> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # 8/13/25 - A commemorative coin, fighting back in Congress, and thinking about "wellness" - URL: https://disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io/8-13-25-a-commemorative-coin-fighting-back-in-congress-and-thinking-about-wellness/ - Published: 2025-08-13T17:00:17.000Z - Updated: 2025-08-13T17:00:16.000Z - Author: Andrew Pulrang ## Hello! How is your week going? Here are your three disability-related links for this Wednesday ... --- ![Wednesday Links](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/51/9951e709-0bb8-4ee3-8557-6b5a3d3af05b/content/images/2025/08/Wednesday-2-1.png) Wednesday Links ## [**In Her Own Words: Remembering and Honoring Stacey Park Milbern**](https://www.aapd.com/in-her-own-words-remembering-and-honoring-stacey-park-milbern/?ref=disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io) Jess Davidson, American Association of People with Disabilities - August 8, 2025 > "'A lot of times disability pride gets watered down into this happy-go-lucky accepting who you are/gaining self esteem bit. Though self-acceptance is so important, nondisabled people understanding disability pride in this way disregards the power of disability pride and critiques of ableism. Disability itself redefines normal, redefines what is considered dependence, and if included in social justice analyses, can be extremely useful in understanding how the world works. Living and practicing disability pride is so much bigger than self acceptance.'" Another pioneer for Disability Justice – in some ways similar to [Patty Berne, who was profiled in two links shared in yesterday's newsletter](https://disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io/8-12-25-a-medicaid-cuts-calendar-and-remembering-a-disability-justice-trailblazer/) – is being honored today by the unveiling of a U.S. quarter bearing their image. This media project by the American Association of People with Disabilities, marks the occasion with a short biography of Stacey Park Milbern, featuring many quotations from their own writing and speaking. All of them are worth reading. But the quote above is the one that struck me most profoundly. So many of us are advanced in our understanding of disability only compared with a very low standard of ignorance and outright ableism. A lot of us have yet to take the next steps beyond mere positivity. Some days, that includes me. I'm going to try to [watch tonight's unveiling event here](https://www.youtube.com/live/MSOMBPIma0A?ref=disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io), and get a Stacey Park Milbern quarter as soon as I can. ## [**Disability Programs In Limbo As Congress Weighs Funding**](https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2025/08/11/disability-programs-in-limbo-as-congress-weighs-funding/31571/?ref=disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io) Michelle Diament, Disability Scoop - August 11, 2025 > "'It is an important first step that the Senate appropriations committee rejected the cuts to disability programs proposed by the Trump administration, and it is a testament to the hard work and advocacy of the disability community,' said Alison Barkoff, a health law and policy professor at George Washington University who previously led the Administration for Community Living ... Disability advocates have been pushing back against the cuts for months." I don't want to overstate the power of disability activism to stop the Trump administrations cuts and policy changes. After all, the "Big Beautiful Bill" passed with devastating Medicaid cuts still quite intact. But some of these comparatively smaller cuts and administrative changes can be fought in Congress, with some degree of success just barely possible even now, despite the administration's intimidation and apparent disregard for Congressional oversight. Letters to our Members of Congress alone won't save us. But it looks like maybe they can still have *some* positive effect. Apparently, boring, traditional disability policy advocacy isn't quite dead yet. So scroll down to take some action now. ## [**The surprising origins of the “wellness” boom**](https://www.vox.com/explain-it-to-me/457697/wellness-health-spa-history-influencers?ref=disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io) Jonquilyn Hill, Vox.com - August 12, 2025 > "John had a lot of ideas that \[suggested\] if we weren’t following a trifecta recipe of sleep, eating well, and exercise, and we were doing other things like