Position: Current Issues and Disability

Instructions:

Requirements:

• Minimum of 750 words

• Should demonstrate a clear argument, central thesis/idea, and organization

• You do not need to use quotations or cite any sources, except for your selected article(s) below.

• Turn in on Google Classroom

Read through the articles that stand out to you in the following. Write an opinion piece responding to any ONE of the issues, concerns, or positions raised in one or more of the articles.

World Events

Voting/Election

1. (local) "Mainers with disabilities, and all Mainers, should feel empowered to exercise their right to vote"

2. "The Barriers to Voting Faced by Americans with Disabilities"

3. "A Journalist’s Guide to Disability for Election 2024"

Israel-Hamas War

1. "Impact of the conflict on people with disabilities in the Gaza Strip"

2. "People With Disabilities in Gaza Face Additional Barriers in the Israel-Hamas War"

3. "Disability in Palestine"

COVID-19

1. "Johns Hopkins’ visitor restrictions violated disabled patients’ rights during pandemic, feds say"

2. "Disabled People With Covid-19 Face A Tangled Web Of Obstacles"

3. "‘Not Worth The Resources’: How The Pandemic Revealed Existing Biases Against The Disability Community"

4. "When Does COVID-19 Become A Disability? 'Long-Haulers' Push For Answers And Benefits" 

5. "A Timely Reminder Of The Different Ways Disabled People Are Processing Covid-19"

Ukraine

1. "Ukrainian villagers flee Russian-occupied Kherson on foot, bike and wheelchair"

2. "As Millions Flee, Disabled Ukrainians Forced to Fend for Themselves"

3. "People with disabilities and mobility issues find themselves trapped in Kyiv"

4. "Children with disabilities disproportionately impacted by war in Ukraine"

5. "A care center for Ukraine’s disabled deals with the trauma of occupation"

Climate Change

1. "Climate Change is a Double Blow for Disabled People"

2. "COP27 can be a reset on climate justice for people with disabilities"

3. "Europe Heatwaves Disastrous for Older People, People with Disabilities"

4. "Ensuring the Safety of People With Disabilities During Climate Change"

Representation

1. "Barbie to Add More Dolls with Disabilities"

2. (local) "WooSox Highlight Deaf, Hard-Of-Hearing Awareness With Special Uniforms"

3. "Nielsen study: People with disabilities are largely absent from TV advertising"

4. "My Take: Several of our heroes lived with disabilities and flourished"

5. "Superheroes, Supervillains, and Disability Representation in the Media"

6. "Opening ceremony for Paralympics aims to reshape views of disabilities"

7. "How local radio can help make the eclipse accessible to people with disabilities"

8. (local) "Teaching disability history in schools is 'long overdue,' advocates say"

9. "People with disabilities aren't often seen in stock photos. The CPSC is changing that"

Activism

1. "Disabled Activist Speaks Out Against Ableism During Pandemic"

2. "What Moves Some People with Disabilities to be Disability Activists?"

3. "3 Mistakes To Avoid When Including Disability In Your DEI Programs"

4. "The Taliban Is Targeting Disability Rights Activists"

5. "Activist Alice Wong on the Joys and Challenges of Being Disabled"

6. "Disabled people are suffering as a result of government neglect. It's time we united for justice"

Language/Microaggressions

1. "This Is Why Disability Advocates Say It’s Not OK to Use ‘Spazz’ in Lyrics"

2. "'Disabled' is often seen as a bad word. People with disabilities are working to flip the script."

3. (local) "Some mental health advocates in Massachusetts want a new name for schizophrenia"

4. "3 Disability Microaggressions And Why They Matter"

5. "It’s Deaf, Not ‘Hearing Impaired’: Unpacking How This Label Misshapes, Harms, And Challenges Deaf Identity—And How We Can Change This"

6. "After Tackling ‘R-Word,’ Disability Group Seeks To Erase Stigma Associated With ‘Special’"

7. "Fake sign language is spreading on TikTok. Deaf people are worried."

Education

1. "Over 323,000 Federal Student Loan Borrowers to Receive $5.8 Billion in Automatic Total and Permanent Disability Discharges"

2. "Students Lobby Lawmakers to Improve College Experience for Neurodiverse Learners"

3. "New Guidance Helps Schools Support Students with Disabilities and Avoid Discriminatory Use of Discipline"

4. (local) "First-of-its-kind law improves college access for students with autism, intellectual disabilities"

5. (local) "Enfield mayor faces backlash over comments about students with special needs"

6. "How ChatGPT Could Help or Hurt Students With Disabilities"

Employment

1. "Despite progress toward inclusion, report finds few employees openly identify as disabled"

2. (local) "32 years after ADA, disabled people face barriers to employment, fair wage"

3. "Early work experiences are important for subsequent employment for youth with disabilities"

4. "Disabled Workers Earned 26 Percent Less Than Non-Disabled in 2020: Report"

5. (local) "Unemployment rate for people with disabilities in Worcester sits at 12.1% as state economist raises alarm over disparities"

6. "Today is the first Disabled Women’s Equal Pay Day"

Transportation

1. "Department of Transportation announces a bill of rights for disabled passengers"

2. "Transportation Dept. Opens Program to Make Public Transit Accessible"

3. (local) "Orange Line shutdown one more woe for riders with disabilities"

4. "Uber Commits to Changes and Pays Millions to Resolve Justice Department Lawsuit for Overcharging People with Disabilities"

5. "DOT to allow disabled fliers to take their own wheelchairs on flights"

Access

1. (local) "Boston disability advocates push for inclusive design as historic city seeks to grow housing stock"

2. "Disabled Music Fans Are Failed by Concert Venues and Ticketing Systems"

3. "New technology brings severe weather alerts to the deaf, hard-of-hearing"

Medical

1. "Forced Sterilization of People with Disabilities in the United States"

2. (local) "One school still uses electric shock devices on its students. Seven senators are leaning on the FDA to get them banned."

3. (local) "Two Women with Disabilities Receive Temporary Reprieve"

4. "Murray, Duckworth Introduce Bill to Help Women with Disabilities Access Reproductive Health Care"

5. "ADA committed to helping patients with disabilities achieve optimal oral health"

Intersections with Other Issues

1. "In their own words: How Latinas with disabilities persevere during the pandemic"

2. "Insensitive Lyrics Are Only Part of the Problem for This Black Disabled Activist" (audio)

3. "Changing views on mental health in the Black community" (video)

4. "Mental Health So White" (video)

5. "Indigenous mother asks for more culturally competent support for children with disabilities"

6. "Newly disabled people aren’t given a ‘how-to’ guide. Disability doulas are closing those gaps." (queer women of color)

Questions to consider: You do NOT need to respond to all of these or even any of them. They are provided to help you think about the above articles and choose an idea/opinion on which to focus. You will want ONE main idea.

• What is the issue or position raised in the article?

• What ramifications do you think this issue has on the disability community or the community at large?

• Are the issues specific to the disability community or do they apply to everyone?

• What accommodations have been designed or rejected? Why?

• Do you have a suggestion for a solution? Or a comment on/addition to a solution presented?