Remembering the Legacy of Judy Heumann, Mother of the Disability Rights Movement, One Year Later
Image description: Judy Heumann speaking at a 504 protest. Judy Heumann, also known as “The Mother of Disability Rights,” passed away on March 4th, 2023. She was one of, if not the most, influential people in the disability rights movement. Judy helped pass the ADA, IDEA and was a leader in the historic 504 […]
Biden Says He Wants His Cabinet to ‘Look Like America’, but Hasn’t Nominated Any Disabled People
Newly inaugurated United States President Joe Biden says that he wants his Cabinet to “look like America.” Following this logic, disabled cabinet members should constitute at least 25% of Biden’s nominations. However, this isn’t the case. Even though more than 1 in 4 adults in the United States has some form of a disability; this […]
Why President Joe Biden’s Inclusion of Disability Is So Important
Like much of the country, I was elated when Joe Biden became the President of the United States. The chaos that the Trump administration has brought about—from mishandling COVID-19 to threatening the rights of marginalized groups—had finally come to an end, and for the first time in what seemed like forever, I felt like I could relax again.
Trump & The Racehorse Theory: A Brief History of American Eugenics
On September 18, President Donald Trump held a rally in Bemidji, Minnesota during which he voiced support for eugenics, saying: “You have good genes, you know that, right? You have good genes. A lot of it is about the genes, isn’t it, don’t you believe? The racehorse theory. You think we’re so different? You have […]
Shouldn’t the United States Stand for Disabled People Instead?
Back in 2016 after the general election my school held a meeting hosted by the president of the university. I attended, filled with vast emotions, mostly grief and despair, and I was not the only one. My school held the meeting because faculty knew that there were many mixed feelings following the unexpected […]
Where Did The ADA Come From And Where Can We Go From Here?
On July 26th, we mark the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This landmark legislation helped make the United States a more accessible and inclusive place for those with disabilities. Since its passage in 1990, this landmark legislation has helped increase access and opportunity for people with disabilities. However, while […]
My Disability Does Not Make My Life Worth Less in COVID-19 Pandemic
Coronavirus has changed a lot of things, and it has changed a lot of things very quickly. Everyone is being forced to adjust to a radically new routine, and nobody really knows what to expect next. Living through a global pandemic is, undoubtedly, a scary time for everyone. But it’s an especially scary time for […]
Is Social Media Really Activism? Yes it is, and Here’s Why That Thought is a Little Ableist
I spend a lot of time on my phone. This is common in my generation, much to the dismay of our parents and various older relatives who, “back in their day,” spent time outside and actually socialized with people. I understand the disconnect, and realize that it can seem as though scrolling through Twitter or […]
Stephen Miller’s Proposal to Limit Citizenship Based on Use of Public Welfare Services Will Kill Disabled, Poor, and Hungry Immigrants
On August 7, 2018, it was revealed that the Trump administration is planning to submit new immigration policy that will bar immigrants from obtaining citizenship if they have ever used public welfare programs such as the Children’s Health Insurance Program, the Affordable Care Act or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. This restriction would not only […]
Meet the 28-Year-Old Latina Changing the Face of Democratic Politics
Image description: Alexandria Ocasio-Crotez is shown celebrating with supporters. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made history last night by winning the Democratic primary in New York’s 14th congressional district, composed of the Bronx and portions of Queens. Born in the Bronx to Puerto Rican parents, Ocasio-Cortez attended Boston University and interned in the immigration office of Ted Kennedy. […]