3/24/26 - Disability funding, explaining, and art

Hello!

Today's links are another mix of different topics – in the weeds with program funding, giving ourselves permission to set boundaries, and appreciating beauty through different lenses and interactions. And I can't resist mentioning that certain points in the second piece remind me to remind you to consider how you can support this newsletter. If you haven't done so already, please think about upgrading to a paid subscription, either monthly or yearly, or making a one-time donation. And don't underestimate the help you can provide simply by sharing this newsletter with others who may appreciate it. Anything you can do will help enormously. As always, thank you for reading!

Funding the ADA’s Promise

Rob Trombley, New America - March 12, 2026

"In fact, at a moment when the Trump Administration is broadly disrupting federal programs and agencies, threats to vital disability funding are not getting adequate attention. Yet periods of change provide the opportunity to rethink how our systems operate. We should not be limited by existing program structures, but instead consider how federal systems must evolve to meet the needs of the whole person. Even amid uncertainty, policymakers must continue to consider how today’s funding choices shape the accessibility and inclusion of public systems for people with disabilities. Maintaining the status quo is not sufficient; strengthening disability programs remains essential to fulfilling the ADA’s promise."

I still haven't fully absorbed the explanation this article offers of how federal disability programs are funded. It's complicated. But it seems like something worth some extra time to fully understand. It's certainly worth a look at the figures presented, and maybe notice some things we have missed about how different disability programs are funded in the US. I'm not sure whether to be intrigued or worried about the kinds of systemic changes the article seems to suggest. But I do agree that a time when existing systems are under attack is a good time to think about doing more than simply defending them. It's never a bad time to discuss how to reform existing disability programs in ways that could actually serve us better someday.

Saying No Is Disability Advocacy: Why People with Disabilities Must Stop Over Explaining and Start Setting Boundaries

Marcus Johnson, AbleNews - March 2, 2026

"Across healthcare systems, research institutions, and corporate inclusion initiatives, lived experience is regularly extracted without compensation. Advisory input is requested. Personal narratives are showcased. Program credibility is strengthened through disability presence. Too often, this occurs without pay, authorship, or decision-making authority. That is not engagement. It is unpaid labor embedded in institutional workflows."

This is one of the best, most rational and practical statements about an inherently emotional aspect of being disabled in modern society: whether and when to share and give of ourselves as disabled people in order to secure what we need and further our collective goals. Marcus offers a clear outline of ways that we are regularly asked to give our labor without pay, prove our disabilities to others' satisfaction, accept second-rate accessibility and accommodations, and endure physical and mental exhaustion to meet expectations and avoid inconveniencing others. It's an inspiring and liberating discussion.

The blind aesthetic

Celestine Fraser, Body Babble - March 11, 2026

"I’m wandering through the gallery, hands first. In every room, signs encourage us to 'Please touch' the sculptures. I’m reminded of how when I go clothes shopping, my hands seem to lead the way, dancing towards the textures that please me: the airy roughness of linen, or that synthetic super-softness."

This is a lovely exploration of how blind people experience art, and how they make it. It makes me want to visit a gallery where touching the art is encouraged. More importantly, it seems like art institutions should spend more effort on making art of all kinds accessible and inclusive of blind people.

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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