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
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
Living While Deafblind in the Age of Coronavirus
There has never been a moment in my life like the current global public health crisis. Although I was born in a country during a long-running armed struggle for independence, in which countless lives and livelihoods were both destroyed and under constant threat, I have never witnessed anything like what the novel coronavirus has caused … Continue reading Living While Deafblind in the Age of Coronavirus
When Washington priorizes politics over access, American kids pay a hefty price
The Trump administration recently unveiled the budget for 2020, showing a roughly 10% cut for the Department of Education. I know that such proposals are that, proposals, and that Congress has the discretion over whether to enact into law or not, in accordance with its constitutional role to appropriate money. But too often, political consideration … Continue reading When Washington priorizes politics over access, American kids pay a hefty price
Brands are not human beings: a call for greater awareness
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
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