Disability Community Forums Bring Navajo Communities Together
The Disability Community Forums were held on July 14, 2026 in Crownpoint, New Mexico, at Navajo Technical University and on July 15, 2026, in Shiprock, New Mexico, at the Phil Thomas Performing Arts Center. Community members gathered to share their voices, experiences, and recommendations for improving services and opportunities for individuals with disabilities across the Navajo Nation.
The forums provided an opportunity for attendees to speak directly to Navajo Nation presidential and elected office candidates about the issues that matter most to the disability community. The turnout was outstanding, and participants shared powerful personal stories and practical solutions based on their lived experiences.
Key topics discussed included:
- Improving access to quality medical facilities.
- Addressing challenges elders face in obtaining medical documentation due to limited healthcare records from earlier years.
- Expanding mental health services for veterans.
- Making Navajo Housing Authority homes more accessible for individuals with disabilities.
- Improving accessibility of Navajo Nation websites and online services.
- Increasing wages for healthcare workers.
- Encouraging local Chapter Houses to maintain emergency accommodation lists for community members with disabilities, from low- to high-risk needs.
- Developing retirement homes closer to Navajo communities.
- Investing in technology and infrastructure that improves access to electricity and water.
The presidential and council delegate candidates who attended had the opportunity to address community members in person, with their messages also reaching a broader audience through radio broadcasts.
Resource tables were available throughout both events, highlighting the services offered by the Native American Disability Law Center (NADLC). Meals were provided by NADLC, and gas cards were distributed to attendees who traveled long distances to participate.
NADLC Community & Government Liaison Hoskie Benally Jr. opened and closed each forum with inspiring remarks, emphasizing the importance of community voices in shaping policy and encouraging participants to continue advocating for disability rights and accessibility long after the election season.