4/24/25 - Cuts, discounts, and reflections on the global disability community

Disability communities and movements everywhere need more of that skill – to appreciate what works and what energizes us, while never ignoring where we fail, or the real dangers we face.

4/23/25 - Struggling for independence, a national survey, and another way to call Congress

But how to we make disability activism itself accessible?

4/22/25 - More on autism, accessible furniture, and a question of discrimination

None of these products seem especially innovative. And that's fine. In fact, it's sort of encouraging.

4/21/25 - 3 takes on RFK Jr. and autism

We are at the moment also locked in a room with one man's personal obsessions.

4/18/25 - Friday Video Share: "Autism advocate on RFK Jr.’s promised autism study"

RFK Jr. said some things about autism this week. Autistic folks have some thoughts ... Subscribe or Upgrade Autism advocate on RFK Jr.’s promised autism study ABC News - April 16, 2025 Video Autism advocate on RFK Jr.’s promised autism studyColin Killick, executive director of the Autism Self Advocacy

4/17/25 - Section 504, trans rights, and AI pros and cons

The big news at the moment is RFK Jr.'s press conference yesterday, in which he had a lot to say about autism that has autistic and disability communities feeling very angry, insulted, and threatened. But, I'm going to hold off on sharing articles and thoughts on

4/16/25 - U.S. cuts, a growing family, and learning Sign online

A bit of a wider variety today. Not all of it is bad or discouraging news. Subscribe or Upgrade Sweeping HHS Cuts Will Put Disabled and Older Americans’ Right to Live in Their Communities at Risk Susan J. Popkin, Nina Russell, Barbara Butrica, Dana Ferrante, Urban Institute- April 7, 2025

4/15/25 - Police violence, DOGE cuts, and Medicaid

Nothing particularly uplifting today ... another disabled person killed by police, and more on threats to disability support. And they're all from NPR. Interesting. Subscribe or Upgrade Intellectually disabled teen shot by Idaho police dies after being removed from life support The Associated Press, National Public Radio - April

4/14/25 - Social Security, and virtual "Hands Off"

A couple of updates on Social Security for today's newsletter – plus a look at how disabled people participated online in last weekend's protests. Subscribe or Upgrade Social Security backs off cuts to phone services amid outcry Emily Peck, Axios - April 9, 2025 "After weeks

4/11/25 - Friday Video Share: Survivor 48 - Jeff Probst Gets Emotional as Eva Opens Up

I was feeling crummy yesterday, which is why there wasn't a Thursday newsletter. The Friday video for this week is a little different ... Subscribe or Upgrade Survivor 48 - Jeff Probst Gets Emotional as Eva Opens Up SurvivorOnCBS - March 26, 2025 Is this good, actually? Is it

4/9/25 - Fake accessibility, disability and death, fashion and identity

I am finally getting around to planning for some kind of biweekly or monthly stand-alone post, just for this newsletter, by me and maybe eventually some guest writers, on disability issues and ideas. If you have any thoughts on this, please let me know in the comments, or by email

4/8/25 - Medicaid, pain, and Miss Manners

This week I am trying to share some interesting but less timely articles that have been hard to fit in because there have been so many more urgent things to read about lately. Subscribe or Upgrade Tell Your Legislators: Protect Medicaid! Autistic Self Advocacy Network - April 4, 2025 "

4/7/25 - A potentially important lawsuit, and a disability summit

I had these articles set up by mid-day last Friday. They are still timely. But all I can think about right now is how plunging stock markets affect disabled people, disability services, and disability organizations. My guess is that the impact is greater than some might imagine. Subscribe or Upgrade

4/4/25 - Friday Video Share: "GEMS CAR CHATS: PIP is Changing! What You Need to Know"

A disability lifestyle YouTuber gets a little bit political. Honestly, it's kind of encouraging. Subscribe or Upgrade GEMS CAR CHATS: PIP is Changing! What You Need to Know Wheelsnoheels - Gem Hubbard - April 3, 2025 What's interesting about this video? * It's about the

4/3/25 - Myanmar aftermath, more on voting rights, and surfing

A few random articles for today, in no particular order or connection ... Subscribe or Upgrade Myanmar earthquake tragedy deepens dire crisis Disability Insider - April 1, 2025 Source: Raul Krauthausen Substack "The UN Humanitarian Country Team is actively conducting rapid needs assessment missions in coordination with UN agencies, humanitarian

4/2/25 - Current dangers, past bipartisanship, and a rare win

It's still all about disability advocacy today, but from some slightly different perspectives. Subscribe or Upgrade Proposed Cuts to Medicaid and Social Services Target Our Community — Here’s What We Can Do Tim Gilmer, New Mobility - March 17, 2025 "Since the age of 20 I have

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Disability Thinking Weekday - March 2025 Recap

4/1/25 - April Fool's Day

We can all use a bit of a laugh about now. Here are three links where you might find some. Subscribe or Upgrade The Squeaky Wheel The Squeaky Wheel Headline: "Recently Paralyzed Libertarian Fights for Local Business’s Right to Deny Him Entry" It's hard to

3/31/25 - Another agency decimation, and accessible kitchens

These days, I find myself deliberately sharing stories on serious threats to disabled people's lives and freedom, alongside seemingly lower-stakes, lifestyle accessibility and inclusion topics. I'm not sure what message it sends to post these very different kinds of stories side by side. I certainly don&

3/28/25 - Friday Video Share: "Tyrion Gives Bran A Gift"

A little Tyrion for your weekend viewing ... Subscribe or Upgrade Tyrion Gives Bran A Gift Nineteen1900Hundred, YouTube - May 1, 2012 Spoilers ahead, I guess ... It feels a bit silly to still be obsessed with a TV character from a show that ended almost six years ago – not to mention

3/27/25 - Voting rights, Social Security chaos, and erasing advice for businesses

The hits just keep coming ... Subscribe or Upgrade Disability Voting News: March 26, 2025 Sarah Blahovec, The Accessible Voting Booth- March 26, 2025 "Regardless of which documents are accepted, the people who will be most impacted by a DPOC requirement are young people and elderly people who are less

3/26/25 - Breaking Up The Education Department

I was sick the last two days, which is why there were no newsletters on Monday or Tuesday. Actually I don't feel too bad about missing a weekday issue once in a while. But disability articles that should be shared tend to pile up quickly these days. Hopefully

3/21/25 - Friday Video Share: NO DECISION WITHOUT US | World Down Syndrome Day 2025

Today is World Down Syndrome Day. Time for a new video! Subscribe or Upgrade NO DECISION WITHOUT US | World Down Syndrome Day 2025 CoorDown - March 13, 2025 Here's this year's World Down Syndrome Day from CoorDown, an Italian Down syndrome organization that has been producing

3/20/25 - Cuts in the UK, and the latest from Smart Ass Cripple

By the time this newsletter is published, President Trump may have already signed his executive order to shut down the U.S. Department of Education. I have also seen a few copies of a Facebook post listing over a dozen steps the U.S. Department of Justice has taken that

3/19/25 - Mental health farms, eugenics, and photography

One slightly older piece, one newer, and an arts break today. Subscribe or Upgrade RFK's plan to make America healthy again? Send people with mental health conditions to farms Amanda Marcotte, Salon.com - February 19, 2025 "Kennedy has long had it out for these drugs, and