Inclusion Desk

While additional funding for home-based services was excluded from the first two coronavirus relief bills, people with disabilities and their families will finally see some relief in the new stimulus package.

The package includes $350 billion in aid to states and localities to provide services to people with disabilities. 

It's been tough for a lot of people to get  a COVID-19 vaccine - with challenges like finding out where it’s available and getting an appointment and even determining whether you are eligible to get the shot.

Having a disability can make the process even more complex.

Research finds that girls with disabilities have significantly lower high school graduation rates and higher unemployment rates than their nondisabled peers. An organization called the Disability EmpowHer Network aims to provide mentoring and guidance to girls with disabilities. The goal is to "empower disabled young women to live to their fullest potential and have the confidence to lead."

Our guests share their stories of mentoring and overcoming the various obstacles facing young women with disabilities:

• Stephanie Woodward, co-founder of the Disability EmpowHer Network
• Jill Moore White, inclusive play specialist
• Maddie Kasten, 14-year-old mentee

This story is reported from WXXI’s Inclusion Desk. 

We have a conversation about a number of subjects related to autism. Our guests help us understand a new screening process, how to help families navigate pandemic challenges, and how to improve police interactions with people who have autism.

Our guests:

• Dylan Dailor, author and autism self-advocate 
• Susan Hyman, M.D., professor of pediatrics, and division chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong 
• Lisa Latten, health project coordinator for the Southern Tier Initiative in the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center 
• Rachel Rosner, director of education and support services for AutismUp 

*Dr. Hyman recommends these resources for families affected by the pandemic. More information can be found here. People interested in volunteering for URMC research related to auditory processing can email developmental_research@urmc.rochester.edu.

This conversation is part of Dialogue on Disability Week, a partnership between WXXI and Al Sigl Community of Agencies, in conjunction with the Herman and Margaret Schwartz Community Series.

When Erica Jones looks for a place to call home, her must-haves are non-negotiable.

“Can I get through the front door? Are there steps? And can I get inside the bathroom and turn around?" she asked. 

Jones uses a wheelchair, so space is important.

“If I can't maneuver the bathroom, that deems the entire apartment unlivable,” she said.

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 made public spaces more accessible, but many of the civil rights law’s regulations don’t apply to residential housing.

Liz Pritchard has been working from home during the pandemic in a home office surrounded by her favorite things: posters of the comics she creates, original artwork, collectibles, and costumes she’s worn to Comic Con over the years.
 

Pritchard calls herself an autistic artist and advocate. While comic books are her primary focus, she’s also a painter, a poet, and a teacher.

And she’s always teaching.

“It’s good to surround yourself with things that make you feel good,” she said over Zoom. “Create an awesome environment for you to create.”

One aspect of President Biden's $1.9 trillion stimulus plan is focused on helping people with disabilities. If passed, the American Rescue Plan would end the subminimum wage for people with disabilities. The decades-old option allowed employers to pay workers with disabilities less than minimum wage; in some states, they were paid as little as $2.13 an hour. Biden’s plan would also provide stimulus payments for adults with disabilities who are considered dependents; those individuals were excluded from previous stimulus packages.

This hour, we discuss the plan with our guests, who weigh in on the impact it may have and what it may be missing. We also discuss their “to-do” list for the Biden/Harris administration when it comes to disability rights. Our guests: 

• Aaron Baier, executive director of Access to Independence of Cortland County, Inc., and vice-chair of the New York State Independent Living Council 
• Charles White, community patient representative in the Department of Neurology at the University of Rochester Medical Center  
• Nicole Jorwic, senior director of public policy at The Arc 

This conversation is part of Dialogue on Disability Week, a partnership between WXXI and Al Sigl Community of Agencies, in conjunction with the Herman and Margaret Schwartz Community Series.