Important Reflections on Disability Pride

This past July marked the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), known to many in the disability rights world as ADA month. In more recent years, July has been designated as Disability Pride Month, coinciding with the first Disability Pride Day held in 1990 and the first Disability Pride Parade held inContinue reading “Important Reflections on Disability Pride”

Where We Go from Here: The Americans with Disabilities Act

July 26, 2022, marks the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Every year, the disability  community celebrates this day because the ADA is a declaration of equality for people with disabilities. Much has changed for the better, with increased access and greater opportunities for disabled individuals. Yet, after 32 years, there is stillContinue reading “Where We Go from Here: The Americans with Disabilities Act”

How to Go Above and Beyond the ADA

As a person with a disability, it doesn’t take long for me to look around an establishment and notice opportunities that can make life a little easier for those in a wheelchair. I noticed that when I was on the east coast and closer to metropolitan areas, various establishments had shown themselves to be aContinue reading “How to Go Above and Beyond the ADA”

How the ADA Makes My Life Easier as a Wheelchair User

In honor of the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, I wanted to write about all the little things that make life in a wheelchair easier thanks to the ADA. By definition, “the ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, state and local government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, andContinue reading “How the ADA Makes My Life Easier as a Wheelchair User”

I Live in a Post-ADA Society and it Doesn’t Work

As we celebrate the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, there’s much to be thankful for, yet we still have work to do. What I Like About the ADA I like the public infrastructure and building safety aspects. Having the freedom to go anywhere and access any building is essential to me. RegulationsContinue reading “I Live in a Post-ADA Society and it Doesn’t Work”

Why the ADA is Important for Wheelchair Users

This month, we celebrate the 32nd anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act! I appreciate this monumental shift for so much of what it’s done that I tend to take it for granted. I’ve never known the U.S. without the ADA laws, as they passed just before I was born. As easy as it isContinue reading “Why the ADA is Important for Wheelchair Users”

A Reflection on One of My Mentors: Yoshiko Dart

January is National Mentoring Month! Every year, I like to take time to reflect on a woman who has helped shape my life. This year, the person who immediately came to my mind was Yoshiko Dart. Yoshiko is a Disability Rights activist who was instrumental in the passage of the ADA. Now, she is committedContinue reading “A Reflection on One of My Mentors: Yoshiko Dart”

Fighting the Good Fight for the Disability Community

I was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy at the age of five. It continues to take from me. I cannot walk and the strength in my arms has decreased rapidly. Society’s gaze on the disabled has made the life of many even harder. I believe that members of the disabled community should have equal rights.Continue reading “Fighting the Good Fight for the Disability Community”

The Gamble of Hotel Beds and Wheelchair Users

If you ask any power wheelchair user what they worry most about when staying at a hotel, I am willing to bet that “bed height” at least makes the top five. I think we all worry about whether the hotel does have an accessible bathroom or pathways that are actually as wide as they shouldContinue reading “The Gamble of Hotel Beds and Wheelchair Users”

My Trip to Kansas in My Power Wheelchair

It’s summer vacation and I needed some time to relax. So I went along with my family on their trip to Kansas. Unfortunately, my dad wasn’t able to come because it was a last-minute trip, so I went with my stepmom and stepbrother. Let me tell you something about our ride to Kansas. It wasContinue reading “My Trip to Kansas in My Power Wheelchair”