Weekly Reading List

There's interesting disability stuff to read every week, even during the holidays ...

5 “Quad Tricks” for Managing a Day at Home Solo
Alex Ghenis, New Mobility - December 22, 2016

I'm surprised there aren't more articles like this. In the next few years we are going to have to fight for every hour of home care to prevent a mass return to nursing homes. But being able to manage on your own for a few extra hours can make a big difference when the only practical alternative is total loss of independence.

Getting fuel with a disability: Not as easy as pushing a button
John Hult, Sioux Falls Argus Leader - December 26, 2016

Compare this ADA story with the "60 Minutes" piece on "drive by lawsuits." This local newspaper story starts from a similar place ignorance, but instead of sniffing out perceived corruption, it proceeds with a more open attitude of curiosity: "Shouldn't this thing work better? How is it actually supposed to work? Huh! People are sort of trying, but maybe following the letter of the law isn't enough." It presents a problem but doesn't single out villains, and as a result, it's easier to see the possibility of reasonable solutions and better results.

Love Crimes
Mike Ervin, Smart Ass Cripple - December 18, 2016

All I ever do is gush with praise for Smart Ass Cripple posts, because they usually leave no room for further comment other than to say, "You have to read it." So ... if you have ever given a moment's anguished thought to the phenomenon of parents deliberately killing their disabled child and being treated sympathetically in public perception, then you have to read this.

Individuals with disabilities more likely to be employed in states with expanded Medicaid
Mike Krings, Medical Press - December 22, 2016

I would like to read something about this in a less obscure publication, but I am adding it to my list because it pinpoints something that I think doesn't get enough focused attention. Steady employment is usually viewed as the gold standard way of getting steady health insurance, but the opposite is also true. Stable health insurance is an important key to getting and keeping a good job, especially when you have disabilities.

Becoming Disabled
Michael M. Weinstein, The New Yorker - December 22, 2016

If you are steeped in disability culture and activism already, you might find this personal disability story / review laced with low-grade ableism. Yet, this New Yorker article could function as a good and philosophically accessible introduction to the deeper meanings of disability, both the practical and emotional sides of the experience. I'm glad to see this small trend of disability topics being discussed in relatively sophisticated ways in "higher end" but mainstream publications.