When Bureaucracy Punishes the Disabled
Not even a week has passed since I was told I had my nighttime PCA hours back. Now, I have another hurdle to deal with. I found out yesterday that I owe the Social Security Administration more than $1,000 due to an overpayment that occurred last December. To say this knocked the wind out of…
This Disability Pride Month, I’m Not Proud. I’m Exhausted.
Today is the first day of disability pride month. My understanding of cerebral palsy has changed over time. I am comfortable with my disability. However, I can’t say that I am proud of my disability. I spent much of the last two months fighting with MassHealth after they took away my night PCA hours entirely.…
When Police Ignore Disability
CW: Police Brutality & Death In Medford, Oregon, the city’s decision to settle a disability-related lawsuit marks a significant moment. However, it is also part of a broader narrative concerning the treatment of disabled people within the criminal justice system. The case centers on John Lee Malaer, who was arrested on July 11, 2019. He…
26 Years in America
I came home to America 26 years ago today, on June 29, 2000. Massachusetts will always be my home. I grew up here, and it’s the only home I’ve ever known. My family is the only one I’ve ever known. From the day I arrived, it was clear that I was cherished deeply. Many of…
Belonging Is a Right, Not a Reward
CW: Ableism Disabled people have been made to prove their worth for too long. Society sees value in work, earnings, or productivity, and anyone who doesn’t meet these standards is expected to justify their value in society, in the community, in their family, and even in their own home. That’s not only unfair, but it…
Relief, Roadblocks, and Resilience
CW: Institutional Bias Yesterday, after two months of grueling work, anxiety, and frustration, I received a notice from MassHealth informing me that I’d been approved for 60 PCA hours per week. Relief washed over me like a deep, sudden wave. It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I’m glad I kept…
What Happens When School Becomes a Warning, Not a Welcome
CW: Exclusion & Race A child’s first day of school is a very exciting day for most families. Parents drop off their children with the hope that they will learn, make friends and have fun. But for one family who was interviewed for a new report published by the Education Law Center in Pennsylvania, that…
Children Can’t Wait for Washington
This week, the Department of Education buzzed with talk of the federal overhaul amid a summer heat wave. There are plans to reorganize two key functions of the central department: special education and the protection of students’ civil rights. Disability services, currently housed within the Department of Education, will be moved to the Department of…
Accommodations Represent Equal Access, Not Special Treatment
CW: Ableism In recent years, disability accommodations have become a heated debate on college and university campuses. A recent article, The Law School Accommodations Racket, has sparked renewed interest in a larger issue impacting higher education: What is the role of a college or university in providing accommodations for disabled students and ensuring that access…
The Freedom Lois and Elaine Fought For Lives in My Story
CW: Institutionalization Yesterday marked the 27th anniversary of the Olmstead decision, a landmark ruling that guaranteed disabled people’s right to live in the most integrated setting possible. This anniversary is more important than ever. The U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) has issued a new opinion that puts the future of…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Follow My Blog
Get new content delivered directly to your inbox.