Barbie has unveiled two new additions to its expanding range of diverse and inclusive dolls: a blind Barbie and the first Black Barbie with Down syndrome. These dolls are part of Barbie’s 2024 Fashionistas Line, a collection known for its variety, featuring over 175 different skin tones, eye colors, hair textures, body types, disabilities, and fashion styles. This significant step forward showcases Mattel’s commitment to reflecting the world’s diversity and promoting inclusion.

In a decisive move to improve services for the elderly and people with disabilities, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has enacted the Tennessee Disability and Aging Act. This landmark legislation, which garnered unanimous bipartisan support, merges the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability (TCAD) with the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD) to create the new Department of Disability and Aging (DDA).

Georgia is poised to become a notable example in the movement to end the subminimum wage for disabled workers, with a significant legislative effort led by Republicans, a departure from the commonly Democrat-led initiatives in this arena. The state’s recent legislative actions include the passage of a bill by the Georgia House aiming to abolish the practice that allows employers to pay disabled workers less than the minimum wage, affecting some 40,000 individuals across the country. This bill, championed by GOP state Rep. Sharon Cooper alongside bipartisan support, highlights a shift in the political landscape concerning disability rights.

In 2019, Mary Hauff and fellow parents founded the Minnesota Inclusive Higher Education Consortium to advocate for students with intellectual disabilities, like her daughter Jean. Their efforts led to the allocation of $2 million, by the Minnesota Legislature in 2023, for inclusive higher education, ensuring equal access and meaningful credentials for these students.

Juno, the trailblazing company in the U.S. child disability insurance market, has successfully completed an $8.5 million Series A funding round. Led by Spero Ventures and joined by Floating Point, Newark Ventures, and WVV Capital, this funding round increases Juno’s total capital to $12.5 million.

The study indicates that 12.5 million Americans may experience changes in their lung impairment classification. For instance, an additional 430,000 Black people would be diagnosed with moderate to severe COPD, while 1.1 million fewer white patients would receive such diagnoses.

National Siblings Day, celebrated each year on April 10th, is a day set aside to honor the unique relationships between siblings. It’s an opportunity to reflect on the bonds of love, friendship, and the deep connections that develop over a lifetime. For families with a sibling who has a disability, this day carries additional significance, offering a chance to acknowledge the distinctive experiences these relationships bring, as well as the mutual support and understanding that flourishes within them.

An article by Hansi Lo Wang with NPR is a must read for everyone with a disability. The recent Census Bureau proposal aims to modify the methodology for estimating the number of people with disabilities in the United States. The proposal has sparked debates among disability advocates who express concerns about potential changes to the disability questions on the annual American Community Survey, fearing it could impact the accuracy of government statistics and allocation of federal funding.

At a Minor League Baseball game in South Carolina, 13-year-old Sawyer McCarthy moved the audience to tears with his rendition of the national anthem. Sawyer’s performance at the Columbia Fireflies on April 28 went viral, amassing over 5.5 million views on Facebook. His mother, Brianna McCarthy, expressed immense pride as Sawyer’s voice resonated globally, uniting people from various countries.