Stories, essays, opinions, analyses and more from across the different disability communities and from their friends, families, and allies.
The Hidden Tax: Gauging the True Cost of Disability
In a world that prides itself on economic models and fiscal policies, there exists an unacknowledged financial burden that weighs heavily on individuals with disabilities. This burden, akin to a hidden tax, quietly erodes the financial stability and well-being of millions worldwide. Unlike the transparent deductions on a pay stub, the costs associated with living…
Fighting the Disability Industrial Complex
What I repeatedly see is a policy that allows extreme profiting from disability and inequitable delivery and utilization of Home and Community Based Services. There is a genocide being covered up in America. People with disabilities are being murdered in group homes. Case in point, private group homes owned by KKR are under investigation currently….
How to talk to your doctor about pain
You’d think that considering their job, doctors and healthcare workers would be willing to treat someone in pain. It feels like common sense that if you’re experiencing pain, new or ongoing, you go to a doctor, and they help. Unfortunately, this is often not the case. In 2016, the CDC estimated that more than 20%…
Lessons Unlearned
Why do we continue to have poor infection control? While I am thrilled that the pandemic phase of Covid 19 is over, the complete lack of infection control in medical settings is nothing for anyone vulnerable to Covid 19 to feel happy about. I was born without a whole immune system. What I have is…
How to buy hearing aids
How do you buy hearing aids? We’re taking a week off of our deep dive into special education metrics started in episode 10 and talking about something super specific… is it a disability rights topic? I think so. In its small way, it shows how our crazy healthcare system works for disabilities. Buying hearing aids…
Special Education by the Numbers
In 1954 Darrel Huff “How to Lie with Statistics”. You may have heard of it. What you may not know is that from the 1950s onward, Darrel Huff spent the rest of his career working for the tobacco lobby ridiculing the link between smoking and health problems. Kind of makes you look at the book…
What is the Social Model of Disability
(in 14 seconds and why it matters) What is the social model of disability? I’ll explain it in 14 seconds. It is a pretty short period of time. 14 seconds. Less than a quarter of a minute. Could you wait 14 seconds to give someone a chance to talk or respond to a question? It…
Share it first
Shareitfirst.org I have been running my own businesses for 20 years now. Full-time since 2001… and you may not believe it, but now that I’m working on a social justice focused not-for-profit… I’m finally reading some nuts-and-bolts business books and listening to small business podcasts. Ummm, a bit late, Steve, you might be thinking… Anyhow….
DIY Dark Money
Today, we’re going to get really tactical. How can you get a seat at the political table and make the change that you think should happen. When we talk about Democracy at Disability Democracy Radio, it isn’t an abstract idea. It is a concrete strategy. You can do it… if you want. It will take…
Why I impoverished my son
How our Healthcare System makes disabled people into paupers It is August and I must re certify again that my 6-year old son, Geoffrey, is destitute and that our family doesn’t make too much money. It will be easier this year as I emptied his child’s savings account late last year. Why, you might ask?…