1/16/25 - Political parties, more on wildfires, and accessible safaris

Disability Victory Calls on DNC Leadership Candidates to Commit to Accessibility and Disability Rights

Disability Victory - January 7, 2025

"As disabled-led and run organizations and allied organizations, we are committed to accessibility for all and a Democratic infrastructure that includes investing in disabled candidates and issues across the country. For too many consecutive cycles, the Democratic National Committee and state parties' commitment to accessibility and disability rights has fallen short. In 2025 and beyond, that must change. We urge that all candidates for the DNC party officer positions to commit to this pledge."

This is a somewhat rare thing in disability politics – a well-crafted and entirely actionable online of disability issue commitment that is written for a specific political party, rather than for the whole of U.S. politics. It's an important and necessary component of disability politics. Political parties play a large part in determining what political participation is like, what it's aimed at, and whether it is accessible to disabled people. I do wonder what a similar pledge might look like for the Republican Party at this point. I haven't gotten very far in imagining this ... but maybe others have some thoughts. Meanwhile, this also serves as a pretty good list of issues disabled people and disability organizations might be working on as the new Trump administration takes office.

In California wildfires, disabled people may be left behind

Alice Wong, Curnbed San Fransisco - November 13, 2018

"While there are stories of heroic rescues by firefighters, first responders, volunteers, and neighbors, there are too many instances of older adults and disabled people dying or harmed due to lack of planning, accessibility, and neglect during catastrophic events like hurricanes Irma and Maria, just to name two recent natural disasters."

Just to be absolutely clear, this article was published in 2018, and refers to wildfires that took place in Northern California, not the Los Angeles fires going on this month. But the issues Alice describes haven't really changed – no have her tips and recommendations. And it's important to reread things like this. Whatever disasters are happening today, chances are disabled people have spoken or written about disasters just like them years ago.

Safari with a disability: Embrace the unknown

 Jan Bonville, Mélange - January 10, 2025

Suggested by newsletter supporter Tom DeFayette

"For those of us with disabilities, bucket-list items like an African safari are all too often an early casualty of the paring down of dreams that happens as we struggle with strength, energy, movement and logistics overall."

When so many disabled people struggle for access to the basics, like housing, income support, streets and sidewalks, and voting, it can seem frivolous to worry about access to high-end, privileged experiences like world travel. But from another angle, it's incredibly important and meaningful for us to fight for disabled people's access to nice things as well as essential things – luxuries as well as necessitates. Disabled people should not have to drop something like an African safari from their bucket list just because they are disabled. A more down-to-earth and common example of this is when we as disabled people are sometimes criticized, or looked at askance, for having a really nice, really big TV, a smartphone with all the features and a cool look, or expensive salmon or steak for dinner once in awhile. Luxuries, some big, some small, are and should be for everyone, including people with disabilities.

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