What's New and Updated at The Shining Lamp?

Colorado lawmakers moved HB26-1043 forward when the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee passed it out of committee, a step meant to increase penalties for transportation network companies, or rideshare companies, when drivers discriminate against people with disabilities. The point is simple: discrimination in transportation isn’t a minor inconvenience—it blocks basic access and puts People with Disabilities at risk when they are trying to get home, get to work, or move through public life like everyone else. The hearing centered the lived reality of Blind/Low Vision People who rely on…

Kristen Dockendorff’s article centers the rights and expertise of blind and low-vision people by showing how community-led access to technology confronts the barriers that keep Disabled people from information, equipment, and equal participation. At UR Community Tech Center, she and Michelle Puzzo run a support group and—through grant work—make it possible for people to test more than thirty-five devices, from electronic magnifiers to smart glasses, so access is not limited to what institutions decide is “enough.” The point is not charity or “help,” but removing barriers through real choices…

Gary Wunder describes how People who are Blind are harmed by everyday disrespect: a sighted stranger may gush that independent travel is “inspirational,” or insist on doing what blind people can do perfectly well alone. He argues that Language does matter, but empty word-swaps do not stop discrimination—especially when the underlying belief remains that blind people cannot work, marry, or raise children. The real demand is not polite phrasing; it is the full acceptance that People who are Blind are equal participants in society. The article also names the long pattern of exclusion—People who…

At the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Jernigan Institute on December 5, 2025, members of Maryland’s congressional delegation announced legislation introduced in the House of Representatives (H.R. 6467) and the United States Senate (S. 3371) to designate the Museum of the Blind People’s Movement as the National Museum of the Blind People’s Movement. The article frames this as a civil rights moment grounded in “collective action,” insisting that blind people’s central role in advancing civil rights belongs in the nation’s official story—not treated as optional or “undershared.”…

The United Nations (UN) Disability Inclusion Strategy frames disability exclusion as a rights failure that institutions must stop normalizing, stating that “when we secure the rights of persons with disabilities,” the world moves closer to the core values and principles of the United Nations Charter. The article positions disability inclusion as a standard across peace and security, human rights, and development, making clear that leaving barriers in place is a structural choice that blocks People with Disabilities from full participation.

The Strategy directly confronts institutional inaction by establishing a policy and an accountability framework with benchmarks to assess progress and accelerate change. It specifies that senior leadership must champion disability inclusion, strategic planning must take People with Disabilities into account, disability-specific policies or strategies must be developed, and expertise must be formally assigned. These requirements exist because exclusion persists when responsibility is vague and consequences are absent.

The article insists the Jewish community cannot treat disability inclusion as “nice to have,” because excluding People with Disabilities and their families weakens Jewish communal life and blocks full participation. It points to a documented participation gap—People with Disabilities and their families show up at far lower rates in Jewish communal life than in secular counterparts—showing that stated values without barrier-removal still leave people out, and that Removing Barriers must be the standard, not a slogan. A central harm the article names is the mismatch between what Jewish…

The article rejects the exclusionary stance of “we don’t do disability,” showing that Jewish institutions already serve people with disabilities wherever they engage in education, social justice, poverty alleviation, community building or Jewish engagement. Framing disability as a niche excludes students, congregants, volunteers, co-workers and loved ones who are already present and entitled to belong. The author names the breadth of disability — visible and invisible, including mental health, neurodivergence, learning disabilities and chronic illness — and shows how exclusion compounds…

From pity to progress: ‘Change, Not Charity’ chronicles the Disability Rights Movement Premieres March 25, 2025 This powerful documentary shares the movement that led to the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. The film highlights the collective efforts of People with Disabilities who worked to remove barriers in transportation, employment, and public spaces. Many accessibility features recognized today—such as curb cuts, ramps, and braille signage—were the result of dedicated advocacy. This documentary is essential viewing for those committed to building Vibrant…

Be an Upholder and Defender of the Victims of Oppression Take action to remove barriers that prevent us from building inclusive and just communities. Establish equitable relationships among individuals, communities, and institutions of society that uplift all and reject the idea of "othering." Uphold and defend the rights of those who suffer from oppression and be a beacon of hope and compassion. Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity. Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbor, and look upon him with a bright and friendly face. Be a treasure to the poor, an admonisher to the rich…