drinking alcohol or eating meat or sugar, or even if people were overweight — he considered that to be non-virtuous, and essentially really bad behaviors. And he would view it in a very punitive way." It's a stretch to call this Vox article a disability piece. But understanding the ideological, emotional, and political roots of today's "wellness" culture – and by extension the goals of MAHA and RFK Jr. – is essential I think to understanding why it is both appealing to some disabled people, and terrifying to many others. What's empowering to some can easily become oppressive and judgmental to others. And when a moralistic approach to illness and disability is put into policy, lots of bad things can result for chronically ill and disabled people. Plus, a lot of it bunk of course, which drains most of any possible benefit out of the whole enterprise. Healthy eating, exercise, and self-care are important for everyone. But most disabled people understand that their benefits can be very limited for some people. And equating health and fitness with virtue is particularly bad for people with disabilities that can't be worked or wished away. --- ![Take Action](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/51/9951e709-0bb8-4ee3-8557-6b5a3d3af05b/content/images/2025/05/Action-1.png) Take Action [![Urgent: We Must Act to Save the Protection and Advocacy Network with the National Disability Rights Network](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/51/9951e709-0bb8-4ee3-8557-6b5a3d3af05b/content/images/2025/08/Action-Alert-Panel.png)](https://secure.everyaction.com/I6avR5LSvUamWdNZNIgMew2?ref=disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io) Urgent: We Must Act to Save the Protection and Advocacy Network with the National Disability Rights Network [![Tell Congress: Protect Disability Services & Fund Our Future! with The Arc](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/51/9951e709-0bb8-4ee3-8557-6b5a3d3af05b/content/images/2025/08/Action-Alert-Panel-2.png)](https://action.thearc.org/7vts3ow?%5Fga=2.84614809.1211930316.1754071037-420825656.1750704587&%5Fgl=1%2A1pjmpkp%2A%5Fga%2ANDIwODI1NjU2LjE3NTA3MDQ1ODc.%2A%5Fga%5FTTHG7VXBGP%2AczE3NTQwNzEwMzckbzckZzEkdDE3NTQwNzEwNTQkajQzJGwwJGgw&ref=disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io) Tell Congress: Protect Disability Services & Fund Our Future! with The Arc [![National Action for Wheelchair Repair Reform with the United Spinal Association](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/51/9951e709-0bb8-4ee3-8557-6b5a3d3af05b/content/images/2025/06/Action-Alert-Panel.png)](https://unitedspinal.org/advocacy-action/?vvsrc=%2fCampaigns%2f128228%2fRespond&ref=disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io) National Action for Wheelchair Repair Reform with the United Spinal Association [![Take Action for Safer Accessible Parking & More Economical Paratransit with the United Spinal Association](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/51/9951e709-0bb8-4ee3-8557-6b5a3d3af05b/content/images/2025/06/Copy-of-Action-Alert-Panel.png)](https://unitedspinal.org/advocacy-action/?vvsrc=%2fCampaigns%2f128229%2fRespond&ref=disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io) Take Action for Safer Accessible Parking & More Economical Paratransit with the United Spinal Association --- ![Comment, Subscribe & Support](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/51/9951e709-0bb8-4ee3-8557-6b5a3d3af05b/content/images/2025/05/Like--Comment--Support.png) Comment, Subscribe & Support [*Disability Thinking Weekday*](https://disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io/) is a Monday-Friday newsletter with links and commentary on disability-related articles and other content. Please like, share, comment, and subscribe — for free, or with a paid subscription. A free subscription sends a newsletter to your email each weekday, and gives you access to the comments. Benefits of paid subscription also include: - A monthly recap with links to all of the previous month's shared articles, organized by topic. - Listing as a supporter, and a link to your website if you have one. - You can recommend one disability-related article for me to share per month in a weekday post. To to subscribe, upgrade to paid, or make a one-time donation, click one of the buttons below: [Subscribe or Upgrade](https://disability-thinking-weekday.ghost.io/#/portal/) [Make a one-time donation](#/portal/support) I am so grateful for your help and engagement, in whichever forms you choose!