Accessibility and Design

Canada

Ontario's accessibility legislation is failing. Advocates say lack of enforcement, complaints process to blame. (Jan, CBC News)

Nicaragua

Request for free movement of disabled people. Sidewalks and public spaces occupied by some businesses are making transit difficult. (In Spanish, Jan, El Canal del Orgullo Nicaragüense)

United Kingdom

Stop trying to recruit unicorns with acorns. Incisive description of how accessibility roles are undervalued, underfunded, and incorrectly designed:

“I've seen it time and time again. People hire an accessibility specialist because it's a hot topic and it's always good publicity. But then they just leave that person to drown in an environment and an organisation where they are not supported.” (Jan, Craig Abbott)

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Assistive Technology

International News

How AI is advancing assistive technology (Jan, TechTarget)

United States

The new norm a campaign video and photo series to change perceptions of hearing aids. (Mar)

Wearing hearing aids could reduce your risk of dying earlier. “For people with hearing loss, regular use of hearing aids could reduce the risk of dying earlier by 24 percent vs. not wearing them at all” (Jan, Washington Post)

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Black Lives Matter and Racial justice

United Kingdom

Understanding unemployment: what role does ethnicity and disability play? “Unemployment varied greatly by disability status and ethnicity, with Census 2021 estimated unemployment rates for some groups as low as 2.9%, while for others it was up to 17.2%.” (Jan, ONS)

United States

Racial and Disability Justice Policy Tracker a list of bills introduced to congress. (Jan, Center for Racial and Disability Justice)

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Civil Society and Community

United Kingdom

DPAC are BACK: disabled people block roads, protesting against welfare reforms. (Mar, Canary)

United States

Synagogues can better serve those with disabilities (Feb, JNS)

The Road to Disability Inclusion Report three stories exploring the role of philanthropy. (Feb, Disability & Philanthropy Forum)

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Climate Crisis and Environment

International News

Disability Inclusion in Climate Finance A Background Paper For The Disability Inclusion Approach For Climate Investment Funds. (Feb, Climate Investment Funds)

What I've learned in conversation Debrief feature on conversations weaving together disability and climate justice. (Feb, Disability Debrief)

“I'd fight like hell for you”: Debrief interview with Julia Watts Belser, on not giving up on each other in the climate crisis (Feb, Disability Debrief)

Promoting Disability-Inclusive Climate Action through Litigation “HPOD and Allies Urge Inter-American Court on Human Rights to Take Notice of Evolving International Standards” (Jan, HPOD)

South Korea

Assessing heatwave effects on disabled persons. “Our findings emphasize the substantial influence of disability as a key factor in exacerbating heatwave risks” (Feb, Scientific Reports)

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Communication and Language

Sign Languages

El Salvador

Mother reports that her son was detained by police for “making signs”. The deaf son uses sign-language to communicate, and the police claim that “mysterious signs” were “alluding to gangs”. (In Spanish, Jan, La Prensa)

Finland

Why Is Sign Language an Important Part of a Deaf Child's Identity Development? (Jan, The AutoEthnographer)

India

What’s the sign for ‘centrifuge’? How we added scientific terms to Indian Sign Language (Feb, Nature)

Malaysia

Maybank explores language of inclusivity featuring the deaf community, this Chinese New Year (Feb, Marketing-Interactive)

Braille

United States

Braille cookbooks bring blind cooks recipes. “Library of Congress arm offers free print-on-demand Braille cookbooks to users, and hundreds are taking advantage of it” (Jan, Washington Post)

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Conflict and Peace

Overview

International News

Towards Greater Inclusion The devastating impact of armed conflict on children with disabilities. A discussion paper based on literature review and interviews with experts. (Jan, UN)

Russia

How Russia Depicts Wounded Soldiers: As Heroes, or Not at All.

“Troops with amputated limbs or serious injuries return home to find a patchwork system of treatment and, often, efforts to keep them out of the public eye.” One woman caring for her husband wrote “I feel like I’m putting my loved one together like a puzzle.” (Feb, New York Times)

Israel-Palestine Conflict

Israel

Israel Held 82-year-old Gaza Woman With Alzheimer's for Two Months as an 'Unlawful Combatant'.

