When you sign up for our Faith Inclusion and Belonging newsletter, you’ll be able to download the new Jewish High Holidays Guide to Accessibility, Inclusion, and Belonging. You’ll also receive a link to download our larger Spiritual and Faith Community Guide to Accessibility, Inclusion, and Belonging when it is released.
Nora Onanian
This past spring, like a game of telephone, my exciting news that I would be able to attend the 2024 Paris Paralympics spread, and was, well… misconstrued. On more than one occasion, I got a text from a friend of my grandma’s, or a peer at school, where the person wished me well in my “big swimming competition.” Either my 90-pound, scrawny physique gives off that of an Olympic athlete, or, many people are unfamiliar with how big of a deal it is to qualify for the Paralympics. The athletic competition is on a global stage, with—not some of, but—the most talented athletes of our time.
While my once a week swim practice through Adaptive Sports New England is something I enjoy, and take moderately seriously, it is certainly not enough training for an athletic career of Paralympic heights. What those Sunday mornings spent in the pool did do for me, however, was provide an interesting perspective on how the public engages with para-athletes and disability more broadly.
The first swimming competition I entered as an amputee was last March. Organized through Move United—an affiliate of the Paralympic Games—, it was unlike anything I had ever experienced. I don’t think I’ve been in the same room with as many fellow disability community folk, let alone been treated so “normally” (in my opinion, there is no such thing as “normal”) despite my body moving differently than people are used to. Seriously, not a single person batted an eye at my scars, limb difference or anything else I would normally mentally prepare myself for when getting on the diving board at my high school swim meets, or entering any room full of able-bodied people. [continue reading…]
A new report shows that films continue to lack disabled characters. The USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative report, “Inequality in 1,700 Popular Films,” found that just 2.2% of all speaking characters in the top 100 films of 2023 were shown with a disability, which is virtually identical to both 2022 (1.9%) and 2015 (2.4%). According to the report, “each year, the numbers prove stubbornly resistant to change.”
Furthermore, of the top 100 films of 2023, 42 films did not feature even one character with a disability. This is lower than 2022 (54) but similar to 2015 (45). Only one out of the 100 films examined portrayed disabled characters at proportional representation within the U.S. population (27.2%). The only other year to include a film with proportional representation since 2015 was in 2021. [continue reading…]
With one in four adults in the United States having a disability, it is critically important for businesses and organizations to be intentional about accessibility, inclusion, and belonging for disabled people. This spans across the spectrum of disabilities, including individuals with nonapparent disabilities, those born with them, and those with temporary or acquired disabilities.
As we celebrate Disability Pride Month 2024, we’d like to shine the spotlight on Wells Fargo, a company that has been working hard to advance disability inclusion both inside their organization and by partnering up with organizations like Disability Belongs™ (formerly RespectAbility).
Wells Fargo Chief Accessibility Officer Andrew Holbrook speaks at our 10th Anniversary Celebration
Support from Wells Fargo allowed us to positively impact the lives of many people with disabilities through our Leadership and Workforce Development initiatives. Disability Belongs™ is on the front lines in creating access to careers and strengthening a diverse talent pipeline of people with disabilities. This includes Leadership and Workforce Development programs such as our Entertainment Lab and National Leadership Program. [continue reading…]
Khadija Bari speaks at the 2024 Disability Impact Awards
The diverse, disability-led nonprofit Disability Belongs™ (formerly RespectAbility) is focused on systemic change, including changing perceptions and attitudes towards people with disabilities, so they can fully participate in all aspects of community. The recent name change reflects the evolution of the organization’s brand, and with it, the organization also welcomes new board leadership.
