Disability

  • The importance of accessibility in WordPress

    In the dynamic landscape of website development, creating an inclusive online space is no longer an option but a necessity. Accessibility in WordPress has emerged as a pivotal aspect, reshaping the way we build and design websites. As we delve into the digital era, it becomes extremely important to understand the significance of accessibility and its profound impact on user experience.

    Universal Access

    Accessibility ensures that websites can be accessed and used by people of all abilities. This means crafting websites that can be navigated seamlessly by individuals with all kinds of impairments. By prioritizing universal access, we contribute to a more fair online environment for all to enjoy.

    Enhanced User Experience

    A website’s success is often measured by the satisfaction of its users. When a site is accessible, it serves a broader audience, providing a positive experience for everyone. Simple, effective measures, like providing alternative text for images or creating keyboard-friendly navigation, can make a significant difference in ensuring an enjoyable visit for all users.

    Legal Compliance

    With a growing emphasis on digital accessibility, legal requirements and standards have been established to ensure that websites are accessible to everyone. Non-compliance can result in legal consequences and reputational damage for a company or brand. WordPress website owners and developers must be aware of and adhere to accessibility standards like WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) to stay compliant.

    SEO Benefits

    Search engines value user experience as a ranking factor. An accessible website that provides a smooth experience for all users tends to perform better. As accessibility and SEO align in their goals of improving user experience, incorporating accessible design principles can positively impact a website’s visibility.

    Future-Proofing Your Website

    As technology evolves, so do user expectations. Prioritizing accessibility in WordPress development ensures that your website is prepared for the future. It minimizes the need for major overhauls and adjustments, providing a scalable and sustainable solution for long-term success.

    In the world of WordPress, where creativity meets functionality, accessibility stands as the cornerstone of responsible web development. It’s not just about meeting legal requirements, it’s about building a place where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can navigate, engage, and interact seamlessly. As we all embrace accessibility, we contribute to a more inclusive and compassionate online world, one where every user has the opportunity to explore and engage without barriers.

  • No Limbits: Adaptive Clothing

    Introduction

    In a world where diversity and inclusivity are becoming increasingly crucial, the fashion industry has taken strides to redefine beauty standards and empower individuals from all walks of life. One such revolutionary player in this arena is the inspiring clothing company, No Limbits. Born out of a passion for celebrating diversity and embracing uniqueness, No Limbits is not just a brand; it’s a movement that challenges conventional norms and encourages everyone to express their authentic selves.

    I first discovered this company by watching them on ‘Shark Tank’ during Season 13 Episode 18 which aired on ABC on April 1, 2022, at 8 pm ET. It was on this episode where Mark Cuban and Emma Grede got 10% equity in the company for $100,000.

    A Vision Beyond Limits

    No Limbits was founded with a vision to create a space where fashion knows no boundaries. The brand’s ethos revolves around the belief that everyone, regardless of their physical abilities, deserves to feel stylish, confident, and comfortable in their own skin. With a commitment to breaking stereotypes and redefining beauty, No Limbits has emerged as a beacon of hope for individuals with disabilities like myself.

    Inclusive Fashion for All

    What sets No Limbits apart is its dedication to creating inclusive fashion that caters to a diverse range of bodies and abilities. From adaptive clothing designed to make dressing easier for those with mobility challenges to trendy, accessible styles that cater to various tastes, the brand ensures that no one is left out of the fashion conversation. By seamlessly integrating fashion and function, No Limbits is paving the way for a more inclusive and accessible future.

    Empowering Stories

    No Limbits goes beyond just clothing; it tells stories of triumph, resilience, and self-love. The brand actively collaborates with individuals who have overcome physical challenges, turning their journeys into powerful narratives that inspire others. By amplifying these voices, No Limbits aims to shatter preconceived notions about beauty and capability, fostering a sense of community and empowerment.