Bob Kafka’s death at 79 is a loss precisely because his life centered rights over charity. A Vietnam veteran with a disability, he organized with ADAPT (American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today), insisting that public life be accessible and using direct action at protests to challenge exclusion named in the article. After paralysis from a 1973 car crash, Kafka and his wife, Stephanie Thomas, prioritized dignity and practical support for People with Disabilities — from helping someone tie shoes or eat to guiding people through new lives — proving that independence and belonging are…

This feature urges Community Builders to challenge ableism early by reading together to “normalize disability as a natural part of our world.” Picture books make the work concrete: one title rejects the myth of “normal,” another centers communication through American Sign Language, and a third invites readers to notice how a child who is blind or has Low Vision maps a city through sound and touch. The message is advocacy, not pity—families can name prejudice and practice inclusion at home, at school and in the community. The curation names real harms children with disabilities face and…

Adults who have Down syndrome were “not really given a chance.” Before the 1980s, an overwhelming majority were institutionalized in the United States. The article also cites the “old thought” that a person with Down syndrome won’t be able to get a job or live independently. Many adults now work, attend school, and live at home, directly countering those low expectations. Housing and daily life align with access and available options. Some adults take public transit or drive; others access staffed settings or coaching. Many organizations assist with appropriate living arrangements, from…

“The Lake District has always been my home, but for a long time, it didn’t feel like mine to explore.” With a more flexible power add-on, the author could reach places she had “only ever heard about” and travel “independently, on my own terms.” For People with Disabilities, crowds, terrain and lack of access still create a barrier, so quieter paths and space to breathe matter. Attitude and adapted support turn possibility into practice. At Calvert Lakes near Keswick, staff “focused on how to make it happen,” and she descended the rope repeatedly while seated in her chair. The centre offers…

Michaela Benthaus, a paraplegic engineer from Germany, is described as the first person who uses a wheelchair to travel to space. The article quotes her: “there is like no history of people with disabilities flying to space.” It reports a 10-minute suborbital flight on Blue Origin’s New Shepard with five other passengers from West Texas and notes she experienced weightlessness and viewed Earth. The company said the autonomous New Shepard capsule was designed with “accessibility” in mind and “required only minor adjustments” for this flight. The article specifies the steps: adding a transfer…

A baton-style setup with ten white batons under a bright greeting is presented as “welcome” but functions as a barrier that deters access for People with Disabilities and for parents with strollers. The article argues that universal design is the baseline for safe, everyday shopping; this paragraph uses universal design in plain text and links the same phrase to universal design to reject security measures that sideline rights and belonging. The authors expose how “hostile” or “defensive architecture” (leaning benches, mid-seat armrests, studs) removes places to pause, rest and be safe, a…

San Francisco has long had a reputation as the hub of U.S. innovation, yet too many People with Disabilities still struggle gaining access to one of the most basic requirements of daily life: safe, dependable transit. While San Francisco’s public transportation systems have made progress, the sad reality is that they remain inconsistent and inaccessible for far too many residents. With nearly one in eight San Franciscans reporting a disability of some kind according to the most recent U.S. Census data, it’s past time the technological innovations that are born in this city actually serve a…

Paul Nunnari shows that disability inclusion is both justice and competitive advantage: one in five Australians identify as having a disability; when families, friends, and carers are included, the community influences almost half of purchases. More than half of consumers reward authentic representation (56% trust; 53% buying intent), while 51% lose trust when it’s wrong. The mandate is clear: Inclusion isn’t charity—make barrier removal a core business decision to win loyalty and stop excusing exclusionary systems. Inclusion starts long before a customer reaches the counter. The article…

Websites increasingly deploy anti-scraping techniques like dynamic loading to protect data from bots, but these “often block accessibility for users with disabilities by breaking compatibility with screen readers and assistive tools.” The article names this a “silent trade-off” that “erects barriers for human users relying on assistive technologies,” and presses for inclusive web design that balances protection and access. Concrete barriers are spelled out: “rendering text as images or using canvas elements” that screen readers cannot interpret; JavaScript-heavy patterns and dynamic loading…

In early December, coinciding with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, more than 300 Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and executive suite (C-suite) leaders from over 25 countries convened in Tokyo for SYNC25, described as “the world’s first accountability summit” focused specifically on disability inclusion in business. The article reports a deliberate shift away from broad pledges and toward measurable action, with commitments put to the test. Problems identified include inaccessible hiring processes, slow and bureaucratic workplace adjustments, lack of reliable disability…