“Israeli soldiers arrested Fahamiya Khalidi in early December at a school in Gaza after she fled her home due to IDF shelling. She was moved to Damon prison, where she was refused a meeting with an attorney and was only freed after an appeal” (Feb, Haaretz.com)

Palestine

Humanity & Inclusion's office in Gaza City destroyed

“The building is completely destroyed. No HI staff were present, but we do not have information about potential other victims in the surrounding areas. No alert or warning was given to HI, even though the coordinates of the building were duly communicated to the notification system put in place by the United Nations and Israeli forces to avoid the inadvertent targeting of humanitarian premises.” (Feb, Humanity & Inclusion)

Remembering Ibrahim Abu Thuraya: disabled Palestinian, rights activist, freedom fighter. “Despite of the prominence of his case — no one in the international disability rights community took any interest in him or the circumstances of his killing.” (Feb, Hernan Bonomo)

Double burden on people with disabilities displaced in Gaza. (In Arabic, Feb, Wafa)

Impact of the conflict on people with disabilities in the Gaza Strip. Thematic report summarising available information. (Feb, acaps)

Patients with chronic illnesses in Gaza failing to get treatment “The lack of medicine, food and water means thousands of people with asthma, kidney disease or diabetes are unable to treat or control their conditions” (Feb, the Guardian)

'Mercy' flights provide critically wounded and sick Palestinians a chance to survive “Commercial planes are retrofitted with stretchers and beds to ferry patients on a four-hour trip from Egypt to Abu Dhabi to receive medical care.” (Jan, NBC News)

A young man with hearing disability and his family in the Gaza war, who have been displaced six times. (Signed, with Arabic and English subtitles, Jan, AlJazeera Arabic)

Attacks on healthcare and Impacts on Physical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Services. (2023, Humanity & Inclusion)

United States

Disability Justice Activists Organize to Help Palestinians Stay Connected Organizers are distributing digital SIM cards directly to people in Gaza amid communication blackouts. (Jan, Truthout)

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Culture, Entertainment and Media

Overview

Australia

The dancers with disability exploring sex and love: ‘Once you open the floodgates, it’s pretty interesting’. (Feb, the Guardian)

India

Please touch: “Museums as well as galleries are displaying tactile panels to make art accessible to people with disabilities.” (Jan, Scroll.in)

Mexico

Arjen Power a Mexican heroine with disability for inclusion in comics. (In Spanish, Feb, Yo También)

Singapore

'I just feel happy': Profile of Fern Wong, a visual artist with Down syndrome who has won several local and international competitions. (Feb, CNA)

Spain

The Royal Spanish Academy will urgently evaluate use of the word “disminuido”, diminished, which is currently given as synonymous with “discapacitado”, disabled, or “minusválido”, handicapped, without any comment they are derogatory. (In Spanish, Jan, El Observador)

United Kingdom

‘I’m done with pretenders’: disabled actors on reclaiming Richard III. (Feb, the Guardian)

Disability in classical music: how can we increase accessibility? “There is small army of instrumentalists, conductors, composers and instrument makers fighting to make the industry genuinely more accessible to professional performers.” (Jan, Classical Music)

TV and Film

Mexico

‘Iluminados’ by Jorge Curioca a documentary following the blind visual artist Pedro Miranda and the psychic Iris Palau: “two people for whom sight is a central and recurring theme in their lives.” (In Spanish, Feb, IMCINE)

United States

‘Still: A Michael J. Fox’ Movie: ‘Crip Camp’ Director Praises the Film. (Jan, IndieWire)

Marvel’s Echo Star Alaqua Cox Is Breaking Down Hollywood Barriers “Cox is making history with Echo, the first Marvel show centered on a deaf, Native American superhero.” (Jan, Teen Vogue)

Media

International News

Nothing About Us Without Us An international survey of disabled advocates and case studies from business. “Disability representation in media and marketing matters, yet brands often fall short.” (Link to pdf, Jan, Valuable 500)

United States

Reporting Guide to Investigating Disability Issues “Virtually every reporting beat has a disability angle.” (Jan, Global Investigative Journalism Network)

Clothing and Fashion

United Kingdom

Accessible underwear helping disabled people 'slay' “Primark is the latest to announce plans to offer more affordable accessible items in its almost 200 UK shops.” (Jan, BBC)

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Data and Research

Overview

Europe

It just became easier to find EU-level data on persons with disabilities (Jan, EDF) See the new eurostat thematic section on disability.

