Disability Advocacy Day held outside the Alabama State House, Wednesday, February 25, 2026 – Photo from WAKA Action 8 News

Today on the Alabama State House steps, people with disabilities from across the state, family members and advocates gathered to promote Disability Advocacy Day.

They are highlighting key legislative issues impacting their community.

Their efforts are called SOAR, which stands for Supporting Outreach and Relationships.

Disability organizations including the ARC of Alabama, Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program, the Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, the UAB Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and The Alabama Council on Developmental Disabilities are joining forces to ensure the voices of people with disabilities are heard.

Speakers included Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), a long-time champion for disability rights, and Miss Auburn University Ashlyn Powers, whose platform focuses on inclusion for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

They hope lawmakers are listening.

“We’ve realized in the past that coming as a group instead of an individual, they seem to listen more and understand these laws they are passing and how it affects many instead of one,” ARC of Alabama Executive Director Tim Cooper said.

They support several issues, including: Community living, accessibility, abuse and neglect, supported decision making, employment, special education, assistive technology, voting rights, healthcare and housing.