Disability news, July 2024, by country

People with Disabilities Taking Action on Climate Change An easy-read primer for disabled people to take action on climate change. (Jul, HPOD)

Bridgerton' season 3 captures disability, neurodiversity in regency era. (Jun, ABC News)

Netflix Shows with Disabled Actors and Characters – updated for 2024. (May, Disability Horizons)

Fashion, Disability, and Co-design a collection of illustrated case studies edited by Grace Jun:

“engagement with disability communities to co-design clothing and accessories can lead to functional, wearable solutions for people of all abilities without compromising style.” (Apr, Bloomsbury)

Web Accessibility Cookbook:

Disability community has long wrestled with ‘helpful’ technologies – lessons for everyone in dealing with AI. “Consider another way to look at AI: as an assistive technology – something that helps you function.” (Jul, Yahoo!)

ChatGPT is biased against resumes with credentials that imply a disability — but it can improve:

‘researchers found that ChatGPT consistently ranked resumes with disability-related honors and credentials — such as the “Tom Wilson Disability Leadership Award” — lower than the same resumes without those honors and credentials. But when researchers customized the tool with written instructions directing it not to be ableist, the tool reduced this bias for all but one of the disabilities tested.’ (Jun, UW News)

A Brief Introduction to Keyboard Accessibility (Jun, AFixt)

How People with Disabilities Use the Web updated resource to help “developers, designers, content creators, and others understand the reasons behind creating accessible digital products”. (Jun, W3C Web Accessibility Initiative)

“dozens of recipes to help you build common components on the web, such as navigations, forms, filters, tables, and dialogs, in an accessible manner.” (Manuel Matuzović)

Empowering navigation for the visually impaired through Augmented Reality. A device that helps users recognise the environment and avoid obstacles. (Jun, Tech Xplore)

Not everyone is laughing at the controversial Paralympic TikTok account (Jul, RNZ)

“You’ve Got to Put in the Time”: Neoliberal-Ableism and Disabled Streamers on Twitch:

“I argue that Twitch reifies forms of neoliberal-ableism through its prioritizing of individual labour, precarious forms of monetization that necessitate cultures of overwork and ‘grinding’, and targeted harassment, known as hate raids, against disabled and other marginalized streamers to ultimately create a kind of integrative access where disability is tolerated but not valued.” (May, Societies)

Early childhood development strategy for the world’s children with disabilities. (Jun, Frontiers Public Health)

ChatGPT is biased against resumes with credentials that imply a disability — but it can improve:

‘researchers found that ChatGPT consistently ranked resumes with disability-related honors and credentials — such as the “Tom Wilson Disability Leadership Award” — lower than the same resumes without those honors and credentials. But when researchers customized the tool with written instructions directing it not to be ableist, the tool reduced this bias for all but one of the disabilities tested.’ (Jun, UW News)

Key Principles for Authentic Disability Representation Key Principles for Companies Committed to Transformative Progress. (Valuable 500)

In Health:

Assessing disability inclusion in health systems performance The process of developing and piloting a tool in the Maldives and Zimbabwe. An indicator set that allows description of disability-inclusion in health systems. (Dec, SSM - Health Systems)

Best Practices for Cervical Screening for Women with Disabilities: principles for service delivery. (Apr, International Journal of Women's Health)

Unveiling Iolanta: Blindness in Nineteenth-Century Opera. an article exploring “the main tropes of representing and narrating blindness in nineteenth-century opera and fictional literature with a particular emphasis on Tchaikovsky’s 1892 one-act opera Iolanta, with its blind protagonist”. (Jul, City University of New York)

What is disability history the history of? Outlining the development of modern disability history and suggesting methodological directions. (Jun, History Compass)

The good and promising practices on disability inclusive humanitarian action. an illustrated selection. (2023, Humanity and Inclusion with DRG)

In International Cooperation:

Interview with Natalia Guala Beathyate director of ONCE Social Group and expert on the Committee of Rights of Persons with Disabilities. (In Spanish, Jul, Cermi)

