Category: Activities for Disabled

With record-breaking heat waves, torrential downpours, and poor air quality keeping many people indoors this summer, a trip to the local movie theater (or a comfy sofa in your air-conditioned living room) offers the perfect escape. Here’s a guide to some summer releases and film festival picks that feature disabled characters, production crews and disability-related themes.

GOAT

Sony Pictures Animation’s 2026 film GOAT (short for “Greatest of All Time”) centers on a team of animal athletes competing in “roarball,” a sport similar to basketball. The story is somewhat unique because it features a co-ed sports team and a mentor-mentee relationship between an aging roarball champion who’s a female black panther and an aspiring young player who’s a young male goat. But its most historic achievement occurs behind the scenes where for the first time in feature film history, the background crowd audio was entirely provided by the Disability Loop Group, an ensemble of disabled voice actors. Since many of GOAT’s scenes take place at the team’s games, there is a great need for background voices. As Nik Novicki, the group’s founder explained to CinemaBlend, “We’re doing improv, different accents, different elements—it’s almost like an orchestra… We’re coming in with different voices and sounds, sometimes collectively, sometimes singularly, to create the atmosphere of the whole movie.”

The Disability Loop Group have been waiting years for the opportunity to “loop” for a major motion picture. Their time has finally come! Originally released back in February, you can stream it on Netflix.

Being Heumann

We’ve written previously about disability rights activist, educator and author Judy Heumann, who died in 2023. In September, a new docudrama about Heumann will premiere at opening night of the Toronto International Film Festival. Based on the 2020 autobiography by the same name, the film was adapted, directed and produced by Siân Heder who wrote and directed “CODA,” a 2021 film with a mostly deaf cast that won the Academy Award for best picture that year. The new film stars Ruth Madeley, an actor with spina bifida as Heumann, as well as Mark Ruffalo, Dylan O’Brien, Rob Delaney, Daniel Durant, Madeline Delp and Ray Fisher. After its premiere, “Being Heumann” will stream on Apple TV+ starting Nov. 6.

Color Book

This film tells the story of a newly widowed father who wants to take his son, who has Down syndrome, to a baseball game. First released in 2024, the highly acclaimed film—which was written and directed by David Fortune and stars Jeremiah Daniels as the son, and William Catlett as his grieving father—made film festival rounds before it began streaming on Netflix last month. Not only has “Color Book” won over 60 awards, but according to the Denver Gazette, “Jeremiah made history by becoming the first actor with Down syndrome to be nominated for an NAACP Image Award.”  You won’t want to miss this one. The film is available in select theaters and on Netflix.

Westhampton

Written and directed by Christian Nillson, “Westhampton” tells the story of a young filmmaker who returns to his hometown in the aftermath of an accident he caused that left one of his friends disabled. The film stars Finn Witrock, disabled actor and activist RJ Mitte (Breaking Bad), veteran actor Tovah Feldshuh and actor Roxanne Schiebergen, a wheelchair user. You can see “Westhampton” on HBO Max.

When you or your child is disabled, activities that non-disabled people take for granted often take extra planning. Take, for example, getting a haircut. Few barber shops or salons are designed for wheelchair users, and most stylists aren’t well-versed in the needs of people with autism or sensory processing disorders. But recently, a speech therapist and sensory hair stylist in Louisiana took matters into her own hands.

Recognizing the need for sensory-friendly haircare, full-time speech therapist Madeline Johnson, decided to leave her job to focus on her avocation. She opened Miss Madeline’s LLC, in 2025. Johnson’s interest in supporting the disabled went beyond helping adults and children with sensory processing disorders. After hearing about a wheelchair user who fell while being transferred from a wheelchair to a salon chair, she came up with an idea for an adapted shampoo bowl for wheelchair users.

Johnson recognized that she needed assistance to put her ideas into action so she approached Louisiana State University School of Engineering’s Capstone Design Program. The program is a graduation requirement for seniors at the school. At first, Johnson was turned down, but the second time she tried, the program accepted her challenge. And it was a challenge!

