Disability advocate Lauren “Lolo” Spencer gained popularity as a YouTube personality on her “Sitting Pretty” channel. Through the lens of disability, Lauren explores universal topics that include dating, sex, relationships, travel and employment. A wheelchair user, Lauren chooses to see herself as much more than a person with a disability. Instead, Lauren shares how ... Read more
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Lauren “Lolo” Spencer Issue
Looking Back at Ashley Fiolek and ABILITY Magazine
ABILITY’s Chet Cooper, a pseudo-motocross rider, caught up with Ashley and her father while they were in California in 2009. A fierce competitor on the track, her persona off the trac—replete with an infectious smile and a lot of laughter—is equally engaging. Through her father, who served as her interpreter, Ashley talked about the ... Read more
Meet Elin, The German Sesame Street’s First Muppet with a Disability
A muppet with a disability moves into the German Sesame Street: Elin. She is a young girl who likes tinkering with tech, talks a bit much, sometimes mixes up words and uses a wheelchair. Elin is now a permanent and regularly appearing character in “der Sesamstraße” on the German TV channel Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR). ... Read more
My Journey with Covid and MS by Lise Elsliger
My journey through my disability has been a long one although an interesting and enriching one also. I have suffered from MS and mental health problems for most of my adult life but recently an interesting twist was added to my experience. I also suffered from Covid. I’ve had what you’d call an interesting ... Read more
Maintenance with Long Haul Paul
I travelled 13,000 miles over the last three weeks, sharing my story at two different motorcycle events. After checking out my high mileage Tenere 700 at the Yamaha display, I get asked many questions about reliability and my maintenance schedule. There are different types of maintenance schedules, there is preventative maintenance, there is following ... Read more
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy — Loneliness and much more
Feeling lonely? You’re not alone. According to U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, the 19th and 21st U.S. Surgeon General during both the Obama and Biden administrations, even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, about half of US adults reported significant experiences of loneliness, including Murthy himself at various points in his life. In ... Read more
Senator Ed Markey
The drama of politics and social media can sometimes overshadow the ongoing work of legislators who strive to improve all communities. We look to the champions—those who continuously work to protect the lives of people with disabilities and write and enact legislation that brings about change. Senator Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts) is one such champion. ... Read more
Resurrecting Media Access Awards: A Conversation with Deborah Calla
Exploring the Journey and Future of Inclusion in Entertainment In 2011, the Media Access Awards made a triumphant return after a three-year hiatus. Deborah Calla, Chair of the Diversity Committee of the Producers Guild of America at the time and writer, producer Allen Rucker, played pivotal roles in reviving this once prestigious black tie ... Read more
10th Easterseals Disability Film Challenge Awards
Reaching a major milestone, the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge celebrated ten years of challenging and highlighting disabled filmmaking talent. With over 600 films since its inception, the awards were held at the Cary Grant Theater at Sony Studios drawing celebrities like Jameela Jamil and Peter Farrelly. ABILITY Magazine’s George Kaplan interviewed some of the ... Read more
Michelle Sie Whitten — the Force Behind the Global Down Syndrome Foundation
Michelle Sie Whitten, Co-founder, President, and CEO of Global Down syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) is a friendly and intelligent force. Inspired by her daughter Sophia, who was born with Down syndrome, GLOBAL has had the same mission since its conception. They focus on spreading awareness that people with Down syndrome are important members of society ... Read more
Lauren “Lolo” Spencer Puzzle
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