Kenya

Empowering Inclusive Living for All People: exploring the methodology of the 2023/2024 Kenya Housing Survey. (Jan, Washington Group on Disability Statistics)

United States

Next Steps on the American Community Survey Disability Questions in response to push-back on proposed adoption of the internationally-standard Washington-Group questions. (Feb, Census Bureau)

Working-Age Adults with Disabilities Living in the Community. Analysis of the American Community Survey. (Jan, KFF)

Charting Equality: Why Demographic Disability Data is Good for Everyone. A detailed exploration. (Jan, DREDF)

Research

International News

Riberdis (the Iberian-American Repository on Disability) “summarizes and disseminates in free-access digital format the scientific production generated within the Iberian-American field on subjects related to disability.” (2023)

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Digital Accessibility and Technology

Overview

China

Alibaba Platforms Leverage Technology to Support Users With Disabilities “by using high-tech means to improve accessibility on its e-commerce and navigation platforms”. (Jan, Alizila)

Artificial Intelligence

International News

How AI is advancing assistive technology (Jan, TechTarget)

GPT-4 Image Recognition: An Absolute Game Changer in Accessibility:

“As you can tell from the samples above, the level of detail and accuracy provided by GPT-4 is groundbreaking. That being said, you will notice that it does have a tendency to misidentify less focused items or those that are less common.” (Jan, American Foundation for the Blind)

Online Accessibility

International News

Internet Privacy Is A Disability Rights Issue.

“No disabled person should have to choose between accessing technologies that help them lead fulfilling, self-directed lives and protecting their personal information. And, people with disabilities should be able to benefit from technology without worrying that their health-related data will be used for nefarious or unknown purposes.” (Jan, Tech Policy)

Technology

United States

Javier in Frame Google Pixel Super Bowl Commercial 2024 of their guided frame feature. (Feb, Google)

Social Media

International News

Disability activists online and the worlds they're helping to build. “A social media response to a massive public health failure” (Feb, Medicinal Media)

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Disaster Risk Reduction and Crisis Response

International News

Collecting disability disaggregated data in disaster risk reduction: Findings and lessons learned. (Feb, CBM)

Disability, displacement and disaster resilience: Ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities in situations of forced displacement and statelessness. (Jan, UNDRR and UNHCR)

Advancing disability inclusion in local disaster risk reduction: Analysis and recommendations from the pilot implementation of the disaster resilience Scorecard for cities. “Cities grapple with persistent challenges, and the collective trajectory towards comprehensive disability inclusion remains limited” (Jan, UNDRR)

Africa

Including persons with disabilities in disaster risk reduction in Africa an issue brief on policies and practices. (Feb, UNDRR)

Bangladesh

‘They forgot about me’: a powerful photo-essay exploring the stories of people with disabilities and the risks they face during natural disasters. “Which child should I carry, this one or that one?” (Jan, The World)

United States

Disaster Justice A guidebook for people of color with disabilities. (Feb, Seeded Ground)

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Economics and Social Protection

Overview

Argentina

Assistance to people with disabilities in danger due to the economic crisis. Including the stopping of transportation services. (In Spanish, Jan, Elmundo.cr)

Social Protection

Estonia

Estonian government proposes car tax bill and increased allowances for disabled people. Allowance for working-age people with severe disabilities would change to €49 per month for everyone who is eligible. (Jan, ERR)

Europe

EU Disability Card goes some way to improving accessibility “EU institutions agreed on 8 February to an EU-wide disability card which aims to facilitate access to the right to free movement for persons with disabilities.” (Feb, Euractiv)

Iraq

Launch of new initiatives to support people with disabilities. (In Arabic, Feb, Iraqi News Agency)

Malta

Man pocketing disability benefits becomes first person to be jailed. “The social benefits racket saw hundreds of people receiving monthly payments after they used falsified documents to be certified as severely disabled.” (Jan, Newsbook Malta)

Saudi Arabia

How people with disabilities obtain assistance and the services available. Monthly benefits between 4,000 and 14,000 riyal [1,000 and 3,700 USD]. (In Arabic, Feb, Sabaq24)

Thailand

Disabled man pedals his tricycle over 400km to restore his monthly disability allowance of 800 baht [22 USD]. (Feb, Bangkok Post)