According to an article from The Advocate that was reprinted on Disability Scoop, the “engineering students went beyond her ideas to meet their requirements for the project.”

Explained team member Tucker Poret: “We started building things, and we realized that a lot of it needed more work to actually be put together. For example, the different adjustments had to be redesigned on the fly the second semester after we realized that the first idea wouldn’t really work during testing.”

After working quickly “to redesign the vertical, forward and back adjustment parts as well as the tilting system,” the team was satisfied with their prototype.

The result is a shampoo bowl that can be adjusted to accommodate people who remain seated in their wheelchairs while they receive haircuts and other salon services. The invention enables clients to be safer, more comfortable, more dignified and more independent.

Nowadays, Johnson has partnered with speech language pathologist Rachel Guidry at Connections Speech, Language & Reading Specialists in Baton Rouge. At Connections, Johnson works part-time as a speech therapist and part-time as a hair stylist. Her current employment situation enables her to serve more clients and fulfill both needs and dreams!

Last September the Geena Davis Institute released its 2025 report on representation in children’s television. For the past 20 years, the Institute has been studying “the prevalence and depictions of underrepresented characters” including characters with disabilities. Though the study showed minute gains in two categories—popular programs and new programs for children—there is plenty of room for improvement. In fact, disability representation encompasses just “1.7% of characters in new programming and 2.5% in popular programming, compared to 1.0% and 1.1% respectively the year prior,” according to the non-profit Disability Belongs.

One show increasing disability representation is Nickelodeon’s “Peppa Pig.” A British show for the preschool set, “Peppa Pig” is preparing to debut its second disabled character. The animated show, which is owned by toy company Hasbro and broadcast around the world, already has one character—Mandy Mouse—who uses a wheelchair. Next month, the show’s storyline will center on Peppa’s younger brother George and the family’s discovery that he is moderately deaf.

In order to ensure authenticity and sensitivity, Hasbro partnered with a number of organizations that work with deaf people including the National Deaf Children’s Society. Additionally, Camilla Arnold, a deaf executive producer and script consultant, worked with the show’s production team to make certain that the show’s language, tenor and family atmosphere was appropriate for preschoolers.

In a press release, Esra Cafer, Hasbro’s SVP of Franchise Strategy and Management, Preschool & Fashion had this to say: “For more than 20 years, Peppa Pig has grown alongside families around the world, and George’s evolution reflects that journey. George has grown from Peppa’s curious little brother into a character with his own voice and experiences. As he enters this next phase of his development, we continue to celebrate joy, growth and confidence, reminding every child that there’s a place for them in Peppa’s world.”

Added George Crockfore, Chief Executive at the National Deaf Children’s Society: “Globally, an estimated 34 million children are deaf, yet we don’t always see their stories told in the media. Representation matters and it’s vital for deaf children to see their experiences reflected positively on screen. Introducing this storyline in a series as beloved as Peppa Pig is an important step toward creating a world where anything is possible for deaf children—a world where differences are celebrated and every deaf child feels seen, valued and included.”

While the new season of “Peppa Pig” won’t air until March 23, you can find short-form digital material about George on Peppa Pig Tales on YouTube right now!

Now that Memorial Day—the unofficial start of summer—is in the rearview window, we can look forward to long sunny days, brightly colored flowers, lush greenery and a wide range of recreational opportunities. But finding accessible activities and venues can be challenging. In today’s post, we’ve done our best to remove some of the guesswork.

1. Climb a mountain (or just take a nature walk)
Wheelchair accessible parks and recreation sites were once few and far between.  But today, many trails and nature reserves have upped their games to accommodate people with mobility challenges and other disabilities. To discover what’s available in your area, visit  Traillink.com and The Nature Conservancy.

2. Take up an adaptive sport
Summer sports provide exercise, skill building, comradery and, most of all, fun! These days, it’s relatively easy to find an adaptive version of pretty much any competitive game or solo recreational activity you can imagine. Whether it’s swimming, surfing, boating, baseball, tennis or fishing, you can probably find it on moveunitedsport.org.

