December religious holidays and celebrations are natural opportunities for houses of worship to embrace practices that welcome and support people with disabilities in all aspects of the community. One of the most common questions we get is, “Our congregation wants to include disabled people, but where do we begin?”
My answer comes in the form of a question. “Belonging is at the heart of inclusion. So, what gives you a sense of belonging in your faith community?” [continue reading…]
In the Presidential election of 2020, a record number of people with disabilities voted at the polls. Unfortunately, a record of another kind was set in 2021, when 33 laws were passed that made it more difficult for Americans to vote. This resulted in a significant decrease in voting participation by people with disabilities in 2022. According to findings by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), people with disabilities were twice as likely as non-disabled voters to experience challenges while voting in 2020; that number grew to three times as likely in 2022. [continue reading…]
RespectAbility’s 2024 federal policy priorities include:
RespectAbility is gearing up for a critical year in state legislative policy. With several key states carrying stalled bills over from 2023 into 2024, the first few months will bring significant opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
States poised to see some action include California, New York, and Pennsylvania. Though these three populous states encompass unique demographic and economic profiles, each state legislature has the potential to enact significant changes. RespectAbility is ready to assist disability organizations in these and other states to advance legislation that promotes greater opportunities for disabled people and to fight any initiatives that roll back rights for which we’ve fought hard. [continue reading…]
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released its 2022 Report to Congress on Supportive Services for Individuals with Autism. Along with employment and education issues, the report covers supportive services, such as occupational, behavioral, and speech therapies, that are covered by Medicaid, private insurance, or self-pay. The report also addresses disparities in services that exist among various communities. [continue reading…]
Monthly Employment Update for People with DisabilitiesAccording to the latest National Trends In Disability Employment (nTIDE) report:
According to the US Department of Labor (DOL) disability employment statistics, the unemployment rate of people without a disability dropped to 3.3% from 3.5% in the previous month, within the range of 3-5% deemed healthy by most economists. However, the unemployment rate amongst those with a disability is more than two times higher at 7.8%.
The short horror film Our First Priority tackles the important concept of medical gaslighting, which is not talked about as often as it should. Writer/Director Ariel Baska utilizes music, light, and color to give the topic the horror treatment.
Opening with music evoking a horror film, the tone quickly shifts to viewers seeing a young girl named Hannah in the hospital for a checkup. The sudden lack of background music is jarring, highlighting the importance of the interaction. The nurse makes it clear that Hannah is there by herself, but the viewer sees an older version of Hannah lurking, watching the entire interaction, inserting her thoughts.
Our First Priority takes viewers into Hannah’s mind – showing how the fluorescent lights distort her vision and hearing, all the while hearing older Hannah saying she should be worried. When Hannah reads her long list of symptoms – that are recurring – the doctor ignores her, instead playing with a flashlight. The flashing of the light underscores the doctor choosing to ignore the patient. [continue reading…]
On social media or TV, you probably have seen stories of a disabled person being celebrated at their High School prom, or being named an honorary member of their Football team. While these stories may seem harmless on the surface, these stories fall under the trope of “inspiration porn.”
Inspiration Porn is used to describe the objectification of disabled people with the intention of making people without disabilities feel good. The term was made popular by Stella Young, a disabled comedian and activist, in her TED talk titled “I’m Not Your Inspiration, Thank You Very Much.” Young explained that society has been sold the lie that having a disability is a bad thing, so simply living with a disability makes someone exceptional. The media tends to glorify disabled people for existing and praise non-disabled people for helping disabled people. These superficial narratives have detrimental effects on the representation and perception of disabled people in society. [continue reading…]
As the fall semester of college wraps up, many fraternities and sororities are already starting to make plans for next semester’s Greek life recruitment. Greek letter organizations usually have a set idea of the type of people they would like to extend a bid or formal offer to become a member to. But does that fixed idea of the perfect member come with an ableist mindset?
In 2018, talks of the lack of disability inclusion in Greek life made major headlines when Ann Catherine Heigl, a George Mason University student who has Down Syndrome, was rejected from every sorority. From what the articles described about Heigl, she appeared to have several qualities that sororities look for. She was a varsity cheerleader, involved in the community, and had strong academic performance. Many students with disabilities have a similar story to Heigl’s. They are quickly judged and dismissed before they even have a chance to show who they are, just because they have a disability. [continue reading…]
The new animated Disney movie WISH is opening today in theaters nationwide. The film centers on Asha, a 17-year-old who stands for an injustice in her kingdom. Asha’s best friend Dahlia is a disabled teen, yet the film does not go into details about her disability.
Instead, viewers see Dahlia having an important job – running the palace bakery and leading six other teenage characters who work with her in the palace – and playing an integral role in helping Asha – and their entire friend group – succeed in their mission.
Jennifer Kumiyama
Dahlia is not defined by her cerebrovascular disease, subtly indicated by her crutch and gait. Jennifer Kumiyama was authentically cast for the role Dahlia. [continue reading…]
