Category: Living with Disability

When your child has a disability, everyday activities that parents of typically developing children take for granted can be challenging. For example: getting a haircut. When your child uses a wheelchair or has sensory issues, finding a salon and a hairdresser with the accessibility and sensitivity to manage your child’s special needs is not a foregone conclusion. Far from it.

Thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act, many salons are now wheelchair accessible, yet precious few of them provide comprehensive services to people with disabilities. For example, people with autism or sensory integration disorders may find the environment of hair salons overly bright, noisy or crowded or the experience of having their hair shampooed or cut anxiety provoking. Meanwhile, people who use wheelchairs are often out of luck when it comes to having their hair shampooed or even getting through the doors!

As the population ages, the need for fully accessible salons will increase significantly. Some salon owners and beauticians are taking the requirements of people with disabilities into account. But one thing is clear: There is a significant need for more salons to create accommodations for special needs clients. Here are some of the few businesses in and outside of the U.S. currently catering to people with disabilities.

One such business is KidSnips in the Chicago area. With eight locations, KidSnips salons are wheelchair accessible and its stylists are all trained to work with children with disabilities. According to its website, KidSnips’ stylists take time to explain the haircut process to anxious children. There is even a video on their website showing young customers what the haircut experience will entail. KidSnips’ stylists are also careful to respect young customers’ sensory issues “foregoing clippers and trimmers for scissors…” based on children’s preferences. For children who dislike the sensation of water spraying on their hair, stylists “will spray [their] hands or combs with water to avoid spraying directly on the child’s hair.”

In consultation with Autism Speaks, Snipits, another franchise with locations in Long Island, N.Y., New Jersey, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and elsewhere, also trains its stylists to work with children on the autism spectrum.

Located in New South Wales, Australia, Shear Abilities is miles ahead of the rest. Owner Desiree McDonald is the mother of a woman with cerebral palsy and is well aware of the indignities that people with disabilities often face when it comes to finding accessible and respectful salon services.

McDonald says she opened Shear Abilities because she wants “to put clients, big or small, with a disability first because they deserve it. They deserve the royal treatment, they deserve to feel equal, they deserve to feel comfortable, they deserve to feel like they are not putting anyone out, they deserve to fit in.”

The salon offers, “entry ramps, special chairs, a lifting hoist and other features that make wheelchair access a breeze. For ultimate comfort, [Shear Abilities] also offers a full lay-down massage chair with neck support. “ Additionally, Shear Abilities has group programs and workshops that “help build confidence and self-esteem.” The business also provides in-home services for individual clients or residents of group homes.

Speaking of in-home services, The Traveling Barbers helps to match people with disabilities with mobile barbers and hair stylists in their areas. According to the website, “the same way Craigslist introduces buyers to sellers, we introduce those with disabilities who are in need of in-home hair care services, to local mobile barbers and hairstylists from their area…”

Jollylocks, another Australian haircutting establishment, offers mobile salon services to children with special needs including those with intellectual, physical and sensory disabilities. In addition to working with children, Jollylocks’ stylists will provide in-home styling for busy parents who may not have the time to get to a salon.

Here’s hoping that more entrepreneurs in the beauty industry recognize that people with disabilities are a huge and growing market that deserves their attention!

If Valentine’s Day week finds you online looking for love, you’ll have plenty of company. According to Time magazine, dating sites such as JDate, Christian Mingle, Match, Coffee Meets Bagel and others confirm that generally speaking “Valentine’s Day sees a spike in user activity.”

But that doesn’t mean it’s easy to find your soulmate online. In fact, online dating is not for the faint of heart and for singles with disabilities, it can be especially complicated.  For one thing, there’s the perennial question: Should you reveal your disability in your profile and pictures?

The folks at Easter Seals recommend disclosing your disability up front “especially if it greatly impacts your life. It weeds out close-minded people from the start so you don’t waste your time, and it can be a way to spark conversation and connection,” says Easter Seals.

What if you’d rather avoid the whole disclosure question? Many singles with disabilities choose to forego generic dating sites in favor of the growing number of sites specifically for people with disabilities. Here, we list and explain how some of most popular sites and apps work.