    Sustainability at its Core

    In addition to its commitment to inclusivity, No Limbits places a strong emphasis on sustainability. The fashion industry has long been associated with environmental concerns, but No Limbits is changing the narrative. The brand uses eco-friendly materials and ethical manufacturing processes to ensure that its impact on the planet is as positive as its impact on society.

    No Limbits Community

    Beyond the garments and the stories, No Limbits has created a vibrant and supportive community. Through social media platforms and events, the brand connects individuals from around the world who share a common goal of embracing diversity. This community serves as a testament to the transformative power of fashion and the collective strength that comes from celebrating our differences.

    Conclusion

    No Limbits is not just a clothing company; it’s a movement that challenges norms, celebrates diversity, and empowers individuals to embrace their unique identities. Through inclusive fashion, empowering stories, and a commitment to sustainability, No Limbits is making waves in the industry, proving that fashion has the power to change lives and shape a more inclusive future for all. So, join the revolution, embrace your uniqueness, and let No Limbits inspire you to live without limits.

  • Disability Media Network A New Streaming Source For Authentic Disability Content

    blond wheelchair user sitting in living room with back to camera. She is watching TV with wheelchair user rolling down a sidewalk on the screen.
    Picture from original article

    DiMe aims to provide a platform for disabled filmmakers and disabled actors to share their stories and distribute their work to show the rest of the disabled community.

    “The platform has two purposes — one from a viewer standpoint to allow people to see people who look like them, [and one] from a filmmaker standpoint to give another distribution outlet to their content.”

    says Jennifer Price, the founder of DiMe

    Price is a non-disabled individual but worked for years as a disability rights attorney. As she spent time with the community, she saw a common theme that kept emerging: the need for more authentic disability representation in the media.

    “I had conversations with people in the disability community who would talk about the things they were frustrated with. And one of them that really resonated with me was the media. I can thoroughly appreciate the importance of representation.” 

    she says

    What To Watch 


    Looking forward, Price hopes to include more adaptive sports content soon on this service.

    “It’s an untapped market that I’d like to take advantage of. We have already built a connection with the USGA for their golf tournaments, and have relationships with some of the universities (with adaptive sports programs), so I’d like to explore that a little bit more with wheelchair basketball teams and tennis teams.” 

  • Judy Heumann, ‘mother of the disability rights movement,’ dead at 75

    TOKYO, Japan (December 4, 2014) Ambassador Caroline Kennedy welcomes Special Advisor for International Disability Rights Judith Heumann to Japan. Special Advisor Heumann is visiting Japan to discuss disability rights and initiatives during the country’s Disability Week. [State Department photo by William Ng/Public Domain]

    Judy was born December 18, 1947, and at the age of 18 months contracted Polio. It was from this point that she was confined to a wheelchair. She often throughout her life rejected cliches about disability as a tragic experience, saying

    “Disability only becomes a tragedy for me when society fails to provide the things we need to lead our lives––job opportunities or barrier-free buildings, for example. It is not a tragedy to me that I’m living in a wheelchair.”

  • 6 Types of #WheelchairProblems That Are All Too Common

    Odyssey

    Odyssey’s mission is to affect positive social change by inviting people to share their perspectives, sharpen their opinions, and participate in meaningful conversations with others surrounding the topics they care about most.

    Their Core Values are:

    Creator FirstCreator First

    We strive to build a platform that serves its Creators before anyone else. Without its Creators, Odyssey doesn’t exist.

    Freedom and ResponsibilityFreedom & Responsibility

    On Odyssey, you can create the content that matters to you. With this freedom, you also have a responsibility to start discussions in a positive, respectful manner.

    People MatterPeople Matter

    We believe everyone’s voice deserves to be heard. On Odyssey, perspectives from everyday people start meaningful conversations across the nation.

    Stats

    They are a popular site with:

    • 770K Creators
    • 1.8K Communities
    • 1.1M Articles
    • 24M Unique Visitors


    1. Stairs (and only stairs)

    They usually mean the end of whatever was planned, especially if there are no alternative routes: the oldest enemy to mobility while in a chair. It means nothing to a wheelchair user that “it’s only two steps.” It means that we either have to rely on others to help us or change all of our plans. Ditto with no curb cuts and/or ramps.

