The First Lady, Michelle Obama, Meets with 2012 Paralympic Athletes
First Lady Michelle Obama met with the 2012 London Paralympic, Olympic and Olympic hopefuls on Monday to give them a pep talk. She also announced a nationwide commitment ....
How to Plan a Trip When You Have Special Needs
Vacations offer the opportunity to get away from it all. But it can be a difficult process to make proper plans when you have special needs. But it's not impossible to en....
Bashful Bladder Syndrome (Paruresis): Disability or Condition
Paruresis is known by many other terms. It is defined as a difficulty or "inability to urinate in public restrooms or in close proximity to other people, or the fear of b....
Abusive/Deadly Disciplinary Practices Prompt White House Reaction
The White House announced the release of a "Resource Document" Tuesday by the Department of Education on restraint and seclusion disciplinary practices in educational and....
Young Adults with Autism Lacking Education Necessary for Employment
A study published by Pediatrics on Monday revealed the trouble....
Tax Incentives Available for Businesses who Comply with the ADA
Two Federal tax incentives are offered to businesses who comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). They can assist in covering cost associated with improving....
California Assembly Puts Limits on ADA Lawsuits
Bills were presented to the California Assembly Judiciary Committee on Tuesday in order to curtail the amount of so-called “frivolous” Americans with Disabilities Act....
How Service Animals are Changing Lives
Service Animals are able to provide services that can significantly improve the lives of people with disabilities. Dogs, monkeys and miniature horses are just a few examples of the types of animals that can be used. They can provide assistance for many types of disabilities. How can a service animal help you? If you are:
Living One Handed Videos Demonstrate How to do Things with One Hand
This collection of videos were put together by Ryan, a left-arm amputee. He puts a humurous spin in his instructions on conquering the challenges he faces because of his disability. His videos include "How to Shoot A Basketball One Handed,"How To Zip A Coat One Handed," and "How To Hold Twins One Handed".9 Health Concerns for Persons with SCI
Spinal cord injuries (SCI) present significant challenges for those it affects. Most obvious is the inability to walk. But there are other health concerns those affected and caregivers should be aware of and monitor:
Amputee Realizes his Olympic Dreams
Malek Muhammad, lives in the war torn country of Afghanistan. At the age of 11 Malek lost his legs after tripping two landmines while trying to gather firewood for his family.
Kansas Sits on Budget Surplus While Persons with Disabilities Suffer
The State of Kansas is under fire for their poor handling of the backlog of persons with disabilities waiting for state services. Nearly 7500 individuals are still waiting for services such as those offered by independent living centers. Some of which have been on the waiting list for more than three years. The Americans with Disabilities Act and court rulings such as the 1999 Olmstead Decision, require states to provide these services.
Smart Walking-Cane Provides New Levels of Independence to the Visually Impaired (Video)
A new walking cane has been developed that redefines the possibilities of independence for the visually impaired. BlindSpot was developed by Selene Chew of Singapore as a project for her senior thesis. Her project focused on adapting existing smartphone applications accessible to the visually-impaired. From her observations she became even more aware of the decreased amount of control felt because of not knowing who or what was around.
DPSA Unveils New Television Advertising Campaign on Accessibility (Video)
A new television advertising campaign is now running on South African television stations featuring a letter from Christabella Zenzile to the President of South Africa. Christabella is a wheelchair user living in a country overwhelmed with social and welfare problems, leaving her problems with accessibility, largely ignored.
Top 5 Dietary No-No's for Crohn's Disease
When dealing with a disease that affects your digestive system, it is reasonable to assume that your diet could have a direct effect on your condition. While it hasn't been proven that certain foods in your diet can cause Crohn's disease, some foods can make it more difficult to manage by aggravating symptoms.
What Gives You the Right to Complain About the ADA?
Have you ever set outside in 10° weather waiting for the person who parked to close to you, making it impossible for you to get inside your car?Have you ever walked down the street and ran "smack" into a sign because you couldn't see it?
Feds Forced to Release Final Regulations for Community First Choice Option
The Community First Choice Option is a new program under the Affordable Care Act implemented by the Obama Administration in September of 2010. It allows states to receive an additional 6% in federal matching payments (FMAP) for costs associated with the program which makes community living possible for those who would be institutionalized.
Backlogs and Slow Processing: How America Treats its Disabled Veterans
A recent hearing before the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs (VA) discussed the backlog of 897,566 disability claims faced by the Veteran Affairs Department. In addition, it was revealed that 65 percent of claims remain unprocessed for more than 125 days and the average error rate in processing is 16 percent. The worst is Oakland, CA where eighty percent of veterans wait at least 125 days and the average wait time is 313 days.
Protesters Arrested at ADAPT Rally Against Medicaid Cuts
Approximately 78 out of more than 100 Disability Rights protesters were arrested in Washington, DC Monday. The protesters, many of which were wheelchair users, were with the group ADAPT, "a national community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in nonviolent direct action...to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom."