My Special Match
Created by a mom and dad of a daughter with disabilities, My Special Match.com is a place where singles with disabilities can find friends and potential mates in a safe and accepting virtual environment.

Special Bridge
Special Bridge isn’t only a dating site, it’s an online social community for people with disabilities. Whether you’re seeking a romantic partner or strictly online relationships, the site offers dating and safety tips, an active blogsite with articles on relevant topics such as dating with Asperger’s syndrome and dating with Down syndrome. The site is only accessible to community members with disabilities and its developers are vigilant about making sure that scammers can’t become members.

Meet Disabled Singles Club
When you join this dating site, your profile will also be seen by users of many other websites geared toward singles with disabilities. Note: if you don’t want that, you can opt out and just focus on the site you join. You can send flirts and private messages, participate in video chats and see who’s liked and favorited you. Get started for free.

Glimmer
This dating app which launched in 2017, was founded by Geoffrey Anderson, the brother of a man with cognitive disabilities. After seeing his brother struggle to meet people on mainstream websites and dating apps, Anderson was inspired to develop an app that would make it easier for users to disclose their disabilities without fear of being rejected because of them. Think of Glimmer as a more inclusive, disability-friendly kind of Tinder.

Disabled Dating Singles
According to Best Dating Sites.com, this site is “easy to navigate, has an active dating community and is loaded with all the communication and search features that you look for in a good dating site.” Sign up for free and you can begin searching for compatible singles immediately.

 

 

Bundle up! The Polar Vortex is here! What better time to stay indoors and cuddle up with a good book? Enabling Devices has got your back with this updated list of highly rated fiction and nonfiction titles on a range of disabilities-related topics for readers of all ages and abilities.

Adult
“Autism in Heels: The Untold Story of a Female Life on the Spectrum” (Hardcover)
By Jennifer O’Toole, Skyhorse, 272 pages, $16.99
Girls with autism often present differently than boys with the developmental disorder. For that reason, they often wait years for a diagnosis. That was the case with author Jennifer O’Toole who was diagnosed with ASD at age 35. In her new book, O’Toole shares what life is like for a girl and woman with autism and how learning she had ASD changed her life.

“Differently Wired: Raising an Exceptional Child in a Conventional World” (Hardcover and audiobook)
by Deborah Reber, Brilliance Audio, $18.32; audiobook, $14.99 Available 2/19/19.
One in five children born today are neuro-atypical. The mother of a son with ADHD and Asperger’s who is also highly gifted, Reber offers this “how to” manual on creating new and positive paradigms that helps parents to parent exceptional children exceptionally.

“Forever Parenting: Voices of Parents of Adults with Special Needs” (Paperback)
By Rosemarie Scotti Hughes, Ph.D., (Westview Press), 144 pages, $11.99
What lies ahead for children with disabilities when they cross the threshold into adulthood? How can their parents ease the way? In this 2018 book, Scotti Hughes, the parent of an adult child with intellectual disabilities, shares her experiences as well as the experiences of other parents with children with special needs, as they advocate for their adult children. Full of wisdom, hope and help, “Forever Parenting” provides a map for navigating the complex journey ahead.

Young Adult
“A Curse So Dark and Lonely” (Hardcover)
By Brigid Kemmerer, Bloomsbury YA, 496 pages, $12.91
A contemporary retelling of “Beauty and the Beast,” this new novel’s brave heroine doesn’t let cerebral palsy stand in her way.

“This is not a Love Scene” (Hardcover, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Mac)
by S.C. Megale, (St. Martin’s Press), 288 pages, $18.99. Due out May 7
A talented young filmmaker with many strengths, Maeve’s rare form of muscular dystrophy tends to stand in the way of romantic prospects. But when she meets Cole Smith, the two discover an undeniable attraction that changes her outlook and her self-image.

 Children’s
“Rescue and Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship” (Hardcover),
By Jessica Kensky, Patrick Downes and illustrated by Scott Magoon. (Candlewick), 32 pages, $15.29, K-4^th grade
Based on a true story, this highly rated picture book teaches children about the deep love and devotion that develops between a young girl and her service dog.

