If Eileen Grubba’s name isn’t familiar, there’s a reason. She’s built a strong television career playing edgy characters in shows like Game of Silence, Sons of Anarchy, The Mentalist and HBO’s Hung, plus others. Her thespian roots stretch back to Atlanta and New York, where she acted in musicals, plays, commercials and independent films. ... Read more
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Uber Teaches American Sign Language (ASL)
When you are matched with a deaf driver, you can learn a few ASL signs in their app. The tool teaches you how to sign basic phrases such as “I am [your name],” “turn left” and “turn right” “thank you,” etc… Two years ago, Uber introduced new features designed to better serve deaf and ... Read more
Genesis Prize Award Money Funds Syrian Children’s Hearing Restoration Treatment
The Genesis Prize Foundation (GPF) announced a six-figure grant to Ziv Medical Center in Safed, Israel, to fund the treatment of hearing loss among Syrian children brought from conflict areas to Israel for diagnostic examination, clinical treatments, surgery and rehabilitation — inspired by 2017 Laureate Anish Kapoor, and joined by philanthropist Morris Kahn. This ... Read more
Global Mobility — providing free wheelchairs around the world
Global Mobility is providing free wheelchairs to persons with disabilities around the world. Outreach extends to developing nations in need and domestically as well. Global Mobility partnerships include the Shriners Hospital for Children, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, convalescent homes, churches and local missions — world partners include Refugio de Esperanza/ Hope Haven ... Read more
New Bill in Congress to Change ADA, 27 Years Not Enough Time to Comply?!
Congress Wants to Change the Americans with Disabilities Act and Undermine the Civil Rights of People with Disabilities The Americans with Disabilities Act is the most comprehensive and foundational civil rights law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability. Yet, 27 years after it was passed, people with disabilities still face enormous barriers. People ... Read more
National Disability Employment Awareness Month ‘Inclusion Drives Innovation’
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy announced that “Inclusion Drives Innovation” will be the theme of National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October 2017. “Americans of all abilities must have access to good, safe jobs,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. “Smart employers know that including different perspectives in ... Read more
The Second International Integrated Art Exhibition for Persons with Disabilities, Wuhan China
Please let us know if you are interested in submitting your artwork to this unique opportunity. Only accepted artists will be asked to attend; airfare is not included, but all costs for accommodations in Wuhan, China will be covered. (see below). Artists do not have to be present to exhibit art or win. Time ... Read more
Blind football rattles Egypt’s one million who have blindness or low vision
The set-up couldn’t have been more perfect. The ball landed softly in front of Mostafa Abdel Rahman and he tapped it forward, picking up speed. He veered left, skilfully picking off the opposing team’s last defender, and then, with only the goalkeeper left ahead of him, took aim at the far corner of the ... Read more
Planes Adapted with Hand Controls
A retired U.S. Army captain who was wounded in combat by an improvised explosive device is one of seven people at Purdue University working to show that their disabilities will not hold them back from taking to the skies. Students in this year’s Able Flight program arrived on campus May 22 and got their ... Read more
To Mosquitofish, or Not to Mosquitofish?
Mosquito-borne diseases in the US are West Nile Virus, St. Louis encephalitis (SLE), Western Equine encephalitis (WEE), and Eastern Equine encephalitis (EEE). Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain that can cause symptoms ranging from headaches and a fever to paralysis, seizures, coma and even death. Reducing the number of mosquitoes, that are able to ... Read more
ABILITY Magazine and ABILITY Corps at the UN’s CRPD: Talking Unconscious Bias
United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD/COSP10), ABILITY Corps and ABILITY Magazine hosted a panel titled: Unconscious Bias, Perceptions and Non-inclusion. Panelists consisted of: Maya Sabatello, LLB, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Bioethics, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University; a faculty member at Columbia University’s Institute for the Study of Human ... Read more
First of its Kind Dual Robotic Surgery
The world’s first-of-its-kind dual robotic surgery was performed on April 23 at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem in Jerusalem. The revolutionary dual robotic surgery assisted in the repair of a severe spinal fracture suffered by Aharon Schwartz, a factory worker in Jerusalem who was injured when a steel object pinned him to the ground, fracturing ... Read more
Lights! Camera! Access! 2.0
1 out of 5 people in American have a disability, yet according to the Ruderman Family Foundation White Paper on Disability in Television, 95% of television characters with disabilities are portrayed by non-disabled actors. The Caucus of Producers, Writers and Directors and Lights! Camera! Access! 2.0 held this event to raise disability awareness in ... Read more
Arkansas Man Asks for Stay of Execution Based On New Evidence of Intellectual Disability
Ledell Lee, a prisoner on death row in Arkansas, submitted a new request to the Arkansas parole board asking for new consideration of his application for clemency in light of new evidence that he has intellectual disability, and because of his innocence. Over the course of his case, his attorneys repeatedly failed to raise ... Read more
Toyota’s Partner Robot technologies vision: “freedom of mobility for all, and the joy of self-reliance”
Toyota Launches Rental Service for the Welwalk WW-1000 Rehabilitation Assist Robot in Japan Toyota began installing industrial robots in the 1980s, and since then has applied automobile production and developmental technologies to the advancements of Partner Robot technology, where the robots can be viewed as companions to provide support and to also co-exist with ... Read more
FDA approves first drug to treat multiple sclerosis — Ocrevus for primary progressive MS
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) to treat adult patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). This is the first drug approved by the FDA for PPMS. Ocrevus is an intravenous infusion given by a health care professional. “Multiple sclerosis can have a profound ... Read more
The Supreme Court, rules on providing higher education to special education
The US Supreme Court, in an 8-0 decision in the case Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District, ruled in favor of a higher standard of education for children with disabilities. The ruling expands the rights of students, empowers parents as they advocate for their children and provides a nationwide standard for special education. ... Read more
‘Smart’ leg mobility device could provide hands-free, alternative to conventional crutches
Individuals with lower leg injuries could soon be saying goodbye to traditional crutches with the development of a hands-free alternative that is more comfortable and potentially more effective. The device, developed by Purdue University graduates, could provide ergonomic and natural movement and transmit real-time recovery data to physicians. “Six and a half million people ... Read more
Kitten wheelchair using 3D printing
Cassidy, the kitten, was found stumbling around a Canadian forest near starvation. Surviving alone in the forest for 9 weeks, and weighed less than one pound when he was brought into the cat sanctuary Tiny Kittens. The sanctuary believe Cassidy’s mother accidentally chewed off his legs when trying to chew through the umbilical chord. ... Read more
Compelling Case Study on Peanut Allergies
The first published data from the Learning Early About Peanut (LEAP) study offers proof that early introduction of peanuts may offer protection from the development of peanut allergies. The study was led by Professor Gideon Lack at King’s College London. “We believe the results from this trial are so compelling, and the problem of ... Read more
