Category: Living with Disability

Labor Day has passed, but we’re not through celebrating. That’s because National Guide Dog Month is now upon us. Yup! From Sept. 1-30 we’ll be commemorating the remarkable bond between humans and dogs – especially blind and visually impaired humans and their guide dogs. Not only do guide dogs, aka seeing eye dogs, help their people find their way, they also enhance their independence, increase their safety, and may even help them form social connections.

We’ve done some digging (pun intended!) and discovered these fun facts. 

How did guide dogs come to be?

According to National.com, dogs were domesticated approximately 150,000 years ago and have coexisted with humans ever since. In fact, “ancient artifacts and scrolls show instances where dogs were guiding their human companions.” The earliest known attempt to train dogs to lead the blind was at Les Quinze-Vingts Hospital For the Blind in Paris, France.

When and why did they first come to the U.S?

After WWI, when many soldiers returned home having lost their eyesight in combat, demand for guide dogs soared. This led to the creation of the very first school for guide dogs in Oldenburg, Germany. Dorothy Harrison Eustis, an American breeder and philanthropist is credited with bringing the first guide dog to the U.S. Later, she founded a training facility for guide dogs in New Jersey.

What does it take to become a guide dog?

Only dogs with an exceptional temperament, high intelligence and excellent health make the cut. The journey to become a guide dog begins at eight weeks, when carefully bred puppies are placed with volunteer trainers who teach them basic commands and socialization skills. Dogs that do well start formal training at 14-18 months old. At that time, they begin work with professional instructors. Typically, training lasts for at least five months.

How do guide dogs help their handlers?

According to Guidedogs.org, guide dogs are trained to “lead their handlers around obstacles, indicate stairs and street curbs, target doorways and other useful landmarks, among countless their other tasks.” Once their training is complete, guide dogs are matched to a compatible handler and the relationship between dog and human develops.

How do guide dogs make a difference?

Guide dogs can be life-changing for blind people and people with low vision. Instead of relying solely on others for assistance, handlers take charge of their own comings and goings. This creates a meaningful sense of autonomy and confidence that may translate into opportunities in areas such as education, employment, socialization and community participation. The partnership between handlers and their guide dogs cannot be underestimated.

How can you get one?

The first step to getting a guide dog is finding a guide school. Guide schools are responsible for training dogs and prospective handlers. Look for schools in your area, as schools may have different catchment areas and programs. Once you find a school that seems right for you, review the eligibility requirements. For example, Guide Dogs Foundation in Smithtown, New York. mandates that prospective applicants “must be legally blind and can demonstrate the need for a guide dog to help them remain safe and effective in their everyday travel.”  In addition, Guide Dogs Foundation prefers applicants that are able to “independently travel practical and purposeful routes with their current mobility device.”

Once you establish that you meet the organization’s criteria, it’s time to complete an application and provide documents such as medical reports, references, and sometimes an application video that shows evaluators what your lifestyle is like and demonstrates your health, and independent travel skills. The next steps to qualify are typically an in-home interview and an evaluation that assesses what sort of guide dog will best meet your needs. Once accepted to the organization’s guide dog program, you’ll be matched with a dog and receive rigorous training for community and residential settings. The best part? Guide dogs are free to people who qualify!

Happy Guide Dogs Month!

Last year, Starbucks launched the Inclusive Spaces Framework, a new initiative designed to make its stores more accessible to people with disabilities. Now, major retailers including CVS Health, Sam’s Club, Walmart, LockNet, Step ’n Wash and Otis Elevator have joined the coffee chain in its effort to make their businesses more inclusive.

In collaboration with the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), Starbucks and the other retailers have formed The Access Coalition: Creating More Inclusive Retail Spaces. As members of the coalition, all of the retailers will adopt Starbuck’s Inclusive Spaces Framework.

The Framework provides businesses standards on everything from lighting and acoustics to power-operated doors to accessible equipment for business employees to wheelchair accessible passageways.

Maria Town, president and CEO of AAPD, lauded the collaboration in a July 9 AAPD press release that acknowledged the 35^th anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act.

