Author: Grace W. Dow

CW: Cancer Parents like Susan and Mike Browne have always thought about their sons’ future. They constantly figured out how to keep their sons safe, and how to ensure the world wouldn’t forget their two sons, who are profoundly autistic and can’t advocate for themselves. When Susan, who is now in her seventies, found out… Continue reading The Algorithm That Decides Our Safety 

CW: Institutionalization & Medical Care For 10 years, Nicholas Papadopoulos’s world was contained within the walls of Room 130 at Brown Health & Rehabilitation in Georgia. Papadopoulos has cerebral palsy and lived on his own until he developed cellulitis. Cellulitis is a bacterial infection. It can begin with a small cut or irritated skin. But… Continue reading After Ten Years Indoors, Freedom Begins With a Diet Soda and a Walk Outside

CW: Ableism Disability has entered cultural discussions in new ways, but the idea that it is trendy or cool to be disabled is unrealistic. I have cerebral palsy, and nothing about it is trendy or cool. I’m comfortable with my disability because I’ve had to be, but it is not cool. Cerebral palsy has never… Continue reading Disability Isn’t a Trend 

For many people, traveling is a way to explore new places, see family and friends, or enjoy a relaxing getaway. Disabled people like Lucy Robinson, are lucky if they can travel at all. Robinson relies on care funded by the National Health Service in the United Kingdom. She says it’s difficult to get approval to… Continue reading The Trips They Can’t Take

CW: Drug Overdose & Car Accident Ian Baer’s journey began with a diagnosis delivered by professionals who believed they already understood him. After a car accident in 1986, doctors told his mother he was unresponsive, using words like “vegetative.” But Ian was still there. He laughed at jokes, reacted to familiar voices, and understood far… Continue reading What We Notice When We Slow Down

Drones do all sorts of things now. They can spray fertilizer, fly over fields to check on crops, and find areas of land that need more nutrients. They also deliver packages and take stunning aerial photos and videos. But what if you wanted to fly a drone without using your hands? Christopher Hills, who has… Continue reading What It Means to Lift Off 

CW: Psychiatric Symptoms  The phrase “medical necessity” sounds straightforward. Something that is medically necessary helps someone stay safe and healthy. Unfortunately, insurance companies often disagree with medical professionals. Getting something that is needed is exhausting and frustrating. Instead of being about people, medical necessity is really about budgets. I’ve experienced this myself. Earlier this year,… Continue reading They Say It’s Not Necessary

CW: Discrimination Accountability doesn’t disappear overnight. It fades slowly, like the quiet dimming of a lightbulb. This is evident in the United States’s recent federal decision to get rid of the long-standing 7 percent disability hiring benchmark for federal contractors. For over a decade, this benchmark encouraged employers to take a look at their workforce… Continue reading Inclusion Shouldn’t Disappear in the Fine Print 

CW: Death Tributes have poured in since Dolly Parton’s passing. Many came from friends and fans who loved her music. But others shared how much they appreciated her passion for literacy and her belief that all children deserve books, even if they can’t read them in traditional ways. Dolly never had children herself. Yet, thanks… Continue reading A Legacy You Can Feel

Special education complaints are soaring nationwide. Families are growing more frustrated. A new national survey by the Council for Exceptional Children and the National Association of State Directors of Special Education, which collected responses from 33 states, found that written complaints rose nearly 48 percent in one school year. The number of students needing special… Continue reading America’s Special Ed Reckoning