In Policy and Rights:

Inclusive Accountability: The Current State of International Criminal Law and Disability:

“Even as this renaissance [of international criminal law] is establishing more robust methods for ensuring greater accountability for international crimes, absent from these negotiations, discussions, and documents is consideration of persons with disabilities and their lived experiences.” (Jun, HPOD)

In Sport and Paralympics:

Paris 2024: Introduction to wheelchair basketball “Wheelchair basketball was one of the eight sports staged at the inaugural Paralympic Games in Rome, Italy, in 1960.” (Jul, International Paralympic Committee)

People with disability know bodies can be funny – so it’s OK that you’re laughing at the Paralympics TikTok account. “It is a relief to see a promotion of the Paralympics that avoids the usual stereotypes.” (Jul, The Conversation)

Not everyone is laughing at the controversial Paralympic TikTok account (Jul, RNZ)

In Water and Sanitation (WASH):

Addressing water, sanitation and hygiene inequalities: A review of evidence, gaps, and recommendations for disability-inclusive WASH by 2030. (Jun, Plos Water)

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Africa

In Policy and Rights:

A Milestone in Disability Rights in Africa Entry into Force of the African Disability Protocol:

“The ADP addresses inadequacies in the African human rights system, tackles deep-rooted issues of disability discrimination, and promotes community living and inclusive development.” (Jul, Inklusion leben)

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Egypt

Elkhansa: A Sudanese Refugee’s Fight for Disability Awareness “Although safe, she only felt the weight of her disability in Egypt.” (Jun, UNHCR)

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Gabon

In Data and Research:

Gabon has nearly 16,00 people living with disability, 27% of whom are children. Results of a census of people living with disability. (In French, Jun, Info 241)

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Kenya

Building resilient, green livelihoods for people with disabilities Insights from a livelihood barrier analysis in drought-affected communities in Turkana, Kenya. (Jul, CBM Global)

Building resilient, green livelihoods for people with disabilities Insights from a livelihood barrier analysis in drought-affected communities in Turkana, Kenya. (Jul, CBM Global)

What Protesters of Finance Bill did in Parliament narrated by Visually Impaired Senator Crystal Asige. (Jun, Kenya News Channel)

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Nigeria

How Green Africa Airline violates Olanrewaju, person with disability’s right to fly (Jul, Nigeria Grassroot News)

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Rwanda

Advancing Democracy Historic Voting Accessibility for Rwandans with Disabilities (Jul, Disability Justice Project)

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South Africa

“We eat food with ants”

“The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is investigating PCD College in Montana, Pretoria, following allegations of racism, discrimination, and unfair labour practice that Deaf employed electrical learnership students are apparently subjected to by their white superiors.” (Jun, Diary Series of Deaf People)

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Tanzania

In Policy and Rights:

Tanzania outlines measures to protect people with albinism (Jun, The Citizen)

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Asia

Afghanistan

In Sport and Paralympics:

Wheelchair basketball empowers disabled people features on some players. (Jul, ICRC)

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Armenia

Supporting Refugee Children with Disabilities. “UNICEF has provided specialised support to refugee children with disabilities in Armenia.” (Jul, UNICEF)

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Bangladesh

Process evaluation of a disability-inclusive employment programme: examining the design and implementation of BRAC's STAR+ programme. (Jul, Oxford Development Studies)

How one Rohingya refugee persevered over his disability to help his community (Jun, International Rescue Committee (IRC))

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Cambodia

Chinese robot 'guide dog' aims to improve independence for visually impaired

Sameoun's Story short video feature on how income generation and a self-help group changed her life. (Jun, ADD International)

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Cameroon

In Disaster Risk Reduction and Crisis Response:

GADRA Activates to Support Disability-Led Organization in Cameroon: Words from the Community Creative Center on its founding and response to the fire at Bamenda Main Market in the North West region. (Jul, World Institute on Disability)

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China

In Assistive Technology:

“Roughly the size of an English Bulldog but a bit wider, it can communicate by listening and speaking with a visually impaired operator with artificial intelligence technology incorporated into its voice recognition, route planning capabilities and traffic light identification.” (Jul, Reuters)

In loving memory of Prof. Zhang Wanhong. A collection of tributes to “an empathetic, pioneering, prolific and socially-engaged academic”. (Jun, Padlet)

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India

Disability rights activists criticise remarks on quota for the civil service

“The controversy has erupted in the wake of allegations of misconduct against IAS probationer Puja Khedkar who is accused of misusing the disability and Other Backward Class (non-creamy layer) quotas to secure her candidature in the civic services exam.” (Jul, The Print)

In Gender Equality and Women with Disabilities:

How To Become A Man! Personal reflections on not fitting into hegemonic ideas of masculinity. (Jul, Outlook)

How To Become A Man! Personal reflections on not fitting into hegemonic ideas of masculinity. (Jul, Outlook)

A Soft Landing Place A beautiful graphic illustration of a personal journey into disability justice. (Jan, Sonaksha)

In Policy and Rights:

Differently-Abled Woman Of Balasore Seeks Odisha CM's Permission For Euthanasia. “[An accident and insufficient treatment] coupled with her disability, abject poverty and lack of support from society has made life miserable for her, she said.” (Jun, Odisha Bytes)

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Japan

Japan's top court orders compensation for forced sterilization victims 16,500 operations were performed without the consent of individuals concerned under a eugenics law enacted in 1948. (Jul, The Japan Times) See further on the BBC, a wholehearted welcome from Japan Disability Forum, and on the Guardian.

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Nepal

‘Sikka’ harmonises diversity and accessibility Blind Rocks’ new music video with audio description and closed captions ensures accessibility for blind and deaf audiences. (Jul, Kathmandu Post)

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Oman

Omanis with disabilities and social media. Reflections from research. (In Arabic, Jun, Oman Daily Observer)

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Palestine

In Communication and Language:

Bassem al-Hebl, a deaf 27-year-old aspiring journalist from Gaza on reporting in sign-language. (Jul, Middle East Eye on X)

In Conflict and Peace:

How the War in Gaza Makes Life Nearly Impossible for Disabled People. An interview with a Humanity & Inclusion advocacy officer based in the West Bank:

“Some children think that their legs might grow again. This is one of the saddest things that we hear on a regular basis.” (Jul, Mother Jones)

Bassem al-Hebl, a deaf 27-year-old aspiring journalist from Gaza on reporting in sign-language. (Jul, Middle East Eye on X)

Gaza man with Down's syndrome attacked by IDF dog and left to die, mother says:

“The Israeli military has admitted that a Palestinian man with Down's syndrome who was attacked by an army dog in Gaza was left on his own by soldiers, after his family had been ordered to leave.” (Jul, BBC)

Shellshocked, attacked, left to die – this is the reality for disabled people in Gaza. “We endured months of hell to get our son, who has cerebral palsy, out of danger. For most, there is no escaping the horror”. (Jul, the Guardian)

Statement on the death of Muhammed Bhar in Gaza “we have received distressing updates about the conditions for children with Down syndrome, many of whom are reportedly severely malnourished.” (Jul, Down Syndrome International)

“Everything has changed for her” “Palestinian children with disabilities targeted in Israeli genocide campaign” (Jun, DCI Palestine)

Palestinian NGO summary of “severe repercussions” of Israeli aggression in Gaza on the lives of people with disabilities:

“hundreds of people with disabilities have been martyred and thousands injured. Additionally, ten thousand citizens have sustained various disabilities due to the Israeli aggression, along with tens of thousands of displaced individuals with disabilities facing difficult displacement conditions and severe psychological trauma.” (Jun, Palestinian NGOs Network)

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Sri Lanka

Climate change could retrigger trauma in Sri Lanka “and some observers say people who acquired a disability during the conflict are most vulnerable.” (Jul, The World)

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Uzbekistan

In Policy and Rights:

The law about us is being passed without us: how amendments to disability legislation were developed without participation of people with disabilities. (In Russian, May, Gazeta)