United States

Why Social Security Disability Claims Are Taking So Long It takes the Social Security Administration 228 to process an initial application, double what it was before the covid pandemic. (Jan, AARP)

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Education and Childhood

Overview

International News

Strategies for addressing the needs of children with or at risk of developmental disabilities in early childhood by 2030: a systematic umbrella review. (Feb, BMC Medicine)

Global Leaders Falling Short on Commitments to Create More Inclusive Schools and Communities:

“The global state of inclusion in education in 2023 was a mixed bag. Some governments made modest progress in advancing more inclusive practices in their education systems. But far too few countries had laws on their books mandating inclusive schools, and even fewer countries had policies translating those mandates into sustainable practices.” (Jan, Special Olympics)

Disability-Inclusive Education in Emergencies: Key Concepts, Approaches, and Principles for Practice. (Jan, Education Links)

Towards Greater Inclusion The devastating impact of armed conflict on children with disabilities. A discussion paper based on literature review and interviews with experts. (Jan, UN)

Over 450,000 children institutionalized across Europe, Central Asia. A UNICEF investigation “reveals that children with disabilities account for up to 87 per cent of those in care, where data is available.” (Jan, UN)

Africa

“I Really Wanted to Further My Education but That Wasn’t Possible” Out of School Experiences of Youth with Disabilities in Ethiopia, Ghana, and South Africa:

“The strongest factor leading to the discontinuation of education across all contexts was the loss of key social support networks and relationships. Participants credited much of their success and inclusion to their supportive relationships. They indicated the essential role that family, peers, mentors, teachers, school staff, personal assistants, and other community members played in supporting them financially and emotionally, assisting them with their academics, and providing disability-related supports in their daily lives.” (Feb, International Journal of Disability, Development and Education)

Indonesia

Including Students with Disabilities in School in Rural Areas An online pilot program to assess needs of students with disabilities. (Feb, World Bank)

Morocco

Nearly 26,000 children with disabilities enrolled in school in 2023, an increase from 16,000 in 2021. (In French, Jan, Le Matin.ma)

Nigeria

Girls with Disability Suffer, Rejected in Lagos Special Schools a detailed look at a lack of accessible and hygienic toilets and hygiene facilities. (Jan, This Day)

Philippines

An Accessibility Conundrum in the Philippines detailed look at advocacy methods on “strategic reform to unlock the implementation of accessibility features in Philippine public schools.” (Jan, InAsia)

United Kingdom

Over 50% of special school pupils could be in mainstream, an analysis of a major government intervention programme has found. (Feb, TES Magazine)

Parents urge councillors to apologise over special needs comments One councillor asked if "something in the water" was increasing special needs cases. (Feb, BBC)

Higher Education

Dominican Republic

UASD inaugurates centre for inclusion of people with disabilities. (In Spanish, Jan, El Neuvo Diario)

United Kingdom

Students with physical disabilities explain the challenges they face when they go to university. (Jan, The Conversation)

United States

Experiences of faculty and scientists with disabilities at academic institutions

“Faculty with disabilities encounter systematic barriers at academic institutions, and lack of acknowledgement and research on these experiences has held back institutional and policy changes. To reduce disparities for disabled faculty, academic leadership must allocate resources to address ableism, create more inclusive environments, and raise standards beyond ADA compliance.” (Feb, MedRxiv)

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Employment, Business and Work

Honduras

Defrauded by fake offer of employment in the UN. “Forty people with disabilities were scammed by people who posed as officials of the United Nations (UN), as they were promised a job opportunity in exchange for sending 400 lempiras for the required documentation.” (In Spanish, Jan, La Tribuna)

India

Disabled candidates protest government exam in Lucknow. Protest contests seats reserved for candidates on basis of disability. (Jan, The Mooknayak)

Ukraine

Ukrainian national network “TOGETHER” joins the Global Business and Disability Network. They have a guide for employers to involve disabled people and research on challenges and opportunities. (Jan, Confederation of Employers Ukraine)

United Kingdom

What are energy-limiting conditions? A guide for employees and their managers, and introduction to chronic illness at work. (Feb, Catherine Hale)

Autistic people held back by job interview questions according to a report on autism in the workplace. (Feb, BBC) See the full Buckland Review of Autism Employment.

