Over 96% of Government Websites Hide Disabled Men and Women on Their Site
websiteplanet.com / Sarah Turner
Out of the 502 websites we explored, only a mere 24 showed photos of disabled people on non-medical pages.
However, even these instances came with some notable issues. None of those found were on the website homepage. In fact, most existed in blog posts discussing a specific organization or person. For example, some Brazilian websites did include articles about the Paralympics. However, aside from pages about the Paralympics, there were no mentions or images of disabled individuals on the website. Even this shows the tendency to shun people with a disability by separating them into a different echelon of society.
If you’re tired of the never-ending search for streaming content that feels fresh and relevant, award-winning actor and New Mobility contributor Regan Linton hopes you will tune in to her modern update of Jack and the Beanstalk, now streaming on Max. The 19-minute film, directed and co-written by Linton, is one of six shorts that make up Reframed: Next Gen Narratives, a new series from Warner Bros. Discovery Access that tackles modern issues through remakes of classic films.
Surround me with friends in a casual setting and I’ll enjoy myself and my company, with laughter and gab washing over us in a bright, babbling feedback loop. But transplant the same crew to a big, buzzing room for a show or event, where spirits are flowing and the living is large, and I turn into the invisible man. Energy is up, excitement is up, and the party’s blowing the roof off the place, but I’m down here — at butt-level — in my power wheelchair. You can’t hear me, and I can’t hear you.
"People with intellectual disabilities need to be treated and respected the same way that we do every other patient who shows up at the doctor," said University of Chicago public health researcher Harold Pollack. "We are a long way from that."
Known as “The Most Magical Place on Earth,” the Walt Disney World Resort is also one of the most accessible and welcoming places on Earth. Not only does Disney World feature numerous accommodations for guests regarding showtimes, rides, attractions, and dining experiences, but the resort also employs a robust Disability service known as DAS.
More than 16,000 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, or IDD, are housed in institutions in the U.S., reports the Residential Information Systems Project. While that's significantly lower than nearly 200,000 people in the 1960s, there is more work to be done, says disability rights activist Rebecca Cokley.
In light of recent changes in disability legislation and policy, states like Arizona and Virginia have taken significant steps to foster inclusive hiring initiatives. By eliminating the four-year degree requirement for most state jobs, they're opening doors for a broader range of applicants, which enhances workforce diversity. This move addresses the needs of historically underemployed groups, including people with disabilities, by reducing unnecessary barriers to employment.
The Americans with Disabilities Act guarantees equal protection for people with a wide range of disabilities. But advocates say many challenges remain 34 years after it became the law of the land. Modeled after the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the ADA provides equal access to government services, schools, buildings, private employers and commercial facilities. But some disability rights activists say the law doesn't go far enough to protect those living with disabilities.
FEMA is providing disaster assistance to people with disabilities and access and functional needs. Assistance is also available for those who communicate in languages other than English. Some individuals without a disability may have temporary or long-term conditions where they also need a little extra help but might not think to ask for it. FEMA offers extra help to people such as older adults, and people who have difficulty with English.
“About 3.8% is the unemployment rate in this country,” Gray continued. “We see about 6 % are with people [with] disabilities and … when you get to blacks with disabilities, it gets to 12.4%.” Gray recently teamed up with the California-based Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a philanthropy organization that will help her team expand their reach.
In a conversation presented by Easterseals Disability Services, a nonprofit supporting people with disabilities for over 100 years, disabled creatives and allies discuss inclusion in Hollywood. Being noticed in Hollywood is a challenge for any creative. But being seen when you’re a disabled creative is exponentially more difficult.