“Jolly Molly Dolly”(Paperback)
By Julia Kay O’Connor, (self-published), 24 pages, $6.34
Written in rhyme, “Jolly Molly Dolly,” is the story of the school therapy doll at the special needs school where the author works. O’Connor’s sweet story endeavors to familiarize children with and without disabilities with the equipment used by children at her special needs school. O’Connor’s aim? To make these mobility devices less scary for the children who use them and for their mainstreamed classmates.

Happy reading and stay warm!

Despite requirements set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act, access to transportation remains a major obstacle for people with disabilities. According to a survey of 1,650 people conducted by KRC Research for the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center, “Eighty percent of people with a disability and 40 percent of older adults who don’t drive said they couldn’t do all the activities and errands they needed or wanted to do because they couldn’t get around.”

Obstacles to transportation also limit opportunities for employment and socialization, keep people with disabilities unemployed and isolated. But several new ride-sharing apps are offering options for people with mobility challenges.

Cofounded by internationally known opera singer and entrepreneur Ja’Nese Jean, a new app called SAFETRIP provides wheelchair accessible vehicles and ambulances and is the only ride-sharing app that can be paid for through health insurance. SAFERIDE’s drivers receive sensitivity training, defensive driving training, and CPR training. Jean told IssueWire “Our goal is to create a bridge between an underserved demographic as it relates to ownership and influence in a mainstream thriving industry.”

Another ride-sharing app for people with disabilities is due out later this year. Scoot, which stands for Stronger Communities through Open and Organized Transportation, is being developed by an Illinois-based nonprofit called New Star. The app “will make available drivers specifically trained in working with people with disabilities, and with vehicles specially equipped to transport them,” New Star CEO Dan Strick told Disability Scoop recently.

Not to be outdone by these newcomers to the ride-sharing industry, Uber has also gotten into the act. According to the Washington Post, “Uber has long been criticized for its lack of wheelchair-accessible vehicles, and a lawsuit filed by the nonprofit Equal Rights Center in 2017 called out the company for its failure to provide access for passengers in wheelchairs and motorized scooters.” Recently, Uber in partnership with MV Transportation, launched wheelchair accessible ride-sharing in six cities. “MV will supply drivers and vehicles, while trips will be arranged through the Uber app,” said the Washington Post. Later this year, Uber plans to expand its services to customers in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

It’s been just over a week since a mass murderer took the lives of 11 individuals during Shabbat services at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Penn. Among the dead were two brothers with intellectual disabilities.

Cecil and David Rosenthal, ages 59 and 54, were well-loved by fellow congregants at the Tree of Life and throughout Pittsburgh’s Jewish and secular communities. And while many religious institutions have struggled to make their services, facilities and cultural climates accessible and inclusive to members with disabilities, it seems as if the Tree of Life had it right.

In remembrances published and broadcast across countless media outlets, the brothers were warmly praised for their devotion to the synagogue and their communities, their kindness and the joy they brought to others. During the brothers’ funeral on Oct. 30, their rabbi, Jeffrey Myers told the overflowing sanctuary full of more than 1,400 mourners, “They were two of the sweetest human beings you could ever meet,” according to The Algemeiner.com.

Not only were the Rosenthal brothers beloved, they were active contributors to synagogue and community life. Per Triblive.com, “The brothers were fixtures at Tree of Life. Both helped out before, during and after services. David Rosenthal was meticulous about arranging prayer books and shawls. Cecil Rosenthal was a greeter.”

David and Cecil lived together in apartment supported by Achieva, a social service agency in Pittsburgh. Their lives were full. In addition to synagogue life, Cecil was active with the local Best Buddies Program and was known as “the unofficial mayor of Squirrel Hill,” according to USA Today. Said Jason Bertocchi, former chapter president and local Best Buddies board member: “Cecil became a true staple of our chapter over his 8+ years, and, recently, would always welcome me with open arms and meaningful conversation each and every time we would get together. Our chapter suffered a loss of a family member yesterday. Cecil was a wonderful man and an even better friend.” David worked for Good Will Industries and though more introverted than his brother, was said to have had a terrific sense of humor.

