9/23/25 - Social Security, an Atlanta activist, and smartphone accessibility

Good afternoon!

Here are three disability-related links for your Tuesday reading ...

Trump's Social Security shakeup is hurting the disabled and poor, advocates say

Emily Peck, Axios - September 22, 2025

"The findings, based on interviews with 14 benefits specialists, attorneys and others who help multiple people apply for benefits, show how the process is pushing many of the poorest Americans closer to the financial edges: potential homelessness, food insecurity and suicidal ideation – The report — by researchers from California State University, Sacramento; University of Wisconsin-Madison; and State University of New York, Binghamton — echoes Axios' own conversations with others who do this work."

This is the kind of gradual, more mundane damage from budget cuts that often slide by without much attention. It's not quite an official loss of benefits. Rather, we see an agency's reduced capacity to serve its customers because of a deliberate effort to reduce staff. Incidentally, this piece is an interesting example of how Axios covers stories – with short sentences, lots breaks and bullet points, and an explicit back-and-forth, pro and con dialog. I'm honestly not sure if this style of journalism is admirably clear and helpful, or shallow and misleading.

Atlanta’s youngest council member begins term with push for accessibility

Aungelique Proctor, Fox 5 Atlanta - September 20, 2025
Source: paid subscriber Mark Johnson

"Wyckoff, a University of Georgia graduate with degrees in biology and poultry science, was born with a progressive disability that is a form of muscular dystrophy. She said her experience allows her to bring a much-needed perspective to City Hall ... 'I don’t have a car and I am unable to drive due to my disability, like many other citizens of Atlanta,' she said. 'I think it is really important that we have people represented on boards in communities, on committees, even in government.'"

It's good to see young people with disabilities serving in office and pushing for better disability policy wherever they can. From this admittedly short article, it looks like Wyckoff could have a longer career in politics. I hope she gives it a try after her temporary appointment is over.

The accessibility revolution hiding in your AirPods

Bryan Walsh, Vox.com - September 21, 2025

"Our digital gadgets are increasingly being designed with features that can help users overcome both the usual sensory declines of age and more severe disabilities and diseases. From Apple AirPods that can act as inexpensive hearing aids — and now, on-the-go translators — to the growing ubiquity of continuous glucose monitors for diabetics, some of the most promising uses of consumer tech involve propping up our failing organic meat-sacks."

This is a good but incomplete review of accessibility features most commonly found in the newest versions of smart phones and other personal electronic devices. The piece also rather oddly highlights some of the overlap, confusion, and imbalance that occurs when aging and disability are discussed together. Arguably, the topic here is disability, regardless of age. But of course a much higher percentage of older people have disabilities. And older people make up the highest percentage of the disabled population. So the focus on aging is understandable. But that can leave the accessibility needs and benefits of younger disabled people forgotten. Doing articles like this in mainstream publications is important, but rhetorically tricky.

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