Understanding unemployment: what role does ethnicity and disability play? “Unemployment varied greatly by disability status and ethnicity, with Census 2021 estimated unemployment rates for some groups as low as 2.9%, while for others it was up to 17.2%.” (Jan, ONS)

BCS diversity report 2023: Disability industry body for IT gives a report on disabled people working in tech. (2023, BCS)

United States

Kansas Plans to Phase Out Subminimum Wage for Disabled People (Feb, Mother Jones)

Pennies on the Dollar: The Use of Subminimum Wage for Disabled Workers across the United States: “17 states have taken action to either eliminate the use of subminimum wage or are actively phasing it out.” (Feb, New America)

Hundreds of Companies Legally Pay Disabled Workers Below Minimum Wage.

“What began as a provision of President Roosevelt’s 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act, which was meant to improve employment for disabled people — employment was seen then, same as now, as a key part of someone’s American-ness — came at a time when institutionalization was the only path for a lot of marginalized folks. But it has apparently morphed into something else entirely: a business-branded excuse to dehumanize disabled workers in yet another way.” (Jan, Teen Vogue)

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Gender Equality and Women with Disabilities

Congo-Kinshasa

After surviving sexual violence, youth leader creates change for girls with disabilities in the DRC. (Feb, UNFPA)

Europe

Empowerment and Leadership Third EDF Manifesto on the Rights of Women and Girls with Disabilities (Mar, EDF)

Jordan

Health and reproductive services are not available to women with disabilities report of a study. (In Arabic, Jan, Mena FN)

Nigeria

I’m Changing the Status Quo For Women With Disabilities profile of Lois Auta and the Network of Women With Disabilities. “I always emphasise three types of barriers stopping women with disabilities. Attitudinal, infrastructural and institutional.” (Jan, New Telegraph)

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Health

Overview

International News

Disability activists online and the worlds they're helping to build. “A social media response to a massive public health failure” (Feb, Medicinal Media)

Jordan

Health and reproductive services are not available to women with disabilities report of a study. (In Arabic, Jan, Mena FN)

South Korea

Effects of disability-related limitations in daily living on unmet needs: a longitudinal-study. “Limitations in daily life due to disability increase the risk of having unmet [health] needs, an effect that is significantly more pronounced in men.” (Feb, BMC Public Health)

United States

House Of Representatives Passes Bill To Ban Use Of QALYs In Federally Funded Healthcare Programs. “It’s unconscionable that a healthcare bureaucracy would so callously determine that someone’s life is worth less.” (Feb, Forbes)

Aspiring to Disability Consciousness in Health Professions Training “Future clinicians must recognize disability as an aspect of diversity, express respect for disabled patients, and demonstrate flexibility about how to care for disabled patients’ needs. These skills are currently undervalued in medical training, specifically. ” (Jan, AMA Journal of Ethics)

Rehabilitation

Estonia

Estonia to reorganize social rehabilitation service, under the healthcare system. “According to state figures, a total of 10,688 people received social rehabilitation services in 2022, 61 percent of whom were children, at a total cost to the state of just over €16 million.” (Jan, ERR)

Food Security and Nutrition

United Arab Emirates

Factors influencing Nutritional Needs of Children with Disabilities “The results showed ambivalence of parents and teachers on knowledge and practical skills to promote good eating habits among children with disabilities.” (Jan, DCIDJ)

United States

Braille cookbooks bring blind cooks recipes. “Library of Congress arm offers free print-on-demand Braille cookbooks to users, and hundreds are taking advantage of it” (Jan, Washington Post)

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History and Memorial

United States

Brooke Ellison, Prominent Disability Rights Advocate, Is Dead at 45 “Author, professor and powerful voice for disabled people.” (Feb, New York Times)

Disability History “Interpreting disability history is one way historians and their communities, public or academic, can practice access and inclusion.” (Jan, The Inclusive Historian's Handbook)

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Humanitarian, Migrants and Refugees

Overview

International News

Disability, displacement and disaster resilience: Ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities in situations of forced displacement and statelessness. (Jan, UNDRR and UNHCR)

Information Note on Disability and Inclusion in MHPSS. Guidance for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings responses in emergency settings. (Jan, IASC)

Disability-Inclusive Education in Emergencies: Key Concepts, Approaches, and Principles for Practice. (Jan, Education Links)

