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Within the condition of “autism” there lies a wide spectrum of abilities, from low IQ, non-verbal and requiring lifelong care to high IQ, good verbal facility and ability to live independently. For the higher functioning people with autism, some of the same traits that distinguish them as being autistic also allow them excel at certain types of work that non-autistic people find difficult. One example is put forth in a New …

You’ve probably seen Stephen Hawking on TV.   The world-famous physicist and author of A Brief History of Time, has a degenerative motor neuron disesase that, after several decades, has left him almost completely paralyzed, yet he still manages to speak using a computer generated voice.  Ever wonder how he does it?  Find out in this article by the Accessible Technology Coalition.

Through the Looking Glass is conducting a national survey of mothers with physical disabilities who have at least one child 36 months of age or younger.  They state the purpose for the survey like this: There is very little research to find out how mothers with physical disabilities manage routine child care tasks. Are certain child care tasks more challenging because of a …

In recent decades some invisible disabilities such as autism, traumatic brain injury  and diabetes has skyrocketed.  At the same time new invisible disabilities have appeared, such as fibromyalgia, metabolic syndrome and multiple chemical sensitivities.  There are hundreds of diagnoses that can come under the heading of invisible disabilities. The Invisible Disabilities Association (IDA) is dedicated to making a difference in these people’s lives, regardless …

Call me naive, but I would have thought that this long after the ADA was enacted, accessibility in voting places would be fairly well handled.  Silly me!  During the last election in 2008, only 27% of polling places were barrier-free.  That means nearly three quarters of the voting places were inaccessible! The number of Americans with disabilities is increasing.  At the same time, many states are instituting voter …

Everybody makes mistakes, and job interviews are no different.  But if you make a mistake in a job interview, it’s not the end of the world–though it might feel that way temporarily.  Shelly Goldman, guest blogger on Disability Blog, not only puts interview mistakes into perspective, but she also tells you how to turn it into an advantage.  See her whole blog here.

Do you know a child with a disability who dreams of owning a playhouse? The Silicon Valley Independent Living Center (SVILC) is collaborating with Intel and Habitat for Humanity Silicon Valley to provide accessible playhouses to children with disabilities and their friends through a raffle. One raffle ticket will be drawn every month as long as playhouses are available, but …

When you are looking for a job, the people you choose for your references could be a crucial element in your actually being offered the job.  GettingHired.com has some excellent advice on how to choose your references and how to make the most of their services.  You can read the whole article here.

Having a disability is no laughing matter, yet laughter can definitely help us along the way.  Laughter is not just an amusing diversion.  Scientific studies have shown laughter has measurable beneficial effects–physically, psychologically and socially. Check out this blog that not only describes those benefits more fully, but also gives us specific instructions on how to increase the laughter to our lives.

No doubt about it–these are very difficult financial times for many Americans.  I hope you are not among those who are struggling, but if you are, help is available.  That help comes in both governmental and nonprofit flavors. The government program websites I’ve included here have some overlap, but they are all worth perusing for assistance with unemployment, housing, food and health services. For …