Recently, the CEO of National Beverage Corp., which makes La Croix soft drinks, compared people with disabilities to brands. More specifically: according to the BBC, the company's billionaire executive, Nick Caporella, said that taking care of brands is the same as taking care of disabled persons. "Brands do not see or hear, so they are … Continue reading Brands are not human beings: a call for greater awareness
The State of the Union is — not accessible to all
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump delivered his State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress. While parsing the address, there was one thing that especially stood out for me: the President’s due acknowledgement of women’s progress in the workforce, as evidenced by the historically high number of female members of Congress. This … Continue reading The State of the Union is — not accessible to all
Deafblind, African immigrant — and dreaming
Growing up in Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, I dreamed what in that day and place seemed like lofty dreams considering the circumstances of my life. I wanted to be a horseman, because horses seemed to typify the Eritrean way of life. My grandmother and I would frequently ride on a horse-drawn carriage hauling sacks … Continue reading Deafblind, African immigrant — and dreaming
A wall is a symbol of exclusion and discrimination — and won’t keep America secure
A GoFundMe campaign has recently been created to solicit money to build a border wall along the length of the southern U.S.-Mexico border. As of this writing, the campaign raised over $13 million. It was created by a disabled vet who claims to be the grandson of immigrants. It makes many assertions that demonstrate our … Continue reading A wall is a symbol of exclusion and discrimination — and won’t keep America secure
The contributions to disability rights of the late George H.W. Bush
This week, America pays tribute to and celebrates the extraordinary life of George H.W. Bush. The 41st President is remembered by many for his humility, decency, and devotion to family and country, his generosity, a spirit of service. He presided over the end of the Cold War, a 100-hour Gulf War, and a more civil … Continue reading The contributions to disability rights of the late George H.W. Bush
Thank you, America
Dear America, There are so many reasons to be thankful. All too often, we take for granted many things and in the process forget that our lives are fragile and that it is far easier to complain than to appreciate. We saw this in the destruction of lives by disasters like wildfires and hurricanes; … Continue reading Thank you, America