Friendly reminder to #leadership and teams in charge of #diversity, #equity, #inclusion, and #accessibility efforts: The ADA should be considered the bare minimum from an access POV. #Disability is diverse. Not sure what someone needs to thrive? Ask. Aim higher than the minimum. Your employees will thrive and everyone wins.
Focusing solely on ADA compliance rather than making something truly accessible in 2022 is the equivalent of #quietquitting #DEIA work.
Rideshare Woes Continue For Disabled Passangers
“Lyft is not a government institution. It is a private company that has no obligation to provide WAVs on its platform,” Lyft officials wrote in a private federal court filing obtained by NBC News."
- Char Adams, NBC News
As a wheelchair user rideshare remains largely inaccessible due to a lack of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) offerings. In my near decade of using Uber and Lyft, (and across thousands of rides) I recall a single instance of successfully hailing a WAV following an hour long wait. Since being matched with Canine Companions® Pico in 2014, my access challenges have expanded to include service dog discrimination. While I know there are dedicated employees and insiders at Lyft and Uber working toward change, (h/t Nicholas Mendelke!) they are the exception. The overall track record of both platforms providing transportation to disabled passengers is horrendous.
Advocates understand these companies framing themselves as tech firms is a disingenuous attempt to skirt federal law. Consequently, recent landmark lawsuits brought by U.S. Department of Justice around equal access are notable. Earlier this year Uber settled a lawsuit regarding wait times, while in 2020 Lyft settled a lawsuit agreeing to provide rides to passengers with foldable wheelchairs. For most cities, wheelchair users are rerouted out of the app in favor of third-party transportation ACCESS providers, thus negating the entire on-demand premise these platforms were founded upon.
Even knowing WAVs are not something I can rely on, I’ve continued using these platforms out of necessity. I'm thankful my mobility allows me to opt to do so without my wheelchair but that’s not the case for everyone, and access issues persist for those with disabilities.
Since beginning to publicly document my experiences in 2018, I've made national headlines on Fox News TV, NowThis and written extensively on the topic. Sadly, systemic failures remain. Despite having policies that publicly align with the ADA, both platforms routinely refuse passengers with service animals. So much so I’ve built in “rejection time” to account for the increased attempts required to secure a ride. However, the discrimination goes much deeper. Drivers often make disparaging remarks toward us once the ride initiates making for an awkward journey or submit an amended final bill for Pico's incidental shedding in violation of the ADA. Some drivers falsely claim Pico has left urine, feces, or vomit in their vehicle to justify an exorbitant cleaning fee. Most recently, a driver tipped themselves upward of 25% without consent in retaliation. All of these instances take time and energy to correct through layers of bureaucracy often stretching days.
We have a long way to go before equity is achieved. Let’s work together to hold companies accountable.
#disability #ridesharing #uber #lyft #discrimination #accessibility
National Radio Day
In honor of #NationalRadioDay, here’s a throwback from my time as a KUPS 90.1FM Tacoma "The Sound" DJ at University of Puget Sound with wildly purple hair.
Something about a cramped radio studio will always feel like home.
#GoLoggers #OnceALogger
The Untapped Potential of Disability in the Workplace
I’ve heard from multiple people charged with #diversity, #equity, #inclusion, and #access efforts that lack of familiarity with #disability makes them uncomfortable when recruiting. It stops them cold in their tracks unsure of how to engage.
Disability is a natural occurrence if one lives long enough. Nothing about it should be scary or intimidating to employers. Disabled employees are arguably more adaptive than our non-disabled colleagues simply out of necessity. We’ve been navigating a world that wasn’t built with us in mind for a while. With that experience comes a wealth of knowledge about seeing the world differently and finding unique alternatives to getting things done in all facets of daily life, including the workplace. DEIA efforts aren’t charitable. Done right, they have the potential to be some of the most life-changing hires for your organization.
Yet recruiting efforts are so underwhelming we have our own month in October focused on reminding people, namely employers, that we want, deserve, and can bring a lot to any organization if they're willing to give us a seat at the table. National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) dates back to 1945 when it was originally named “National Employ The Physically Handicapped Week.” While we’ve thankfully moved away from outdated terminology and expanded the definition to be more inclusive toward all types of disabilities, the stigma remains.
Disability recruitment should be a top priority for every organization. For true equality we must go beyond hiring and metrics. It’s essential we be represented throughout all levels of an organization with equal opportunities for advancement. That starts with getting our foot, our wheel, our cane, or our Canine Companions® paw in the proverbial door.