    2. Non Compliance to ADA (or AODA here in Ontario, Canada) standards (or bare minimum)

    A rail in a bathroom does not mean it is accessible, not to mention half of the so-called accessible stalls are nowhere NEAR big enough. The one elevator in the workplace not working should not be the thing stopping people from doing their jobs, and the beds at hotels should not be so high that we cannot get into them without assistance, and the space beside them too small to go between.

    I admire the job the these regulations set out to do, but what is the point if it is not enforced?

    3. Parking

    Problems here include people who park in handicapped parking without a permit, people who park there just because it’s convenient, people who balk when you need space to unload and the worst offenders, people who park blocking curb cuts and then refuse to move. Just thinking about it makes me angry. Don’t do it, folks.

    4. Travel

    Having to plan four steps ahead of everyone else when you travel means not only do you miss going places because of the chair, but that there is no spontaneity in any of your trips. Are the seats at the stadium wheelchair accessible? Is the car big enough? Is the bathroom accessible? All of these problems are only worsened if, like me, you don’t drive. Airlines apologizing profusely when your chair has been damaged in flight only helps so much when you are stranded as result of it.

    5. Ignorance

    I am not mentally incapable just because I am in a chair, and I don’t want to be “touched by Jesus” as some people may pray for me. Similarly, I do not appreciate it when you push the chair without asking me first, the chair is an extension of my body to me. I can hear and understand when you make fun of me, and I am sick of your pity.

    And finally, for this post anyway,

    6. Losing friends

  • 10 Ways To Be A Good Ally To Disabled People

    10 Ways To Be A Good Ally To Disabled People

    1. Listen to us.

    Listening to what we in the disabled community have to say is one of the most basic but important things you can do to support us and be a good ally to disabled people and the community, it should be the foundation of everything. Listen when we speak about ableism, accessibility, disability rights, access to health and social care, disability benefits. Listen to it all. If people just stopped for 5 minutes to learn about our lives then so much would change, people’s eyes would be opened to our world.

    2. Share our content, lift our voices but don’t speak over us.

    Share our tweets, blog posts, articles, podcasts, share as much of what we put out there as you can. Retweeting a post or a tweet takes seconds but is a method of support that is so appreciated by every disabled person. Remember to never speak over us though. Always prioritise a disabled voice over an abled voice when it comes to disability issues and you can even be more specific than that. When an issue mainly affects those with a facial disfigurement for example, prioritize their voice over someone who uses a wheelchair, for example, because the person with the experience is more often the most knowledgeable one on that topic at hand. You will be seen as a great ally to the disabled community if you do this.

    3. Take time to educate yourself, I don’t have the energy to repeat everything over and over again.

    Many people talk everyday about disability issues on social media. I don’t have the time to educate every person individually, although I wish I did, so you need to educate yourself. Read our blogs, source our voices and learn about what we have to say. If you get stuck on something then ask us, but most of us do not have the precious energy to spend on educating one person at a time, take some responsibility and do what you can yourself then you can come to us.

    4. Advocate for disability rights.

    Okay, so you’ve done the research mentioned above, you’ve talked to actual disabled people and you’re more clued in than ever when it comes to disability rights and needs. Now you have to start speaking up, telling people that we all must do better to make things better. This is when you can share the content you read, sending people in the direction of disabled voices so they can be educated just like you have been. When a building isn’t accessible, or when someone uses an ableist word, speak up. Don’t stay quiet when something doesn’t seem right, it’s not just up to disabled people alone to tackle these problems. Take your lead from disabled people though because no one knows how to advocate for disability rights better than an actual disabled person.

