Disability Resource Library
Welcome to the Disability Debrief library, a catalogue of hand-picked news and resources from over 150 countries and regions.
Browsing the library you will find disabled people's stories, analysis, entertainment and the latest research. Explore disability around the world, and the ways it intersects with all areas of social life.
You can explore by subjects or countries. There's also a dedicated guide on climate change.
Below you can see some of the recent highlights. The latest update was in September 2024.
Travel through the resources by region:
Started in 2022, the library now contains 5,177 links.
Search
There's a page with every single link, and you can find-in-page.
Or to use a google search across the Debrief site:
Recent Highlights
What went wrong? Exclusive coverage on the Debrief of the crisis at the International Disability Alliance and exploration of the changes needed in disability leadership. (Sep, Disability Debrief)
Paralympic Paradoxes Debrief feature on the tensions between Para sport and disability advocacy:
“Disability rights are about levelling the playing field without any exceptions. Sports are about fairness of competition that leads to winners and losers.” (Sep, Disability Debrief)
UN Flagship Report On Disability And Development 2024 (Jun, UN)
ChatGPT is biased against resumes with credentials that imply a disability — but it can improve:
‘researchers found that ChatGPT consistently ranked resumes with disability-related honors and credentials — such as the “Tom Wilson Disability Leadership Award” — lower than the same resumes without those honors and credentials. But when researchers customized the tool with written instructions directing it not to be ableist, the tool reduced this bias for all but one of the disabilities tested.’ (Jun, UW News)
In Finland:
Disability Tax in the Welfare State: Uncertainty and Resentment about Disability Services in Finland:
“The disability tax experiences are elaborated through four aspects: (1) rejected applications, (2) uncertain realisation, (3) laborious complaint mechanisms, and (4) the psycho–emotional effect. The findings of this study establish collective experiences of multi-layered disability tax throughout the disability services process. It concludes that disability services, which were originally planned to specifically ensure equal opportunities to participate in society for persons with disabilities, are increasingly becoming the very sources of burden as austerity has silently grown deeper over recent years and has become the clear policy of the current government.” (Jun, Disabilities)
In India:
It is hard for me to say I am disabled My struggle with a sacred word:
“Another day, at another airport, I spot a standee that encourages passengers to speak to the staff if they need help with any 'invisible disabilities'. My heart sings. They see me! I am tempted to walk up to someone. Perhaps they know how to help people attacked by their own luggage? Perhaps what I need, what I've always needed, is a kind airport concierge, not another doctor?” (Aug, Sanity by Tanmoy)
In Iraq:
Iraqis with Disabilities Excluded from Jobs Persistent Failure to Ensure Right to Work; Quotas Unfilled. See also a short video.
“Legal promises to employ people with disabilities in Iraq are not translating into real job opportunities,” said Sarah Sanbar, Iraq researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The gap between law and practice leaves hundreds of thousands of Iraqis with disabilities struggling to earn a living.” (Jun, Human Rights Watch)
In Nepal:
‘Sikka’ harmonises diversity and accessibility Blind Rocks’ new music video with audio description and closed captions ensures accessibility for blind and deaf audiences. (Jul, Kathmandu Post)
In Palestine:
Data and resources on the situation in Gaza for Persons with Disabilities a compilaton of data and challenges faced by persons with disabilities. (Jun, Breaking the silence on Gaza)
In Switzerland:
Disability at the end of class thoughtful discussion of debate on inclusive education. (In French, Jul, Couper l'herbe sous les roues)
In Tanzania:
Child's father, Priest among nine arrested in murder of girl with albinism. Two-year old Asimwe Novath was abducted at the end of May and her body was found a bit over two weeks later. (Jun, The Citizen) See more about the search.
In Ukraine:
You can't just use the restroom: why Ukraine's capital is far from barrier-free. Interviews with officials and activists. (Jul, UNN)
In the United Kingdom:
Fall with me My childhood, told through its falls. (Jul, Disability Debrief)
Testimonies from the past Debrief feature looking at disabled people's life writing shows how their stories challenge official histories:
“All too often it is only the powerful who get to tell stories. This profoundly shapes how we see the world. But writing history without the testimony of ordinary disabled people is just smoke and mirrors.” (Jun, Disability Debrief)
In the United States:
“How the candidates, voters and media react to age and perceived ability will play a key role in determining the years ahead. Ageism and ableism are key actors in a drama played out on the highest stage, for the highest stakes.” (Jul, Disability Debrief)