As the fall semester of college wraps up, many fraternities and sororities are already starting to make plans for next semester’s Greek life recruitment. Greek letter organizations usually have a set idea of the type of people they would like to extend a bid or formal offer to become a member to. But does that fixed idea of the perfect member come with an ableist mindset?
In 2018, talks of the lack of disability inclusion in Greek life made major headlines when Ann Catherine Heigl, a George Mason University student who has Down Syndrome, was rejected from every sorority. From what the articles described about Heigl, she appeared to have several qualities that sororities look for. She was a varsity cheerleader, involved in the community, and had strong academic performance. Many students with disabilities have a similar story to Heigl’s. They are quickly judged and dismissed before they even have a chance to show who they are, just because they have a disability. [continue reading…]
It has long been a source of consternation to members of the disability community that political candidates and elected officials rarely speak publicly about issues specific to disabled voters. In fact, few politicians even address how broader issues that they do speak about impact people with disabilities. After most presidential debates, there is a predictable barrage of social media posts from disabled voters who are disappointed that the candidates never mentioned the word “disability,” let alone addressed some of the issues that impact our daily lives the most.
Around 8.7 million adults in the United States have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), with many relying on medication to be focused and productive. Many adults have been taking their ADHD medication since they were children, so it can be easy to take for granted the access they have had to common types of ADHD drugs. For much of the ADHD population, taking their daily dose of popular medications like Adderall, Ritalin, or Vyvance is as much a part of their morning routine as brushing their teeth. However, that routine is being forcibly altered for millions of people in the U.S. because of an ongoing shortage of ADHD medication. Many people are unable to find their medications, leaving them feeling frustrated and frazzled as they search for alternatives and solutions.
Since 1971, the Judge Rotenberg Center in Canton, Massachusetts has served as an institution for individuals with developmental disabilities. To help patents stop dangerous behaviors, the center uses aversive therapy, in which a patient experiences a form of discomfort given by a therapist if the patient engages in perceived inappropriate behaviors. The goal is for the patient to recognize that continued occurrences of such behaviors will result in further exposure to the discomfort given by the therapist, leading them to stop the behavior.