Disability equity within humanitarian preparedness, response and recovery “This briefing paper explores the context around disability inclusion in different elements of humanitarian action and provides recommendations and case studies of CBM Australia’s programming” (2023, CBM Australia)

Migration

Sweden

Sarah’s Journey an animated video of Sarah's story, “a 37-year-old disabled Syrian female refugee with a secondary education who had to flee her country of origin in 2015”. (Feb, Newcomers with disabilities)

In Search of Links: Overview of the State of Research on Disability, Migration, Employment and Health. (Jan, Independent Living Institute)

United Kingdom

London Council Breaches Human Rights Law After Subjecting Disabled Asylum Seeker to Degrading Treatment. “The bedroom was too small for him to store and use his disability-related equipment. The bathroom was inaccessible and did not have adapted toilet/shower facilities. The lack of space for him to mobilise using equipment meant he was bedbound.” (Feb, Byline Times)

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Independent Living and Deinstitutionalization

Overview

International News

Good practices of support systems enabling community inclusion of persons with disabilities (2023, OHCHR)

Thailand

Have Thailand’s Personal Assistance Services for Persons with Disabilities Evolved?

“Personal Assistant services introduced by the Thai Independent Living movement were incorporated into the law, but implementation was largely managed and delivered by government offices responsible for charitable modes of care, with an emphasis on volunteering.” (Jan, DCIDJ)

United Kingdom

Civil society response to Bristol City Council’s draft disability policy (Feb, Doughty Street Chambers)

Conditions in Institutions

International News

Over 450,000 children institutionalized across Europe, Central Asia. A UNICEF investigation “reveals that children with disabilities account for up to 87 per cent of those in care, where data is available.” (Jan, UN)

Europe

Cases of state aid being spent on institutions. “State aid is a field for which the EU has strong regulatory and enforcement competences but so far does not take into account the rights of disabled people when investigating individual measures. ” (Jan, ENIL)

Hungary

Court rules Hungarian state authorities responsible “for multiple, grave violations of the rights of 220 adults and children with disabilities detained in the notorious Topház Social Care Home.” (Feb, Validity Foundation)

India

End Lifelong Warehousing of People with Disabilities “Authorities in the Delhi government should act on recommendations of the governing board of a shelter for people with disabilities to end the lifelong institutionalization of its nearly 1,000 residents” (Jan, Human Rights Watch)

United States

An N.C. hospital sues an 18-year-old to move to a nursing home. She says no. (Feb, NPR)

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International Cooperation

Overview

International News

We need to talk Does the disability movement need a strategic reset? Debrief feature exploring the crisis at the International Disability Alliance (IDA). (Feb, Disability Debrief)

Power does not shift easily reflections on ADD International's journey to transform the organization, which includes reducing its size:

“Our overall aim of disrupting the dominant funding system means no longer centring our own growth. On joining ADD, we observed that over time the ‘professionalisation’ of its work had led to more and more of the organisation’s resources being invested in ADD doing things.” (Jan, Alliance)

Cambodia

Disability Inclusion Trainer’s Manual. (Jan, UNDP)

Global Disability Summit

International News

Progress on Implementation of Commitments since the Global Disability Summit 2022:

“Self-reported data indicates that one-tenth of the 1,412 GDS2022 commitments have been delivered. Delivery of the remaining GDS2022 commitments is also far advanced, with one third of the commitments reported to be at least half complete.” (Jan, Global Disability Summit)

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Justice Systems and Legal Capacity

El Salvador

Mother reports that her son was detained by police for “making signs”. The deaf son uses sign-language to communicate, and the police claim that “mysterious signs” were “alluding to gangs”. (In Spanish, Jan, La Prensa)

United Kingdom

Opening up on disability “Lawyers take pride in protecting the rights of disabled clients, but the profession’s own record on access is mixed.” (Feb, The Law Society Gazette)

Prisoners with severe mental health needs spending months in isolation, report finds. “A prisoner who repeatedly self-harmed spent more than 800 days in segregation, according to a damning report that reveals that jails are using isolation to manage severe mental health needs.” (Jan, the Guardian)

United States

Long-Term Solutions to the Overincarceration of People With Mental Health Disabilities “Policymakers must focus on long-term structural changes in order to reduce the negative interactions of people with mental health disabilities with police.” (Jan, CAP 20)

