The short film POSSUM by Sophie Sagan-Gutherz, directed and co-written by Daisy Rosato, is a satirical horror about five young adults at an artist retreat. Going into this film, I had no idea what to expect, but I found it to be a creative and unique visualization of how people figure out their true beliefs and the impact this process can have on the people around them.

The five characters—Hadley, Blaze, Annabella, Pinecone, and Tilly—play a game at the beginning of the movie called “Werewolf.” In this game, one person is the werewolf, one is the seer, one is the victim, and the rest are the townsfolk. What I found interesting about this scene is how it foreshadows the larger themes of the movie, suggesting that anyone could be the killer just as easily as they could be the victim. [continue reading…]

During National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), it is important to understand the benefits of remote work for disabled job seekers and employees to create “Access to Good Jobs for All.”

As a recent graduate of Davidson College and a physically disabled person with a passion for disability advocacy, my goal is to pursue a career focused on improving disability inclusion and accessibility within the workplace. My disorder, Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM), paralyzed me from the neck down in 2010. Although I regained the ability to walk, I still have paralysis in my arms and hands. Therefore, my disability impacts my ability to do everyday tasks such as getting dressed, washing and styling my hair, doing laundry, preparing meals, and getting from place to place. In 2019, I got my driver’s license after practicing for weeks at Shepherd Center in Atlanta, GA using their vehicle with accessibility modifications. However, I still do not have a car because the accessibility modifications will cost between $50,000-$60,000 — not including the vehicle itself!

Many individuals like me rely on public transportation or a family member, friend, or aide to drive them to work, especially since most places in the United States do not have adequate public transportation. Remote work can remove this access barrier to employment by greatly increasing access to jobs for disabled people who may struggle to get to a physical place of work. A common misconception exists that employers only need to provide reasonable accommodations for disabled employees that are specific to their work. According to the Job Accommodation Network (JAN), employers may be required to provide accommodations related to commuting “such as changing an employee’s schedule so [they] can access available transportation, reassigning an employee to a location closer to [their] home when the length of the commute is the problem, or allowing an employee to telecommute.” [continue reading…]

Assets are defined as the resources you own, including cash, money in checking or savings, cash surrender value, stocks and bonds, cars, and real estate. Under Supplemental Security Income (SSI), individuals cannot exceed an asset cap of $2,000, while married couples have a cap of $3,000.

Overview and Current Status

• Established in 1972: The SSI program was signed into law by Richard Nixon to support older Americans and people with disabilities.
• Unchanged Limits: The caps have not been adjusted since 1984, despite inflation and rising living costs
• Outdated and Harmful: Originally established for eligibility purposes, these caps cause economic hardship for people with disabilities.

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When you sign up for our Faith Inclusion and Belonging newsletter, you’ll be able to download the new Jewish High Holidays Guide to Accessibility, Inclusion, and Belonging. You’ll also receive a link to download our larger Spiritual and Faith Community Guide to Accessibility, Inclusion, and Belonging when it is released.

Nora Onanian

This past spring, like a game of telephone, my exciting news that I would be able to attend the 2024 Paris Paralympics spread, and was, well… misconstrued. On more than one occasion, I got a text from a friend of my grandma’s, or a peer at school, where the person wished me well in my “big swimming competition.” Either my 90-pound, scrawny physique gives off that of an Olympic athlete, or, many people are unfamiliar with how big of a deal it is to qualify for the Paralympics. The athletic competition is on a global stage, with—not some of, but—the most talented athletes of our time.  

While my once a week swim practice through Adaptive Sports New England is something I enjoy, and take moderately seriously, it is certainly not enough training for an athletic career of Paralympic heights. What those Sunday mornings spent in the pool did do for me, however, was provide an interesting perspective on how the public engages with para-athletes and disability more broadly.