Embracing disability as a key component of diversity, equity, inclusion, and access is the only way to challenge misconceptions and ultimately shift the narrative.
#hiring #recruitment #employment #disabilityawareness
The Disability Wage Gap and Student Loan Forgiveness
Over the past several months the Biden administration has racked up impressive wins related to targeted student loan forgiveness. U.S. Department of Education touted its successes in a July 6 press release noting $26 billion in relief for various groups.
• Approximately $8 billion through borrower defense;
• Nearly $8 billion to borrowers who are totally and permanently disabled; (TPD)
• More than $9 billion to public servants through the PSLF program; and
• Over $1 billion in closed school discharges.
As Forbes contributor Adam S. Minsky noted today, those numbers are steadily climbing as the administration seeks more relief.
For the disabled borrower however, discharge through TPD is limited and leaves many scrambling for relief.
Consider:
The TPD discharge, aimed at helping disabled borrowers who are unable to sustain gainful employment, does not apply to everyone. Currently 323,000 individuals have been granted relief under this program.
Additionally, $7 billion of the total forgiven under TPD is thanks to a data-sharing effort between the Department of Education and Social Security Administration identifying qualified applicants currently receiving SSI or SSDI. According to the latest data, just over 12 million people between 18-64 are enrolled in either program, accounting for 32% of U.S. disabled adults in that same age range based on U.S. Census Bureau data.
While exact figures on disability and student loan debt remain illusive, it’s likely there remains a large percentage of disabled borrowers not covered under TPD who struggle repaying student loans while employed.
Our path to employment is already a challenging one. Beginning in academia, we battle with questions surrounding disclosure, seeking accommodations, and administrative hurdles. According to a 2017 report from the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD), the process is often so cumbersome many don’t seek the support they need and thus are at an increased risk for not graduating. Postsecondary National Policy Institute (PNPI) notes 40% of undergraduate students with disabilities who started in 2011 graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the same institution by 2017, compared to 57% of students without disabilities.
When we do graduate, the struggles continue in our job search as we work to dismantle ableism and misconceptions about our abilities in the workplace. Consequently, it's no surprise only 4% of employees are openly out as disabled at work according to Disability:IN. The potential earnings discrepancy highlights another barrier. Research from The Century Foundation and Center for Economic and Policy Research shows we earn an average 26% less compared to our non-disabled colleagues.
We must find a way to provide relief to disabled borrowers working to pay off student loans.
#studentloans #studentloanforgiveness #disability #wagegap
Airlines Continue Mishandling Wheelchairs at Alarming Rate
"We would never accept airlines breaking the legs of 1 in 65 passengers, and yet, that is essentially what is happening when 1 out of 65 wheelchairs are being broken by airlines."
—Senator Tammy Duckworth to Business Insider.
Traveling as a wheelchair user is an exhausting and stress-inducing experience. Just within this past week this all-too-common occurrence of airlines mishandling wheelchairs has led to a flurry of headlines.
John Morris, founder of WheelchairTravel.org had his wheelchair, valued at $65,000, damaged twice by American Airlines.
Tim Kelly, another wheelchair user, was given airline miles as a "goodwill gesture" after Delta Air Lines forgot to put his chair on his flight from New York to Dublin, and worse, mishandled the chair on the return flight after it arrived causing significant damage.
Patty Bough, 85, was stranded at Orlando International Airport - MCO for 14 hours after Frontier Airlines left her unattended following a missed flight.
Wheelchair users are being forgotten, and the consequences are dire. Airlines often treat us, and our very expensive medical equipment, like trash.
This is not a new problem. Outside of the disability community there seems to be little outrage.
With newly released data from U.S. Department of Transportation showing an average of 35.8 wheelchairs are mishandled by airlines daily, and the uptick in news stories highlighting the anxiety of traveling as a wheelchair user, I wanted to take this opportunity to share an article I wrote last summer for Rooted in Rights detailing why this is such a huge problem for the disability community and why holding airlines accountable is essential.
Change is glacially slow, and occasionally backward. I am grateful to Senator Duckworth for being a leading voice on this issue. She is the very reason airlines are required to provide statistics on mishandled equipment at all.
Another perfect example of why representation matters.
When Your Wheelchair is Your Legs: Holding Airlines Accountable For Broken Mobility Equipment
Disability Pride PSA
In our final few days of Disability Pride, a quick PSA to my non-disabled followers and disability allies.
Notice what July is not.
🚫Handi-capable month
🚫 Differently-abled month
🚫 Special Needs month
🚫 dis-ABLE month
🚫 Physically Challenged month
✅ It’s DISABILITY Pride.