“The Access Coalition demonstrates the remarkable possibilities when industries and communities unite to design spaces reflecting diverse consumer needs,” said Town. “It is coalitions like this that make the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act, of equal opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency achievable, and it is the work of coalitions like this that make it easier for us to embrace our disability pride.”

Currently, the Union Market Starbucks location in Washington, D.C., is the only store designed in accordance with the Inclusive Spaces Framework, but the corporation says it will be using the framework in new and renovated stores across the nation.

Other coalition members including Sam’s Club and Walmart have already begun piloting the Inclusive Spaces Framework in their stores throughout the United States. The retailers are also encouraging other businesses to join the coalition.

“At Starbucks, our inclusive design practice ensures that our coffeehouses are places of belonging for all, said Dawn Clark, Senior Vice President of Coffeehouse Design and Concepts, Starbucks. “There is enormous value in partnering with other businesses to create more welcoming places in the communities that we serve. We’ve learned that this approach improves the experience for everyone, especially people with disabilities, and is also good for businesses.” 

Charley Golden, Senior Vice President, Real Estate, Construction and Property Administration, CVS Health agrees with Clark. “At CVS Health, we know the importance ensuring every individual feels welcome on their health care journey,” said Golden. “We believe that everyone deserves access to care and resources they need, and we’re proud to ensure our spaces that reflect that commitment. Meeting the many health and wellness needs of the communities we serve is a priority and we know that building partnerships to drive accessibility is essential.”

Planning to be in New York City between now and April 20?

If so, you may want to check out the Big Umbrella Festival at Lincoln Center. The Festival features a diverse series of performances and programs geared toward neuro-diverse audiences of all ages. Lincoln Center refers to these events as “relaxed” which means that attendees can come in and out of the theaters as needed; vocalize without being “shushed” by other audience members and move around the venues freely. “Chill out spaces” will be available at all performances and workshops and accommodations are fully accessible.

The Big Umbrella Festival originated in 2018, several years after Lincoln Center presented Trusty Sidekick Theater Company’s show “Up and Away.” According to Playbill, “Up and Away” was “the nation’s first production commissioned by a large cultural institution for young people on the spectrum.” The production was a huge success, selling out performances and attracting media acclaim.

In 2017, Lincoln Center followed the success of “Up and Away” with “Campfire,” another production of Trusty Sidekick. Once again, the show was a sell-out. By that point, it was clear to then Lincoln Center Education Executive Vice President Russell Granet, that more offerings for neurodiverse audiences were needed. Lincoln Center rose to the challenge.

“We have a single unified mission, which is to bring the greatest art to the largest possible audience,” Granet told Playbill in 2018. “If we’re serious about that, then we have to be serious about working with people with disabilities. With 1 in 68 young people diagnosed with ASD [most recently the statistic is 1 in 36], this is a hugely underserved population.”

This year’s festival will offer three multisensory productions including “When the World Turns,” a presentation of Polyglot Theatre and Oily Cart. Playbill describes this production as “an immersive theatrical experience that celebrates the senses, inviting audiences into a wondrous landscape of foliage, light, sounds, and shadows.”

Big Umbrella will also present a production based on Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” Created by Peruvian theater company Teatro La Plaza, the production, in Spanish with English subtitles, brings the stories of people with Down syndrome to the stage.

Another Big Umbrella offering is Second Hand Dance’s “The Sticky Dance: For Sensory Groovers,” an interactive dance production especially for young children and families. In addition, kids can participate in the workshop, “Magical Miniature World, where they can use accessible supplies to make artistic creations.

Finally, Lincoln Center will present a comedy night by ReelAbilities Film Festival – “the largest festival in the world dedicated to films by and about people with disabilities,” and two relaxed classical concerts for children on the spectrum.

To celebrate this year’s festival, Lincoln Center has produced a limited edition Big Umbrella Festival poster, given free to attendees while supplies last. The poster artwork (pictured above) was painted by Marlon Muller of the NIAD Art Center.  NIAD is a progressive art studio for adult artists with developmental disabilities. Mr. Muller’s work has been exhibited in galleries and museums worldwide and he currently has a solo exhibition at MoMA through April 20th.

