4/3/25 - Myanmar aftermath, more on voting rights, and surfing
A few random articles for today, in no particular order or connection ...
Myanmar earthquake tragedy deepens dire crisis
Disability Insider - April 1, 2025
Source: Raul Krauthausen Substack
"The UN Humanitarian Country Team is actively conducting rapid needs assessment missions in coordination with UN agencies, humanitarian partners, local authorities and community-based organizations, paying particular attention to the needs of women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, who are disproportionately affected in such disasters."
It's impossible for any of us to dole out exactly the right and just amount of care and concern for disabled people in every county and situation. But whenever a war, natural disaster, or other large-scale emergency happens involving major disruption, destruction, injury, and death, we can at least get into the habit of asking what's happening to people with disabilities there. It's important for some people to ask this specifically, and not just assume that standard aid responses will meet disabled people's needs.
Disability Voting News: April 2, 2025
Sarah Blahovec, The Accessible Voting Booth - April 2, 2025
"The bottom line: The financial and administrative burdens of the SAVE Act, along with rampant access barriers, will make it much more difficult or impossible for millions of disabled Americans to vote."
Sarah Blahovec offers a detailed break down of the SAVE Act – what it is purported to do, why it's unnecessary, and how it would discourage disabled people and other U.S. populations from voting. Once again, it is critical for people to understand that relatively minor checkpoints for most voters can quickly become insurmountable hurdles for people with disabilities. Obtaining or presenting a specific form of identification may be easy for some. But for many disabled people, it is an exhausting, frustrating multi-step, several day's process involving logistical coordination and scheduling almost as complicated as a plane trip overseas. It quite simply shouldn't he that hard to vote, for anyone.
Surf therapy for children with disabilities: how it’s changing lives in South Africa
The Conversation - March 18, 2025
"Surf therapy teaches people with disabilities to surf to promote psychological, physical and psychosocial well-being."
I am usually a bit skeptical of programs using specific forms of recreation or sports as therapy or rehabilitation for disabled people. This one is about surfing. Others I see a lot involve horseback riding, snow skiing, and sailing. I love the idea of making these and other pastimes accessible and friendly to disabled people. But it rubs me the wrong way when they are "sold" as therapeutic – as having some kind of improving goal to make us better. Plus, there always seems to be someone who is personally devoted to that particular activity who passionately believes that their favorite hobby is some kind of magical elixir or life-changing experience for disabled people generally. I would much rather see a program focused on helping every disabled person to choose an activity they want to try – whatever it is – and integrate into it successfully. Anyway, that's how I feel about these things. But it's hard to argue with positive results – especially when they are reported by the actual disabled people involved.
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