By Kate Anderson People with mental illnesses have often been painted with a broad stroke as being “dangerous” by the media and societies around the world. This ableist depiction, which has increased in recent years with the frequent mass shootings…
How to Be a Good Ally to Disabled People
By Drew Dakessian The Oxford American Dictionary defines ‘ally’ as “a person or organization that actively supports the rights of a marginalized group without being a member of it.” The operative word here is ‘actively.’ Being a good ally to…
How Anti-Trans Legislation Hurts Disabled People
By Charlotte Stasio Conservative politicians in the United States are increasingly targeting and criminalizing the lives of gender-diverse people. Rising anti-transgender legislation represents one front of an alarming global trend towards fascism, which has deep roots in ableism. There are…
Why Black Disabled History Matters
By Dikko Yusuf Black disabled history is an aspect of Black history, which informs world history. Black History Month is officially celebrated every year in the U.S., Canada, Ireland, and the UK. During this month, we celebrate the achievements of…
12 Black Disabled Activists and Advocates You Need to be Following
By Charlotte Stasio Centering the stories of Black disabled people is essential to achieving our vision of a world in which people with disabilities live freely, where access, inclusion, equity, and resilience are embedded throughout every global community. We are…
The Effects of Long COVID
by Kate Anderson Some people have decided to “move on” from the pandemic, returning to offices and social events without masks. Many people believe that case numbers and hospitalizations have slowed down since COVID-19’s first two years, but case numbers,…
Kat’s Top Five Innovations at CES 2023
by Kat Zigmont During the first week of January, I traveled to Las Vegas, NV to attend the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) as part of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) Foundation’s accessibility leaders cohort. We have the privilege of attending…
WID’s Executive Director & CEO Reflects on WID’s Accomplishments in 2022
by Marcie Roth As 2022 comes to close, I find myself reflecting on a challenging year balanced by measurable progress, growth, and collaboration. With each success, each milestone achieved, I am motivated by disability leaders coming together in a growing…
In Loving Memory of Hale Zukas
WID joins disabled people and our allies around the globe in mourning the loss of Hale Zukas, an incredibly impactful disability rights advocate and former staff member at the World Institute on Disability for over 30 years. Hale was a…
States Utilize American Rescue Plan Act Funds to Increase Employment for People with Disabilities
By Kate Anderson In March 2021, Congress and President Biden passed the historic American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to provide economic relief from the effects of the pandemic and ongoing recession. Many Americans recall this $1.9 trillion bill as the…