The Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act (H.R. 1520 / S. 1782) prohibits discrimination on the basis of mental or physical disability in cases of organ transplants.

This legislation is named after Charlotte Woodward, an adult woman with Down syndrome who received a heart transplant in 2012. For more than a decade, Charlotte has advocated tirelessly with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) to ensure others with disabilities have the same access to organ transplant.  AAKP joins Charlotte and the NDSS in support of this legislation and was honored to have Charlotte present at this year’s AAKP Public Policy Summit (see below for a link to her presentation). 

Individuals with disabilities continue to face both willful and unintended discrimination in organ transplantation that threatens their ability to access health care when they need it most.  This legislation upholds, clarifies, and builds upon rights established in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Sec. 504 of the Rehab Act, and Sec. 1557 of the Affordable Care Act prohibiting covered entities from determining that an individual is ineligible to receive a transplant, refuse to refer the individual to an organ transplant center, refuse to place an individual on a waiting list, or decline insurance coverage for a transplant or related service based solely on the fact that the individual has a disability.

Over 40 states have passed state-level legislation prohibiting discrimination based solely on disability in the organ transplant system, but Federal action is needed to ensure that all individuals with disabilities have access to an organ transplant system free from discrimination. 

H.R. 1520 was passed in the House on June 24, 2025, with widespread bipartisan support. Please personalize the letter to your right to ask your U.S. Senators to support their companion bill, S. 1782.

For additional information:

• Watch heart transplant recipient Charlotte Woodward present at AAKP’s 8th Annual Public Policy Summit here.
• View a list of organizations in support of this legislation, led by the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) here.
• Read the NDSS letter to the Senate that AAKP signed on to in October 2024 here.