For more information and to purchase tickets to the Big Umbrella Festival, click here.

Starting college is an exciting transition in the lives of disabled and non-disabled young adults alike.

Yet, a 2025 report by the National Disability Center for Student Success found that “the disabled student experience on campus is very different from the non-disabled student experience. Disabled students are less socially engaged, struggle with daily barriers, perceive their campus differently, feel isolated and misunderstood—and some decide to transfer or drop out as a result.”

To better serve students with disabilities, some students and administrators have created disabled student unions.

At Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, the disabled student union recently re-opened after an 18-month closure. That’s thanks to Saturday Rojas, a sociology major and president of the DSU. Rojas told her student newspaper, the Los Angeles Loyolan why the DSU matters.

“The main focus and importance of the DSU, at least as of right now, is that social aspect, and just being able to bring people together, or helping bridge the gap between the individual and the overall community. Instead of just focusing on academics and how to work with your disability to succeed and whatnot, [DSU] actually lets you find other people that you can get along with.”

On the East Coast, New York University’s DSU is a club “that advocates for students with both visible and invisible disabilities.”

When Emely Recinos first arrived at NYU, she struggled with feelings of isolation and frustration.

“I thought I was the only student facing accessibility issues on campus, says Recinos, who is now DSU co-president. “Becoming part of DSU gave me a space to share my feelings and find the social support I was looking for.”

American University in Washington D.C. also has an active DSU. It began after the COVID-19 pandemic, when students—especially those with chronic medical issues—felt more vulnerable and isolated than ever.

As Izzy Scholes-Young, a student at AU explained in her school newspaper, The Eagle, “the primary goal for me has just been creating a space where people can talk about their experiences with disability and helping other disabled people find each other, because that’s really, really difficult.”

In addition to providing safe spaces and social opportunities for people with disabilities and their allies, most DSUs also work to increase awareness of disability issues and campus accessibility.  A 2021 article in Inside Higher Ed quoted AU student Katherine Greenstein, then a member of the university’s DSU.

Said Greenstein: “On American University’s campus, disabled students struggle with uneven, impassable sidewalks; a lack of COVID-19 testing protocols; delayed responses from the accommodations office; and classrooms in buildings that are not wheelchair accessible.”  According to Inside Higher Ed, AU administrators acknowledged that on-campus accessibility is “a work in progress.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, UCLA’s DSU collaborated with other campus organizations to create “a petition requesting that all in-person lectures be live-streamed, giving students the option to attend in person or watch online. The petition also sought to eliminate mandated in-person attendance for students and teaching assistants, and to provide recordings of classes for students with COVID-19 or with a modified attendance accommodation.” As of press time,  the petition [had received] over 28,000 signatures.”

DSUs also sponsor relevant programming. Programs include film festivals, parties, panel discussions and “hangouts.”

At NYU, students with disabilities had questions about studying abroad. So, the university’s DSU presented “Abilities Abroad: Adventures for Everyone,” an annual event to address their concerns.

“During this event, students with disabilities talk about the challenges they encountered while studying in a different country and how they ultimately overcame them, said co-president Christina Beck. “It’s a great way for students to ask specific questions related to their disability.”

Individuals living with disabilities don’t always agree about how to talk about disability. But it’s important to recognize that language matters.

Take, for example, the word “disability.” While some people prefer person-first language like “person with a disability,” others are more comfortable with identity-first language like “disabled person.” The best way to know what terminology is preferable is by asking the individual how they wish to be described.

Unfortunately, many people outside the disability community worry that “disability” is a pejorative term and wonder how to use it without offending anyone.

A new public service campaign in Michigan aims to change that perception.

The campaign, created by Disability Network Southwest Michigan (DNSM) and funded by local advertising agency Adams Outdoor Advertising, features huge billboards in the Kalamazoo area that read “#DWord.”

People who pause to read the rest of the billboard text are directed to the campaign website DWordPride.org, where they can learn more about the campaign and DNSM, a nonprofit run by people with and without disabilities working to advance “justice, access and inclusion for the Disability Community.”

According to the website, the #DWord campaign seeks to destigmatize the way the word disability is viewed in our society: “Instead of avoiding the word with euphemisms like special needs, handicapable, or differently-abled, simply use the word disability.”