Disability Belongs™ is proud to announce that Khadija Bari (she/her) has been elected as the sixth Chair of the organization’s Board of Directors. “I am thrilled to lead the Board of Disability Belongs™, as we begin this new chapter in the organization’s bright future,” said Khadija Bari. “It is a much-welcomed change as we continue and grow in our work of redefining narratives, developing leaders, and driving opportunity for the disability community across the nation. I am humbled to follow in the footsteps of Disability Belongs™’ past Chairs that have made their mark and continue to pave the way in strengthening the rights of people with disabilities around the world. The expertise of the Board of Directors and Advisors is invaluable to me, and I look forward to supporting President and CEO Ariel Simms as we turn the page and usher in a new era for Disability Belongs™.” [continue reading…]
60 Miles North is a coming-of-age feature film about Clarence Moran (Edward Crawford), who is at the crossroads in his career, and Wild Falls (Audrey Kovar), a woman battling a medical illness and doctors who do not believe her symptoms. Although both Moran and Falls are facing different problems, they find solace and support from each to get back up and find a solution to their issues.
The film dives deep into the complexities of chasing dreams, confronting setbacks, and the transformative power of unexpected connections as well as the challenges some patients face when dealing with doctors who are on a power trip or have a god complex, and refuse to listen to their patients until something terrible happens. [continue reading…]
All aspects of the concert-going experience, from purchasing a ticket to attending the show, can be difficult for a disabled guest. During my time in RespectAbility’s National Leadership Program, through extensive research and open conversations with organizations and venues, I have learned it is possible to have a well-rounded concert experience as a disabled guest with the right accommodations in place.
In the past, I have been a verified fan through Ticketmaster, which qualified me for presale. However, wheelchair-accessible seats were not available on Ticketmaster at the time. This required me to contact the venue directly to purchase the seats, but the venue was not offering the seats until general on-sale. This created a barrier in the process since it did not allow me to utilize my presale status. I have also had barriers when trying to purchase my companion tickets in the same section as me. The Americans with Disabilities Act states up to three companion seats may be purchased, and that these seats must be near the accessible seats. But most venues only allow one companion to be purchased with a wheelchair seat. This can be limiting to the disabled patron when traveling with family and friends, and it is frustrating because non-disabled customers can experience the concert with as many friends as they’d like. [continue reading…]
For the first time, there is a large-scale report providing quantifiable data regarding the lack of accessibility at film festivals for disabled filmmakers and attendees. The Film Event Accessibility Scorecard is a virtual questionnaire form containing 70 questions that touch upon event attendance experience and recommendations. Between July 22, 2022 and November 20, 2023, 353 respondents provided feedback on 75 film festivals and film events internationally.
A big takeaway from the impact report: 73% of disabled respondents experienced some form of inaccessibility in the attendee experience and 93% of festivals received a below the median score. This included lack of accessible seating, volunteers being untrained on access features, the lack of functional assistive listening devices, and panels not being moderated accessibly. For example, 77% responded “somewhat disagree” or “disagree” to the question: “Live captions were available for the panels and Q&As (in-person).” [continue reading…]
June 6, 2024 – RespectAbility is proud to announce the recipients of its third annual Disability Impact Awards, which recognize individuals working to advance opportunities for people with disabilities. Lex Frieden, one of the chief architects of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), will receive the 2024 Steve Bartlett Award, named after the Honorable Steve Bartlett, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and was a principal co-author of the ADA. The Spangenberg-Chappell Memorial Award will go to RespectAbility Fellow and groundbreaking deaf-blind journalist Steven McCoy. Both Frieden and McCoy will accept their awards at RespectAbility’s Disability Impact Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C. on July 11th, closing out a week of policy activity during Disability Advocacy Week. [continue reading…]
Voting should be a stress-free experience. Most people would probably agree that all aspects of voting, including registering to vote, researching the candidates and issues, and casting a ballot, should be accessible to people with disabilities. And thanks to years of effort from disability advocates, there are more accessible voting options than ever before. But unfortunately, barriers to voting persist for disabled people across America.
When disabled people choose to vote in-person, best practices in accessibility are often not fully utilized due to a lack of training and education. Poll workers are often not trained on how to use accessible voting devices, and some demonstrate microaggressions and implicit biases against voters with disabilities. Many disabled people are unable to drive, and for them, getting transportation to the polling place can be a challenge. [continue reading…]