As lifelong Tree of Life congregant Jerry Solomon told the New York Times, the fact that the brothers were staples of the community was taken for granted. “Today we talk about inclusion, but they were just part of the community, and I didn’t think anything about it… It was my introduction to the fact that there are people like that and they are just like the rest of us,” said Solomon.

 

Imagine if your child’s doctor understood first-hand, what it meant to cope with a disability because he or she had a disability too? Alas, a doctor with that particular expertise won’t be easy to find. Despite the fact that 20 percent of the general population has some sort of a disability, the likelihood of finding a doctor with a disability is far lower. “Students with sensory and physical disabilities are underrepresented in medical schools,” according to a 2016 paper published in the American Medical Association’s Journal of Ethics.

The paper attributed the scarcity of medical students with disabilities in part, to admissions policies that focus on students’ limitations rather than their strengths. In addition, the report said that schools’ biases against students with disabilities were based on assumptions such as the “potential risks to patient safety posed by accommodations, accommodation costs, and ensuring performance standards such that graduates can pass licensure exams without accommodations.” All these assumptions were without merit said the paper’s authors.

In response to the shortage of medical students and doctors with disabilities, in March 2018, the Association of American Medical Colleges released “Accessibility, Inclusion, and Action in Medical Education: Lived Experiences of Learners and Physicians With Disabilities,” a publication “designed to increase awareness and understanding of the challenges and opportunities for individuals with disabilities at the nation’s medical schools and teaching hospitals.”

In a press release, the publication’s co-author, Lisa Meeks, Ph.D. said: “Learners need effective structures that sometimes are missing, such as clear policies around disabilities and knowledgeable disability service providers. But that is not enough. They also need a culture that lets them know they are welcome.” The publication —which is the first of its kind— presented “key considerations” for making medical schools and by extension, the medical field more inclusive. The considerations included:

• Hiring a dedicated employee with expertise in disabilities and accommodations who is knowledgeable about the requirements of medical settings
• Ordering an assessment of medical schools’ existing services for students with disabilities
• Having a clear and confidential policy for accommodations requests that is outlined on the institution’s website
• Encouraging students to access supports and take time off for medical and mental health appointments as needed

It may take time for medical schools and the medical field to adapt to inclusion guidelines such as the ones recommended by the AAMC’s publication. But we’re convinced that when the medical field embraces inclusion, we’ll all be better for it!

It’s no secret that in recent years, opioid addiction In the United States, has reached epidemic proportions. But did you know that people with disabilities are 2-4 times more likely to become addicted than people in the general population? One reason for the disparity is that physical disabilities are often accompanied by chronic pain that’s frequently treated with highly addictive narcotic medications. According to a 2014 study, “more than 40 percent of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients take opioid pain relievers, while the prevalence of chronic opioid use is over 20 percent and rising.”

What can you do to decrease the likelihood that you or a loved one will become addicted to opioids? Here are some preventive steps you can take.

Be aware of the dangers of opioids
A 2016 study by the National Safety Council found that “Ninety-nine percent of doctors are prescribing highly addictive opioid medicines for longer than the three-day period recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).” Though doctors may be well-intentioned, until recently, many were not well-educated about the dangers of overprescribing pain medications. When you’re prescribed a medication for pain, make sure you know as much as possible about the drug, its side effects and its potential for addiction.

 Try alternative pain therapies before resorting to narcotics.
The same NSC study found that “Seventy-four percent of doctors incorrectly believe morphine and oxycodone, both opioids, are the most effective ways to treat pain. Research shows over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen offer the most effective relief for acute pain.” Other treatments such as physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, hypnosis and meditation may also be helpful and safe options for pain relief. Why not try these first?

Take medications as prescribed
Once you and your doctor have determined that opioids are the appropriate treatment for your or your loved one, be diligent about taking your medication as prescribed. Stick to a regular dosing schedule to prevent taking more medication than prescribed and refrain from drinking alcohol or using other substances when taking opioids. Make sure your doctor is aware of all medications you take to prevent dangerous drug interactions.