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Europe

Digital Skills, Accommodation and Technological Assistance for Employment: The employment gap between persons with and without disabilities is about 24 percentage points:

“lack of awareness, provision of assistive technology, reasonable accommodation and development of digital skills contribute to this stark gap.” (Jul, EDF)

Digital Skills, Accommodation and Technological Assistance for Employment: The employment gap between persons with and without disabilities is about 24 percentage points:

“lack of awareness, provision of assistive technology, reasonable accommodation and development of digital skills contribute to this stark gap.” (Jul, EDF)

Disabled People under fascist rule What do we know about disability policies in Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy? (Jul, ENIL)

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Belgium

In memory of Jos Huys (1954 - 2024): one of the core founders of the independent living movement in Flanders:

“He was the guy behind the spotlight, behind the curtains, very modest. But what a treasure of wisdom, knowledge and right vision he had and what big changes he made happen.” (Jul, ENIL)

Problems of people with disabilities are repeated year after year

The other side of a glass wall The loneliness of life in the community:

“There are two situations in which I have ever felt a sense of community. In both cases, I was surrounded with other people with disabilities. The first was the psychiatric hospital.” (Jul, Disability Debrief)

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Croatia

In Policy and Rights:

“The increases in disability allowances have been offset by daily price increases for all products and services. In addition, people with disabilities are struggling with the shortage of domestic helpers, carers and skilled workers, he said.” (Jul, N1)

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Estonia

New beach area for people with disabilities opens in Pärnu. (Jul, ERR)

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Finland

Disability Tax in the Welfare State: Uncertainty and Resentment about Disability Services in Finland:

“The disability tax experiences are elaborated through four aspects: (1) rejected applications, (2) uncertain realisation, (3) laborious complaint mechanisms, and (4) the psycho–emotional effect. The findings of this study establish collective experiences of multi-layered disability tax throughout the disability services process. It concludes that disability services, which were originally planned to specifically ensure equal opportunities to participate in society for persons with disabilities, are increasingly becoming the very sources of burden as austerity has silently grown deeper over recent years and has become the clear policy of the current government.” (Jun, Disabilities)

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France

Accessibility at the Philharmonie de Paris: Allowing Everyone to Experience Music. (Jun, International Council of Museums)

In Independent Living and Deinstitutionalization:

Instructions to limit outings of psychiatric patients during the passage of the flame for so-called security reasons. (In French, Jun, Le Monde) See also from Santé Mentale.

Ensuring total accessibility in the Paris 2024 Games

Sébastien Peytavie angry after not being able to vote for the presidency himself. The wheelchair-using delegate had to give his ballot to a bailiff in the first rounds of voting for President of the assembly. (In French, Jul, Huffpost)

Anti-ableists against the extreme right and its ideas “Fighting the far right is a matter of survival”. (In French, Jun, Les Dévalideuses)

Charged with attempted rape, Damien Abad will no longer speak for his political group (In French, May, France Info)

In Sport and Paralympics:

Gold medal for discrimination anti-ableist criticism of the Games as a pretext for “social cleansing”, broken promises on accessibility and reproduction of ableist stereotypes. (In French, Jul, Les Dévalideuses)

“‘Games wide open’ is the philosophy of Paris 2024, which is expecting almost 280,000 people with disabilities to visit its venues during the summer. Thanks to a wide range of accessibility solutions, everyone will be able to enjoy the Olympic and Paralympic experience to the full.” (Jul, Olympics)

How The Paris Paralympics Are Driving Engineering And Accessibility Innovation “Since 2021, engineers at the aerospace group Airbus have been working with the French National Sports Agency to build better equipment for disabled athletes.” (Jun, WorldCrunch)

Instructions to limit outings of psychiatric patients during the passage of the flame for so-called security reasons. (In French, Jun, Le Monde) See also from Santé Mentale.

