The Arc of the United States’ Post

The market for products for the disabled is substantial and can provide economic benefits to many companies as well as society at large. Take for example products like text messaging and audio books, both originally created for people with hearing, speech, and visual handicaps.  July is widely recognized as "Disability Pride Month," which serves as a commemoration of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that was signed into law on July 26, 1990. This groundbreaking legislation was the first of its kind, offering comprehensive safeguards for the civil rights of individuals with disabilities. One of the primary goals of this law is to ensure accessibility for all. As a result, there is a continuous focus on developing assistive products for the disabled that foster inclusivity and facilitate independent engagement in various aspects of life, including both work and leisure activities. It came as a surprise when my company discovered a market for adaptive rifle scope clip-ons among individuals who are blind, visually impaired, or have limited mobility but still want to enjoy hunting and shooting sports (www.adaptivehunters.com). Let’s not make assumptions about what disabled people want to be enabled to do! #disabilitypride #disabilityawareness #disabilityrights #disabilityinclusion #disabilitypridemonth #disabilitysport #disabledandproud 

This quote reminds us that people with disabilities should be included in all aspects of society, just like everyone else. We can all practice good etiquette by being mindful of the needs of people with disabilities and by making accommodations for them when possible. Here are a few tips: 👉 Be aware of physical barriers, such as steps or narrow doorways, and offer assistance if needed. 👉 Be patient and understanding if someone with a disability takes longer to complete a task. 👉 Don't make assumptions about someone's abilities. Just because someone uses a wheelchair or has a visual impairment doesn't mean they can't do everything you can do. 👉 Ask questions if you're not sure how to help. Most people with disabilities are happy to answer questions and provide you with information. By practicing good etiquette, we can help to create a more inclusive and accessible society for everyone. #disabilityinclusion #disabilityawareness #goodetiquette #accessibility #inclusionmatters #breakthebarriers

People should stop automatically assuming that we are brave for dealing with our disabilities." "Stop constantly infantilizing adults with disabilities." Hear powerful truths like these from The Arc's advocates in Good Housekeeping 's new piece. Russell, Yvette, Ashley, Lizzy, Sean, and others from the intellectual and developmental disability community share what they want society to know. The more we listen to people with disabilities and share their truths, the more we can drive positive change! https://lnkd.in/eHRai8mM

Here's a thought experiment for you, on #gaad replace the word #accessibility with the sentence "allowing access for people with disabilities", then see if you still think your choice is right. So for example "we don't want to limit creative design due to accessibility", would become "we don't want to limit creative design due to allowing access for people with disabilities". Or "we can tackle accessibility later, it's not a priority", becomes "we can tackle allowing access for disabled people later, it's not a priority".

 "Let’s Support: International Day of Persons with Disabilities" On December 3rd we celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which has over thirty years progress since it was started back in 1992. This day emphasizes the need for breaking down barriers and making an inclusive society. When we take away these challenges to empower people living with disabilities, everybody gains from it. The Spinal Research Institute (SRI) demonstrates that disabled people can be involved in the research. SRI involves spinal cord injury individuals in its research efforts as they help co-design and co-deliver studies. This ensures the relevance and impact of the research, ultimately improving outcomes for people with spinal injuries as well as the wider society. It shows how engaging disabled persons positively affects quality of research and community health. Antonio Vecchio is SRI’s Community and Consumer Engagement Manager who reflects on this day. He remembers when there was a shift from a medical to a social model of disability, starting from 1981 International Year of Disabled Persons during which time society’s focus was not on disabilities but the factors that caused them instead. Vecchio actually lives out this principle “Nothing about us without us” by putting disabled individuals at the heart of discussions and decisions concerning their lives.  We must unify our efforts towards creating a just society where everyone has equal chances of making it! https://lnkd.in/e2NF28Av #DefendDisabilityRights #OpenCommunity #WorldDisabledDay #EqualityForEveryone #EnableTransform

Self-advocacy is an important part of being a leader. We suggest starting with listening to Maria Town on Disability Matters to learn more about what is happening in the disability community today. Listen on-demand at https://lnkd.in/e3epX7Vh. #DisabilityMatters #AAPD #LeadOn

One of the biggest barriers for people with disabilities is assuming they are not capable. This article is a great reminder. Everyone deserves #respect #compassion #HighExpectations We all benefit from #accessible and #inclusive environments. #TemporarilyAble #DisabilityRightsAreCivilRights https://lnkd.in/eHRai8mM

🌟 True inclusion for people with disabilities requires a fundamental redesign of society's systems. 🌟 In a powerful piece, Sherry Toh shares the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities like SMA, highlighting how traditional systems often fail to accommodate them. It's time to move beyond mere accommodations and reimagine our societal structures to be inherently inclusive. Here at Wandke Accessibility, we advocate accessibility for all in an increasingly digital and physical world. Universal Design is a design that allows anyone to have access to it regardless of age or ability. No one should be left behind. Just as disability is diverse, so are access needs, as accessibility is not “one-size-fits-all.” To learn more about universal design, look into our training offers on our website. Key takeaways: - Traditional systems weren't designed with disabilities in mind. - Prioritizing feedback from minorities is crucial. - Collaboration and informed redesign can lead to meaningful change. - Let's work together for a more inclusive future! #DisabilityInclusion #UniversalDesign #AccessibilityMatters #InclusiveSociety #RedesignForAll #SMAAwareness #BarrierFree #EquityInDesign #DisabilityRights #AccessibleFuture https://lnkd.in/gTZ7K-5x

How can we better support consumers with disabilities? Join our webinar to hear from community organizations and other stakeholders about resources that can increase awareness and capabilities of financial challenges facing persons with disabilities. https://lnkd.in/e2Y4BigX

A human rights-based care agenda recognizes the rights of those who give and receive care. Persons with disabilities provide care and support to their families and their community. Recognizing, redistributing and reducing unpaid care is good for persons with disabilities and for society as a whole. Men and women must provide care equally, have time to provide care and choose and manage the care they receive with autonomy. Learn more about the care agenda from a disability perspective here: https://loom.ly/uUQG-N0 #humanrights #careandsupport #InternationalDayofCareandSupport