Don’t stop medications without consulting with your doctor
Stopping medications without consulting with your doctor can result in dangerous withdrawal symptoms. “Depending on the type and dose of drug you’ve been taking,” says the Mayo Clinic, “it may take weeks or even months to gradually and safely reduce your dose and get off your opioid medication.”

Get Help if Needed
According to the Mayo Clinic, it may be time to discontinue your use of pain medications if you experience “serious side effects, reduced pain relief from the same dose of medications over time (tolerance), or behaviors that raise concerns about misuse, abuse or addiction.” In the event that your doctor advises you to taper off your medication and you feel unable to do so, don’t hesitate to ask for help. “Your doctor may recommend combining your taper with counseling on medication use,” says the Mayo. “In some cases, you may also wish to join a substance misuse support group (for example, Narcotics Anonymous) or talk with your religious or spiritual adviser.”

In recent days, the topic of sexual assault has dominated the news cycle. What few realize, is that people with disabilities are far more likely to be sexually assaulted than people without disabilities. In fact, a recent report on NPR’s “All Things Considered” found that “people with intellectual disabilities — women and men — are the victims of sexual assaults at rates more than seven times those for people without disabilities.” Likewise, “Not on the Radar,” a new report by the National Council on Disability found that “nearly one in three disabled undergraduate women experience sexual violence.”

For a variety of reasons, people with disabilities can be more vulnerable to sexual predators than others. Some people with disabilities are turning to self-defense training or martial arts to protect themselves.

According to Advanced Martial Arts Connect (AMAC), a website for all things martial arts-related, martial arts styles such as taekwando, judo, karate and others can be useful to individuals with a variety of special needs. For example, says AMAC, the American Taekwando Association has partnered with Autism Speaks to educate instructors about best practices in working with individuals with autism spectrum disorders.

AMAC also recommends martial arts to students with Down syndrome who “tend to have some degree of cognitive and muscle impairment.” Says AMAC: The strength and coordination training that martial arts offers is “invaluable” to individuals with Down syndrome.

Blind people can benefit from martial arts training as well. “Blindness martial arts — Judo especially — are not heavily dependent on sight because they are not typical contact sports,” says AMAC. “In Judo, the experts usually practice blindfolded to improve their reflexes and strengthen their other senses. Karate also is easily adaptable to blindness.”

Those with movement disabilities such as paralysis, multiple sclerosis and other syndromes that cause severe mobility challenges, can also gain helpful self-defense skills through martial arts.

“As well as being therapeutic, martial arts help with confidence and self-defense, both of which can be useful when an assailant targets a disabled person for being a stereotypically easy target,” says AMAC.

The Adaptive Martial Arts Association serves as a clearinghouse for people seeking adaptive martial arts classes, instructors and resources. The organization also offers a school outreach program that helps to match students with disabilities to adaptive martial arts programs in their areas. They even provide free martial arts uniforms and tuition assistance to those who qualify.

Founded by Jason “The Animal” Davis, the association was a response to Davis’ experiences as a youngster with cerebral palsy. When he was 8 years old, Davis was turned away from a martial arts training course because of his CP. But his desire to pursue martial arts remained.

At 31, Davis reached out to a friend who was a martial artist and agreed to train him. The duo set out to adapt a martial arts curriculum for people with disabilities.

“The first few weeks both student and teacher wondered if it would work,” Davis recalled. “But then the physical and mental changes began to appear. When medical doctors and therapists noticed the difference, it was apparent that martial arts training was working in ways both never expected.”

To find a class and trained instructor near you, visit the Adaptive Martial Arts Association.

Starbucks will open store for deaf and hard of hearing customers this fall.

As part of the company’s commitment to “inclusion, accessibility and diversity,” Starbucks announced last week that it will soon open its first “signing store” in the U.S. According to a July 19, 2018 press release, the café will employ “Twenty to 25 deaf, hard of hearing and hearing partners from across the country.” It will be located in Washington D.C. at 6th & H Street near Gallaudet University, a federally chartered university for deaf and hard of hearing students. All employees will be proficient in American Sign Language so that they will be able to serve the store’s many deaf and hard of hearing customers.

