Since the election of Donald J. Trump to a second term, there has been heightened anxiety about what this means for the disability community. Indeed, many argue that Trump’s policies during his first term do not bode well for disabled Americans. Others have cited Trump’s recent rhetoric, in which he called VP Kamala Harris “mentally … Continue reading No “America First” without disabled Americans
Tag: disability rights
On the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act
Thirty years ago today, July 26, I was a little boy living in Asmara, Eritrea. I was living my life in the shadow of what would become a thirty-year armed struggle for independence from Ethiopia, with the safety and security of my family still under constant threat amid a near-daily cacophony of sound and vibration … Continue reading On the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act
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