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Germany

Adolf Ratzka: A Pioneer of Independent Living “His vision and dedication have left an indelible mark on the movement and people across Europe and beyond.” See also a tribute from Bente Skansgård. (Jul, ENIL)

In Independent Living and Deinstitutionalization:

Everyday violence “The anti-disabled attacks in Mönchengladbach are reminiscent of very dark times.” (In German, Jun, Taz)

Everyday violence “The anti-disabled attacks in Mönchengladbach are reminiscent of very dark times.” (In German, Jun, Taz)

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Greece

Greece Aims for Top Spot in Accessible Beaches for the Disabled (Jul, Greek Reporter)

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Ireland

In Accessibility and Design:

‘I’ve all but lost hope of ever being a renter or owning my home’ — how the housing crisis is affecting people with disabilities. (Jul, Irish Independent)

In Assistive Technology:

‘All I want is to go outside’: Man trapped at home for years while waiting for electric wheelchair. (Jul, The Irish Times)

In Civil Society and Community:

Disability Pride: It took me time to accept my disability, but I now feel proud of who I am. (Jul, The Journal)

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Latvia

Getting on trains still difficult for people with disabilities (Jun, LSM)

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Russia

Inclusive Vocational Education in Russia: “the experience of special vocational education for people with disabilities during the Soviet period.” (May, Inclusive Education in the Russian Federation)

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Spain

Ancient bone shows how Neanderthals cared for the vulnerable. “A fossilized ear bone unearthed in a cave in Spain has revealed a Neanderthal child who lived with Down syndrome until the age of 6, according to a new study.” (Jun, CNN)

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Sweden

Another Way for Blind People to Cross Streets: Tactile Traffic Maps. (Jul, Haben Girma)

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Switzerland

Disability at the end of class thoughtful discussion of debate on inclusive education. (In French, Jul, Couper l'herbe sous les roues)

In Independent Living and Deinstitutionalization:

I hate you, leave me, but come help me reflecting on physical dependence. (In French, Jul, Couper L'Herbe Sous Le Roues)

I hate you, leave me, but come help me reflecting on physical dependence. (In French, Jul, Couper L'Herbe Sous Le Roues)

More Swiss railway stations to be made accessible for disabled travellers

“42 more to be completed by the end of the year. By that time, 1,131 of the approximately 1,800 stations will have been adapted. By the end of 2027, 87% of travellers should be able to travel spontaneously and autonomously by train.” (Jun, SWI swissinfo.ch)

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Ukraine

In Accessibility and Design:

First inclusive accessibility department in Kharkiv:

“The head of the city emphasized that it is not so much about certain technical shortcomings as about the need to start forming a completely different city philosophy with the creation of conditions under which everyone who lives in Kharkiv, regardless of age, gender, or health, will be able to have free access to any service or public places.” (Jul, Rubryka)

You can't just use the restroom: why Ukraine's capital is far from barrier-free. Interviews with officials and activists. (Jul, UNN)

In Independent Living and Deinstitutionalization:

(No More) Places of Unfreedom “Thousands of Ukrainians with disabilities still live in closed institutions. Human rights defenders are trying to change that.” (Apr, Kyiv Post)

In War in Ukraine:

Inclusive cities: rebuilding Ukraine to be truly accessible. (Jun, EU Neighbours East)

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United Kingdom

Sample of disabled people forced onto universal credit shows every one of them now receives less in benefits. (Jul, Disability News Service)

“Under strain” Investigating trends in working-age disability and incapacity benefits. (Jun, Resolution Foundation)

The Development Process of the Inclusive Education Movement with Non-disabled Allies: Focusing on Disability Equality Training in England. (Mar, Educational Studies in Japan)

Henry VIII and Disability Studies

The Myth of Marginality. An essay exploring how people with learning disabilities lived before the invention of asylums:

“So-called idiots were everywhere: in families, in communities, often working, sometimes married, well known, usually accepted and often loved by those around them. I do not wish to romanticise. Some were exploited, badly treated, abused, but there was always a countervailing element in the neighbourhood that sought to protect and defend in such circumstances. It was very far from the unliveable dystopia portrayed by nineteenth-century doctors and some twenty-first-century academics.” (Jul, History Workshop)

