Infographic headed “Keep up to date with What’s New!” features article, video, and resource previews marked “New” and “Updated.” Below, a diverse group, including a wheelchair user, reviews materials together beneath the message “Informed and ready to remove barriers.”

What's New and Updated at The Shining Lamp?

  • White Cane Awareness Day

    Updated

    White Cane Awareness Day, celebrated annually on October 15, highlights the importance of the white cane as an essential tool for independence and mobility for Blind People. This celebration, led by the National Federation of the Blind, emphasizes the vital role of the white cane in enabling Blind People to live full, independent lives and underscores its significance in building Vibrant, Diverse, Inclusive, Accessible Communities! The day serves as a reminder of the value of community education and advocacy to remove barriers that prevent the full participation of Blind People in society.…

  • Jayla prepares for her first day at a new job, opting not to disclose her wheelchair use during the application process. Captured in a cozy room, she showcases her vibrant personality and confidence through her playful expressions and colorful outfit. The room's neutral tones contrast with her sweater’s bold design, emphasizing her joyful demeanor. The text overlaid on the image reads, "Fit check before I show up to my first day of work in my wheelchair after checking 'No, I do not have a disability' on the job application."

    Woman using wheelchair ticks "no disability" for new job—shares boss' reaction

    New

  • 'You will make it': An anonymous neighbor stepped in when a single mom felt hopeless

    Updated

    As we contemplate what it means to strive to remove barriers that prevent us from building diverse, vibrant, inclusive, and accessible communities, it's crucial to delve into the attributes fostering observation, empathy, and compassion toward marginalized members within our societies. Without embodying these qualities, addressing the root causes of marginalization becomes an insurmountable task. The poignant modern tale of a struggling single mother, encapsulated in the NPR article 'You will make it', resonates deeply. Amidst overwhelming circumstances, the anonymous kindness extended by a…

  • Catarina Rivera, an influential disability advocate, confidently stands in an urban setting. Known for her impactful work, Rivera uses her platform to promote disability pride and advocate for inclusive practices.

    I’m Deafblind—Here’s How Traveling the World Helps Me Embrace My Disabilities and Educate Others

    Updated

    July is Disability Pride Month, marking a significant milestone in recognizing the disabled community and celebrating the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. Despite over 30 years since its passage, there is still work to be done in how we support and discuss People with Disabilities. Advocate Catarina Rivera emphasizes the importance of embracing "disability pride" rather than just "awareness." This powerful perspective challenges limited thinking and promotes a sense of worth and value within the disabled community. Rivera's journey as a disability advocate began…

  • Accessibility is critical for the world's disability community

    Updated

    An estimated 1.6 billion people, roughly 18% of the world’s population, are part of the disability community, and that number grows each year. Yet Microsoft’s Chief Accessibility Officer Jenny Lay-Flurrie says only 2% of websites globally are accessible. As Disability Pride Month comes to an end, GZERO’s Tony Maciulis spoke to her about confronting challenges at work and home while embracing the diversity of different abilities.

  • A Compelling Video Documentary, "To Light a Candle," features the experiences of multiple Blind People in their own words. Buna Dahal, an Employment Trainer and Motivational Speaker, shares her experiences, while Julie Deden, the Director of the Colorado Center for the Blind, provides leadership. Catrilla Martin, a student at the Center, represents the next generation of Blind People building skills and confidence. As Buna says, the candle on the right symbolizes "not just lighting a Candle, but lighting a Candle of Life!"

    To Light a Candle

    Updated

    The documentary video, "To Light a Candle", offers a glimpse into the lives of Blind People, highlighting their journeys towards empowerment and belonging. Through personal stories and experiences, we see how Blind People like Buna Dahal, Julie Deden, and many others confront the barriers imposed by societal misconceptions about blindness. Their narratives challenge negative stereotypes and illustrate how, despite these barriers, they have embraced their identity as Blind People and achieved remarkable success. This film is a powerful testament to the resilience and capabilities of Blind…

  • Mark Esho was born in Leicestershire in 1962. Aged five, he caught polio, leaving him paralysed from the neck down.

    Create trust by openly discussing disability problems and solutions

    New

    Dr. Mark Esho’s journey after contracting polio at the age of five, which left him partially paralyzed, has provided him with unique insights into business and accessibility. Despite facing severe barriers, he earned an MBA and founded Easy Internet Services and Ability Connect CIC, a social enterprise that equips disabled entrepreneurs with the tools and resources they need to succeed. His story highlights how personal experiences can foster resilience and the importance of removing barriers that prevent People with Disabilities from full participation in business and society. Striving to…

  • "The Pride and Prejudice of Living with Disability" reflects the experiences of People with Disabilities, with silhouettes of people, including those using mobility aids, against a vibrant cityscape, highlighted by a symbolic rainbow arch. Published by Pain News Network on August 19, 2024.

    The Pride and Prejudice of Living with Disability

    New

    Disability awareness should extend beyond a single month, week, or day on the calendar. While Disability Pride Month in July highlights the importance of recognizing People with Disabilities, true inclusion requires daily efforts in removing barriers that prevent us from building Vibrant, Diverse, Inclusive, Accessible Communities! Our community-building initiatives should ensure that accessibility and inclusion are not mere checkboxes but are ingrained in every aspect of our communities. Acknowledging that the well-being of People with Disabilities is a collective responsibility demands…

  • Sa’diyya Nesar, a writer and advocate for People with Disabilities, reads in a serene park in Hong Kong. Nesar, who lives with muscular myopathy, emphasizes the importance of accessibility in every space. When engaging in disability, don’t just focus on disability alone, but the intersection of disability, race, and faith…

    Hong Kong writer Sa’diyya Nesar on the intersection of disability and faith

    New

    Sa’diyya Nesar, a writer and advocate, is deeply committed to raising awareness about the intersectionality of disability, race, and faith. Living with muscular myopathy, Nesar draws from her personal experiences to highlight the barriers faced by People with Disabilities, particularly those who also belong to marginalized racial and religious groups. Her advocacy emphasizes the importance of understanding these intersecting identities to ensure true accessibility and inclusion. Nesar stresses that discussions around disability should not occur in isolation but within the broader context of…

  • “(Blindness is) very diverse, it's very varied per individual,” says Jocelyn Hunter, pictured. Courtesy of Jocelyn Hunter

    I am not my blindness: What the blind community wishes you knew

    Updated

    Blindness is often misunderstood by sighted people, who may assume that Blind People live in darkness or constantly need assistance. This article sheds light on the realities of blindness, emphasizing that Blind People live full, independent lives using techniques and tools that allow them to navigate the world effectively. Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, encourages people to engage with Blind People as they would with anyone else, without making assumptions about their abilities. Striving to remove barriers that prevent us from building Vibrant, Diverse…

  • The groundbreaking ceremony for Berthoud Adaptive Park showcases community involvement, with a young boy using a wheelchair actively participating in the event. He digs into the ground with a shovel as part of the ceremony. The event marks the beginning of construction for Berthoud's first fully inclusive playground, designed to ensure children with disabilities can play together with others in a barrier-free environment. A large yellow CAT excavator in the background highlights the scale of the construction project.

    Small towns are getting in on the push for better Colorado playgrounds for kids with disabilities

    New

    In small towns across Colorado, significant progress is being made in creating playgrounds that truly include Children with Disabilities. The Berthoud Adaptive Park Project stands out as a prime example, with its groundbreaking inclusive design that promises to be a game-changer for the community. By integrating accessible surfaces and equipment like adapted swings and monkey bars, Berthoud is setting a new standard for inclusive playgrounds. This initiative reflects the power of community-driven efforts and highlights how dedicated advocacy can lead to the removal of barriers, fostering…

  • A man using a wheelchair prepares to cross a street at night, but several cars block the crosswalk on the far side, illustrating the everyday barriers that People with Disabilities face in navigating community spaces. Even if he could cross the street, the blocked curb cut would prevent him from getting up onto the sidewalk.

    Sidewalks in disrepair create Barriers for People with Disabilities

    New

    Angela Poe Russell’s reflection on the state of sidewalks in her community highlights how infrastructure affects People with Disabilities. Her personal experience, inspired by a friend's use of a wheelchair due to Multiple Sclerosis, reveals severe mobility barriers within neighborhoods often deemed "walkable." With only half of the sidewalks meeting ADA standards, many People with Disabilities face significant obstacles that prevent them from reaching their destinations, emphasizing the need to remove these barriers. Angela also points out seasonal barriers like overgrown vegetation, which…

  • What is Inclusive Design?

    Updated

    Inclusive design is not just about accessibility; it's about creating products and experiences that everyone can use and enjoy. By considering diverse backgrounds and experiences, inclusive design aims to remove barriers and ensure equal access for marginalized community members. It's crucial for designers to recognize exclusion and involve diverse perspectives in the design process. Inclusive design benefits not only users but also content providers, offering improved user experiences, expanding user bases, and providing a competitive advantage. Rooted in the disability rights movement…

  • Inclusive Design

    Updated

    By Alita Joyce Inclusive design refers to designing products that enable people of all backgrounds and abilities, including accessibility, age, economic situation, geographic location, language, and race. The focus is on fulfilling as many user needs as possible rather than catering to as many users as possible. Inclusive design generates inclusive-design patterns that empathize with users and adapt interfaces to address the various needs of those users. Accessibility, universal design, and inclusive design are concepts aimed at creating inclusive experiences by reducing barriers between…

  • Anna Landre, a recognized disability rights advocate, was awarded the Freedom of the City of London inside Mansion House for her outstanding advocacy work in accessibility and inclusion for People with Disabilities. However, due to the lack of accessibility and inclusion planning by the event organizers, she was unable to accept her award at the podium and instead had to receive it next to trash containers. Her expression and gesture underscore the injustice and systemic ableism that persist in our communities, even in spaces intended to honor those advocating for accessibility and inclusion. This situation highlights the hypocrisy of those in charge of the event who made no effort themselves for accessibility and inclusion!

    Celebrating Advocacy for People with Disabilities While Ignoring Accessibility and Inclusion: The Stark Hypocrisy and Systemic Ableism of This Egregious Injustice at an Awards Presentation

    New

    The recent debacle involving Anna Landre, who was unable to collect her Freedom of the City of London award due to a lack of wheelchair access, starkly highlights the egregious injustice and hypocrisy embedded in community practices, in the form of systemic ableism. Despite being honored for her tireless advocacy for People with Disabilities, Landre was denied the basic accessibility necessary for her participation in the award ceremony. This glaring failure not only undermines the recognition given to Anna Landre for her outstanding efforts in advancing accessibility and inclusion for People…

  • Including People With Disabilities in Data Collection

    New

    Understanding how data collection practices impact People with Disabilities is essential in our community-building efforts. Communities must recognize that regardless of the numbers represented by marginalized minorities, the community belongs to them as well. Ignoring them not only creates systemic barriers but also violates basic human and civil rights. The recent federal Request for Information (RFI) by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) highlights the importance of gathering disability-inclusive data to ensure that all community members are represented. By…

  • Jillian Mercado, an Afro-Latina actress and model known for her advocacy for diversity in fashion and media, explores an art gallery.

    4 Black Disability Creators and Influencers to Know

    Updated

    In honor of Disability Pride Month, we celebrate the remarkable contributions of people with disabilities and encourage allies to listen and learn. This month is a reminder of the importance of representation, especially for Black creators and influencers, in amplifying diverse experiences, creating community, and making people feel seen. Striving to remove barriers that prevent us from building Vibrant, Diverse, Inclusive, Accessible Communities! Let's dive into the stories of four incredible Black disability creators and influencers who are breaking barriers and inspiring change. Jillian…

  • Amelia Peckham, co-founder of Cool Crutches and Walking Sticks, enjoys a sunny day in the park with her family. Despite the barriers she has faced due to her disability, Amelia's story highlights her resilience and commitment to building an inclusive community. Her journey underscores the importance of removing barriers for People with Disabilities.

    My Greatest Achievement "Becoming a parent is the single best thing I’ve ever done".

    New

    Amelia Peckham’s story as a parent with a disability illuminates the unique barriers encountered by People with Disabilities who choose to become parents. Following a severe accident that left her paralyzed from the waist down, Peckham navigated significant challenges during her pregnancies, including severe pain and exhaustion. Her determination highlights the crucial need to remove barriers and build vibrant, diverse, inclusive, and accessible communities where parents with disabilities can fully thrive. Peckham’s experiences also challenge the biases and misconceptions about the parenting…

  • How to write an image description

    Updated

    by Alex Chen What is an image description? An image description is a written caption that describes the essential information in an image. Image descriptions can define photos, graphics, gifs, and video — basically anything containing visual information. Providing descriptions for imagery and video are required as part of WCAG 2.2 (for digital ADA compliance). It’s sometimes referred to as alt text since the alt attribute is a common place to store them. The alt attribute appears in the HTML code like this: <img src=”link” alt=”text goes here”> While ALT Text and image descriptions are…

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A white woman in a wheelchair crosses a bunting finish line on a wooded path, arms spread wide, as Black and white runners cheer behind her.

Consistently ensuring equitable participation of People with Disabilities in community gatherings and events by planning ahead for Accessibility transforms exclusion and discrimination into a culture of inclusion, respect, belonging, and value.

Question: Is this example of inclusive practices the norm in your community? If not, what barriers need to be removed which prevent inclusive and welcoming participation?

"The challenge facing the friends serving at the grassroots is essentially the same in every place. They must be able to read their own reality and ask: what, in light of the possibilities and requirements at hand, would be fitting objectives to pursue in the coming cycle or series of cycles?"  -- December 30, 2021 UHJ to Conference of Counselors Introducing Nine Year Plan

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