Disability news covering accessibility, ADA enforcement, benefits policy, adaptive technology, and disabled-led advocacy.
An Upper Tribunal judge ruled that Amazon Alexa devices qualify as disability aids for Personal Independence Payment claims. The decision overturned a previous denial for a lecturer with autism and ADHD, criticizing the original panel for failing to investigate how smart devices help manage functional limitations.
Former Australian Football League player Barnaby Howarth discusses his transition from professional athlete to disability advocate after a stroke caused by an alcohol-fueled attack. He shares insights on resilience, redefining disability as a source of focus rather than mystical ability, and encourages others to embrace new challenges.
This piece profiles Hari Budha Magar, a former Gurkha soldier who became the first double above-knee amputee to summit Mount Everest after losing his legs in an Afghanistan mine blast. It recounts his military service, injury, and subsequent achievement as a Guinness World Record holder.
The article profiles Izzy, a 14-year-old from Wiltshire with cerebral palsy, who has been selected to perform in the 2026 BBC Children in Need Choir. It highlights how music provides him an emotional escape from physical pain and fatigue, describing his selection as a dream come true for him and his family.
This piece explores the complex dietary challenges faced by autistic individuals, using creator Spencer Ali’s experience to illustrate sensory sensitivities and routine-based eating habits. It argues that neurodivergent food relationships require specialized support and greater public awareness regarding the intersection of autism and nutrition.
TIME reports on director Sian Heder's film Being Heumann, which dramatizes disability rights activist Judy Heumann's pivotal role in the 1977 sit-in enforcing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The article highlights how the film captures the courage of activists who occupied a federal building to demand accessibility and end discrimination against people with disabilities.
Cristina Busu argues that the autism workforce shortage is a broader family crisis, not just a care access issue. She contends that staffing deficits force parents to sacrifice careers and mental health, highlighting the systemic economic and social toll on families supporting individuals with autism in the United States.
The article highlights Camp Taloali in Oregon as a unique summer camp for deaf and hard-of-hearing youth, emphasizing its role in fostering community and belonging. It details the camp's accessibility features and notes it is a beneficiary of The Oregonian/OregonLive's Season of Sharing fundraising campaign.
WTOP News reviews the documentary 'Being Heumann,' directed by Sian Heder, which chronicles disability rights pioneer Judy Heumann's leadership in the 1977 sit-in at the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. The piece explores Heder's collaboration with Heumann prior to her death and the film's focus on this pivotal moment in American civil rights history.
The Seattle Times reviews the documentary Being Heumann, highlighting director Siân Heder’s collaboration with disability rights pioneer Judy Heumann. The piece details how Heder captured Heumann’s legacy, particularly the pivotal 1977 sit-in at the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare that advanced disability rights in the United States.