    5. Encourage and work for inclusion in your own community.

    I can guarantee you that there are disabled people within your community. They may be hidden, but they do exist, and you should be doing all you can to make your community more welcoming and accessible to them. Disabled people who fit into several different minority groups are often the most ignored, so change that. It’s not just about physical barriers either, it’s attitudes that need changing as well.

    6. Be conscious of the language you use.

    Be aware of the language you are using and learn what the majority of disabled people prefer, if someone wants you to use a different word or phrase then do that. Be aware of ableist words like ‘retarded’ and ‘crippled’, there are plenty of alternatives that are easy to think of and use. Don’t use disability as a metaphor and most importantly please don’t be scared of the word either, it’s not a bad word and it’s mostly abled people who have decided that it’s bad. In fact using the word ‘disabled’ with confidence shows what a good ally to disabled people you truly are.

    7. Hire us and pay us for our work.

    Hire us for your websites. Pay us for our work, our writing, our passions. We have have so much to say that has a lot of worth so don’t expect us to work for free constantly.

    8. If you’re unsure of something, ask us about it, we always welcome sensible questions.

    Don’t be afraid to ask a disabled person questions, sensible ones though. If you’re unsure about something then it’s totally okay to ask for clarity, most of us welcome the opportunity to educate someone about almost anything. Always be respectful about it though, if a disabled person tells you something that you don’t agree with then remember that it affects the disabled person not you so you don’t get to decide that you’re right.

    9. Stop with the inspiration porn and sensationalising our lives.

    Please stop with the inspiration porn, it can get exhausting. Stop sensationalizing our day to day lives, are you really inspired by me getting out of bed in the morning? I doubt it. Stop sharing the ‘girl asks disabled guy to prom, isn’t she an angel’ articles and memes, they are damaging. I’m not an inspiration for leaving my house, so stop it.

    10. Remember that a wide range of disabilities exist, they aren’t all physical or obvious.

    Stop associating disability with just a wheelchair or other physical thing. There are such a wide range of disabilities out there, some are invisible, some aren’t even physical. Stop assuming that you know what a disabled person ‘looks like’, because there isn’t a look.

    Most importantly, being an ally to disabled people does not mean that you are taking charge or taking over for us. It’s all about learning and listening. You have to base everything you do off of disabled people and what they say.

  • Active Living & Fun

    The variety of adaptive activities available for people with disabilities is impressive, these examples are from the United States but I’ve been able to find information from Ontario, Canada, where I’m from, and have applied that here in this article, but I’m sure they apply all over the world. While you may have to do an activity differently, adaptive activities can be just as enjoyable, and you may discover some new activities as you explore what’s available in your area. Here is an overview of the fantastic array of adaptive activities now available for people physical disabilities.

    Adaptive Fishing

    Adaptive Flying

    Adaptive Gardening

    Adaptive Hunting

    Adaptive Painting

    Adaptive Boating

    Sailing

    Adaptive SCUBA

    Shooting

    Hiking

    Video Games

    Billiards

    Many people enjoy billiards/pool post-injury because of how accessible pool tables are in most communities. It is also a sport that can be enjoyed with able-bodied people quite easily. For people with quadriplegia, there are adaptations available to help hold the pool cue.

    Wheelchair Dance

    “Everybody Dance Now!

    Study day on integration of people with disabilities in dance and movement, At Ganei Aviv Community Center, Lod. AXIS Dance Company Changes the Face of Dance and Disability. Pioneering a new dimension of dance – a revolutionary collaboration between dancers with and without disabilities. The U.S. Embassy in Israel initiated a program on the integration of people with disabilities in dance, featuring the celebrated American AXIS Dance Company. The Company integrates professional dancers with and without disabilities, creates beautiful art, and works with communities to promote integration and break stereotypes about disabilities. In Israel AXIS gave workshops, master classes, and lecture demonstrations throughout the country to mixed audiences of adults, youth, and educators from all abilities, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds. The program was warmly embraced by local communities and attracted considerable press interest.