“The National Association of the Deaf applauds Starbucks for opening a signing store that employs deaf and hard of hearing people,” said Howard A. Rosenblum, CEO of the National Association of the Deaf. “Starbucks has taken an innovative approach to incorporating deaf culture that will increase employment opportunities as well as accessibility for deaf and hard of hearing people, while at the same time educating and enlightening society.”

This is the second signing store that Starbucks has opened. The first opened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2016. In addition to employing deaf and hard of hearing partners, the Washington D.C. store will showcase artwork and sell a custom mug designed by a deaf artist.  Baristas will wear aprons embroidered with ASL while hearing employees will wear pins that say “I sign.”

Could this be a trend for other businesses? Enabling Devices hopes so!

Meanwhile, we’re doing our part to make life more accessible for people who are deaf and hard-of-hearing as well as those with other communication challenges by creating and adapting toys and other products. Some of our most popular include:

Visually and Hearing Impaired Activity Center (#540)
The specially designed activity center enables individuals who are visually or hearing impaired to experience the joy of play. Includes a soft cloth that spins when the player presses a bright yellow plate, a bright blue plate that vibrates, and a fan.

Vibrating Personal Pager (#8001A) and MotivAider (#1153)
Ideal for hearing and hearing impaired users alike, these adapted pagers vibrate to either notify the user or to notify others.

Language Facilitator (#5310)
Promote functional communication! This two-switch communicator provides users with the visual and auditory feedback they need to begin forming and producing utterances and words.

Classroom Communication Kit (#9037)
In consultation with special educators, speech therapists, and assistive technologists, we’ve assembled this carefully curated kit of communication devices.

 

One of summer’s great pleasures is the opportunity it often provides to catch up on one’s reading. If you or your kids are in the market for some book recommendations, Enabling Devices can help. In this week’s blogpost, we share some of the year’s best books on disability.

For Young Children:

“The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Temple Grandin”

By Julie Finley Mosca, Illustrated by Daniel Rieley (The Innovation Press, 2017), hardcover, 40 pages, $11.09

A Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award Recipient, this book for children grades K- 5, tells the amazing story of Temple Grandin. Diagnosed with autism at an early age, and at a time when little was known about the condition, Grandin went on to become a renowned animal psychologist who designed animal husbandry techniques that led to more humane treatment of animals. Grandin is also a respected spokeswoman for the autism community. Rhyming verse and colorful cartoon illustrations make this biography easily accessible for young students.

 For Middle School-aged Children:

“Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddess”

By Shari Green (Pajama Press, 2017), paperback, 240 pages, $9.56

Winner of the 2018 Schneider Family Book Award in its Middle Grades category, this book tells the story of 6^th grader Macy McMillan, who is deaf, and her transformational friendship with an 86-year-old neighbor.

 For Teens and Young Adults:

“Queens of Geek”

By Jen Wilde (Swoon Reads, 2017), paperback 288 pages, $8.79

This young adult novel explores the world of sci-fi and fantasy fan conventions, through the friendship of two high school seniors from Australia — one with autism and one who’s bisexual. According to Teen Vogue, “The book deals head on with issues of mental health, body shaming, sexuality and internet celebrity, handling them with a delicate and skillful touch.”

Adult Fiction:

“The Color of Bee Larkham’s Murder: A Novel”

By Sarah J. Harris, (Touchstone, 2018), hardcover, 368 pages, $26

Often compared to Mark Haddon’s “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” Harris’ debut adult novel tells the story of a 13-year-old boy named Jasper with synesthesia, a rare neurological condition that makes him see colors when he hears sounds. Publisher’s Weekly calls this suspenseful mystery, ‘sparkling” and “fantastic!”

Adult Nonfiction:

“Navigating the Transition From High School to College for Students with Disabilities”

By Meg Grigal, Joseph Madaus, Lyman Dukes III and Debra Hart  (Routledge, 2018), paperback, 224 pages, $39.95

Transitioning from high school to college is challenging for all students, but especially for students with disabilities. This new text provides strategies, options, resources and activities to help streamline the process and help students to be more successful.