What's New and Updated at The Shining Lamp?

Nation.Cymru reports that Wrexham disability champion Samantha Maxwell has launched SILENCED., a book that connects disability and mental health by naming external barriers and the daily emotional toll they create for People with Disabilities, including stress, anxiety, and isolation. The launch took place at Tŷ Pawb in Wrexham with Lesley Griffiths MS in attendance, framing the event as part of hosting gatherings that welcome People with Disabilities without barriers; for planners, see accessible event planning. The article situates SILENCED. alongside Maxwell’s earlier works—CP Isn’t Me…

Kiaira Fedorus shares how spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy shaped her life and why she feared that giving birth might end her mobility; after welcoming her son Arthur on April 1, 2024, she says the experience renewed her sense of resiliency and purpose. Early postpartum was painful and slow—she couldn’t change her newborn for the first two weeks and needed hands-on support from her fiancé and mother—yet she adapted to one-handed caregiving, returned to everyday outings, and built a platform around disability awareness through pageantry and community work. Her account highlights real problems…

Cape Breton University assistant professor Tammy Bernasky has been nominated for an Accessibility Trailblazer Award, a recognition that highlights leadership in advancing accessibility across campus and the wider community. The article situates Bernasky’s work within disability justice and public scholarship, noting her community collaboration and research that inform practical steps institutions can take to remove barriers and foster inclusion. It emphasizes how these efforts benefit People with Disabilities, including Blind/Low Vision people, by focusing on dismantling discriminatory…

This piece centers on a conversation about what it takes to action disability inclusion across fashion and beyond, opening with recognition in disability benchmarking and concrete steps that support People with Disabilities and Blind/Low Vision customers. It explores how thinking has shifted from blaming individuals for inaccessible environments to seeing inaccessibility as a shared, solvable problem—one that demands courage to engage and careful word choice; for teams refining vocabulary and tone, see this concise language guide. The discussion names specific problems that exclude People…

This story spotlights a 72-year-old solo traveler who uses a wheelchair and treats careful preparation as a path to independence. The piece frames travel as doable with realistic planning—choosing routes thoughtfully, pacing days, and using tools that make unfamiliar places easier to navigate—while showing how accessible destinations can expand what’s possible, as seen in an overview of national parks that prioritize accessibility. The traveler explains how methodical checks reduce stress: confirming step-free access, communicating with airlines about assistance and mobility equipment, and…

Editor’s Note: Can you identify what community barriers need to be removed so this type of action should not be necessary? The article explains why a reliable, wheelchair-accessible vehicle is pivotal for residents in a community home, emphasizing that transportation is not a luxury but a daily necessity for appointments, work, and maintaining social ties. It describes how the organization is working toward acquiring an accessible van, outlining the day-to-day coordination required when rides fall through and how gaps in service can derail medical care or participation in community life…

In this commentary, Mark Schneider and Ayan Kishore argue that America can unlock the STEM potential of students with disabilities by investing in educational technology, noting persistent underperformance on national assessments and the small share who enter STEM despite comparable interest. They spotlight federally seeded efforts and real products — from teletherapy at scale to AI-enabled tools — alongside Benetech’s Bookshare library that provides audio, large print and Braille, and they describe new work to make complex STEM materials readable aloud. The authors contend that underfunding…

This roundup, written by a neurodivergent parent, spotlights children’s books that make brain differences visible and relatable—framing representation as a way for kids to understand themselves, feel less isolated, and grow empathy among peers. The picture-book picks range from stories that visualize obsessive thoughts to playful metaphors for ADHD and autism, alongside titles about sensory overload and a dyslexia-friendly tale that shows there’s more than one way to tell a story; several entries include tools and accommodations families can try together. Moving into early readers and chapter…

Near Wooster in rural Wayne County, IncludeAbility operates a barn-based lending “library” that provides ramps and mobility gear to local residents. Founder Julie Hartzler started the nonprofit after her daughter Michaela was born, and the program now serves neighbors who need temporary or occasional access to adaptive equipment. The lending shelves inside the barn hold walkers, lifts, portable ramps, reading machines, and wheelchairs for hiking, basketball and daily use. Residents complete an online form to borrow items at no cost, and those who can’t travel can request delivery…

Ed Roberts—paralyzed by polio in his early teens and now known as the father of the independent living movement—pushed as a young man to win People with Disabilities the resources to live in their communities rather than in “restrictive and often brutal institutions.” His activism led to independent living centers that assist with finding personal aides and signing people up for affordable, accessible housing to guarantee as much personal freedom and agency as possible. Mentorship from his mother, Zona, shaped how he challenged decisions that blocked participation. When school officials said…

Sa’diyya Nesar is profiled as a Hong Kong–born writer and speaker whose work centers empathy and community care. The piece notes she is a finalist in the perseverance category of the Spirit of Hong Kong Awards and frames her as a voice for disability inclusion. The article recounts how she lives with a rare congenital muscle condition and uses a wheelchair, having faced multiple surgeries and long hospital stays. She explains that she turned to writing to “clear misconceptions about disability,” describing words as a way to move when her body could not. It highlights milestones that grew from…

Just before sunrise outside a hotel, a 27-year-old woman lit a cigarette and minded her own business. Another guest stepped out and opened with, “What did you do to lose your leg?” No hello. No name. The amputee—known on Reddit as Aurora-supernova—did not swallow the slight. She answered with a mirror: you haven’t greeted me or even asked who I am; why do you feel entitled to my medical history? The stranger erupted, calling her rude. The point had already been made: dignity is not small talk. Online, thousands recognized the scene immediately. People with Disabilities say the first words…

The op-ed frames fair pay for disabled workers as a matter of respect and belonging, insisting that wages signal whether society sees people as full participants. It calls attention to policies and practices that treat low wages as acceptable when disability is involved, and challenges readers to rethink what dignity in work really means. The piece argues that fair pay is about human and civil rights, not charity. It points toward pay equity and integrated employment as routes to genuine inclusion, urging leaders to measure success by whether People with Disabilities can build stable…

This photo-driven story marks International Day of the Girl with portraits that dwell on everyday moments — a bead threaded, a book shared, a pause beneath a long stretch of sky. Rather than grand scenes, the images attend to small gestures that reveal care, connection, and the spark of curiosity. Across locations, the pictures center girls’ creativity and learning: hands sorting bright trinkets, bodies at rest after play, faces intent on making or reading. The sequencing invites readers to notice how environment shapes possibility — rough ground, a blanket, a bridge overhead — and how family…

ITV’s Fresh Cuts returns with six new unscripted programs tied to Black History Month and UK Disability History Month, framed by the author’s reflection on why authentic on-screen representation matters. The strand centers POC- and DDN-led creatives and aims to remove barriers through commissioning and visibility, an ethos in step with this practical guide for content creators to start making accessible content. The line-up spans conversation, comedy, culture and community: unfiltered talk in In Convo; fast-paced sketches in Say Less!; a candid look at Black African and Caribbean British…

The exhibition presents a cross-disciplinary exploration of adaptive and inclusive design, gathering work from faculty, students, alumni, and invited collaborators at the Art and Design Gallery. It frames design as care—craft that responds to real needs through co-creation and practical problem-solving grounded in inclusive design principles. Visitors encounter a wide range of objects and projects, from bespoke mobility aids and wearables to furniture and social practice installations. The page highlights how many pieces are developed with end-users from the start, echoing design-with-not-for…

A columnist reflects on discovering “We Might Regret This,” a comedy-drama co-created by Kyla Harris, and the shock of finally seeing disabled life depicted with the messiness and wit she knows firsthand. The piece frames humor not as denial, but as recognition: a way to tell the truth about bodies, care, and the awkward encounters that follow disabled people through daily life. For the writer, it feels like long-overdue authenticity after years of flat or outsider portrayals. From there, the article argues that comedy can be a powerful act of reclamation—proof there’s rich humor within…

A Waikiki student has transformed lived experience into storytelling, completing a debut novel that reflects life with cerebral palsy, autism, anxiety, and eosinophilic esophagitis. Written over two years, the book centers access, empathy, and inclusion—and aims to raise awareness about accessibility ahead of its community launch on November 22 at the Gary Holland Community Centre. Her goal is connection: to speak to peers with similar experiences and help parents, teachers, and classmates understand neurodivergent perspectives. Family reflections in the article highlight how the manuscript…