“Henry VIII of England has been overlooked as a disabled figure and as a policy maker who deeply impacted disability history in England. Though Henry used the first stairlift in England, writers are hesitant to call the king disabled.” (May, University of Georgia)

In Independent Living and Deinstitutionalization:

Suicidal thoughts of parents with disabled children: “41% of parents in England who have a child with long-term illness or disability have thought about suicide while caring for their child, new research has found.” (Jul, University of Birmingham)

Building the Right Support The number of people detained in Assessment and Treatment Units reduced by just 30% since 2015, to 2,045. An increased number of them are autistic people:

“The detention of autistic people and people with a learning disability in locked settings is a national scandal, and one that is wholly avoidable.” (Jun, VODG)

Fall with me My childhood, told through its falls. (Jul, Disability Debrief)

Sophie Morgan’s Fight to Fly review – the degradation of disabled people is jaw-dropping. Watch the documentary on Channel 4. (Jul, the Guardian)

Results of the 2023 National Disability Survey

Does Starmer’s promise of real change include me? “I know many say we have to be patient, and that change will come. But my kids face empty food cupboards on a weekly basis.” (Jul, the Guardian)

Disabled activists pledge ‘no hiding place’ for Labour’s new government “more than 100 protesters gathered opposite the House of Commons to call for action to address the damage caused by 14 years of Conservative rule.” (Jul, Disability News Service)

New disabled MP pledges to fight for inclusive education “Dr Marie Tidball also wants to play a part in increasing the number of disabled people in parliament, fight to improve inclusive mainstream education, and improve healthcare for disabled people.” (Jul, Disability News Service)

Disability Scorecard Results “a tool designed to help you compare the commitments of major political parties in the UK to the demands outlined in the Disabled People’s Manifesto.” (Jun, DPO Forum)

Polling day is dehumanising, says blind voter. (Jun, BBC)

Election debate for deaf and disabled community praised (Jun, BBC)

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North America

Canada

In Data and Research:

Canada Is Still Failing People With Disabilities analysis of recent statistics: “Disabled people continue to experience worse employment outcomes and higher rates of poverty than those without disabilities.” (Jun, The Maple)

In Policy and Rights:

Spina bifida patient says Montreal hospital staff twice offered MAID unprompted. (Jul, CTV News)

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Costa Rica

In Data and Research:

17.2% of the Costa Rican population has a disability according to the results of the second national survey on disability. “Employment for the disabled population was estimated at 40.7% versus 66% of people without disabilities who have jobs.” (In Spanish, Jun, El Observador)

“It is estimated that 17.2% of people aged 18 and over in Costa Rica have a disability. Of the total number of people with disabilities, approximately 58% are women. 40.7% of people with disabilities have jobs.” (In Spanish, Jun, INEC)

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El Salvador

In Data and Research:

Half of Salvadorean households have a person with disability findings from a UNFPA situation analysis of persons with disabilities. (In Spanish, Jun, El Salvador)

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Mexico

Disability, diversity and activism: Milagros Castro journey in accepting her pansexual identity and mobilizing others. (In Spanish, Jun, Yo También)

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United States

In Accessibility and Design:

Dungeons & Dragons taught me how to write alt text. (Jul, Eric Bailey)

In COVID-19:

Biden Dialed Back Covid Safety—Then Got It “The president’s diagnosis is a wake-up call to wider public health failures he should address.” (Jul, Mother Jones)

Masks Are a Symbol of Solidarity. “Mask bans are ostensibly about public safety. The result would be disastrous for public health—but it goes beyond that, too.” (Jun, The Nation)

In Civil Society and Community:

Disability Wrath Month

“Pride might work if you don’t want to challenge ableism and reject white supremacy culture. For many, ‘Disability Wrath’ feels like a better way to describe what’s being lost and pushed aside.” (Jul, Crip News)

The Power of Participation: How Philanthropy Can Center People on the Margins. (Jul, Disability & Philanthropy Forum)

