3/2/26 - February Comments

February has been a short, packed month, with a lot of great feedback from Disability Thinking Weekday readers. As always, the comments are absolutely worth reading, and add important perspectives on the articles shared here.

To send a comment at any time, email me at: apulrang@icloud.com.

Comments

February 10, 2026 - Black disabled leaders, the "R-Word," and bone health

On the return of the "R" word, Jen Rohrig writes:

"I personally think all intelligence based insults are offensive and used far too much. Yes even "stupid" which people who are against the R word end up using.  It bothers me that people are more likely to question someone's intelligence than they are to call out the evil acts. It's pretty obvious that many care more about President Trumps potential dementia than the fact that he's a racist, and a rapist."

February 12, 2026 - Government, cooking, and travel

Steve Wright clarifies some of the ideas for better coordination of accessibility efforts in cities, which he discussed his piece shared here:

"Thanks for running my piece. Your presumption is spot-on.

"The position would create one person who woke up each day with the only goal of knitting together all mobility networks – with an emphasis on essential Universal Design + ADA.

"I too have had the experience where a half dozen or more agencies all kick the can when it comes to addressing broken or missing sidewalk...even the case of a delivery truck perpetually blocking a curb ramp or bike lane.

"This would empower one person to make everybody work together.  It's not rocket science, but mobility is falling flat in 9 out of 10 places....super urban to small town.I'm sure dozens if not hundreds of cities will say they already have this...but when examined, it will be a transit person with a more than full plate who also is supposed to think about accessibility.

"Or it's a bicycling geek who also is supposed to do ADA for sidewalks (but spends 99% of their time thinking and doing only bike things)."

February 19, 2026 - Around the world, veterans benefits, and disability proms

A reader from Oklahoma provides important perspectives on disability proms:

"I completely understand your take on Night to Shine. I also struggle with it. I wish they called it something else maybe. I don’t know.

"I wanted my daughter to go to her prom at school, but her senior year was 2020 so she missed out on that opportunity.

"My daughter went once to Night to Shine when she was in high school and she liked it ok. She hasn’t wanted to go back.

"I don’t know if it makes a difference, but my daughter has Down syndrome, so that is the community I am close with. Our kids know each other no matter what school, and the parents know each other. I have known some of the parents for 25 years now. I do wish for more inclusion in the school system as a whole. I also know that some of the sped students went as a group to the HS prom, but my daughter did not join them prior to when she was a senior. I think she wanted to save it as a special thing for senior year.

"The thing is, Night to Shine is for ages 14 and up, not just for teens still in school.

"Here in the OKC metro area there are several locations for Night to Shine, and they all end up with a waitlist.

"I have seen adults in their 30’s and 40’s go and love it. They post that it is one of their favorite events of the year. Some of the parents enjoy it because their child seems to have a great time, and here locally they serve the parents a free dinner and have raffle drawings and a live feed from the event. So, it is an opportunity for parents to visit and reconnect (being a caregiver of a child or adult child with disabilities can be exhausting sometimes) and enjoy a dinner together (that they didn’t have to shop for, plan, make or go out for).  Or a couple could go out by themselves or just go home for a while.

"I wish there were more social events where people with all kins of disabilities were not just welcome but felt invited and included.

"We are fortunate that our daughter has many typical friends that include her. She has been a bridesmaid, is invited to wedding and baby showers, is asked to hang out, and tonight is going to a bar for a friend’s birthday.

"I do completely understand your viewpoint. I also wanted to give you further perspective. Thank you for talking about this topic."

Meanwhile Kris Burbank says:

"I love Disability Thinking and wanted to let you know I’m a kindred spirit on the whole “Night to Shine” thing.  Yes, these events bring joy and fun to participants. Like you, however, I continue to wonder why the energy they require can’t be more directed to helping create inclusive proms at high schools vs. churches. And yes to the concerns about proselytizing. Thanks for asking these questions and shining a light on this (no pun intended).

February 25, 2026 - Chill, sorry, and Bad Bunny

Finally, Lora Frish shares her family's experience with airlines mishandling adaptive equipment:

"More than 30 years ago my  husband was accompanying his mother back to Seattle. Her cane was taken from her when she boarded the plane.  The airline personnel said it was a security issue.  When they arrived in Seattle, the cane had been broken!  How did they manage that?  They rode on a baggage vehicle to the door where they caught a cab.I read the story about the broken wheelchair.  That can be a heck of an expense."

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