Author: Grace W. Dow

I was born in India and adopted by my moms. I was born prematurely with cerebral palsy. Early in life, I learned that medical care, therapy, and special education-aren’t signs of weakness. They’re what make it possible for disabled people to grow, learn, and be part of their communities. That’s why a new immigration rule… Continue reading My Life Defies the Public‑Charge Myth

CW: Ableism When I read Steve Way’s Time article, it was like he was talking directly to me. He’s promoting his TV show.  At the same time, he’s worried if he’ll have the care he needs next year. Sadly, millions of disabled people are worried about the same thing, including me. In the spring, Medicaid… Continue reading America Loves Our Stories, It Doesn’t Love Supporting Us

The Trump administration is freezing nearly $1.1 billion in Medicaid payments to Minnesota and California, over concerns that they need to prove claims are legitimate. The goal behind this, federal officials say, is to hold states accountable by making sure taxpayer dollars are spent properly. However, state leaders fear even temporary funding interruptions will negatively… Continue reading The Billion‑Dollar Freeze That Touches Real Lives

CW: Institutional Bias Today marks 36 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed. The anniversary is arriving at a time when the people the ADA is supposed to help are feeling the pressure in very real, personal ways. The ADA has always been about allowing disabled people to live their lives fully: to… Continue reading The ADA at 36: A Promise in Peril

CW: Institulization There’s a common thread in policy discussions on disability. Governments present cuts to home and community-based supports as difficult but necessary choices for the sake of long-term sustainability, even when the evidence shows those cuts make little difference to long-term spending. Australia recently announced a decrease in the funding of social and community… Continue reading More Than a Budget Line

Georgia is set to construct the state’s first new state psychiatric facility in decades as state officials say it is a critical move toward improving mental health care. This hospital will cost $409 million and will have 300 beds, all for patients who have been found not guilty by reason of insanity or incompetent to… Continue reading A Hospital A Memo A Movement 

CW: Ableism Jimothy, the raccoon currently winning hearts across the internet, has become an unlikely symbol of resilience. According to a recent Smithsonian Magazine article, the raccoon likely has a rare congenital spinal condition called “short spine syndrome” that gives him his distinctive short, rounded body. Wildlife experts say he looks fit, healthy, and strong… Continue reading Jimothy’s Acceptance Should Extend to Disabled People Too

CW: Institutional Bias The Department of Justice’s decision to stop enforcing its long-standing ADA guidance, at least while it re-examines those documents, might sound dry and technical, but it’s already causing worry among disabled people. The ADA hasn’t changed. The Olmstead decision is still in place. Yet, guidance has always bridged the gap between what… Continue reading The Freedom to Belong 

CW: Poverty & Food Food insecurity is a matter of life and death. For millions of disabled Americans, it’s a reality of daily life, especially for those living with serious mental illness. There are too many people choosing between food, healthcare, and housing. Stories like this are all around us. Somewhere there is a man… Continue reading An Empty Plate, an Unequal Burden

CW: Discrimination Colleges and universities often refer to themselves as places where opportunities are created. Nonetheless, disabled students and employees still encounter barriers on campus.According to Matthew Mattingly, retired multimedia director at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, these issues not only make things more difficult but also indicate how the whole system is failing by… Continue reading Every Curb Cut, Every Door, Every Day: What Disabled Students Carry