3. Visit an accessible or inclusive playground
Every year, more and more communities create accessible and inclusive playgrounds and the benefits to disabled and non-disabled children are abundant. For a growing directory of these playgrounds, visit accessibleplayground.net.

4. Take a break!
Once upon the time, taking a summer trip with a family member who uses a wheelchair might have seemed extremely daunting. But in recent years, the disabled travel industry has grown by leaps and bounds. Nowadays, wheelchair users have a variety of options, and many resorts, historic sites, and recreational facilities have increased their accessibility offerings.  To find information about accessible lodging, transportation options, restaurants or recreational facilities, see websites such as spintheglobe.net, easyaccesstravel.com and wheeltheworld.com.

5. Enjoy live entertainment
Whether you favor Shakespeare in the Park, JazzFest, or Coachella, attending an outdoor entertainment event is one of summer’s greatest pleasures.  But before you head out, make sure that the venue will work for you. In New York City, visit nyctourism.com. Elsewhere, check out ATCmobility.com for a list of accessible outdoor entertainment venues.

6. Smell the flowers
Few activities provide more sensory stimulation or more pleasure than a trip to a botanical garden. According to Wheeltheworld.com, you can find accessible gardens across the country. For example, “Brooklyn Botanical Garden offers accessible paths that are relatively smooth with little slopes. Portland is known for its tranquil Japanese Garden with ADA-accessible walkways. Tucson offers a 5.5 acre gardens with smooth flooring.”

It’s been more than five years since Florida athlete Chris Nikic did what doctors claimed was impossible. He became the first man with Down syndrome to complete the Iron Man triathlon. More specifically, Nikic swam 2.4 miles, biked 112 miles, and ran 26.2 miles. He finished the race in 16 hours, 46 minutes and nine seconds, making him eligible for recognition by Guiness World Records.

After the race, Nikic told reporters for the Orlando Sentinel,  “The doctors and experts said I couldn’t do anything. So, I said, ‘Doctor! Experts! You need to stop doing this to me. You’re wrong!’”

Following his monumental accomplishment, Nikic joined forces with Adidas and FCB, the creative agency for the Canadian Down Syndrome Society, for the Runner 321 campaign, an effort to encourage marathons to designate a bib number (#321) for a neurodiverse athlete who qualifies for the race. According to business magazine Campaign, the number  321 is a reference to the fact that “95% of people with Down syndrome have trisomy 21—a full copy of chromosome 21, leading to three copies instead of two.”

Nikic wore bib #321 in the Boston Marathon in 2022 and since then, other marathons including New York, Chicago, London, Berlin and Tokyo have joined the campaign.

Now, the 26-year-old athlete and fellow athletes with Down syndrome are working with Adidas and FCB to design running shoes that accommodate the particular podiatric needs of individuals with Down syndrome.

Unbeknownst to many people outside the Down syndrome community, the 6 million people with Down have foot differences that make it painful to participate in sports and other physical activities. A 2006 study explained that “children with Down syndrome showed several orthopaedic anomalies including bony deformity of the forefoot (90%), flat foot (60%), isolated calcaneal valgus (24%), knee valgus (22%) and pronated flat foot (16%).”

Foot anomalies are likely one reason why people with Down syndrome are more likely to live with inactivity, obesity and related health problems.

In a promotional video about the shoe design process, Adidas Global CEO Bjorn Gulden says the Adidas product team “is working with athletes, including Chris, with disabilities to say what do you need. … There’s many, many needs around the world in different groups that we can actually care for, and I think this is just a start.”

The newly designed athletic shoes are due out in 2026.

Image: Screenshot from Adidas promotional video. View the video here.

Spring is a sensational time to adopt a new outdoor activity. Why not consider hippotherapy, equine-assisted therapy or therapeutic/adaptive horseback riding? Wondering how these activities differ? Read on.

Hippotherapy

Derived from the Greek word “hippos,” which means horse, hippotherapy provides a healing and enjoyable therapeutic treatment for physical and neurological disabilities such as cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries and autism spectrum disorders.  The therapy, first recognized in the 1960s, helps to improve balance, coordination, strength, and mobility.

