In a boon not just for the fight against COVID-19 but also for individuals with hearing problems or those who rely on reading lips to communicate, Ford Motor Co. has announced they are ramping up production of clear face masks with N95-level filtration — the level most helpful in controlling…
Tag: Disabilities
More Than 80% of Doctors Hold Biased Views on Patients With Disabilities, New Study Reveals
One would think that doctors would be among the most caring and supporting of patients with disabilities, but a new study from Health Affairs has revealed that more than 80% of doctors harbor at least somewhat negative attitudes towards the quality of life people with disabilities are able to achieve….
Waiting Period for Government Benefits Dropped for People Living With ALS
In a major win for disability rights advocates, individuals who are diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease will no longer have to wait five months before becoming eligible to receive benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program. According to NPR reporter Michelle Andrews, once…
Media Coverage of Kamala Harris Still Shockingly Sexist and Racist; Increased Challenges for Transgender Individuals at the Polls; and More
Media coverage of Kamala Harris still shockingly sexist and racist. Talk of her winning debate performance is making all the headlines now, but when Kamala Harris was first announced as Joe Biden’s vice presidential pick, a stunning 25% of the coverage of her historic candidacy included either sexist or racist…
Goodwill Industries to Pay $65,000 to Settle Disability Discrimination Suit
Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey, Inc. touts its hiring of people with disabilities, but recently settled a workplace discrimination lawsuit for $65,000. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) brought the lawsuit against Goodwill and announced Monday that the two groups had settled. According to…
During Suicide Prevention Week, People of Color’s Mental Health Struggles Cannot be Forgotten
National Suicide Prevention Week runs from Sept. 8–14 to raise awareness about suicide and the resources available to help those struggling with mental health crises. However, certain demographics seem to consistently slip through the cracks of mental health education, advocacy and care. People of color in the United States suffer…
From Goodwill to the Salvation Army: Evaluating the Ethics of some of America’s Best-Known Charities
Last year when Change.org’s petition to stop Goodwill Industries from exploiting its workers with disabilities entered the spotlight, the public was confused as to why an 80-year-old law which allowed the practice still governed an organization claiming to do charitable work. However, Goodwill is not the only so-called charity that…
Washington State Supreme Court Determines Obesity Discrimination Unlawful
The Washington State Supreme Court has declared it illegal to not offer an employee a job because of their weight. The court ruled the state’s definition of disability applies to obesity. Federal laws do not explicitly protect against discrimination based on obesity. Under Title VII of the federal Civil Rights…
Disabled Wisconsin Lawmaker State Rep. Jimmy Anderson Gets Snubbed by Legislature’s Leadership
Republican Assemblymen are playing hardball with Wisconsin State Rep. Jimmy Anderson (D), who is paralyzed and uses a wheelchair, over whether he should be allowed to call into committee meetings. Due to his caretakers’ schedules, it is easier to call into meetings rather than driving to the chambers. The feud…
Blind Man Sues Domino’s Over Not Being Able to Order Pizza, More Lawsuits Mount
Guillermo Robles, who is blind, said that he was not able to successfully order a pizza from Domino’s website or mobile app because of his disability. So, Robles sued. And Domino’s is not the only major retailer to be called out for not being disability-friendly. Beyoncé’s website has been targeted and…