Dignity of Risk and Self-Determination in the Disability Rights Movement (May, Creating Change: The Online Journal of Zines about Social Movements)

Make Neurodiversity Boring an essay reflecting on the neurodiversity movement:

“Despite neurodiversity’s cultural currency, we have won surprisingly few shifts in autism service-provision and research, the primary areas the movement emerged to target. This reflects our community’s reluctance to translate critique into actionable strategies for change. Such efforts are slow, painstaking, and frankly boring next to the social media campaigns and the rarefied academic critiques that have captured the attention of many.” (May, Boston Review)

In Communication and Language:

Netflix's new top documentary 'Tell Them You Love Me' highlights a misleading promise An essay arguing that ‘“Facilitated communication” has sparked passionate debate for years. But despite overwhelming scientific evidence against the method, its persistence remains.’ (Jul, MSNBC)

In Conflict and Peace:

Disability Divest: We Demand the Disability Establishment End Its Relationships with War Profiteers: “Disability rights organizations go further than accepting money from war profiteers: they honor them with disability inclusion awards.” (Jul, Disability Divest)

Letter to Biden & Harris: Immediate Demands for Disabled Palestinians (Jul, Disability Demands)

Palestine X Disability Justice Syllabus (Jun, Disability Visibility Project)

Ford and Mellon Foundations Announce 2024 Disability Futures Fellows:

“a groundbreaking group of 20 visual and performing artists, writers, and filmmakers for their transformative cultural contributions. Each fellow will receive an unrestricted $50,000 grant” (Jul, Ford Foundation)

‘A positive step forward’: Mattel launches first blind Barbie. (Jul, the Guardian)

Audiences are Waiting for Hollywood to Greenlight Disability Breaking down barriers keeping mid-career disabled screenwriters from reaching their full commercial and creative potential. (Jul, Inevitable Foundation)

Dungeons & Dragons taught me how to write alt text. (Jul, Eric Bailey)

“I Know What the Apple Vision Pro Is For” The headset is already changing disabled users’ lives, with “unprecedented control” over their visual environments. (Jun, Intelligencer)

Meet the Wheelchair User Making Google Maps More Accessible. (Jun, New Mobility)

Social Security ditches obsolete jobs data used to deny disability claims:

Social Security to Simplify Disability Evaluation Process: “the agency is proud to announce changes that will reduce administrative burdens for applicants and help more people with disabilities receive government benefits and services if they are eligible”. (Jun, Social Security Matters)

“For decades, the Social Security Administration has denied thousands of people disability benefits by claiming they could find jobs that have all but vanished from the U.S. economy — such occupations as nut sorter, pneumatic tube operator and microfilm processor.” (Jun, Washington Post)

Disability and Employment in New York City:

“we find that New Yorkers with disabilities have a significantly lower employment rate than their non-disabled counterparts, and that this rate varies widely by type of disability. Disaggregating by race and gender, the disability employment gap is especially pronounced for Black, Hispanic, and male workers. We also see that workers with disabilities are disproportionately represented in service occupations as well as sales, office, and administrative support roles, while underrepresented in management, business, and financial occupations.” (Jul, New York City Comptroller)

Disability Nonprofit to Pay $1 Million to Settle ADA Claims “A federal contractor that connects people with disabilities to jobs has agreed to pay more than $1 million to resolve an EEOC lawsuit claiming discrimination against deaf and hard-of-hearing workers.” (Jul, Bloomberg Law)

The 10th annual Disability Equality Index shows disability inclusion progress, but there are gaps in reporting:

“Disability:IN consistently suggests that companies are making progress towards disability inclusion, but the reporting gaps leave room for questions, and disabled talent still face barriers to success.” (Jul, HR Brew)

Disability in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era. Teaching resources. (Jun, Emerging America)

Award-winning poet, Blade contributor Kathi Wolfe dies ‘Tireless in her pursuit of justice for queer disabled people’. (Jun, Blade)

Disability and Employment in the United States, 1880–1955: Implications for Human Resource Development Practice and Research. (May, Human Resource Development Review)

