Disability news, April 2024, by country

International News

In Assistive Technology:

Guidelines for assistive technology service provision – a scoping review. (Mar, AT2030 Programme)

Hearing aid service delivery approaches for low- and middle-income settings. (Feb, WHO)

In Civil Society and Community:

Don’t shut the door behind you A Debrief feature on how Gatekeeping undermines the disability movement:

“In almost twenty years in the disability sector, I’ve seen time and again how an overzealous guarding of spaces and ideas can hinder progress. The very structures we create to organize and advocate can end up holding back new voices and ideas.” (Mar, Disability Debrief)

Strengthening the voice of Organizations of Persons with Psychosocial Disabilities learning from experiences in Africa and Asia. (Feb, CBM Global)

In Climate Crisis and Environment:

Advancing disability-inclusive climate research and action climate justice, and climate-resilient development. (Apr, The Lancet Planetary Health)

Avenues for disability inclusion in climate and biodiversity action. A review of international policy frameworks:

“The analysis shows that transformative changes can be enacted through four leverage points: strengthening the institutional presence of organisations of persons with disabilities in the negotiations; mainstreaming disability inclusion as a human rights issue; developing mechanisms for disability inclusion and creating systems of accountability; and integrating disability inclusion into national plans guiding climate and biodiversity action.” (Mar, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Finland)

In Culture, Entertainment and Media:

Review of 'Elusive Kinship: Disability and Human Rights in Postcolonial Literature' a book by Christopher Krentz, “a thorough interdisciplinary examination of the importance of highlighting disabled fictional characters in the postcolonial Global South”. (Mar, H-Disability)

In Digital Accessibility and Technology:

Xbox launches new resource to help developers add inclusion into their games. “Xbox has launched the 'Gaming For Everyone Product Inclusion Framework', a series of resources and information on how to make games more inclusive.” (Mar, Games Industry.biz)

In Education and Childhood:

UNICEF's Guide to Disability-Inclusive Evaluations (Mar, UNICEF)

How to meaningfully measure learning outcomes of learners with disabilities 4 recommendations to make learning assessments more inclusive of learners with disabilities. (Mar, Global Partnership on Education)

Inclusive Education, Intellectual Disabilities and the Demise of Full Inclusion

“The movement for full inclusion started by focusing on the education of students with intellectual disabilities but has encountered roadblocks to the implementation of full inclusion because of the practical difficulties of addressing the unique needs of students with intellectual disabilities in mainstream schools and the accumulating evidence that special education placements appear more effective in achieving better outcomes in terms of their inclusion in their communities post school.” (Feb, Journal of Intelligence)

The right to education for persons with albinism Report of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism, Muluka-Anne Miti-Drummond. (Jan, OHCHR)

In Employment, Business and Work:

How disability self-ID can transform businesses: “Empowering employees to self-identify as having a disability paves the way for transformative change” (Mar, World Economic Forum)

In Humanitarian, Migrants and Refugees:

Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Anticipatory Action a report on findings and lessons learned. “It emphasizes the critical need for inclusive practices to protect and empower persons with disabilities before, during, and after disasters.” (Mar, CBM)

Technical Support and Capacity Development of Humanitarian Actors linked to Protection Clusters, a good practices paper. (Mar, Global Protection Cluster)

In Independent Living and Deinstitutionalization:

Towards Dignity and Autonomy a report on personal assistance policies across nine countries. (Mar, ENIL and ILO)

Deinstitutionalization as Reparative Justice: A Commentary on the Guidelines on Deinstitutionalization, including in Emergencies (Mar, Laws)

Joint Position on Large Foster Care

‘“Large” foster care, where large numbers of unrelated children are placed in one household, must not be considered a form of “family-based” care and is not acceptable as a component of state policy.’ (Mar, Global Coalition on Deinstitutionalization)

In Indigenous People and Minority Communities:

Empowering Voices: Advocating for indigenous people with disabilities worldwide, a submission to the UN. Focused on case studies from Kenya, Brazil, Nepal and Bangladesh:

“Persons with disabilities within indigenous communities experience disproportionate disadvantages because of the intersectional discrimination they face on account of multiple axes of oppression. Many disability activists from indigenous communities stress the importance of analyzing the historical context and its ongoing impacts, specifically slavery and colonialism. Within indigenous communities, disability cannot be extricated and analyzed outside the context of psychosocial disabilities and intergenerational trauma caused by colonial violence and oppression.” (Feb, Minority Rights Group)

In International Cooperation:

Everything about us with us Zhang Haidi, president of Rehabilitation International (RI) and former chairperson of China Disabled Persons' Federation:

“hopes to further improve coordination among governments and international organizations, calling for the establishment of the World Disability Organization under the U.N. framework”. (Mar, China.org.cn)

Community-based rehabilitation for people with psychosocial disabilities in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review of the grey literature. (Mar, International Journal of Mental Health Systems)

Partnering with OPDs: What can we learn? an interview with Kimber Bialik of Inclusion International. “We challenge organizations to consider how their ways of working might be excluding people.” (Feb, Inklusion Leben)

In Mental Health:

Community-based rehabilitation for people with psychosocial disabilities in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review of the grey literature. (Mar, International Journal of Mental Health Systems)