Disability is a “natural part of the human condition,” say campaign creators. “Having a disability isn’t inherently good or bad; it just is. Like being female, or short, or Latino, or gay, or left-handed, disability is simply a characteristic. It is society who decides what characteristics are desirable and which ones are less so.”

So, how do we change our society and the commonly held assumption that disability is inherently negative? The DWord Pride website says we can do so by “recognizing and celebrating the unique identities, cultures, and experiences of disabled people and rejecting society’s notion that disability is somehow bad. By embracing disability pride, we build stronger communities and a movement of inclusion and acceptance for all.”

People with disabilities are encouraged to join the disability pride movement by posting on DWord Pride’s Instagram and Facebook pages or on their own social media platforms using #DWORD or #DWORDPRIDE.

Heading for the Big Apple for spring break? If so, you’ll probably want to take in a Broadway show or two. After all, there’s nothing like live theater brought to you by world-class performers, directors and designers in one of Time Square’s gorgeous historic theaters.

But fair warning: Because of their age, many of these theaters are not fully ADA compliant.

According to an article on NY Tix, “Most Broadway shows appear in old Broadway theaters that were built in a very different time with different attitudes towards people with disabilities.

These theaters, some of which are over 100 years old, have narrow walkways and lots of steps, making it nearly impossible for the [wheelchair-user] to maneuver through them. Patrons with vision or hearing problems face similar problems.”

Fortunately, Theatre Access NYC is here to help. Created through a partnership between TDF (Theatre Development Fund) and The Broadway League, and spearheaded by the late Christina Trivigno, a TDF staffer, wheelchair user and disability activist, the organization was founded on the philosophy that “everyone, regardless of disability, should have access to the performing arts.”

Theatre Access provides critical information for theatergoers who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, blind or low vision, wheelchair users and people who have difficulty with stairs or require aisle seats, and those with autism, intellectual disabilities and other developmental disabilities.  Theatre Access’s website is the place to go to find out whether shows offer live and prerecorded audio description; open and handheld captioning; ASL interpretation; autism-friendly performances; wheelchair seating locations; assistive listening devices and more.

To find a performance that meets your needs, first visit Theatre Access’s “How It Works” page. This page will explain the symbols and terms you can use to identify, for example, wheelchair accessibility levels of particular theaters, performances that are autism-friendly, have sign language interpretation or have audio narration via headphones available.

Then, search shows by the accommodation you need. For example, if you want to see “& Juliet” you will find that the Steven Sondheim Theater where the show is playing has wheelchair accessible hallways, bathrooms and entrances; assistive listening devices; closed captioning; autism friendly performances; and pre-recorded audio description.  “Aladdin” at the New Amsterdam Theatre has the same accommodations as “& Juliet,” with the exception of autism-friendly performances. “Hamilton” at the Richard Rodgers Theatre has all of the accommodations as “& Juliet” plus loop systems.

Once you know what you want to see, visit tdf.org for information on where to find deals on Broadway show tickets. You will find a real-time list of what tickets are available as well as showtimes and prices. Or head to the TKTS booth at Times Square or Lincoln Center for same-day discount tickets.

The high cost of housing is a source of stress and frustration for millions of Americans.

Housing costs are especially prohibitive in large, vibrant cities, where many individuals and families—hoping to take advantage of the benefits of urban life—are simply priced out of the market. Historically, this has been especially true for individuals with disabilities seeking accessible, independent housing with particular amenities and supports.

A new housing development project in San Francisco aims to change the status quo. Set to open in March, Kelsey Civic Center, a 112-unit building located in the heart of the city’s Civic Center area, will make it possible for a diverse population of low- and middle-income individuals and families to live in this desirable neighborhood. Plus, 25% of the building’s units are reserved for individuals with disabilities.

According to Disability Scoop, Kelsey Civic Center’s units “will be leased to households earning between 20% and 80% of area median income, with rents ranging from $500 to $2,450.” Qualified residents were chosen through a lottery process.

This is the second development project for The Kelsey, an organization that advocates for “inclusive design standards” and reasonably priced “disability-forward” apartments.

