Author: Grace W. Dow

A $1.2 trillion federal budget deal contains additional funding for special education and vocational rehabilitation. However, many other programs that serve people with disabilities were not as fortunate. The funding bill approved by President Joe Biden late last month comes almost halfway through the federal fiscal year. Congress has spent months relying on a series… Continue reading Disability Programs Need More Funding

CW: Rape & Death Ashley Vigil was 31 years old when she died last month. Vigil had Rett Syndrome. She was unable to walk, talk, or care for herself. According to The International Rett Syndrome Foundation, Rett syndrome is a rare inherited neurological condition that affects girls and, in rare cases, boys. It involves many… Continue reading Ashley’s Law

President Biden declared April as Care Workers Recognition Month. According to the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute, the direct care workforce consists of approximately 4.8 million workers. These include almost 2.8 million home care workers, over 718,500 workers in residential settings, approximately 448,000 nursing assistants employed in nursing homes, and nearly one million workers in other settings,… Continue reading Care Work Is Invaluable

Yesterday was Easter. After visiting my grandmother, I enjoyed a lovely lunch with my mom. I enjoyed the delicious ham, baked potatoes, applesauce, and cupcakes for dessert. After getting home, I noticed a post on Facebook from a mother who doesn’t give her children Easter baskets and little gifts for some special occasions. I thought… Continue reading Memories

CW: Death Kevin Carlson,62, loves WWE. He recently attended an event in San Jose, California. He could go to the event because home healthcare staff went with him. Carlson has cerebral palsy. He is ventilator-dependent. During the event, he could have his catheter tended to and his tracheostomy suctioned. Carlson’s doctor, Clarissa Kripke, says this… Continue reading Caring for the Whole Person

Earlier this month, I emailed the president of the local community college. I emailed her because the disability services office wasn’t meeting my needs. I had given it much thought before I sent her an email. However, I didn’t know what else to do. I didn’t want to come across as a student who was… Continue reading Learning to Advocate

CW: Death Lately, I’ve noticed nondisabled people arguing about disabled people’s needs on social media. There were arguments about using DoorDash or other delivery apps, which led to a discussion about disabled people’s lives. People don’t understand how complicated living with a disability can be. Some posts were from well-intentioned people suggesting that disabled people… Continue reading Unsolicited Advice Is Not Helpful

In an increasingly polarized society, leadership in Virginia’s political branches rarely agrees, particularly on budget issues. One area where Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin and Virginia Democrats appear to agree is on what advocates describe as an unprecedented investment in the state’s disability waiver system. It’s a crisp March afternoon, and Brad Kutner is getting a… Continue reading Investing in Virginia’s HCBS Services

CW: Skin Shock Therapy More than two years after a ban was overturned in court, federal officials are attempting to prohibit the use of devices which administer electric shocks to treat behavioral challenges in persons with developmental disabilities. Earlier this week, the Food and Drug Administration proposed a ban on electrical stimulation devices used to… Continue reading Is a Ban Coming For Skin Shock Therapy?

CW: Murder, Rape, & Death A Black, disabled Georgia man, who was convicted nearly three decades ago for murdering his ex-girlfriend and other crimes, was executed on Wednesday despite proof that he was intellectually disabled. Willie James Pye, 59, was pronounced dead at 11:03 p.m. in the Jackson State Prison last Wednesday after receiving an… Continue reading Was the Execution of a Disabled Man Unconstitutional?