Strengthening the voice of Organizations of Persons with Psychosocial Disabilities learning from experiences in Africa and Asia. (Feb, CBM Global)

Mapping awareness-raising and capacity-building materials on developmental disabilities for non-specialists: a review of the academic and grey literature. (Feb, International Journal of Mental Health Systems)

In Policy and Rights:

30th Session of the CRPD Committee (Mar, OHCHR)

In Politics and Elections:

Disability Rights Cohort Sample Commitments commitments states can make to help promote disability inclusion. (Jan, IFES)

In Sport and Paralympics:

Paralympics 2024: Para-athletes to be vetted for Ukraine war support “Para-athletes from Russia and Belarus will be allowed to compete at the Paris Paralympics from 28 August as neutrals.” (Mar, BBC)

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Asia-Pacific

In Humanitarian, Migrants and Refugees:

Inclusive Participation of Persons with Disabilities in Emergency Preparedness and Response Practice Guide. (Mar, WFP)

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Latin America and the Caribbean

In Gender Equality and Women with Disabilities:

Gender-based violence against women and girls with disabilities in Latin America. (In Spanish, 2023, Capacitismes)

In Health:

Access to primary healthcare services for adults with disabilities in Latin America and the Caribbean: a review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies. (Mar, Disability and Rehabilitation)

Access to general health care among people with disabilities in Latin America and the Caribbean: a systematic review of quantitative research (Mar, The Lancet Americas)

In Indigenous People and Minority Communities:

Gender-based violence against women and girls with disabilities in Latin America. (In Spanish, 2023, Capacitismes)

In Violence and Harassment:

Gender-based violence against women and girls with disabilities in Latin America. (In Spanish, 2023, Capacitismes)

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Botswana

In Policy and Rights:

Botswana’s Legislative Milestone: Championing Disability Rights with a new Persons with Disabilities Act which creates a Disability Coordinating Office and Disability Council, and a budget of 2.6 million USD. (Feb, Weekend Post)

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Egypt

In Policy and Rights:

Words on paper, or a changing reality? What persons with disabilities want in Egypt. (In Arabic, Mar, Alhurra)

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Ghana

In Culture, Entertainment and Media:

Photojournalist Inspires Deaf Students to Explore Visual Storytelling (Video Feature, Mar, VoA)

In Economics and Social Protection:

‘Enhanced accessibility’ as online application launched for pensioners, persons living with disabilities. (Feb, News Room)

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Kenya

In Conflict and Peace:

Kenyan disability champion to receive global peace award Zaja “helped build a resource centre in Majengo that annually churns out more than 1,500 youth, women and persons living with disability with empowerment.” (Feb, KBC)

In Sport and Paralympics:

Time to open up the game Golf For the Disabled (G4D) Tour held in Africa for the first time. (Mar, The Star)

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Nigeria

In Civil Society and Community:

Schisms in the Church A Debrief feature on the disconnect faced by deaf worshippers in Nigeria:

“This piece explores the challenges of deaf persons in the church. It draws from my own life and the experiences of other deaf folks, most of them close friends and acquaintances I met within the deaf community. We often talk about what causes our disconnection in church. We are treated as after-thoughts, objects of charity, sub-par humans, or needing healing. But we know we are much more.” (Apr, Disability Debrief)

Para Athletes protest “against unpaid allowances and unemployment in the state.” (Mar, Inclusive News Network)

In Lived Experience and Opinion:

Esther Suubi, Triumphing Psychosocial Disability. An interview by Debrief contributor Alexander Ogheneruemu, exploring Esther's life story:

“In primary school, I was bullied – which worsened my psychosocial disability. In high school there was so much discrimination – pushing me into the introversion I find myself today. My medication was causing me to gain weight which made me really uncomfortable with the snide remarks from people. I had to change schools after four years to complete the remaining two years of high school for no other reason than to be in an environment where people hardly knew who I was.” (Mar, BONews)

In Mobility, Travel, Transport and Tourism:

When Disability Meets Privilege “Authorities in Nigeria squander an opportunity to make a statement about human dignity and genuine social inclusion.” (Apr, Council on Foreign Relations)

In Sport and Paralympics:

Para Athletes protest “against unpaid allowances and unemployment in the state.” (Mar, Inclusive News Network)

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South Sudan

In Sport and Paralympics:

Football Dreams & The Dinka Boys

“Through blind football, the parents who lost hope in their children have regained hope and are now once again supporting them. Through blind football, the feeling of loneliness the players used to have is taken away. Through blind football, players are able to visit new places and make new friends.” (Mar, Goal Click.)