Hippotherapy’s therapeutic properties are associated with horses’ rhythmic and repetitive gait which is similar to the gait of human beings. During therapy, the horse’s movements offer continuous sensory input, promote neuromuscular development and help the client to improve their posture, balance and motor skills. The therapist may use positions and exercises to build particular skills. For hippotherapy to be safe and effective it must be provided by a specially trained physical, occupational or speech-language therapist as part of an integrative treatment plan.

Equine-assisted therapy

In equine-assisted therapy, individuals focus on caring for horses, rather than riding them. Clients who engage in this type of therapy are typically being treated for mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, addiction or post-traumatic stress disorder.

According to Psychology Today, “during an equine-assisted therapy session, the client will typically engage in basic caretaking activities with the horse with the help and direction of an equine specialist; common examples include grooming the animal, feeding it, and leading it around an enclosure. … Afterward, the mental health professional and the client will usually discuss what occurred, what was learned, and what behaviors or emotions they might target in their next session with the horse.”

Therapeutic/adaptive horseback riding

Unlike hippotherapy and equine-assisted therapy, therapeutic horseback riding is more educational and recreational in its focus. That said, individuals who engage in this type of horseback riding derive many physical and emotional benefits. Physical benefits include improved flexibility, balance, strength and coordination. According to Kathleen Salas, a physical therapist at Spaulding Rehabilitation Adaptive Sports Centers in Boston, “The left-right coordination you develop on horseback is a perfect translation for someone working on their walking skills. Perched atop a horse, riders must engage muscles in their abdomen, back, and pelvis to stabilize their trunk and maintain posture.”

Psychological benefits of therapeutic horseback riding include the experience of “building a relationship with a horse,” says Salas. For example, Salas recalls the experiences of two boys with ASD who came to her for riding lessons. The boys had difficulty relating to others and limited language skills. “Horses are easy to bond with in a non-threatening way, and those boys developed an emotional connection so quickly,” she says. “The boys also hadn’t put two-word sentences together until suddenly they were motivated to tell the horses ‘More, faster!’”

If you find yourself in New York City any time before March 9, 2025, you’ll want to visit the Guggenheim Museum to check out “Sixth Stanza,” an installation that includes the revolutionary video series “Ekphrasis in Air.”

“Ekphrasis in Air” showcases poetry by talented deaf poets such as Douglas Ridloff and Abby Haroun, who present their poems using American and British sign languages. Each poem in the series is a response either to art from the museum’s permanent collection or to the museum’s iconic Frank Lloyd Wright building, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The video series is one of several initiatives introduced by the Guggenheim’s 2024 Poet in Residence Meg Day.

Day, a deaf poet, essayist and English professor at North Carolina State University, is the museum’s third poet-in-residence. According to Guggenheim.org, Day’s residency, called “All Ears”, has three goals: “to highlight Deaf poets as visual artists by welcoming them into the museum space in new ways; encourage the hearing-majority public to engage with American Sign Language and Deaf sonics through unexpected encounters; and to encourage people to reorient their understanding of language and fluency as visible, just as much as it is aural.”

The poems “honor the long history of Deaf literature by engaging traditional and contemporary uses of rhyming handshapes, facial grammar, the manual alphabet, and visual vernacular (a physical art form that combines ASL, mime, and theatrical techniques to create a visual narrative). When signing poets engage in ekphrasis (verbal description of a visual work of art), the visual nature of sign language and of art intermingle to invoke an experience of shared embodiment.”

Though ASL poetry has existed for at least 100 years, and has grown in popularity in recent years, it is still relatively unknown outside the ASL community. Day’s efforts at the Guggenheim have brought the artform to new audiences.

In December, the museum presented Sound Off: An Evening of Poetry. The celebration of poetry included the work of Deaf and hard-of-hearing poets from across the United States who presented their poems in English and ASL. Day told North Carolina State’s Humanities and Social Sciences News that the program was “a dream and an overdue joy.