The Kelsey was established by cousins and friends, Micaela Connery and the late Kelsey Flynn O’Connor. O’Connor, who had multiple disabilities, struggled to find affordable, accessible housing and her experience inspired the two women to make change. Last spring, The Kelsey opened their first project, Kelsey Ayer Station in San Jose, California.

Connery told Disability Scoop that The Kelsey “is as much about advocacy as it is building…” She says the Civic Center building has “symbolic importance” because of its vicinity to 50 United Nations Plaza, a federal building where the “504 sit-in” took place in 1977. The demonstration, which called for better accessibility and improved accommodations for disabled people, led to the eventual passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

The soon-to-open Kelsey Civic Center features apartments “with kitchens and bathrooms with removable cabinets for wheelchair users and dimmable lighting for people with light sensitivity,” says Disability Scoop. “Floors are coded by number and colors inspired by the Painted Ladies to help with wayfinding.”

Kelsey Civic Center will also house an Inclusion Concierge staff charged with helping residents obtain support services and creating community for individuals and families that live in the building. The building also includes an inside courtyard and a rooftop garden. Connery hopes that The Kelsey’s vision will set a standard for all urban neighborhoods in the not-too-distant future.

 

It’s been seven years since Enabling Devices featured now 21-year-old McKenzie Tuckson in our catalog. At the time, McKenzie, who has Rett syndrome and is non-verbal, was using several Enabling Devices augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) products to communicate. With these products and the loving support of her family and friends, McKenzie was able to realize her dream–becoming a high school cheerleader.

Recently, McKenzie’s mother Tamara Tuckson, a passionate advocate for people with disabilities, and the founder of Mission2Advocate – an organization that provides IEP consultation and support — checked in to let us know that her daughter is positively thriving. That’s in spite of the fact that when McKenzie was diagnosed with Rett syndrome, doctors predicted an extremely poor prognosis.

“We keep the motto that we don’t let Rett syndrome define us,” says Tamara. “We define it. We just decided to take a different approach to it and let her lead a normal life.”

That said, McKenzie has accomplished more than many of her typically developing peers.

“McKenzie is a six-year varsity cheerleader,” says Tamara. “She was vice president of the junior and senior classes at Whites Creek High School; the 2019 Westley-Rice Student Advocate of the Year for Tennessee; the 2022 Westley Morgan Tennessee Titans Community Hero; and the first non-verbal ambassador for Metro Nashville Public Schools. She is employed at Bubble Love Tea, is an advocate and public speaker, and we just published a book together!”

“McKenzie Can Talk” is a children’s picture book that teaches readers about the wonders of AAC devices. The book highlights Enabling Devices’ products such as the Big Talk, Talkables, Say it Play It and Hip Talk Plus.

“You all [and your products] have been so instrumental in McKenzie’s progress,” says Tamara. “In the book, McKenzie uses the devices in practical situations like saying the prayer at the dinner table, saying ‘trick or treat,’ and wishing her father a happy birthday.” It starts out with McKenzie’s cousins asking her why she can’t talk. A lot of people, especially younger kids, don’t understand. Part of the reason for the book was to show that even though McKenzie can’t talk like they talk, she still has something to say.”

In writing “McKenzie Can Talk,” Tamara hopes to bring information about AAC devices to people who can benefit from them.

“I’ve had so many clients from rural counties that did not know and did not have access to AAC devices or anything that was adaptive,” says Tamara. “A lot of them don’t have speech or occupational therapists. We were blessed because we live in Nashville, Tennessee, and we were able to go to Vanderbilt University to get the therapy. So, that was something that we wanted to give back to them. We wanted them to not only have a great children’s book, but also to know where to get these devices and how they work.”

At the back of the book, readers will find brief descriptions and QR codes for the products featured in the colorful paperback.

Now that “McKenzie Can Talk” is in print, McKenzie and Tamara plan to visit area schools to share the book and McKenzie’s communication devices with students.

“It’s one thing for us to read the book to you, but it’s another thing for you to come to the table and see how these how these devices actually work. Now, we can talk about perseverance, acceptance, access and all of those things, and show them that if McKenzie can do it, you can do it.”

