Celebrating the ADA’s 32nd Anniversary
Source: Marcus Johnson / July 19, 2022
July 26 marks the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the civil rights law that has changed the lives of people with disabilities in America. For starters, as a man with a disability who uses a wheelchair, I’m able to ride public transportation on buses, trains, and para-transit. This allows me to travel for work and leisure, and to move freely and independently. Because of the ADA, I went from loading myself at the back of the bus as if I were Rosa Parks to entering the front of the bus.
To continue reading this article, please click here > > > >
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.
Different colors evoke different emotional and physical responses and, perhaps, especially so among certain people with disabilities. Maybe that’s why color therapy, also known as chromotherapy, has become an increasingly popular alternative wellness method. But beyond the walls of color-coded medical facilities and therapy centers, the concept of intentionally tapping into colors can easily be applied at home. So, grab a paint brush and coat your walls with the best paint colors for people with disabilities.
Discriminatory comments made last year by Candace Owens, a popular political analyst, have resurfaced following fresh criticism by actress Christina Applegate. Applegate, who has been vocal about her multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis, just recently discovered the previously released video-commentary of Owens spewing disparaging remarks about Kim Kardashian’s Skims’ adaptive undergarment line and, more specifically, the entire disability community.
Disability advocates are encouraging allies and the community at-large to put their best foot forward on World Down Syndrome Day. The call-to-action is simple: just wear colorful, mismatched socks on March 21. The purpose of this fun fashion statement is to create much-needed conversations surrounding Down syndrome. About 1 in every 800 babies is born with Down syndrome, according to Down Syndrome International.
Shopping options for adaptive products just got a little better! You see, following a downturn in sales, QVC, a televised shopping network, is strategically positioning a celebrity spokesperson aligned with the disability community to help boost sales, specifically of QVC’s adaptive product line. Actress, author and disability advocate Selma Blair will serve as the new QVC Brand Ambassador for Accessibility.