12/8/25 - Agency, international leadership, and a new ad

Good afternoon!

Winter has definitely arrived early here in Northeastern New York State. The sky is cloudless, the temperature is 13 degrees Fahrenheit, and the ground is covered with snow. For the time being it makes no difference to me, since I am still recovering from my fall and not venturing out, good weather or bad. But I am slightly dreading my first trip out, which will probably be next week, and hoping I don't have to deal with too much snow, slush, and ice. Cold winter weather can be lovely. But it's no friend to disabled people.

Here are three disability-related links to kick off the week ...

Alabama Wants to Lower the Bar for Executing Disabled People—if SCOTUS Lets It

Julia Métraux, Mother Jones - December 5, 2025

"“The court has said repeatedly…at different times, that intellectual disability is determined through clinical judgment, through a comprehensive analysis,” Wakschlag said. “It is not a number.” ... The Supreme Court’s decision to hear the case is perhaps unexpected, given the clear precedent in its rulings that IQ tests are not enough to establish intellectual disability, and may signal a likely break with precedent."

I am against the death penalty for anyone. But I have also always worried about any legal precedents around it that while protecting intellectually disabled people from the death penalty, may also reduce or degrade disabled people's agency – their legal and moral standing as decision-making adults. However, this case seems to be about something entirely different. It's about whether intellectual disability should be narrowly defined by something like IQ tests, (which are of debatable use anyway) – or more broadly, by a combination of test results, school records, medical examinations, and clinical assessment of each individual. Here the answer seems much clearer. And the implications of the U.S. Supreme Court weighing in on it now are frightening.

How the World Now Views U.S. Disability Leadership

Sara Minkara, Curious Constructs - December 4, 2025

"During my time as U.S. Special Advisor on International Disability Rights, I worked closely with policymakers and advocates around the world. Recently, I reached back out to colleagues to understand how this administration’s choices are shaping the global view of American leadership today."

It's probably always been a mistake to view U.S. disability leadership as the definitive model for global disability rights and justice. But disability is one of the few areas of cultural and political life around the world where the U.S. has been a thoroughly positive and influential force for good ... until now. It will be interesting to see how much disabled people internationally suffer from the change in attitudes and investments from the U.S., and how well disabled people in other countries step forward to assert their own leadership and innovation. Here in the U.S., we may one day need to look abroad for ideas and energy to re-ignite our own disability movements.

Accessibility | I’m Not Remarkable | Apple

Apple - December 2, 2025

I couldn't wait until Friday to share this video. I think it's great. It breathes life and energy into an old disability awareness theme that is true, but can sometimes feel stale – that we are not amazing just for existing.

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