“To have Deaf and hard-of-hearing poets writing poems in English share the stage with Deaf and hard-of-hearing poets making poems in sign language is a rare thing,” Day added. “To invite audiences of all kinds to consider their own access needs regarding these poems — while celebrating these world-renowned poets — felt exciting.”

It’s back! Halloween is upon us once again.

That means costumes, candy and plenty of excitement for kids. But parents of disabled children know that Halloween can present certain challenges and obstacles. Trick-or-treating can be hampered by neighborhoods or homes that aren’t wheelchair accessible. Costumes can be uncomfortable if they aren’t sensory-friendly and unwearable if they don’t accommodate medical devices. And dietary restrictions can clash with the high candy intake at the heart of the holiday.  All of these issues can interfere with the joy of the occasion. But they don’t have to. Planning ahead of time can make all the difference. Here are some creative ways to make Halloween a joyful day for children of all abilities.

1. Make costumes comfortable
If your child hasn’t settled on a costume yet, creating or purchasing an adaptive and/or sensory-friendly costume can make trick-or-treating a great deal more fun. Costumes that integrate your child’s wheelchair are a terrific way to go. There’s still time to order from Rolling Buddies, where you can find wheelchair decorations you might not find elsewhere. You can also find wheelchair accessories, adaptive and sensory-friendly costumes at Halloween.com, Target, and Amazon.

2. Try trick-or-treating alternatives
If mobility challenges are an issue in your neighborhood, see if you can find a neighborhood nearby that’s easier to navigate. If not, why not host a neighborhood get-together where kids and parents can socialize and enjoy Halloween-themed, inclusive and sensory-friendly games and activities? This option also gives you the leeway to control your child’s candy intake. Instead of allowing them to indulge in unhealthy treats, prepare some tasty yet nutritious snacks that won’t disrupt your child’s diet. Another alternative? Let your child dress up but stay home and answer the door and greet other kids.

 3. Have a home candy hunt
If mobility is an issue, but candy isn’t, try setting up an at-home candy hunt. Hide treats around or outside your house where your child can find them. Invite siblings, neighbors and friends to join in to make the experience even more special.

 4. Participate in an inclusive community trick-or-treating event
Check your neighborhood newspaper or website to find out if there are accessible community-based Halloween events nearby. Many chambers of commerce and shopping centers offer these events, which can be safer, less overwhelming and more inclusive than typical trick-or-treating experiences.

5. Be flexible
If your child wants and is able to trick-or-trick but changes their mind once you venture out, don’t sweat it. Go home and have a quiet evening. Halloween will be back next year!

Readers of a certain age may remember ABC’s “The Dating Game,” the first-ever reality dating TV show.

Nowadays, dating shows are more popular than ever. There’s “The Bachelor,” “The Bachelorette,” “Love is Blind,” “Are You the One?” “The Ultimatum,” “Indian Matchmaker,” and even “Love on the Spectrum U.S,” a show that explores the dating lives of single people on the autism spectrum.

On Sept. 7, the show, which first aired on Netflix in 2022, took home two Primetime Emmy Awards – one for outstanding casting for a reality program and an additional one for outstanding director for a reality program. The awards were presented at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, which preceded the main Emmy Awards program on Sept. 15.

“Love on the Spectrum U.S.” is based on the award-winning Australian show “Love on the Spectrum,” which also aired on Netflix from 2020-2022. The format of both shows is similar. Each follows six or seven developmentally disabled adults as they date each other in an effort to find love and romance. In between dates, participants are supported by families and friends and coached by relationship expert and author Jennifer Cook, who is also neurodiverse. Both shows were co-created, directed and produced by Cian O’Clery, an Australian director who wanted to challenge myths about people with ASD.

“The initial kernel of the idea was about raising awareness that people on the spectrum do want to date and want to have relationships just like everybody else does,” said O’Clery, in an interview with Screen Australia.

