2/19/26 - Around the world, veterans benefits, and disability proms

Hello. How's it going?

As you can see below, most of my commentary today is about prom events put on specifically for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This phenomenon has been on my list of least favorite disability programs for a long time. But my feelings have evolved somewhat, and my objections are a bit more focused, I hope. Please feel free to comment, or to criticize what I have to say. Send me an email at: apulrang@icloud.com. At the end of the month, I'll publish a recap of February's emailed comments.

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Reimagining and Rebuilding

Peter Torres Fremlin, Disability Debrief - February 18, 2026

"Salma Daoudi reflects on disability and the political afterlife of violence, and how it leads to reimagining justice and what the country will become. Daoudi writes about the need to embrace 'embodied histories of loss and resistance'."

It's always good to check in on global disability happenings with Disability Debrief. I am particularly interested in the segments on disability communities in Syria and Gaza.

Why Some Disabled Veterans Can't Get Both VA Disability and Military Retirement Pay

Brandon Wile, Military.com - February 5, 2026

"Before CRDP existed, military retirees receiving VA disability compensation had their retirement pay reduced dollar-for-dollar by their VA payments. The 2004 National Defense Authorization Act changed this. CRDP allows eligible veterans to receive full military retirement pay and full VA disability compensation simultaneously. Today, more than 310,000 retirees receive CRDP payments totaling over $427 million monthly."

I don't pay enough attention to disabled veterans' issues and experiences. And there are serious gaps in my understanding of how benefits work for disabled veterans. I'm going to try to share more articles like this one, partly to flesh out my own knowledge.

Disability Focused Proms To Be Held Across Globe

Shaun Heasley, Disability Scoop - February 10, 2026

"Over 950 churches in all 50 states and more than 70 countries are hosting the events this Friday as part of “Night to Shine,” an annual series of proms put on by the Tim Tebow Foundation ... Each prom will feature a red carpet entrance with friendly paparazzi to greet guests, hair and makeup stations, karaoke, limousine rides, dancing and a catered dinner. In addition, host churches will provide sensory-friendly spaces and a respite area for caregivers."

I have softened a bit on this type of thing ... but only a bit. I used to be against these separate, "special" proms entirely. They instinctively make me cringe or gag – which response usually depending on how sweetly and condescendingly they are covered in news stories. Organizing a fun party for disabled students is certainly nicer than giving them the cold shoulder or bullying them. But I can't bring myself see the clearly implied pity of the whole exercise as a positive thing. That said, if the disabled people involved actually enjoy these events, I want to acknowledge that and honor it. Still I ask – Why not put the same energy and resources into a more collaborative effort with schools to help these kids attend regular proms alongside their non-disabled peers? Also, the whole thing being a project of an evangelical Christian organization is a red flag for me.

What this story needs is more in-depth, critical reporting. And one of the key questions I'd like answered – along with whether more integrated approaches are ever even considered – is whether the organizing churches try to restrain themselves from proselytizing at these events. It can be done. Plenty of religious organizations manage to deliver humanitarian aid without religious content or gatekeeping. Somewhere in the process they decide that their mission is going to be to provide humane, impartial service to people in need, without a faith agenda. But some of these churches can't resist, and do have ulterior motives. So, I wonder how much religious content sneaks into these prom events, maybe even unconsciously.

Disability Thinking Weekday is a Monday-Friday newsletter with links and commentary on disability-related articles and other content. You can help promote Disability Thinking Weekday by forwarding it by email or posting on your social media. You can also comment by sending me an email at: apulrang@icloud.com. Collected comments are shared on the first of each month. A free subscription sends a newsletter to your email each weekday. Benefits of paid subscription include:

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