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Lived Experience and Opinion

International News

Vision Impairment: Science, art, and lived experience. An open access book which “blends individual stories, key research findings and the most recent scientific discoveries to present an informative yet optimistic overview of living with sight loss.” (Jan, UCL Press)

Japan

New documentary Fujiyama Cottonton offers a look at life with disabilities. “In the film, Aoyagi attempts to show audiences how people at the welfare facility live full lives by communicating with others and pursuing simple passions,” (Feb, Japan Times)

United Kingdom

A disabled farewell to 2023 Reflections on my year and how Judy's passing changes our movement (2023, Disability Debrief)

United States

What Can Deaf Philosophy Teach the World — and How Will It Change It? An interview with Teresa Blankmeyer Burke. (Feb, Truthout)

Sick of Exclusion: Making Space for Chronic Illness in Disability Advocacy Spaces:

“The medical model of disability does everyone harm, and should not be the prevailing way of framing disability in our societies. However, the emphasis placed on divorcing disability from a medical context often makes chronically ill people the scapegoat.” (Jan, Women Enabled International)

Bowling Without Sight Scott Krahn and Robb Fischer’s short film follows a trio of friends who take part in a bowling league for people who are visually impaired. (Jan, New Yorker)

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Mental Health

International News

Review of the 'The Routledge International Handbook of Mad Studies' A “valuable introduction for people new to the field”, “with its international scope, its persistent efforts to decenter white, Global North voices and experiences, and its close attention to the historical, philosophical, and theoretical underpinnings of mad studies”. (Jan, H-Disability)

Information Note on Disability and Inclusion in MHPSS. Guidance for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings responses in emergency settings. (Jan, IASC)

China

Book Review of Mental Health Law in China. (2023, International Journal of Disability and Social Justice)

United Kingdom

‘They thought they were doing good but it made people worse’: why mental health apps are under scrutiny. (Feb, the Guardian)

Prisoners with severe mental health needs spending months in isolation, report finds. “A prisoner who repeatedly self-harmed spent more than 800 days in segregation, according to a damning report that reveals that jails are using isolation to manage severe mental health needs.” (Jan, the Guardian)

United States

Long-Term Solutions to the Overincarceration of People With Mental Health Disabilities “Policymakers must focus on long-term structural changes in order to reduce the negative interactions of people with mental health disabilities with police.” (Jan, CAP 20)

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Mobility, Travel, Transport and Tourism

Overview

International News

Solo Travel without Sight: the Ultimate Guide to Traveling Blind (Feb, Connor Scott-Gardner)

Beyond Barriers: trailblazers of inclusive travel. 14 people making the world more accessible for 2024. (Jan, Condé Nast Traveller)

Europe

Europe’s Most Accessible Railway Nations a review shows Netherlands doing best and Czech railway lagging behind. (Jan, Omio)

New Zealand

Disability advocates call for enforceable standards in tourism (Jan, 1News)

Wheelchair users call for accessible beaches: 'Can you imagine the freedom?' (Jan, RNZ News)

Switzerland

A wheelchair-friendly guide to Switzerland (Feb, Condé Nast Traveller)

Air Travel

Australia

Adelaide Airport settles dispute with former disability discrimination commissioner over a "humiliating and distressing" experience with security screening and his assistance dog. (Jan, ABC News)

United States

Airlines that mishandle wheelchairs face new accountability rules (Feb, NPR)

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Policy and Rights

International News

Strengthening the Inclusion, Protection and Wellbeing of Human Rights Defenders with Disabilities, a guide. (Mar, Protection International)

Argentina

The Social Construction of Disability in Argentina:

“The Argentinian State has transitioned from a biomedical approach to a rights-based approach to disability. However, structural barriers and non-compliance with regulations have meant that changes that are necessary for the dignified lives of persons with disabilities are not being realised.” (2023, International Journal of Disability and Social Justice)

Asia

Living with the stigma of facial disfigurement in India and Nepal. (Link to pdf, Feb, Face Equality International)

Azerbaijan

A chance for a better life: restoring justice for people with disabilities in Azerbaijan. Profile of an profile providing legal aid. (Jan, EU Neighbours East)

Europe

Situational Assessment in the Euro-Mediterranean region of the social and economic inclusion of persons with disabilities. (2023, Union for the Mediterranean)

