Back in 1999, the author (at the time) of popular Slate column “Dear Prudence” found herself in hot water after answering an etiquette question dealing with accessible bathroom stalls. She had told a letter writer that it was fine for non-disabled people to make a habit of using these stalls simply because of personal preference, […]
How Stephen Hawking Normalized Disability and Spoke for Those Who Could Not
Stephen Hawking (01/08/1942 – 03/14/2018) was a brilliant theoretical physicist who revolutionized our understanding of time and space. He also shifted societal perceptions of people with disabilities and used his fame to advocate for disability rights. Hawking and Our Understanding of Disability At the age of 21, Hawking was diagnosed with a rare neurological disease […]
Airline Crackdowns on Emotional Support Animals Incite Controversy
It’s no secret that many airplane passengers claim to require emotional support animals (ESAs) so that their pets can accompany them in the cabin for free. Several airlines report that this is a growing hygiene and safety concern, and are increasing regulations to prevent this from happening. Read on to examine the root causes of […]
What Improv Comedy Can Teach Us About Autism
The Second City is a prolific improvisational comedy organization, known for churning out highly-successful comedians like Bill Murray, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Stephen Colbert. In addition to launching careers and creating a lot of laughs, they also do important work to help people with communication difficulties and mental health issues. Their improv classes for anxiety were designed […]
NPR Uncovers “Hidden Epidemic” of Sexual Assaults on People with Intellectual Disabilities
For their new series “Abused and Betrayed,” which addresses sexual abuse and violence against people with intellectual disabilities, NPR obtained previously unpublished data from the Justice Department. They found that the rate of sexual assault on people with intellectual disabilities is at least seven times the rate for people without disabilities. Among women with intellectual […]