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Sudan

In Conflict and Peace:

Children with special needs transform their lives interventions from Sudan Humanitarian Fund to support internally displaced people, including those with disabilities, in Blue Nile State. (Feb)

Disabled children forced to flee fighting in Sudan video feature on how Insaf fled the fighting in Khartoum. (Feb, Sky)

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Uganda

In Digital Accessibility and Technology:

Luganda text-to-speech: breaking barriers and promoting accessibility for visually impaired. (Mar, Africa News)

In Humanitarian, Migrants and Refugees:

Uganda eases registration for elderly, disabled Sudanese refugees “Instead, they can now register in Kampala, easing access to essential services.” (Mar, Sudan Tribune)

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Zambia

In Data and Research:

Disability Research in Zambia: A Scoping Review (Mar, Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research)

In Employment, Business and Work:

Having an income reduces HIV stigma and discrimination The experience of Regina Katungu Chileshe, an entrepreneur living with HIV:

“When you have a low economic status, people generally don’t respect you. And having HIV makes it worse. Through my own experience, I have seen how having an income and running a successful business increases people’s respect and reduces HIV stigma and discrimination.” (Mar, ILO)

In Policy and Rights:

CRPD experts review Zambia: Commend Zambia on Disability Legislation, Raise Questions on Persons with Albinism and Land Bursaries for Persons with Disabilities (Mar, OHCHR)

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Azerbaijan

In Policy and Rights:

CRPD experts review of Azerbaijan: Recognise as Positive the Approval of Azerbaijan’s Inclusive Education Programme, Raise Questions on Accessible Public Transport and on Risk and Emergency Plans (Mar, OHCHR)

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Bangladesh

In Employment, Business and Work:

Small and medium-sized enterprises policy brief and disability-inclusive guidelines. (Link to pdf, Feb, Futuremakers by Standard Chartered)

In Humanitarian, Migrants and Refugees:

‘Life is meaningless’: despair in Cox’s Bazar as chronic illness blights camps. (Mar, the Guardian)

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Cameroon

In Civil Society and Community:

The ‘epilepsy warriors’ breaking down the barriers. “Amid alarming rates of the illness, many living with it are seen as cursed. Now these myths are being challenged” (Apr, the Guardian)

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China

In Digital Accessibility and Technology:

How Visually Impaired Engineers Are Guiding China’s Accessibility Efforts “A team of partially sighted software programmers in Shenzhen is improving information accessibility by helping developers eliminate the many obstacles facing disabled users.” (Feb, Sixth Tone)

In Employment, Business and Work:

Taking Steps Toward Disability Inclusion in China A group of newly launched business and nonprofit coalitions are aiming to advance disability inclusion in a new way. (Mar, SSIR)

In Violence and Harassment:

Man ordered to pay $4,200 compensation for insulting disabled wife, calling her ‘trash’:

“The court found that Zhao harmed Qian. It ruled that his demeaning behaviour towards his wife amounted to psychological abuse, and his verbal attacks were considered domestic violence.” (Apr, Wion)

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India

In Economics and Social Protection:

Visually impaired beggar in Assam’s Guwahati goes digital, uses QR code to ask for alms. (Mar, Hindustan Times)

In Justice Systems and Legal Capacity:

A critical analysis of the Supreme Court’s report on accessibility “The findings of the report are as much an indictment as they are a call to action.” (Mar, The Leaflet)

In Lived Experience and Opinion:

Dear Editor, I Disagree: Disability inclusion must move beyond tokenism:

“While we celebrate limited entry points given to a segment of the disabled population, like accessibility in cinema halls, it will do us good to remember that such accommodations are only available to the non-controversial, mainstream, ‘good’ disabled citizens.” (Mar, The Indian Express)

Everyone is Good at Something. Stories and photographs of disabled people from all over India. (India Inclusion Foundation)

In Mental Health:

Access intimacy in therapy shelters queer disabled hope (Mar, Queer beat)

In Politics and Elections:

Key disability issues to report on during the Indian elections (Mar, Reframing Disability)

Disabled People matter! Disability groups launch a first-of-its kind
Manifesto asking for a seat on the policy table. (Link to pdf, Feb, NCPEDP)

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Indonesia

In Disaster Risk Reduction and Crisis Response:

A policy analysis on the inclusion of disabilities in natural disaster management (Mar, IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science)

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Iraq

In Lived Experience and Opinion:

The inspiring journey of Chawan a 33-year-old from Erbil in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. (Mar, Iraq)

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Israel

In Conflict and Peace:

Wounded IDF veterans find a home in Israel’s rehabilitation centers “According to Defense Ministry figures released on February 15, more than 5,500 wounded soldiers have entered the rehabilitation system since the beginning of the war. It is expected that there will be a total of 20,000 by the end of 2024.” (Mar, Times of Israel)

In Politics and Elections:

The accessibility advocator fighting for an equal Jerusalem interview with Laura Wharton ahead of the municipal elections. (Feb, Jerusalem Post)

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Japan

In History and Memorial:

New film honors life and legacy of disability pioneer Mark Bookman “The American-born Bookman, who was a full-time Tokyo resident, passed away in December 2022 at 31 years of age, shortly after the filming of the documentary took place.” (Feb, The Japan Times)

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Nepal

In Climate Crisis and Environment:

Intersectionality, Indigeneity, and Disability Climate Justice an article exploring evidence and policy frameworks. (Feb, Bill of Health)

In Gender Equality and Women with Disabilities:

Feminist Visions for Disability Liberation a new Intersectional Feminist Forum and short video featuring calls of women with disabilities. (Mar, Disability Rights Fund)

Crossroads a video documentary showing the lives of blind women in Nepal particularly in terms of relationships (and two whose husbands left them). Hardship, hope, and the collective efforts of activists working to change. (Mar, Disability Justice Project)

In Indigenous People and Minority Communities:

Intersectionality, Indigeneity, and Disability Climate Justice an article exploring evidence and policy frameworks. (Feb, Bill of Health)

