Author: Grace W. Dow

CW: Sexual Assault, Abuse & Neglect Needing another person to care for you can leave someone extremely vulnerable. For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, caregivers enter the most ordinary and private parts of life—places most people rarely have to think about letting someone else enter. That tension sits at the center of a lawsuit… Continue reading What Happens When Care Is Not Safe

There is something uncomfortable about the way we talk about disabled children when money enters the conversation. A child becomes a claimant. Their care becomes a cost. Their diagnosis becomes a potential financial incentive, something a parent might pursue because apparently there is money to be made in having a disabled child. Before long, the … Continue reading The Child Behind the Benefits Statistic

More disabled students are being identified in America’s public schools. To many people, that feels like progress. According to new data from the U.S. Department of Education, disabled students  now make up 19% of the nearly 50 million children enrolled in public schools. About 15% are served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA),… Continue reading I’m Grateful for My Education, but Disabled Students Deserve Better

CW: Death & Gun Violence When someone has a gun, survival can come down to seconds. At school, students are told to run, hide and get to safety as quickly as possible. But “run and hide” is not an option for many disabled people. That is what I keep thinking about after the shooting at… Continue reading When Running for Your Life Isn’t an Option

On Monday, I felt unusually spastic during my physical therapy appointment. I told my physical therapist that I was discouraged. He asked me why I felt discouraged. It was hard to put into words exactly why. However, the more I thought about it, the more I started to understand why I was discouraged. Living with… Continue reading When Physical Therapy Reminds Me I’m Tired of Being Disabled

CW: Neglect Twelve nursing homes in Massachusetts are facing the loss of their licenses. One of them is in my hometown. On Tuesday, state regulators moved to revoke the licenses of all 12 facilities operated by RegalCare, following reporting by the Boston Globe Spotlight Team about deteriorating conditions at the chain’s Massachusetts nursing homes.  The… Continue reading Better Care Isn’t Enough

Like many Minnesotans, Niraphanh Insomphou’s family came to the state looking for safety. Her parents fled Laos in the 1970s and built a life in Minnesota. Her siblings eventually became U.S. citizens. Insomphou, who has intellectual and developmental disabilities and cannot speak, did not. For nearly 40 years, she has lived in group homes, with… Continue reading For Disabled Immigrants, Medicaid Is About More Than Health Care

CW: Suicide, Mental Health, & Death Ever since I learned of RJ Mitte’s tragic suicide, I have been thinking about how cerebral palsy has affected my mental health. By age 20, I developed both depression and anxiety. I know firsthand how heavy those struggles can become while navigating life with a disability. With medication, family… Continue reading I Am Allowed to Be Here

CW: Suicide, Mental Health, & Death The entertainment industry is mourning the loss of Breaking Bad star RJ Mitte. Best known for portraying Walter White Jr., Mitte was a powerful advocate for disability rights while living with cerebral palsy. Mitte died by suicide on Monday at age 34. As a person with cerebral palsy, I… Continue reading RJ Mitte’s Legacy and the Struggles Many People With Cerebral Palsy Carry in Silence

When most people decide to go to see a show, they don’t have to think much about all of the logistics involved. They buy tickets, make plans with their friends, and figure out where to park. But for a disabled person like Jill McAuley, preparing for a concert begins long before the first song plays.… Continue reading Getting Through the Door Isn’t Enough