Current Events
When the groundbreaking Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law in 1991, civil rights activist Justin Dart, Jr. said, “It is the world’s first declaration of equality for people with disabilities by any nation. It will proclaim to America and to the world that people with disabilities are fully human; that paternalistic, discriminatory, segregationist attitudes are no longer acceptable; and that henceforth people with disabilities must be accorded the same personal respect and the same social and economic opportunities as other people.”
Sign up for the Buzz
Get disability news and information delivered to your inbox.
Latest news and stories
-
Star-studded Lineup to Amaze at Abilities Virtual Experience 2
A thousand years ago, back in June of this year, we launched our inaugural Abilities Virtual Experience. Many of you attended this online affair, and we were as grateful for your support as we were for your candid feedback. Without that, we would not have the impressive, immersive and interactive Abilities Virtual Experience 2 coming your way…
-
5 Steps to Write a Successful Disability Appeal Letter
By Daniela McVicker If your disability claims have been denied, you will usually still have the option to write an appeal letter to support your claims. After you have considered your options for the appeal and contacted your lawyer, it is crucial to understand how to put that letter together. The reality of the situation…
-
Connecting Mental Health to Overall Health for Folks with Disabilities
By Tracy S. Williams The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that 1 in 4 adults live with a physical disability. While living with a physical disability is not necessarily a depressing state of affairs, there are situations that could frustrate people to the point that it may cause mental health concerns. The CDC also…
-
A Message of Hope from Abilities Expo Ambassador Paul Lane
By Paul Amadeus Lane When we look at the tragic events that have rocked our nation, it shows that we cannot neglect members of our community that have been left behind due to race, disability, gender or sexual orientation. Discrimination has no place in our society Far too often we think that silence and ignoring…
-
Workplace Discrimination: What Qualifies as Reasonable Accommodation?
By Adrian Johansen What every American should know is that every employer in the U.S.—from small, mom-and-pop businesses to giant corporations—is bound by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and rules created by the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC). If you have a disability, then you have rights that go beyond anti-discrimination law. Your employer needs to find…
-
Coronavirus Feels a Lot Like my Everyday
By Keisha Greaves, Girls Chronically Rock Random bouts of dry coughs in the middle of the night. Phlegm. Unexpected shortness of breath. Weakness in the joints. That’s my normal. It’s what it looks like at my stage and type of muscular dystrophy. It also happens to be some of the underlying symptoms that’s taking the world’s…
-
Highly Effective Job Management Tips for Single Moms with Disabilities
By Claudia Jeffrey Around 4.1 million to 9 million single parents in the US have some kind of physical disability. Making adjustments to the new normal is the toughest thing, especially if you are a single mommy. You have to work, cook, clean, and do household chores all by yourself, yet you have nobody to share their…
-
Abilities Expo Los Angeles Welcomes Attendees In Person March 4-6, 2022
By Abilities Expo Abilities Expo is thrilled to welcome the LA attendees back to the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC). The following safety measures—mandated by the State of California, County of Los Angeles, City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Convention Center—will be in place. Please check back periodically as we will update this…
-
Great, Use-Now Tips on Career Success with a Disability
By Lisa Wells, Cure Medical For many people with disabilities, finding gainful employment that’s flexible enough to meet their needs can be challenging. In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor reports that the unemployment rate for people with disabilities was 8.4% in 2016, which is approximately twice the rate for people without disabilities. October is National…
-
RAMPing up to Save Lives with Emergency RED BAG Movement
Whether you’re able-bodied or have a disability, the privacy of your health information is important. However, there may be situations when quick access to your health information could save your life. Tina Pedersen, founder and president of RAMP (Real Access Motivates Progress), hopes to create a way to help people with disabilities in emergencies. Everything First Responders…
-
Aspiring Doctor with CP Galvanizes Support for Alternative Paths to Med School
By Jerusha Mather My name is Jerusha Mather. I was born in Sri Lanka in December 1994. Because of my diagnosis of athetoid cerebral palsy, the doctors gave my parents little hope that I wouldn’t be able to walk or talk. My parents decided to move to Australia when I was just two years old…
-
Why? Because They Said They Would.
For years, a group of dedicated adults from the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities‘ Rocky River Adult Activities Center has been volunteering their time on Wednesday mornings at because I said I would, a nonprofit dedicated to bettering humanity through promises made and kept. Together, Tasha, Dan, Eric and Maureen use teamwork to count, package, label,…