In Independent Living and Deinstitutionalization:

Bed bugs found at disability, special needs center in South Carolina (Jun, Local 12)

In Justice Systems and Legal Capacity:

The Supreme Court just opened the door to the criminalization of disability. “the Supreme Court just held that people experiencing homelessness could be subject to criminal and civil penalties for sleeping in public spaces”:

“Data reveals that 78 percent of homeless people report having mental health conditions, and an estimated 52 percent of homeless adults in shelters nationwide have a disability.” (Jul, Slate)

Exceeding my life expectancy as a Black disabled woman

“Getting older as a disabled person feels more like a privilege than a setback. I know so many disabled comrades who passed before they reached the age I am now. Death and grief are too commonplace for us. Each year, I feel that my disabled circle gets smaller and smaller as someone else I connected with over the course of my life dies. It’s jarring to know that getting older is a privilege for us, and it pains me that we must navigate grief and loss so much more often than nondisabled people. For those of us who are “lucky” enough to grow older, we become the disabled elders that are so desperately needed.” (Jul, Prism)

Healing is not linear. Alice Wong on the years since her health crisis:

“Disabled life is precarious. Precarious not just by changes to the body, but the structural ableism that determines the conditions in which we live in.” (Jun, Disability Visibility Newsletter)

My Daughter Has a Disability. This Is the Reaction I Hate the Most (Jun, Today)

Project 2025 and the Threat to Disabled People

“The plan wants to limit federal agencies that make important government rules. Many rules protect disability rights, including rules about making the digital world accessible. The Project 2025 plan attacks climate science, LGBTQIA people, veterans benefits, women’s health, and much more. All of these attacks affect people with disabilities.” (Jul, Law Office of Lainey Feingold)

Donald Trump Told Me Disabled Americans 'Should Just Die' Trump's nephew shares a comment from the start of the covid pandemic. (Jul, Time)

Project 2025 Could Hurt Disabled People “The potential consequences of Project 2025 could cost disabled Americans their freedom or their lives” (Jul, Gracie Dow)

I’m a doctor. Biden’s debate performance led me to a very different takeaway:

“Historically, the age of U.S. presidents has been a subject of debate and scrutiny, with concerns often raised about their physical and mental capacity to handle the rigorous demands of the presidency. When Ronald Reagan took office in 1981 at the age of 69, he became the oldest president to be inaugurated at that time. During his second term, which began when he was 73, questions about his age and cognitive abilities intensified.” (Jul, MSNBC)

No way to run a country:

“How the candidates, voters and media react to age and perceived ability will play a key role in determining the years ahead. Ageism and ableism are key actors in a drama played out on the highest stage, for the highest stakes.” (Jul, Disability Debrief)

Australian Bureau of Statistics releases new disability statistics

Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child a review of the book which is “a candid and heartfelt exploration of parenting a disabled child, aiming to provide support and solidarity to others in similar situations.” (Jul, Diversability)

Trans Lifeline disability and accessibility resources (Trans Lifeline)

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Oceania

Australia

In Data and Research:

“As of 2022, there are now 5.5 million Australians with disability 2022. This represents 21.4% of the total population. This is an increase from 4.4 million (17.7% of the population) in 2018. Prevalence of disability is roughly the same for men and women (21.0% for men and 21.8% for women).” (Jul, People with Disability Australia)

‘Sex work is decriminalised – and my time with Samuel is subsidised by the government’: “Susan is paraplegic and Samuel is her support worker – it’s just that his support comes in the shape of four-hour sessions in a motel room” (Jun, the Guardian)

In Health:

Calls to make period products more accessible for blind and vision impaired people. (Jun, ABC News)

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New Zealand

Lack of Wellington mobility taxis angers wheelchair users (Jul, The Post)

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Pacific

Rising Tides, Raising Voices video documentary on the “Crucial Fight for Disability-Inclusive Climate Justice in the Pacific”. (Apr, Disability Justice Project)

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South America

Uruguay