2/26/26 - Around the world, and a local "Night To Shine"

Good afternoon!

Today let's visit a couple of other great disability newsletters, and have another look at disability proms.

It's also time for another reminder to consider a monthly or annual paid subscription. There are 42 paid subscribers now, with one signing on yesterday. It would be great to make it to 50 before Spring. Use the button below to upgrade. You can also make a one-time donation if you prefer. Either one is a tremendous help!

Roots of belonging

Peter Torres Fremlin, Disability Debrief - February 25, 2026

"Mchungajis are expected to solve the mystery of why children are lost in their own worlds, not looking at their parents, or not moving “correctly”. They are expected to alleviate or heal the “pain” these differences bring about ... But mchungajis work to eliminate differences rather than understand them. Diversity in thought and behaviour are seen as wrong. And such differences can be attributed to external forces such as kurogwa, black magic or voodoo ... The means they use to eliminate differences in our students can be violent. Our culture supports traditional forms of healing and physical abuse as behaviour management. The parents may support this out of love, care, and desperation."

This week's Disability Debrief features descriptions by a Tanzanian teacher with mental health disabilities. Taken literally, close up, some of them may seem strange to readers from other parts of the world. But from a bit more distance they seem all too similar to how so many autistic and otherwise disabled children are treated, both in the practical and medical sense of the term. The similarities sure seem to outnumber the differences.

Disability Voting News

Sarah Blahovec, The Accessible Voting Booth - February 25, 2026

"Over the past few weeks, I’ve seen quite a significant discussion of disability voting rights outside of the United States. Although we have different legal frameworks and electoral systems, disabled voters around the world face similar barriers. While the United States is often considered to have a more accessible voting system than many other countries due to laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act and requirements for accessible electronic voting equipment, compliance with the law is lacking, and these requirements are also under attack ... Disability advocates in the United States and internationally share common struggles in striving for equal political participation, and we can learn so much from each other as we continue to push for more accessible electoral systems."

Sarah Blahovec takes a helpful an interesting look at voting rights and accessibility trends around the world – in Barbados, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and South Korea. She also provides an update on the SAVE Act in the US, which would impose much more stringent ID requirements for voting – which always creates more barriers especially for voters with disabilities.

A Night to Shine: Sharing joy

Kim Deadam, The Sun - February 23, 2026

"The poignant moment, Murtagh said, is seeing the look on every face as they come through the door ... 'That's the thing for me that makes it all worth it. They're so excited to be the center of attention for a while. There's something about that joy on their faces,' she said of the hours and weeks of planning that come together in a special moment."

Here is a follow-up to the article on disability proms I shared in last Thursday's edition of Disability Thinking Weekday. This article in one of my local Northeastern New York State papers is much more detailed than the Disability Scoop piece I originally shared. It paints a more vivid picture of what these special prom events are actually like. Unfortunately, these descriptions don't make it any easier for me to feel entirely good about "Night to Shine" proms. For one thing, the article never quotes any of the disabled participants, only the non-disabled organizers. And while everyone talks about how it's a night for the disabled young people attending, the article is almost all about what the event means to the organizers. Their reactions, though complex and in many ways positive and empowering, are still heavily weighed down by sentimentality and pity. Of course, the key question still goes unasked or answered: Why can't these disabled students enjoy the prom at their own schools, with some of the organizers' resources and labors devoted to helping them do that, instead of creating a separate prom for them? Put another way, would any of the organizers be willing to help with the fancy dress and makeup for disabled kids who plan to attend their own prom? Would they consider applying their time and good will devotion to advocating for local high schools to be more proactively open to fully integrated proms, where all disabled students would feel welcomed?

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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