Beyond Politics: Why Words About Disability Matter to Real People
CW: Ableism Donald Trump has recently faced strong criticism after he said that people with learning disabilities should not be president, specifically mentioning California Gov. Gavin Newsom who has dyslexia. In remarks to reporters, Trump stated that while he supports people with learning disabilities in general, he does not want “my president” to have one. …
Who Gets to Park, and Who Gets Left Out?
Abuse of disability parking placards is a challenge that has been affecting cities across the United States for years. The recent case involving the San Francisco Police Department also shows the depth of the situation when medical privacy, disability ratings of the veterans, and employment expectations clash. What may look like a simple instance of…
Because No One Deserves a Bathroom Floor
Airports throughout the United States are preparing for a major shift in accessibility, after years of lobbying by disabled travelers and their families. New regulations require adult-sized, height-adjustable changing tables in private, accessible family restrooms at large and medium airports. This is a long-overdue fix, as many disabled adults and older children cannot use infant-sized…
When Saying “I Do” Means Losing the Care You Need
The BBC’s We Might Regret This highlights a difficult reality: for many disabled people, love and long-term relationships come with consequences that most couples never face. Kyla Harris, who co-created and stars in the series, has been with her partner for eight years. Unfortunately, they don’t live together because doing so could put her disability…
Waiting in a Hospital Bed for a Life That Should Be Theirs
CW: Institulization The story of a disabled woman forced into a nursing home against her will has resonated with many who advocate for disability rights. This case is both shocking and familiar, highlighting a disturbing trend that disabled people and their supporters have warned about for years. When a member of the United Kingdom’s House…
A Cross‑Border Crisis for Disabled People and Their Families
Disabled people and advocates in Nova Scotia say they still feel uneasy even after the provincial government canceled its planned cuts to disability support programs. Disabled people and their families who rely on day programs, respite services, and other services see the reversal as necessary but not comforting, since it highlights how much these essential…
The Price of Independence: What Disabled Americans Sacrifice to Work
CW: Poverty Across the country, disabled Americans face the same obstacle. Whenever they try to build a career, save money, or accept a better job, the systems meant to help them threaten to take away the care they need to survive. Iowa’s Medicaid income limits are one example, but this issue is national, structural, and…
Medicaid Was Never Just a Budget Line
Lawmakers have long recognized how vital Medicaid is for older adults and disabled people. Yet recent actions show that many were willing to support policies that would strip coverage from those who need it the most. Medicaid is not just a line item in a budget; it is the foundation that helps millions of people…
The Accommodation Debate and the Future of Higher Education
CW: Ableism The debate over disability accommodations on college campuses has become increasingly heated as more students seek them. At top universities like Brown and Harvard, one in five students now receives some form of accommodations. This sharp increase has led many longtime professors to say that the landscape of higher education has fundamentally changed. …
The Overlooked Disability Crisis in Policing
CW: Police Brutality, Suicide, & Death On March 1, a tragedy unfolded in Columbia, Maryland, highlighting a painful contradiction in our emergency-response system. Alex LaMorie, a 25-year-old man with autism, did what society says to do in a crisis: he asked for help. Minutes later, he was dead. That day, LaMorie was struggling with suicidal…
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