The first swimming competition I entered as an amputee was last March. Organized through Move United—an affiliate of the Paralympic Games—, it was unlike anything I had ever experienced. I don’t think I’ve been in the same room with as many fellow disability community folk, let alone been treated so “normally” (in my opinion, there is no such thing as “normal”) despite my body moving differently than people are used to. Seriously, not a single person batted an eye at my scars, limb difference or anything else I would normally mentally prepare myself for when getting on the diving board at my high school swim meets, or entering any room full of able-bodied people. [continue reading…]

Read the Report

A new report shows that films continue to lack disabled characters. The USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative report, “Inequality in 1,700 Popular Films,” found that just 2.2% of all speaking characters in the top 100 films of 2023 were shown with a disability, which is virtually identical to both 2022 (1.9%) and 2015 (2.4%). According to the report, “each year, the numbers prove stubbornly resistant to change.”

Furthermore, of the top 100 films of 2023, 42 films did not feature even one character with a disability. This is lower than 2022 (54) but similar to 2015 (45). Only one out of the 100 films examined portrayed disabled characters at proportional representation within the U.S. population (27.2%). The only other year to include a film with proportional representation since 2015 was in 2021. [continue reading…]

See how Wells Fargo is championing disability inclusion and supporting our efforts!

With one in four adults in the United States having a disability, it is critically important for businesses and organizations to be intentional about accessibility, inclusion, and belonging for disabled people. This spans across the spectrum of disabilities, including individuals with nonapparent disabilities, those born with them, and those with temporary or acquired disabilities.

As we celebrate Disability Pride Month 2024, we’d like to shine the spotlight on Wells Fargo, a company that has been working hard to advance disability inclusion both inside their organization and by partnering up with organizations like Disability Belongs™ (formerly RespectAbility).

Wells Fargo Chief Accessibility Officer Andrew Holbrook speaks at our 10th Anniversary Celebration

Support from Wells Fargo allowed us to positively impact the lives of many people with disabilities through our Leadership and Workforce Development initiatives. Disability Belongs™ is on the front lines in creating access to careers and strengthening a diverse talent pipeline of people with disabilities. This includes Leadership and Workforce Development programs such as our Entertainment Lab and National Leadership Program. [continue reading…]

Khadija Bari Elected as new Board Chair, with two new additions to the Board of Directors

Khadija Bari speaks at the 2024 Disability Impact Awards

The diverse, disability-led nonprofit Disability Belongs™ (formerly RespectAbility) is focused on systemic change, including changing perceptions and attitudes towards people with disabilities, so they can fully participate in all aspects of community. The recent name change reflects the evolution of the organization’s brand, and with it, the organization also welcomes new board leadership. 

Disability Belongs™ is proud to announce that Khadija Bari (she/her) has been elected as the sixth Chair of the organization’s Board of Directors. “I am thrilled to lead the Board of Disability Belongs™, as we begin this new chapter in the organization’s bright future,” said Khadija Bari. “It is a much-welcomed change as we continue and grow in our work of redefining narratives, developing leaders, and driving opportunity for the disability community across the nation. I am humbled to follow in the footsteps of Disability Belongs™’ past Chairs that have made their mark and continue to pave the way in strengthening the rights of people with disabilities around the world. The expertise of the Board of Directors and Advisors is invaluable to me, and I look forward to supporting President and CEO Ariel Simms as we turn the page and usher in a new era for Disability Belongs™.” [continue reading…]

60 Miles North is a coming-of-age feature film about Clarence Moran (Edward Crawford), who is at the crossroads in his career, and Wild Falls (Audrey Kovar), a woman battling a medical illness and doctors who do not believe her symptoms. Although both Moran and Falls are facing different problems, they find solace and support from each to get back up and find a solution to their issues.

The film dives deep into the complexities of chasing dreams, confronting setbacks, and the transformative power of unexpected connections as well as the challenges some patients face when dealing with doctors who are on a power trip or have a god complex, and refuse to listen to their patients until something terrible happens. [continue reading…]