According to Disability Scoop, Netflix reiterated O’Clery’s point in its description of the show: “Most people on the spectrum have the same desire for intimacy and companionship as the rest of the population, yet difficulties in social interaction and communication are a key feature of autism, which makes finding a partner an often daunting and difficult experience,” says Netflix. “This uplifting and insightful series celebrates diversity and difference, with participants who are warm, funny and generously open. It sets out to teach us all lessons of love, romance, intimacy and acceptance.”

In the course of making the shows, O’Clery found that it was also “about showing the true diversity of the spectrum. You’ve got people with very low support needs who are highly intelligent, who have great jobs, who are professors, and you’ve got people who need support 24 hours a day… It’s really diverse. Everybody’s different.”

To learn more about “Love on the Spectrum U.S.,” click here.

As winter winds down, summer may still feel far away. But it’s not too early to begin thinking about your child’s summer plans — especially if those plans include a summer camp experience. Enrollment season is well underway.

The benefits of summer camp are many. Camp provides kids with opportunities to build independence and improve social skills, and offers new experiences in the arts, sports and the natural world. Perhaps most importantly, it’s a chance for your child to make friends and have fun! (Camp can also provide some much-needed down time for parents!)

If your child has a disability, you may be nervous about trusting counselors, camp medical staff and others with their safety and well-being. That’s completely understandable. And that’s why selecting the right camp setting is so important.

Here are some tips to make the job easier.

1. Start with some guidelines
Before looking at specific camps, decide between day camp or overnight camp; consider the length of camp sessions; and determine whether your child will be more likely to thrive in an inclusive camp or in a camp specifically geared toward children with disabilities.

2. Do your research
Talk with other parents about their children’s camp experiences and consult with teachers and school administrators who are well acquainted with your child to see if they have recommendations. There are many good online sources that provide information about camps for children with disabilities. One reputable source is the website of the American Camp Association.

3. Interview camp staff
Once you have created a list of some camps that sound good on paper, reach out to each of these to ask questions and get a feel for its leadership. Share information about your child and their needs to make sure that the camp can accommodate them. Some questions to ask include:

• • Can the camp accommodate complex medical needs?
  • What level of training does staff receive?
  • What is the staff:camper ratio?
  • Is the camp/bunk accessible to wheelchairs?
  • Is there a sign language interpreter, closed captioning at camp productions, etc.
  • What are the activities offered and how are they adapted for children with disabilities?
  • Can the camp accommodate my child’s special diet?
  • How long are camp sessions?
  • How can I communicate with my child?
  • How close is the nearest hospital in case of emergency?
  • How is medication distributed?
  • What is the full cost of camp and are camperships offered?

4. Attend an open house
Many camps offer opportunities to visit camp to meet staff and fellow camp families. An onsite visit will provide a sense of the grounds, recreational facilities, and bunks. If an open house isn’t offered, request color brochures, camp program schedules, and DVDs that you can view at home.

5. Get references from other parents
Ask the camp to provide contact information for several parents of campers with disabilities. Talking with parents who share many of the same concerns as you, will go a long way toward helping you to make an informed decision.

Looking for your next good read? If so, we’ve got you covered. Here are some of the most highly recommended books on disability published in the past year and the most highly anticipated books on disability in the year ahead.

For Adults
 “Sipping Dom Perignon Through a Straw: Reimagining Success as a Disabled Achiever”
By Eddie Ndopu (Legacy Lit)
Born with spinal muscular atrophy, South African disability activist Eddie Ndopu typed his debut memoir using his one functional finger. Though he was not expected to live past age 5, Ndopu defied the odds, acing college and going on to study public policy at Oxford. “Sipping Dom Perignon Through a Straw” takes readers along on the author’s often challenging, sometimes frustrating but ultimately triumphant journey through graduate school.

“Beautiful People: My Thirteen Truths About Disability”
By Melissa Blake (Hatchett) Due out March 2024
Blake’s memoir describes her experiences living with Freeman-Sheldon syndrome, a rare condition that causes craniofacial deformities. “Beautiful People” is both an exploration of what it’s like to live in a world that’s not built for people with disabilities and a call to action for allies of the disabled.