In Lived Experience and Opinion:

Crossroads a video documentary showing the lives of blind women in Nepal particularly in terms of relationships (and two whose husbands left them). Hardship, hope, and the collective efforts of activists working to change. (Mar, Disability Justice Project)

In Relationships, Sex and Reproductive Rights:

Crossroads a video documentary showing the lives of blind women in Nepal particularly in terms of relationships (and two whose husbands left them). Hardship, hope, and the collective efforts of activists working to change. (Mar, Disability Justice Project)

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Palestine

In Conflict and Peace:

'He didn't understand, he was terrified': Disabled Palestinian man shot dead by IDF in Gaza hospital. “The 39-year-old, who had severe learning difficulties, had fled to the nearby Al Khair hospital with his parents and siblings after the apartment block where they lived was hit by an artillery strike.” (Mar, ITV News)

How Israeli army brutality killed a disabled Palestinian man “Ezz al-Din al-Banna was paralysed from the waist down, but Israeli soldiers beat and dragged him across the ground anyway” (Mar, Middle East Eye)

The Children Who Lost Limbs in Gaza (Mar, New Yorker)

Gazan Para-Cyclists deliver aid on bikes “With their dreams of competing at the Paris Paralympics shattered, the Gaza Sunbirds have pivoted to a full blown aid operation.” (Mar, New Internationalist)

People with disabilities and the war of starvation experiences of disabled people in Gaza. (In Arabic, Mar, Al Araby)

Inclusive Needs Assessment: Situation of the Conflict-affected Persons with and without Disabilities in the Gaza Strip (March 2024). (Mar, Atlafuna)

Israeli army forces family to leave 94-year-old grandmother behind Her daughter says she 'cannot move, eat, or drink alone'. (Mar, Middle East Eye) Social media reports she's been found dead.

In Sport and Paralympics:

Gazan Para-Cyclists deliver aid on bikes “With their dreams of competing at the Paris Paralympics shattered, the Gaza Sunbirds have pivoted to a full blown aid operation.” (Mar, New Internationalist)

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South Korea

In Civil Society and Community:

Disability rights group files suit against Seoul Metro over subway protest ban. (Feb)

In Communication and Language:

In a K-Pop First, Deaf Members Debut as 'Big Ocean' | Be Korea-savvy “They will perform songs in Korean sign language, English sign language and international sign”. (Mar, the Korea Bizwire)

In Culture, Entertainment and Media:

In a K-Pop First, Deaf Members Debut as 'Big Ocean' | Be Korea-savvy “They will perform songs in Korean sign language, English sign language and international sign”. (Mar, the Korea Bizwire)

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Europe

In Gender Equality and Women with Disabilities:

Stories and voices of women and girls with disabilities winners of a photo competition. (Mar, EDF)

In International Cooperation:

EU in the World Report - 2023 a report on how European Disability Forum has helped shape the EU's international cooperation and humanitarian action. (Mar, EDF)

In Mental Health:

Survivors of psychiatry silenced at Council of Europe high-level conference for wanting to make remarks on compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. (Mar, WSO)

In Politics and Elections:

Use your vote (If you have one) Right to vote of people with intellectual disabilities and European elections 2024 (Inclusion Europe)

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France

In Digital Accessibility and Technology:

Accessibility Advocates Sued by French Overlay Company discussion of advocates who lost a lawsuit for tweets critiquing the company. (Jan, Equal Entry)

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Germany

In Politics and Elections:

German parliament welcomes its first deaf lawmaker:

“Heubach will have a fixed place in the plenary hall, unlike most other lawmakers, according to the Bundestag's administration, with interpreters located near her to interpret speeches and her questions. When she makes speeches herself, an interpreter with a microphone will have a place next to the Bundestag's stenographers to interpret for other lawmakers.” (Mar, The Independent)

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Lithuania

In Civil Society and Community:

Most Lithuanians don’t want to live next to people with disabilities, homosexuals, Muslims. A survey showed two thirds of respondents “do not want to live next to people with mental disabilities”. (Mar, LRT)

In Mental Health:

Most Lithuanians don’t want to live next to people with disabilities, homosexuals, Muslims. A survey showed two thirds of respondents “do not want to live next to people with mental disabilities”. (Mar, LRT)

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Luxembourg

In Data and Research:

Results of disability in nationwide census. Disability was included for the first time in 2021. “People with disabilities have a lower level of education than other people,” Statec said in a statement on Friday. “Their integration into the labour market is also more complicated.” (Mar, LuxTimes)

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Malta

In Relationships, Sex and Reproductive Rights:

Malta becomes the 10th EU country to criminalise forced sterilisation of persons with disabilities (Mar, EDF)

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Moldova

In Independent Living and Deinstitutionalization:

Institutionalised neglect and psychiatric placement for mildly disabled child in State care illustrates systemic discrimination:

“The Court found in particular that the existing Moldovan legal framework fell short of the State’s duty (“positive obligation”) to establish and apply effectively a system providing protection to intellectually disabled persons in general, and to children without parental care in particular, against serious breaches of their integrity.” (Mar, European Court of Human Rights)

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Poland

In Civil Society and Community:

Disabled people protest outside parliament demanding Polish government fulfil pre-election promise:

“The group’s main demand is that the so-called “social pension”, which is paid to people who are unable to work for health reasons and currently stands at 1,781 zloty (€413) per month, is raised to the level of the minimum wage, which is currently 4,242 zloty (€983) gross per month.” (Mar, Notes from Poland)

In Economics and Social Protection:

Disabled people protest outside parliament demanding Polish government fulfil pre-election promise:

“The group’s main demand is that the so-called “social pension”, which is paid to people who are unable to work for health reasons and currently stands at 1,781 zloty (€413) per month, is raised to the level of the minimum wage, which is currently 4,242 zloty (€983) gross per month.” (Mar, Notes from Poland)

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Sweden

In Policy and Rights:

CRPD experts: Commend Sweden on its Commitment to the Committee’s Work, Raise Questions on Gun Shots Fired at Persons with Mental Health Issues and on Institutionalisation (Mar, OHCHR)

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Ukraine

In Digital Accessibility and Technology:

One in five Ukrainian state websites now sufficiently accessible to people with disabilities. “In 2023, 22% of the government websites analysed were found to be sufficiently and highly accessible. Compared to 2021, this was a rise of 9%.” (Feb, UNDP)

In Economics and Social Protection:

Everyone who has received disability since 2022 must undergo re-examination “After 24 February 2022, the number of people with Group II and III disabilities increased dramatically. And there are doubts whether all of them received this disability as a result of real injuries or illnesses.” (Mar, Censor.net)

Corruption scheme exposed in Zaporizhzhia: “police uncovered a corruption scheme to issue fake disability certificates to military personnel worth $3,500”. (Mar, UNN)

In Independent Living and Deinstitutionalization:

Best practice in deinstitutionalisation for children and young people with disabilities and high support needs. A project in one institution. (Feb, EDF)

In War in Ukraine:

'Abandon all hope:' Ukraine’s wounded warriors compare military medical system to the Inferno. One

“The Ukrainian military medical bureaucracy seemed determined to add insult to injury, making [Sluchynskyi] fight for adequate treatments, his combat pay, and his freedom every step of the way.”

“‘Sometimes people say war is hell,’ Sluchynskyi told the Kyiv Independent. ‘The hell is when you return from the war (to face) the indifference. It is very demotivating.’” (Mar, Kyiv Independent)

Accessible house is a top priority: how soldier Oleksandr Popyk returns to normal life after being wounded.

“A “walking” person would not be able to give such objective advice as a person in a wheelchair with his own experience”. (Mar, League of the Strong)

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United Kingdom

In Accessibility and Design:

Accessibility of products and services to disabled people a government report. (Mar, UK Parliament)

In Civil Society and Community:

Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) returns to the streets for ‘active resistance’ to Department for Work and Pensions cuts (Feb, Disability News Service)

In Climate Crisis and Environment:

No climate action without us a toolkit on “how to make disabled people’s access to live events environmentally sustainable. ” (Feb, Attitude is Everything)

In Culture, Entertainment and Media:

The Industry Is Questioning Where The Shows Are two-and-a-half years after the BBC and Netflix unveiled their five-year disability partnership. (Mar, Deadline)

Disabled Actors Deserve To Blend Into The Background, Too “In placing disabled actors into minor roles, disability is progressively being treated as a normal aspect of human variation like differences in height, hair color, or body size.” (Feb, Huffpost)

In Economics and Social Protection:

Empire of Normality: Neurodiversity and Capitalism a book by Robert Chapman. “Neurodivergent liberation is possible - but only by challenging the deepest logics of capitalism. Empire of Normality is an essential guide to understanding the systems that shape our bodies, minds and deepest selves - and how we can undo them.” (2023, Pluto Press)

In Education and Childhood:

Cropped out, banned, airbrushed: the school photos that show the ugly face of Britain today, as disabled children are edited out of school pictures. (Apr, the Guardian)

In Employment, Business and Work:

Workforce Disability Equality Standard: 2023 data analysis report for NHS trusts. 23.4% of staff declared a long-term condition or illness in 2023 in the anonymous staff survey. (Mar, NHS England)

Menopause in the workplace: Guidance for employers. “If menopause symptoms have a long term and substantial impact on a woman’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities, these symptoms could be considered a disability.” (Feb, Equality and Human Rights Commission)

In Health:

Workforce Disability Equality Standard: 2023 data analysis report for NHS trusts. 23.4% of staff declared a long-term condition or illness in 2023 in the anonymous staff survey. (Mar, NHS England)

End of life care: a report “calling for urgent improvements to the process and communication surrounding do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation” and exploring the inequitable impact current practices have had on disabled people and older people. (Jan, Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman)

In History and Memorial:

Review of 'Out of His Mind: Masculinity and Mental Illness in Victorian Britain' (Apr, H-Disability)

In International Cooperation:

Our new Strategy for Disability Justice. “ADD is on a journey away from the traditional model of international development and towards an inclusive solidarity that heals injustice.”

