Disability Almanac
What’s Your Deaf Community Awareness Quotient?
Growing up in the 1980s in New Delhi, India, I was allowed limited television time. One of the permitted indulgences included a feature film on the national channel, Doordarshan on the weekend. It was preceded or followed by a news bulletin which had sign language interpretation. That acted as an effective tool of sensitisation for…
Read MoreAddiction and Depression
Depression and addiction can go hand-in-hand. The National Bureau of Economic Research reports that people who have had a mental illness at some point in their lives (43% of the U.S. population) consume 69% of the nation’s alcohol and 84% of the nation’s cocaine. Studies have found that when someone with a depressive disorder abuses…
Read MoreInclusive Planning Process
Inclusive Planning Process for inclusion for elderly and disabled people. Objectives Shared Knowledge As the participants in the process work together, they learn from each other and create solutions based on this sharing. Sensitive Design Transit programs designed by those using the service will be more sensitive to their needs. Support for Implementation Groups and…
Read MoreAccessible Transportation
Making transportation accessible is key to making communities accessible. The US Government Transit Planning 4 All website provides information and resources for implementing accessible transportation in communities for elderly and disabled people. https://transitplanning4all.org/
Read MoreCalifornia Care Court Bill
The California Legislature is considering creating a “CARE Court” to fast track determinations of mental competency to mandate treatment. The Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court Program is being proposed to both the California Assembly (AB2830) and State Senate (SB1338). This bill is being strongly opposed by many disability rights organizations with letters from…
Read MoreDisability for Political Campaigns – a Forgotten Constituency, an Opportunity for Change
The disability community is, perhaps, one of the largest, yet most neglected constituencies in our society. Addressing their issues is not just the right thing to do, it is also smart politics. First, thank you for running for office. I’ve helped with several political and advocacy campaigns and, as the tired line goes, some of…
Read MoreWhat is Autism?
So, you want to learn more about autism? Here are a few things you need to know. I am autistic. The world of autism is quite diverse, so my experience is just that, mine. And I am writing this for non-autistic people or, using the language of the autism community “neurotypicals” (NT) – my family,…
Read MoreHow to get a Service Dog
If you’re a person living with a disability, you may have considered getting a service dog to assist you in some way. Service dogs are no longer only for the blind, after all. They can be trained to assist people who are hearing impaired or have mobility issues; to recognize low blood sugar in diabetics;…
Read MoreDisability and the Invasion of the Ukraine
In the desperate circumstances that Ukranians find themselves in, disabled people are hiding in their bathtubs because they cannot get to the shelters. Institutions of disabled people are being bombed and families are struggling to survive and unable to leave. In the words of one leader in the Ukrainian disability movement, we’re “easier to kill”.…
Read MoreI donated a kidney… and you can too
I was sitting on the bed in our master bedroom reading the Kansas City Jewish Chronicle in December 2017, when I read about a woman in Ft. Lauderdale, FL who needed a kidney. I instantly thought: “I wonder if that could be me.” Fifteen years earlier my cousin Ann received a kidney from her best…
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