Nicole Kohr emanates positive energy, and speaks so eloquently even while casually chatting. Nicole had a myriad of symptoms since birth, but wasn’t diagnosed with cystic fibrosis until the age of 5. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited life-threatening disorder that damages the lungs and digestive system. With years of no proper medication and ... Read more
Interesting Items
Dean Kamen — Segway and iBOT Inventor
Circa 2002 Dean Kamen is an inventor, an entrepreneur and a tireless advocate for science and technology. His roles as inventor and advocate are intertwined—his own passion for technology and its practical uses has driven his personal determination to spread the word about technology’s virtues and by so doing to change the American culture. ... Read more
Maya Chupkov — Becoming a Proud Stutter
Maya Chupkov has been stuttering all her life and faced many challenges because of her speech pattern. However, instead of hiding her disability, she is now using her podcast Proud Stutter to shift the narrative around stuttering. ABILITY’s Karina Sturm speaks with Maya Chupkov in an interview for ABILITY Magazine’s new podcast about her ... Read more
Cortney Radocaj — Intersectionality, Publishing and Diverse Literature
“As a member and advocate of both the queer and neurodiverse communities,” writes Cortney Radocaj, a literary agent with the Belcastro Agency, “I adore seeing works that celebrate and normalize these experiences, especially in YA” (young adult) literature. When we reached out to her, Radocaj shares the complexities of living with multiple invisible disabilities, ... Read more
Netflix Animation is Seeking a South Asian Female Wheelchair-user For Voice-over Roll!
A new Netflix Animation series is looking for an authentic South Asian (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, etc.) wheelchair-user to voice-over a female role named Saha. Searching for teens or adults to play younger. Open to use of other forms of mobility aids. Could your voice be “Saha”? Do you not fit the role but, ... Read more
Athletes from Russia and Belarus Banned from Competing in the 2022 Winter Paralympics
In a statement on the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) website published on March 2, 2022, the IPC shares their “sympathies for the Ukrainian athletes” and their “delight that the full delegation of the Ukrainian Paralympic Team arrived safely in Beijing.” They also emphasized that Russia needed to be held accountable for the breach of ... Read more
TV Legend Charlotte Rae Dies at 92
TV actress Charlotte Rae passed away on Sunday at her home in Los Angeles. She was 92. A star of the small and big screens alike, Charlotte Rae is perhaps best known for her performance on the 1980’s sitcom The Facts of Life, where she co-starred as Mrs. Edna Garrett alongside TV star and ABILITY ... Read more
Win the Movin’On Challenge 2022 with your inclusive design
Have you ever won a design competition? If yes, congratulations. Maybe you want to try again! If not, there is always a first time, and here is your chance! The Movin’On Challenge Design is open for entries for their annual competition and looking for innovative new ideas to “help create a world with more ... Read more
Itto Outini — Blindness is the Light
Itto Outini is a multilingual accessibility advocate and human rights activist. Born and raised in the mountains of Morocco, she was deprived of education as a child. At 17, her uncle’s wife blinded her, and her family abandoned her in the hospital. She spent six years homeless before graduating from high school at 23 ... Read more
First Lady Laura Bush – Interview by Chet Cooper
Circa 2004 Throughout the years, various symbols have come to represent causes embraced by the nation. A yellow ribbon tied around a tree hangs in remembrance of our military servicemen and servicewomen overseas; a pink ribbon serves to increase awareness surrounding breast cancer and urges women to undergo regular mammograms. And what about the ... Read more
Disney TV Animation Casting Wheelchair Users
CASTING: A new Disney TV Animation series is searching for young girls that are authentic wheelchair users to play lead characters. JAZZY – 7 to 8 year old sounding real kid or teen (age range 7 to 17, as discussed also open to naturally young sounding adults), female, character is Black, singing ability is ... Read more
Inclusiveness and Apathy in the Workplace
Fostering Culture Change to Combat Apathy in the Workplace: A Discussion on Inclusiveness The United States is well versed in what to say in order to appear as if actions are being made toward positive change. Paying so-called “lip service” to topics of critical experience comes naturally, and is in fact seen as a ... Read more
Metrolink introduces new ticket machines with accessibility features
Metrolink announces the installation of 133 new ticket machines at its stations across Southern California. The new machines improve the customer experience through improved reliability, a focus on accessibility, and smarter, more customer-friendly features, such as touchscreens. The machines comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), featuring voice enabled technology, a headphone jack ... Read more
Liu Xia: Writing for Life with Faith and Fortitude
“We need to see both sides of life. If there is only emphasis on the good side, that is self-deceit. It is necessary to be aware of the bad side, but we need to keep hope in the worst times.” Liu Xia sees poetry as an alternative reality she can visit. “There all is ... Read more
‘Lego Oma:’ German grandma creates Lego ramps to access buildings and imagination
Most Germans have heard of Rita Ebel, better known as the ‘Lego Oma.’ The 62-year-old lady with the short blonde pixie cut and a Hessian dialect is known all over the world since her wheelchair ramps made entirely from Lego have become a tourist attraction in the city of Hanau, Germany, and beyond. Rita ... Read more
How YAI, Next for Autism and Cure SMA are supporting their members during COVID-19
ABILITY Magazine contacted three large organizations and their members about the changes in how they operate during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. YAI, located in New York State, discussed their current situation in their housing facilities as well as their COVID-19 database, which offers information for people with (intellectual) disabilities. NEXT for AUTISM described what ... Read more
The Greatest Story Never Told… Yet — Tough Sledding: The Movie
Filmmakers Shed Light on 2002 Sled Hockey Quest for Paralympic Gold It was fall 2001. The United States national sled hockey team was finishing one of their first training camp weekends, which were grueling four-day marathons on the ice as the team paraded around to different cities once a month in preparation for the ... Read more
Accessibility and Inclusion: ‘This is who we are’ – PBS KIDS, a model for all media
For more than 50 years, PBS has strived to be as accessible as possible to a broad audience, and they have paid particular attention to including children with a variety of disabilities. ABILITY Magazine’s Karina Sturm spoke with Vice President of PBS KIDS Digital, Sara DeWitt, about PBS KIDS’ efforts to make their shows ... Read more
Justin Dart Remembered — Humanitarian, Leader and Friend
Editor’s note: In recognition of a great humanitarian, leader and friend, we present “The Resurrection of Justin Dart Jr. : A Quest for Truth and Love,” which was written by Mari Carlin Dart and originally appeared in the Diahann Carroll issue of ABILITY Magazine. Also included are additional comments from Dr. Fred Fay and ... Read more
Quincy Jones — The Quintessential Life of Harmony
Oct/Nov 2011 Quincy Jones’ music-industry reign spans more than six decades. He’s taken home a phenomenal 27 Grammy Awards, and found winning formulas for the likes of Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra and Barbra Streisand. A major multimedia presence, he produced TV’s The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, created Vibe magazine, and co-produced the movie The ... Read more