You can order McKenzie’s book at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/McKenzie-can-talk-McKenzie-tuckson/1146488715.

After 38 years as a tennis coach, Grand Slam pro Felicia Raschiatore of Minnesota is gaining recognition for her efforts to expand the tennis scene in the Twin Cities.

“If I see a niche or a vacancy that something could be added, let’s see if we could do it, and then let’s do it, so more people can play tennis,” Raschiatore told CBS News last month.

Recently, Raschiatore was honored with a Champions of Equality prize for starting the first wheelchair tennis club in her area. Presented at the U.S. Open in September, the second annual Billie Jean King Champions of Equality honors were presented to 15 women who “have led the fight for equality in sports and entertainment.” The awards were presented to winners by none other than women’s tennis icon Billie Jean King herself. As part of the celebration, King was honored with the Congressional Medal of Honor.

While new to the Twin Cities, wheelchair tennis has been around since 1976.  According to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the sport was founded by Brad Parks, a former U.S. freestyle skier. Wheelchair tennis became a paralympic sport in the Barcelona Paralympics in 1992 and has been growing ever since.

Wheelchair tennis is almost identical to traditional tennis. “There are no modifications to the size of the court, rackets or tennis balls,” says the IPC. “The main differences are the specially designed wheelchairs and the ‘two-bounce rule,’ whereby the ball can bounce twice before being hit.”

Raschiatore’s students couldn’t be happier about the opportunity to play tennis.

As club member Kate Aquila told CBS News, “I’m never happier than when I’m out on the tennis court. I have been playing tennis since I was a little kid, but I came to wheelchair tennis after my spinal cord injury, so kind of revisiting the game in a different way.”

Aquila’s clubmate Susan Banal shares her enthusiasm. “All aspects have been transformative for me in my life at this time,” said Banal, “It’s taught me that I still have that competitive nature, athleticism. I still have that in me in spite of an injury.”

Interested in joining a wheelchair tennis club? Opportunities exist around the country. To find a club in your neck of the woods, check out USTA’s list of programs.

Underestimate Drew Davis at your own peril!

In 2023, the 18-year-old entrepreneur launched Crippling Hot Sauce, a new St. Louis-based business that sells – you guessed it – hot sauces. Davis started the company because “when life gives you cerebral palsy, you make hot sauce.”

Davis, who was born with CP, created a business model for Crippling Hot Sauce for a high school class assignment. When his teacher told him his concept was unrealistic, Davis was determined to prove her wrong. Using $3,000 he had saved from birthday and Christmas gifts, he began making and selling his sauces in local stores. Currently, you can also purchase the sauces on Davis’s website and on Amazon for $9.99 each.

By naming his company “Crippling,” Davis wanted to make a point. “I feel strongly about this name because as much as it’s gotten better, I’ve always felt like people with disabilities get a little special treatment kinda on the baby-ish side,” said Davis in an interview with a local TV station “I wanted to show people that a lot of us have a sense of humor. And with Crippling Hot Sauce, what I always try to explain to people is there’s a lot of difference in the word ‘crippled’ and ‘crippling.’ Crippling is an expression, crippled is a derogatory term.”

Davis also gave a lot of thought to the names of his sauce flavors which include “Limping” (medium hot), “Crippling Agony” (hot), “Just for the Parking” (mild) and “Special Treatment” (smoky bacon).

So far, Davis has sold hundreds of thousands of bottles of the highly-rated sauces. He also sells “Crippling” merchandise such as T-shirts and sweatshirts. Sauces are available in bundles of three, five and six. Customers can choose between the Crippling Decisions Variety Pack (5 bottles); Half a Dozen Handicaps (6 bottles); and the Triple Cripple (3 bottles.) For every bottle sold, Davis donates 5% to cerebral palsy research.

The young entrepreneur is philosophical about his success. “I live my life like a story, one page at a time. I treat my doubters like an antagonist in the story and go from it that way.”

Why not gift the spicy food lovers in your life a bottle or a bundle of bottles for the upcoming holiday season? Check out thecripplingcompany.com for more information.