Current Events

By Michelle Colvard, Abilities Expo Ambassador Many people associate having a disability with weakness. With suffering. Or with inability. But in fact, I would argue that sometimes having a disability (as with experiencing other adversities) can actually foster and promote a trait called “grit.” We learn a mental toughness or tenacity—even what people used to…

By Paul Lane, Abilities Expo Ambassador and KMET 1490 AM Radio Host When you think of the word education what comes to your mind? If you’re like me you think of schooling or some type of training. When it comes to frustration, what are some of the words that are swirling in your head? Probably…

By Lucy Miranda Education is important to everyone and so is study-abroad experience. But not all countries are wheelchair-friendly. Online student advisor Vishnu Kumar has helped hundreds of students choose their study abroad destinations. He says, “Some countries are more accessible for disabled students. I counsel them about the best countries, cities and campuses that…

By Kathryn Carroll I didn’t care about the ADA when my large-print textbooks arrived in elementary school.My friends and I giggled about the fact that just one took up an entire desk. I didn’t care about the ADA while I listened to my mom argue on the phone with the bus company, explaining that I did not…

By Mel Raymond, Health writer Within the disability community, we are no strangers to the idea that our health services and government do not always have entirely the right idea when it comes to those in need. For reasons of private profit, misplaced ethics, or simple ignorance, those with disabilities or chronic diseases frequently experience…

By Mary Walton, Simple Grad A cover letter is one of the most important elements of your job application, and it’s only right that you spent a suitable amount of time in ensuring that yours is perfect for the vacancy that you’re applying for. Of course, you might spend a load of time on your resume,…

By Marisa Boni The silent determination, the intense focus, the steady climb, one foot in front of the other; slowly reaching the top. Then the hum of conversation is disrupted by the victorious ring of a bell. This moment is one of many triumphs an individual would have witnessed if they attended the Abilities Expo.…

By Jillian Day Embarking on a digital nomad lifestyle presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities, especially when navigating it with a disability. The freedom of working remotely is exhilarating, but it requires careful planning and consideration to truly thrive. This guide will walk you through essential steps to set yourself up for success,…

By Mark Potter, Civil Rights Attorney When I started litigating disability access cases in 1996, I figured I would need to move on to another area of law by the year 2000, because everyone would have made their facilities accessible by then. Nineteen years later I see how naive I was. I’ve learned that there…

By Gary Karp, Modern Disability The once-popular phrase was “Hire the Handicapped.” Well, we’ve come a long way. The term “handicapped” now appears only in certain final vestiges, mainly with regard to a type of parking spot. Its tone was pretty undeniable: having a disability is an unfortunate thing, so we should give those poor people…

By Jessica Niziolek We all know what etiquette is. We were all taught to say please, thank you, no thank you, etc. But, how well do we all know about disability etiquette? For me, there have been experiences where I couldn’t help but think, “Was that actually just said to me out loud?” or “Did…