If that feels wrong to say, spend some time this weekend interrogating why.
This month is focused on embracing an identity that is integral to who we are. Honor that.
#saytheword
#disabilitypridemonth
Celebrating The ADA at 32
Yesterday, with the help of StoryCorps, I had the privilege of a lifetime sitting down with my friend, Business RadioX® “Fearless Formula” podcast host, and Professional Voice-over Artist Sharon Cline. We discussed the challenges and triumphs of disability advocacy, the role of allyship, and the importance of the ADA on its 32nd birthday.
The Power of Representation
Disability-related workplace complaints were the second most-common discrimination complaint filed to the EEOC in 2020, and according to data published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, job candidates who disclose their disability are less likely to receive interest from employers.
Kristen Parisi, Morning Brew
Disability advocates talk a lot about representation. We talk about it so much we get tired of banging that particular drum. However, the underwhelming truth is, we remain underrepresented at work, in media, in advertising, and in society. As we enter the last week of Disability Pride, where the megaphone for us is a tad louder than normal, I want to talk about why that matters.
Representation is the foundation of inclusiveness. If we can’t be seen or acknowledged, if our perspectives are devalued or ignored, we are powerless to affect change. For this reason, representation in the C-Suite is particularly pivotal.
Yet, despite accounting for 20 percent of the global population, only four percent are openly out as disabled in the workplace according to the latest Disability Equity Index from Disability:IN. Not surprising given the added fears and anxieties that accompany workplace disclosure; concerns around equitable treatment, reasonable accommodations, changes in perceived abilities, and lower wages.
When it comes to media, a 2021 GLAAD report found only three and a half percent of characters in broadcast television shows during the 2020-2021 season had a disability. Of those, only 12 percent were portrayed by disabled actors according to a 2018 White Paper by the Ruderman Family Foundation.
The last example of underrepresentation, (which is being generous), is Pottery Barn, who last week unveiled their new Accessible Home furniture line—150 of their best-selling pieces redesigned with inclusivity in mind. Putting aside the company’s own admission that its high prices are likely to create a barrier to entry for their target market—one look at the models used in their campaign highlights one seemingly glaring omission—actual disabled people. It appears nobody within their marketing team could locate any of the roughly 1.5 billion disabled people worldwide to showcase their new furniture and opted instead for non-disabled models in hospital style wheelchairs. They want our money, just not our representation. Thankfully, Keely Cat-Wells, Tiffany A. Yu, MSc and the team at C Talent have put them on notice for future campaigns.
With these few examples, we remind you that the mere act of representation is not enough. Optics are not enough. Awareness is not enough. Being made aware is quite literally the first step, not the end goal. Awareness must be followed by inclusive action, without it, you’ve slipped into indifference.
Representation matters. Representation gives us a seat at the table. To all of the executives and C-Suite leaders, I ask you: What are you doing with it?
Disability Pride And The Meaning of Independence
As part of Disability Pride Month, Momentum Wheels for Humanity highlighted what independence meant to some of their friends and supporters in the disability community.
Here is an expanded edition of what I shared with them.
As we mark 32 years this July since the passage of the ADA, I’m encouraged by the progress we’ve made toward diversity, equity, inclusion and access. While the landmark legislation has certainly opened doors and transformed lives, the fight for full independence, freedom, and movement remains.
Since being matched with Canine Companions® Pico and becoming a service dog handler in 2014, I’ve seen my own independence increase tenfold, and I’ve watched my life transform in unimaginable ways.
For the last eight years, Pico and I have worked together to affect change on both the local and national stage. We’ve spearheaded policy shifts with Petco, Uber, Lyft, and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) (to name a few) ensuring greater access and a safer experience for service dog teams. In addition, every public outing is an opportunity to educate the public on the important work done by Canine Companions and the vital role service dogs play in the lives of their handlers. I am so proud of the work we’ve done together for the disability community.
In the workplace we fight for the freedom to be seen as fully capable. We fight for accommodations, upward mobility and recognition beyond tokenism. Our independence is threatened by an increasing wage gap, and the practice of sub minimum wage remaining legal in 36 states. Our movements are limited when we can’t save for our future, or marry who we love without fear of losing the social safety net provided by Social Security Administration and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
We advocate for our right to move through the world unencumbered by obstacles; physical or idealogical. Some shifts are easier, others less so. We push forward knowing progress is not always linear.
As with every fight for equality, we celebrate our progress; we recognize our wins both large and small that have brought us to this moment and remain committed toward the day when full independence, freedom, and movement is possible for the entire disability community.