Malta

Discussion of quality of life of disabled people with Agenzija Sapport’s CEO Oliver Scicluna, former Commissioner for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. (Feb, Malta Independent)

Mexico

Living with the stigma of facial disfigurement in Mexico. (Link to pdf, Feb, Face Equality International)

Spain

Spain amends its constitution to replace term ‘handicapped’ with ‘persons with a disability’. “We are paying off a moral debt that we have had with over 4 million of our fellow citizens.” (Jan, AP News)

United States

Disability Reframed - Exploring the state of disability in America. “Through a series of in-depth reports, Judy Woodruff explores the battles to supply and receive disability care, fights for wage equality, and how climate change disproportionately impacts disabled populations.” (Feb, PBS NewsHour)

Racial and Disability Justice Policy Tracker a list of bills introduced to congress. (Jan, Center for Racial and Disability Justice)

Zimbabwe

Disability campaigners in Zimbabwe speak out The campaigners want the outdated Disabled Persons Act of 1992 to be repealed. (Feb, Global Voices)

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Politics and Elections

Dominican Republic

Municipal Elections 2024 how to register for accessible voting. (In Spanish, Jan, Acento) see the 5 ways the programme helps disabled people participate (CDN).

Jordan

Discussion of participation of disabled people in parties and elections (Feb, Jordan News Agency)

Mexico

IECM presents accessible materials but disabled people find they are not adequate. (In Spanish, Feb, Yo También)

Pakistan

Sindh's 'Voters With Disabilities' Hope For Better Facilities During February 8 Elections (Feb, Friday Times)

United States

Southern Voters Agree Disabled People Have Inclusivity in Their Local Community but Face Discrimination When It Comes to Interacting With Law Enforcement. (Feb, New Disabled South)

What We Lose by Armchair Diagnosing Biden and Trump

“It is appropriate for people to judge Biden and Trump by their actions. How either mishandled classified documents could be a dealbreaker. How either handles foreign policy, like unconditional funding to the Israeli government, could be a dealbreaker. Trump calling neo-Nazis ‘very fine people’ and then defending it a few years later can also be a dealbreaker. But associating supposed bad actions with age, and aging-related health issues, can lead to these conditions being further stigmatized.” (Feb, Mother Jones)

Canvassing with a Disability: Disabled Political Leaders Share their Best Practices:

“Political campaigns are not one size fits all though. After coming to terms with the inherent inaccessibility, I challenge you to create a non-traditional canvassing plan that meets your needs personally and politically. ” (Jan, Disability Victory)

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Relationships, Sex and Reproductive Rights

Cabo Verde

Pressure persists on women with visual impairments to avoid pregnancy according to associations of people with disabilities, reporting pressure, insults and discrimination from hospitals and families. (In Portuguese, Jan, Balai)

Europe

A silenced truth stories of forced sterilisation in the EU. (2023, EDF)

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Sport and Paralympics

Canada

'Finally': Canadian Para athletes to be financially rewarded for medals won at Paralympics. “Canadian Paralympians will now receive $20,000 for winning gold, $15,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze. This is equal to the amount Canadian Olympians receive.” (Jan, CBC)

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Violence and Harassment

Congo-Kinshasa

After surviving sexual violence, youth leader creates change for girls with disabilities in the DRC. (Feb, UNFPA)

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War in Ukraine

Evacuating or Leaving Ukraine

Europe

Regional social protection overview For Ukrainian refugees who have temporary protection in six host countries: Czechia, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. (2023, Acaps)

Situation in Ukraine

Ukraine

For disabled boy in Ukraine's war-ravaged east, volunteers are a lifeline. (Feb, Reuters)

Life for Disabled Ukrainians Amid Russian War “From victimhood to activism for a more inclusive Ukraine – a severely injured veteran tells of his struggle to overcome his disability no more so than in other peoples’ minds.” (2023, Kyiv Post)

Response and Resources

Europe

Disability-inclusive recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine a declaration to “ensure that the rights and requirements of persons with disabilities are fully respected by policy makers and donors”. (Feb, EDF)

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Water and Sanitation (WASH)

Nigeria

Girls with Disability Suffer, Rejected in Lagos Special Schools a detailed look at a lack of accessible and hygienic toilets and hygiene facilities. (Jan, This Day)

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