Changing tables make it easy for caregivers to change babies’ diapers in a clean and safe way. But most changing tables in public restrooms have a 20 lb. weight limit. So what happens when disabled children grow up? Teens and adults with a wide range of disabilities may have difficulty using the bathroom on their […]
The Straw Ban: Balancing Environmental Concerns with Disability Rights
![Trash from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch that washed up in Hawaii. By Justin Dolske from Cupertino, USA (Beach trash) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://hiehelpcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Great-Pacific-Garbage-Patch-1200x600.jpg)
Taking in the environmental impact Each day, Americans use approximately 500 million drinking straws. According to the National Park Service (NPS), this amount could fill 46,400 school buses every year (1). Straws and other plastic products take a very long time to decompose. Therefore, they either end up in landfills or make their way to […]
Adaptive Clothing Lines for Children with Disabilities
Although there are many companies that sell adaptive apparel for children, their offerings often prioritize functionality at the expense of fashion. However, a few clothing companies have recently launched lines specifically for children with disabilities and designed with trends in mind: *Please note that we have no affiliation with any of these companies* Tommy Hilfiger’s […]
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
Airline regulations on service and emotional support animals have historically been pretty flexible. This helps the people who truly need these animals to avoid cumbersome paperwork and be able to travel more spontaneously. However, the lack of bureaucratic oversight has also allowed many people to claim that their untrained pets are in fact ESAs (or […]