    Indoor Skydiving

    Wheelchair Bowling

    A sport that can be adapted to nearly any ability is wheelchair bowling. It is also a great activity  you can do with an able-bodied partner. For those with limited arm movement, a ramp is used to push the ball down and into the lane. For those with no arm movement, they can use the IKAN bowler which is controlled with the mouth. It also uses a ramp, which the ball rolls down to enter the lane. For those with normal arm and hand movement, no bowling adaptations are needed except an accessible place to bowl.

  • International wheelchair day

    What Is International Wheelchair Day

    Since it was first launched in 2008, celebrations have taken place around the world in places such as: Australia, Nepal, Senegal, South Africa, Bangladesh, Pakistan, United Kingdom and United States of America.

    It has grown year over year and I’m sure everyone in the wheelchair community, myself included, look forward to 2023 being bigger and better than ever.

    How are you celebrating in 2023?

    Everyone within the wheelchair community should organize your own personal celebration or even try to involve your school, college, place or work, charitable organization or community in celebrating the impact a wheelchair has on people’s lives throughout the World.

    Download the official logos

    IWD 2023 - circle (2400 x 2400)

    Feel free to go to the links below if you’d like to download and use the official 2023 logos as part of your celebration. Use it as you wish on posters, T-shirts, banners, etc.

    The Aims of International Wheelchair Day

    • To enable wheelchair users to celebrate the positive impact a wheelchair has in their lives.
    • To celebrate the great work of the millions of people who provide wheelchairs, who provide support and care for wheelchair users and who make the World a better and more accessible place for people with mobility issues something of which I take pride in being about to have a part in doing in my community.
    • To acknowledge and react constructively to the fact there are millions of people in the World who need a wheelchair, but sadly, are unable to acquire one.
  • ADA 31st Anniversary

    The ADA

    Wish List

    1. Inadequate New Construction  

    Let’s start with the basics. I cannot understand that 31 years after the passage of the ADA, people are still fighting about steps in new construction: counters that are too high, automatic door openers placed where they cannot be reached or missing altogether, or structures that are simply inaccessible to a variety of individuals with disabilities. There is no excuse for this. 

    2. Travel Woes  

    I want to be able to fly like everybody else and not have to worry that when I arrive at my destination, I will be stuck in the airport with a pile of broken parts. It’s time for the airline industry to step up and not treat people with disabilities like we don’t matter.

    While we are at it, let’s add a bathroom that everyone can use. I am positive that non disabled people would love to use a bathroom in a plane that doesn’t feel as if they are peeing in a closet.

    3. Targeted Health Care 

    COVID highlighted the health care disparities for individuals with disabilities, but this problem long predated the virus. We need accessible health care, period. imaging machines, exam tables, and much, much more. If an individual with a disability needs reasonable accommodations when they arrive at a hospital, urgent care center, or a doctor’s office, it shouldn’t be a big deal. 

    Currently, one in four individuals have a disability and soon it will be one in three. The current medical paradigm is not working. Issues related to disability should be routinely taught in medical schools to adequately serve this large and growing population. It is time to change the game and get with it.

    I don’t want to add too much to my wish list in one year and be placed on the naughty list, but it would be great to have affordable care for us as well. Society is under the impression that healthcare is 100% free for us. That’s not the case, at least in America.

    4. Remote work

    Working from home should not be treated as a reasonable accommodation. COVID showed us that vast swaths of work can be done remotely, and done just as well. After all, telework is the model for the future. Individuals with disabilities may have different needs in their remote work sites. But that does not mean that quality or quantity of work will be less. Available telework should be the rule and not the exception. And when an individual with a disability wants or needs to go to the office, it should be accessible as well, with reasonable accommodations readily available. 

    The employment rate for individuals with disabilities is horrific and unacceptable no matter where you live. Industry needs to tap into this pool of talent. Expanding telework will help address these disparities in employment rates.