“We’ve Got This: Essays by Disabled Parents”
By Eliza Hull, Editor (Scribe UK)
Hull, an Australian writer, journalist, musician and disability advocate is creator of “We’ve Got This,” one of her country’s most popular podcast series. Her new book of essays explores the little-known lives of parents experiencing the joys and hardships of parenting while managing chronic health problems and disabilities. The bottom line: Biases against disabled people are the greatest obstacles they face.

“American Breakdown: Our Ailing Nation, My Body’s Revolt, and the Nineteenth-Century Woman Who Brought Me Back to Life”
By Jennifer Lunden (Harper)
When she was just 21, Lunden began experiencing debilitating physical symptoms that brought life as she knew it to a standstill. Unable to find a cause for her symptoms, doctors told her she was “just depressed.” Five years into her mysterious illness, Lunden discovered the biography of nineteenth century diarist Alice James, whose chronic illness was also dismissed by doctors. Kirkus Reviews said, “Blending theory and memoir, the author personifies her struggle for wellness and its associated costs and consequences. An alarming chronicle of catastrophic chronic illness and a passionate plea for health care reform.”

 For Children
“Henry, Like Always”
By Jenn Bailey with illustrations by Mika Song (Chronicle Books)
This year’s winner of the Schneider Family Book Awards for young children tells the story of Henry, a boy on the autism spectrum who values sameness but must adjust to a change in schedule at his school. This book is the first in a series for young readers.

“The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn”
By Sally J. Pla (Harper Collins)
This year’s Schneider Family Book Award winner for middle grade readers is about a neurodivergent girl who adopts surfing after she and her father must relocate due to a dangerous wildfire.

“Forever is Now”
By Mariama J. Lockington (Macmillan)
The winning selection for this year’s Schneider Family Book Award for teens and young adults, “Forever is Now” chronicles the tale of a young black activist who experiences post traumatic anxiety after she observes a violent episode of police brutality.

There’s good news for football fans with disabilities! No, we’re not going to tell you that your favorite team is in the lead. What we can report is that earlier this month, the NFL—in partnership with G-III Apparel Group—released its first collection of adaptive and assistive clothing. Now, disabled fans who want to support their preferred football franchises can do so in comfortable clothing that’s easy to wear.

As we’ve written in the past, adaptive apparel is designed to make dressing easier and more comfortable for individuals with disabilities. Some examples? Magnets instead of buttons; shoes without laces; apparel without tags, labels and scratchy fabrics; and garments that provide easy access to the stomach for medical devices.

According to The Conversation, “The key to effective adaptive clothing is catering for the vast array of needs different consumers have, while maintaining style and fashionability.”

The NFL’s new offerings include long and short-sleeved T-shirts with magnet snaps on the shoulders, and fleece crewnecks and hoodies with adaptive side zippers and buttons down the back, which make it easy to take on and off. The gear is available for fans of any of the league’s 32 teams. The NFL is the first professional sports league to offer adaptive garments but hopefully not the last.

In a statement provided to USA Today, Joe Ruggiero, SVP of Consumer Products at the NFL, said “our apparel is created with the fan in mind and with the design expertise offered by industry leader, G-III, we produced the League’s first-ever adaptive and assisted apparel that serves our diverse fanbase. The collections will allow fans to cheer on their favorite team with confidence, comfort and independence.”

Carl Banks, President of G-III’s Sports Division made this statement: “G-III is proud to design the first adaptive and assisted apparel fashion collections for NFL fans. These collections make sports apparel more inclusive than ever before and are a natural expansion of the classic sports collection we already produce for the NFL. Our innovative designers were able to create apparel that is super functional and provides new options to empower fans to express themselves, as they confidently support their NFL team of choice.”

NFL apparel comes in sizes small to 2XL and ranges in price from $44.99 for a short sleeve T-shirt to $64.99 for a hoodie. The gear is available at the NFL’s online shop.

Let the games begin!

Photo credit: Eric Espino/NFL