Author: Grace W. Dow

CW: Ableism Rep. Sean Tarwater of Kansas testified last week in opposition to a move to ban tax credits for sheltered workshops that employ people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and pay less than the minimum wage. He explained that he felt the sheltered workshops were crucial. Tarwarter says sheltered workshops serve disabled people who… Continue reading People with Disabilities Deserve Community Inclusion

On Monday afternoon, Denver City Council member Chris Hinds arrived at a local dance theater prepared to discuss politics ahead of a municipal election. Unfortunately, the stage was inaccessible to Hinds, who uses a wheelchair. He is paralyzed from the chest down. Staff scrambled to find a solution. At first, they wanted to lift Hinds… Continue reading Inaccessibility Can Be “Humiliating” for People with Disabilities

CW: Depression Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania is receiving inpatient treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for clinical depression, his office announced Thursday. According to his chief of staff, Fetterman checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Wednesday night. A doctor met with Fetterman on Monday. The doctor recommended inpatient… Continue reading Why a Politician Receiving Mental Health Treatment Matters

Today is National Caregivers Day in the United States. Every year, it is observed on the third Friday in February. It is a day to recognize caregivers and their impact on the lives of disabled and elderly Americans. Since birth, I have required hands-on care due to Cerebral Palsy. It isn’t easy to need help… Continue reading National Caregivers Day

On Disability Advocacy Day, hundreds of people gathered in the rotunda of the state Capitol in Minnesota. Among the topics highlighted was the need for direct care workforce reimbursement rate increases. According to organizations that serve disabled people, there are over 53,000 job openings for direct support professionals and personal care attendants in the state.… Continue reading The Home Care Crisis in the North Star State

: Changes in state rules and processes are being encouraged by federal officials to improve competitive integrated employment among individuals with disabilities. Disabled people are still more likely to be unemployed than their non-disabled peers. 19.1 percent of disabled people in the United States worked in 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This… Continue reading NEON Initiative Hopes to Help Disabled People Find Employment

As today is Valentine’s Day, I wanted to write about romantic relationships as a person with Cerebral Palsy. It’s difficult for me to see myself as physically attractive. It has taken years for me to become comfortable with my disability. I think disabled people often don’t meet society’s traditional definition of beauty. I require help… Continue reading Romantic Relationships as a Disabled Person

CW: Death Rowan is three years old and has Cerebral Palsy. Engineering students at Mercer University in Macon, GA, are building him a car to use as another mobility aid. He currently uses a walker to get around. While this is a thoughtful gesture, the car won’t be practical for Rowan as he grows. The… Continue reading Healthcare Shouldn’t Be a Matter of Charity:

During his State of the Union address on Tuesday, President Biden urged Congress to invest heavily in home and community-based services nationwide. Biden advocated investing $400 billion in Medicaid home and community-based services in 2021 to improve access to people on waiting lists and bolster the workforce of direct support professionals. If passed, the Better… Continue reading More Funding for HCBS

It is challenging to set boundaries when you have Cerebral Palsy. When you rely on other people to shower and use the bathroom, privacy is not an option. Hiring a new PCA is uncomfortable initially. Imagine what it would be like to hire strangers to help you use the restroom, get dressed, or bathe. They… Continue reading Boundaries as a Disabled Person: