by Jonathan Mosen MNZM In his keynote address to the International Council on English Braille, Jonathan Mosen MNZM paid tribute to the transformative impact of Louis Braille's invention on the lives of Blind People. Mosen recounted the historical journey of Braille, from its inception by an unrecognized genius to its eventual acclaim and celebration. He emphasized Helen Keller's tribute to Braille, highlighting its crucial role in the intellectual and educational empowerment of Blind People. Jonathan Mosen MNZM is a renowned advocate for the rights of Blind People, a prolific author, and a…

Access technology transformed school for Soraya Martin, a ninth grader with dyslexia who had felt shut out, yet a fast moving national push to ban screens threatens that same access technology for the more than eight million Students with Disabilities who rely on it to read, write, and take notes, even as the federal office defending their rights is hollowed out and they are shut out of the very decisions that will determine whether they can take part in their own education.

Empowerment Through Structured Discovery

Brett Boyer’s article reminds us that true independence for blind people isn’t about memorizing routes or keystrokes—it’s about learning to explore, problem-solve, and recover when things go wrong. He describes how Structured Discovery, first introduced in cane travel, gave him the confidence to navigate the world on his own terms. This same philosophy drives his approach to teaching screen readers: instead of training students to follow scripts, he empowers them to ask questions, troubleshoot, and take control. This perspective is critical for building Vibrant, Diverse, Inclusive, Accessible Communities, because independence fuels participation and shared contribution.

A new study reported by Forbes warns that self-driving car design still contains major accessibility blind spots—gaps that could exclude People with Disabilities, especially Blind/Low Vision riders, from safe, confident participation in everyday mobility. At its core, the message is simple: Accessibility is critical for the world's disability community, so autonomous vehicles must be co-designed with disabled riders from curb to interface—covering trip planning, hailing, boarding, seating, restraint operation, and clear nonvisual feedback. Researchers highlighted that disabled and…

Karla Gilbride, a distinguished attorney, shares her journey of removing barriers and fighting against injustice as a blind woman in the legal field. Her remarkable achievements include arguing a case before the United States Supreme Court, a feat rarely accomplished by any attorney, let alone a blind one. Despite facing doubts and problems, Gilbride's determination, strengthened by her stubborn streak and strong blindness skills, propelled her forward. Her story sheds light on the importance of advocating for equal rights and removing structural barriers that prevent justice. Gilbride's…

Disability activist and author Emily Ladau first spoke about disability on Sesame Street at age 10, and her new edition of Demystifying Disability lands as disability rights are being rolled back. She treats disability as part of her identity, answered an airline's damage to her wheelchair by making it sparkle, and warns the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) has never been fully funded while protections for disabled students slip further. Her guidance on allyship is direct: ask each disabled person what they want, because one disabled person cannot speak for every other.

Caption: The image is a composite of two parts. On the left side, there is a handwritten note that reads: "You lazy conning b*tch. You did not have a disabled person with you! These spaces are reserved for people who need them!!!" The note is written on a piece of crumpled paper. On the right side, there is a photo of a woman and a young boy. The woman is smiling, wearing glasses, and the boy is wearing a colorful hat and a yellow shirt. The boy is Emma Doherty's son, Bobby, who has a severe, terminal illness. This image highlights the misconceptions and judgments faced by people with…

A California family’s lunch turned into a reminder that removing communication barriers is everyone’s job. When a cashier at a busy counter noticed a young customer was communicating in American Sign Language, he met the child in his language instead of expecting the child to adapt. Callie Foster describes how her son Luca was identified with hearing loss as an infant and how their family committed to language access from the start. Learning ASL together wasn’t instant or perfect, but each new sign strengthened connection at home and centered Luca’s identity rather than the barrier. That…

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…

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…

“Nothing prepared me,” writes Kristen Boucher — a special-education teacher who taught “from birth to age 26” in urban and suburban districts — as she faces the system **as a parent** and is shocked by “how many laws were being overlooked.” That jolt pushes her to “advocate for change” with the Michigan Education Justice Coalition so families have the information, resources, and support they need. On the 50th year of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), she recounts sitting “on the other side of the table” and not being treated as an equal partner. Parents need an “equal…

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…

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…

Stephen Hawking’s speech computer brought computer-generated voices to global attention; this article describes a system that goes further by showing a lifelike on-screen version of the person speaking in their own voice. A wheelchair-mounted setup uses two displays: a control screen in front and a second screen above the chair that shows the speaking avatar with natural expressions, tone, and inflection. The software is trained on each person’s personality and experiences, including prior messages and chats, so suggestions align with how they communicate. During conversation, a microphone…

A teenage wheelchair user emailed a store about product blocking its aisles. The store phoned back with an accusation of shoplifting. The reasoning was that one wheelchair had passed through that week. The description the employee finally gave, an older Black woman with long hair, matched nobody in the call. The branch she named was one the teen had never entered. Roughly 27 percent of American adults have a disability, and when a disability is taken for a description the person behind it disappears. The store offered ten dollars of credit. The teen refused it, and the aisles stayed exactly as they were.