    5. Health Coverage

    The effort to bring individuals with disabilities into the employment sector is hampered by outdated income roles to qualify for Medicare or Medicaid. Many individuals like me want to work. A large proportion of my income would go to healthcare needs. In essence, I am being penalized for working. This is an out-of-date model and as we change as a country and focus on health care policy, the disincentive for education and work must be recognized and embraced. It is no longer 1965.

    I have to be careful to not earn too much money for fear I will lose out on disability coverage. Then society wonders why the disabled population is considered one of the poorest minorities in our country. It’s not that we don’t want to work, it’s that our health care coverage stops us from working. Policy changes need to be updated sooner than later.

    6. Diversity Initiatives

    Diversity, inclusion, and equity (D.I.E) initiatives are a priority for industry and government. However, in many cases disability is not included. This baffles me. There is intersectionality for people with disabilities and many groups that are part of D.I.E initiatives. Do not forget us. Disability must be a part of these initiatives.

    7. Hospitality Weaknesses

    The hospitality industry is lagging horrifically in their efforts to accommodate individuals with disabilities, and I don’t get it. They are leaving millions of dollars on the table in excluding us. I want to arrive at my hotel and have my reservation accurate; not a room that has a bathtub when I requested a roll in shower, not enough space on the side or height of the bed to get in, and no availability of a wheelchair-accessible room because it was given to someone else.

    And while I’m on this topic, the hospitality industry should go over and above what the ADA and other regulations around the world require. Embrace universal design. Do it from the beginning. All segments of society will benefit.

    8. Ask us!  

    Advances in technology have greatly assisted individuals with disabilities. However, in many cases the developers are clearly not consulting with the correct population of end users to ensure that the technology is truly accessible to them. Bring us to the table and let us provide input during the design phase. 

    For example, captions should not be an afterthought when it comes to streaming media, zoom and other platforms, and telemedicine; they should exist in every software program and technology. There are no quick fixes when production is completed. You should do it right from the beginning.

    This list is not all-encompassing, but it’s enough for now. Our society is capable of everything on this list. Let’s get busy, advocates get out there! Industry, wake up! Government, enact rules, enforce current policy and make new policy to keep up with society. It is long overdue. The world of the future is being developed now. I don’t want to have the same wishes on the 35th anniversary of the ADA. Santa, please be good to me. I deserve it, along with my brothers and sisters in the disability community around the world.

  • International day of acceptance

    What is IDOA?

    Annie passed away on January 20, 2009, from unexpected complications to a simple medical procedure. Instead of mourning the loss of his sister, her brother Stevie kept her ideas alive by celebrating her death anniversary as International Day of Acceptance. January 20 is a day that celebrates Annie’s life, her ideas and the 3E Love movement. Her ‘Wheelchair Heart’ has become a symbol of love, strength and hope internationally.

    Meet Annie

    Annie Hopkins (1984-2009) was an advocate, entrepreneur, artist, and student, whose spirit is 3E Love’s guiding light. Her life was a beautiful demonstration on what is possible when you love life to the fullest. 

    “3E Love is more than living disabled but is simply about living. Everyone has the freedom to live their life. We challenge you to do what you love because you’ll meet some amazing people along the way, and that, our friends, is how you’ll enjoy this ride that 3E Love calls life. Embrace diversity. Educate your community. Empower each other. Love life.”

    Join The Movement

    Acceptance is created from an Empowered movement that Educates others to Embrace diversity and Love Life by seeing beyond abilities. Tell the world you embrace who you are, a person with social rights who has opinions, interests, goals, and loves life. You are a person who is empowered to make a difference in the world and will not be without a voice in society. You are not living disabled; you are living. Tell the world that you are accepting of people with disabilities. As our parents, siblings, relatives, spouses, children, lovers, coworkers, teachers, personal assistants, friends, and anyone else, you also have a role in our culture and life. You can start the change in your community by demonstrating acceptance and showing the world that you embrace people of all abilities. Embrace. Educate. Empower. Love Life.

    To support the cause and spread acceptance post a #DayOfAcceptance photo and tell your friends what acceptance means to you.