“By focusing our strategic framework on the concept of flow we remind ourselves that this work is not about ADD itself. Instead, it is about using our position and networks to increase the flow of resources and opportunities to those who have the vision, agency and right to lead change – disability justice activists and organisations.” (Apr, ADD International)

FCDO and disability-inclusive development a mixed review of the recent state of disability inclusion in the UK's international cooperation. “Stakeholders note that OPDs are consulted arbitrarily and without obligation, making it all too common that policy decisions affecting people with disabilities are made without their direct input. ” (Apr, UK Parliament)

An intersectional approach to disability inclusion A resource for members of the Bond Disability and Development Group, donors, and wider NGO sector (Mar, Bond)

In Lived Experience and Opinion:

I want to raise disability awareness but it doesn’t mean I’ll work for you for free “Expecting us to work for free doesn’t just do us a personal disservice, it adds fuel to the already raging fire of inequality our community faces on a daily basis.” (Mar, Metro)

Disabled Parents Interview w/ Laura Lulika sharing experiences of parenting and a traumatic birthing experience. (Mar, Painwise)

‘I wanted people to laugh not at me, but with me’: Tom Shakespeare on his new Novel, The Ha-Ha. (Mar, the Guardian)

In Mental Health:

Review of 'Out of His Mind: Masculinity and Mental Illness in Victorian Britain' (Apr, H-Disability)

In Mobility, Travel, Transport and Tourism:

Calls for government to improve countryside walkways “Ramblers said wheelchair users, some of the elderly, those with pushchairs and dog walkers are hindered by unmaintained gates, stiles, steps and path surfaces, as well as lack of public toilet facilities and seating.” (Apr, BBC)

From Zero to Heathrow what different airports in the UK charge airlines for persons with reduced mobility, and how it relates to quality of provision. “Considering the ratings, it's clear that a decent PRM charge is very likely linked to a "very good" service performance.” (Mar, Accessible Link)

In Policy and Rights:

Government’s response to UN committee ‘was insult to disabled people’ (Mar, Disability News Service)

In Relationships, Sex and Reproductive Rights:

Disability dating sites: we round up the best. “Today’s disability dating sites are more than just matchmaking platforms; they are inclusive communities that provide a safe and supportive environment for individuals to connect.” (Mar, Disability Horizons)

Disabled Parents Interview w/ Laura Lulika sharing experiences of parenting and a traumatic birthing experience. (Mar, Painwise)

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Canada

In Accessibility and Design:

Accessibility is the housing crisis no one is talking about Advocates call for adoption of universal design principles to ensure easy conversion of residential units for people with disabilities. (Mar, Financial Post)

In Lived Experience and Opinion:

Disability culture is something you are a part of — not something that is happening to you:

“Disability culture isn't asking us all to put on capes and be superhuman; it's encouraging us to identify and celebrate the estimated 1.3 billion people worldwide who are disabled. Seeing disability as a culture reinforces that it's something you are a part of – not something that is just happening to you – and that leads people to connect.” (Feb, CBC)

In Mobility, Travel, Transport and Tourism:

Uber must pay wheelchair user $35,000 and provide accessible rides, according to a ruling by B.C. Human Rights Tribunal. (Mar, Vancouver Sun)

In Relationships, Sex and Reproductive Rights:

Supporting people with disabilities in pregnancy Research on pregnancies in Ontario. “Although many from the study had healthy pregnancies and benefited from multidisciplinary care teams and providers who advocated for their needs, there were also many barriers to accessible maternal care.” (Mar, Canadian Institutes of Health Research)

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Costa Rica

In Mobility, Travel, Transport and Tourism:

The odyssey faced by disabled people in public transport video reporting on the experiences of a wheelchair user using (or, not being able to) bus routes. (In Spanish, Mar, Calle 7)

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Cuba

In Education and Childhood:

How is education serving girls and boys with disabilities in Cuba? In the 2022-2023 school year, a total of 30,610 children with disabilities were enrolled in the country. (In Spanish, Mar, Granma)

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Dominican Republic

In Justice Systems and Legal Capacity:

Guide for judges and officials in dignified treatment in access to justice of disabled people, LGBTIQ+ and migrants. (In Spanish, Mar, Acento)

In Mobility, Travel, Transport and Tourism:

Barriers for blind people lack of signals and accessibility in the streets and transport turn leaving the house into an act of bravery. (In Spanish, Feb, Acento)

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El Salvador

In Policy and Rights:

Sanctions for not following disability law are further postponed. A sixth postponement for entry into force of penalties in the 2020 law on inclusion of people with disabilities. (In Spanish, Mar, elsalvador.com) See further: “no regulations, budget, or application” on La Prensa Grafica.

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Haiti

In Conflict and Peace:

Standing in Solidarity with Haitian Disability Rights Advocates (Mar, Disability Rights Fund)

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Nicaragua

In Mobility, Travel, Transport and Tourism:

Disabled people report extra charges in taxi services being charged more for assistive devices. (In Spanish, Mar, El Canal del Orgullo Nicaguënse)

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United States

In Civil Society and Community:

Assume that I can brilliant, bold video rejecting the self-fulfilling prophecy of negative assumptions about people with Down Syndrome. (Mar, CoorDown)

In Climate Crisis and Environment:

How people with disabilities can experience the total solar eclipse 'Sight is only one of our senses' (Mar, USA Today)

Visually impaired students can ‘get a feel for’ eclipses With support from NASA, scientists published a set of tactile graphics on the 2024 total solar eclipse:

“We pick a set of unique textures to use on the master to signify different items, so the sun feels different than the Earth. This way, the textures of the graphics become part of the story being shared. For example, in a model of the sun’s surface, we use Spanish moss to create the dynamic texture of the sun.” (Mar, Fast Company)

In Communication and Language:

Hawaii's Deaf Community Is Struggling With Lack Of Certified ASL Interpreters (Apr, Honolulu Civil Beat)

‘A beautiful way of saying a lot’: sign language brings benefits to the organic chemistry classroom. “We’ve created this organic chemistry lexicon with the Deaf community in mind, but we are starting to see its universal design advantages.” (Mar, Nature)

American Sign Language Reveals Wordplay Beyond Sound a learner of ASL finds new ways to wordplay. (Mar, New York Times)

How Dune shows us the power of language – including sign language:

“While not deaf themselves, Dune’s characters show us deaf gain through deft manipulation of their environment, from the stealth of their signs to their attunement to the vibrations they make in the sand, which they use to attract or repel the giant beasts below.” (Mar, The Conversation)

In Culture, Entertainment and Media:

An Instagram-Ready Immersive Museum Uses Braille. But Is It Accessible? “Roy Nachum designed the spectacle-filled Mercer Labs, which he touts as inclusive. But some advocates for blind people say his use of Braille can feel exploitative.” (Mar, New York Times)

9 Books that Center Deaf and Hard of Hearing Characters (Mar, Electric Literature)

Oscar contender Poor Things is a film about disability. Why won’t more people say so? (Mar, The Conversation)

How Dune shows us the power of language – including sign language:

“While not deaf themselves, Dune’s characters show us deaf gain through deft manipulation of their environment, from the stealth of their signs to their attunement to the vibrations they make in the sand, which they use to attract or repel the giant beasts below.” (Mar, The Conversation)

Oscars: Academy Outlines Its Disability Accessibility Efforts “The 2024 Oscars will include confidential accessibility requests for all nominees and guests, captioning, audio description, in-theater assisted listening devices, accessible seating and parking, and a suite of ASL interpretation services.” (Mar, Hollywood Reporter)

An Editor Who Makes Times Visuals Accessible to All “Jaime Tanner, The New York Times’s first accessibility visuals editor, wants to remove barriers to make sure readers with disabilities can engage with Times visual journalism.” (Mar, New York Times)

In Digital Accessibility and Technology:

An Editor Who Makes Times Visuals Accessible to All “Jaime Tanner, The New York Times’s first accessibility visuals editor, wants to remove barriers to make sure readers with disabilities can engage with Times visual journalism.” (Mar, New York Times)

In Economics and Social Protection:

States offer services for disabled kids, then make their families wait 10 years for them. “Across the U.S., hundreds of thousands of children, adolescents and young adults with physical or intellectual disabilities are waiting for state-covered services.” (Feb, PBS NewsHour)

In Education and Childhood:

Creating a Welcoming Environment for Linguistically Diverse Families of Students in Special Education. (Mar, KQED)

Our Nation’s Public Schools are Failing Neurodivergent Learners.

“Setting neurodivergent students up to succeed begins by accepting them as they are, and not comparing them to the student we may think they should be. The picture of what “good learning” looks like in classrooms has a long legacy of upholding ableist, neuronormative patterns of behavior. Sitting in a chair, still, with both feet down on the floor, looking forward, and not fidgeting, does not equate to how much a student is learning. Neither does finishing all the problems in a designated time frame or being able to fit your thinking into a little box at the bottom of a worksheet or exam.” (Feb, EdSurge)

Crip Spacetime Access, Failure, and Accountability in Academic Life, a book by Margaret Price. (Apr, Duke University Press) See a New Books Network interview, with transcript.

‘A beautiful way of saying a lot’: sign language brings benefits to the organic chemistry classroom. “We’ve created this organic chemistry lexicon with the Deaf community in mind, but we are starting to see its universal design advantages.” (Mar, Nature)

In Employment, Business and Work:

In Georgia, a Rare Bipartisan Push for Disability Rights “The Peach State might be the next to end subminimum wages for disabled workers. ” (Apr, Mother Jones)

Disability, Immigration, and Postpandemic Labor Supply “We show that the increase in the disabled labor force largely reflects a change in self-reported disability status among those already in the labor force rather than an actual increase in labor supply.” (Mar, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland)

Eliminating Barriers to Employment for Disabled Women from playbook for the advancement of women in the economy. (Mar, Center for American Progress)

Disabled employment surged in COVID 2024 less certain. The disabled workforce has “climbed by more than 30% since just before the pandemic began, eclipsing broader workforce growth.” (Feb, Reuters)

In Gender Equality and Women with Disabilities:

Eliminating Barriers to Employment for Disabled Women from playbook for the advancement of women in the economy. (Mar, Center for American Progress)

In History and Memorial:

Review of 'Miriam Hearing Sister: A Memoir' the family of two deaf sisters before, during and after the second world war. (Mar, H-Disability)

Paul Alexander, polio survivor in iron lung for over 70 years, dies at 78 (Mar, NBC News)

The Curious Case of Carson McCullers: Appropriation, Allyship, and the Problem of Speaking for Others. (2023, Disability Studies Quarterly)

In Humanitarian, Migrants and Refugees:

Migrants with disabilities struggle to access the U.S. asylum system “The CBP One phone app, which most migrants use to begin the U.S. asylum process, isn’t accessible to those who are blind, deaf, have mobility issues, or have intellectual disabilities, according to a complaint.” (Mar, Texas Tribune)

In Independent Living and Deinstitutionalization:

No Place Like Home: People with Disabilities' Fight to Stay Out of Institutions (Video report, Mar, CBS News)

Algorithms guide senior home staffing. “The nation’s largest assisted-living chain uses a staffing algorithm; some managers say they quit or were fired after they complained it left facilities dangerously short-handed” (Apr, Washington Post)

In Lived Experience and Opinion:

Living With Muscular Dystrophy Makes Death My Shadow Partner by Alice Wong. (Mar, Time)

I’m Not The Only One In My Family With A Disability. But I’m the First to Release Shame (Mar, Refinery29)

In Mobility, Travel, Transport and Tourism:

Disabled People Are Dying in America’s Crosswalks. “The data on traffic fatalities and injuries doesn’t account for their needs or even count them. Better data would enable better solutions.” (Mar, Governing)

Meet the woman behind some of the biggest changes for disabled travelers in over 30 years “Though few people know her name, Emily Voorde helped shape Secretary Pete Buttigeg’s views on disability long before he was advancing policy for the Department of Transportation.” (Feb, the 19th)

In Policy and Rights:

The disappearance of a man with Down syndrome could bring vital change “Rashawn Williams was missing for 6 days, and a public alert was never issued. Legislation would create a new Purple Alert in Maryland for vulnerable people.” (Mar, Washington Post)

In Politics and Elections:

For Those With Stutters, Trump Mocking Biden's Stammer Is Frustratingly Familiar (Mar, Huffpost)

In Relationships, Sex and Reproductive Rights:

Oregon took these children away – then used their parents’ low IQ scores to keep them apart:

“Gibson is among the 1.6 million parents in the US with cognitive disabilities, a group that faces disproportionate scrutiny from child welfare agencies. About two-thirds of state codes consider intellectual disabilities a factor for termination of parental rights.” (Mar, the Guardian)

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Australia

In Civil Society and Community:

Disability-related inequalities in the prevalence of loneliness across the lifespan: trends from Australia, 2003 to 2020:

“From 2003 to 2020, the prevalence of loneliness was greater for people with disability, such that people with disability were 1.5 to 1.9 times more likely to experience loneliness than people without disability. While the prevalence of loneliness decreased for people without disability between 2003 and 2020, the prevalence of loneliness did not decrease for people with disability during this period. Inequalities in loneliness were more substantial for people with intellectual or learning disabilities, psychological disability, and brain injury or stroke.” (Feb, BMC Public Health)

In Economics and Social Protection:

The NDIS Song

“what am I pissed about?
oh can you guess
what makes me scream and shout
it's the ndis” (2023, Nell Tyler Original Song)

In Mobility, Travel, Transport and Tourism:

Qantas criticised over disability policies after 'appalling' treatment of artist (Apr, ABC News)

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Fiji

In History and Memorial:

Deepest condolences to the family and colleagues of Angeline Chand (Mar, Disability Rights Fund)

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New Zealand

In Civil Society and Community:

Disability advocates call for stronger accessibility laws. “More than 100 people, including those with disabilities and supporters, have marched to Parliament to deliver a petition calling for better accessibility legislation.” (Mar, New Zealand Herald)

In Economics and Social Protection:

Why we cannot let the disability support changes happen. (Mar, RNZ News)

In Health:

Accessibility remains an afterthought – how NZ’s digital health tools risk excluding people with disabilities. (Mar, The Conversation)

In Indigenous People and Minority Communities:

Risk: A visual poem by Ruby Solly exploring the intricacies of indigenous, disabled pride. (Feb, The D*List)

In Lived Experience and Opinion:

Risk: A visual poem by Ruby Solly exploring the intricacies of indigenous, disabled pride. (Feb, The D*List)

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Bolivia

In Mobility, Travel, Transport and Tourism:

Agreement guarantees a single fair of one boliviano for persons with disabilities. (In Spanish, Mar, La Patria)

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Brazil

In Culture, Entertainment and Media:

Dances of Queens Mercedes Baptista and Josy Brasil signs of racism and ableism in Afrobrasilian dance (In Portuguese, 2023, Capacitismes)

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Chile

In Sport and Paralympics:

“I am a fighter and I will not give up” profile of Valentina Biskupovic, a 22 year old with Down Syndrome.

“I like having Down Syndrome”
“Why?”
“Because I'm happy”. (In Spanish, Mar, La Prensa Grafica)

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Colombia

In Economics and Social Protection:

Food voucher programme for people with disabilities (In Spanish, Mar, el Caribe)

In Health:

Food voucher programme for people with disabilities (In Spanish, Mar, el Caribe)

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Paraguay

In Mobility, Travel, Transport and Tourism:

Fare exemptions for people with disabilities in force but there are complaints of non-compliance. (In Spanish, Feb, ABC)

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Uruguay

In Mobility, Travel, Transport and Tourism:

Maldonado Municipality will pay up to $300,000 to public transport companies for tickets for people with disabilities. (In Spanish, Mar, La Diaria Maldonado)

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