Category: Disability Inclusion
Essays about practical accessibility, the ADA, representation, public systems, and meaningful participation.
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The Expanded Inclusion Collection
Inclusion reaches beyond access. It is reflected in how people are heard, how decisions are made, whether accommodations are understood, and whether disability is considered from the beginning rather than addressed later. The essays in this collection examine those questions across health…
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Access Beyond Entry
A recent LinkedIn post by educational psychologist Dr. Keith Houghton begins with a statement he credits to Dr. Muna Abdi: “It is not inclusion if you invite people into a space you are unwilling to change” (Houghton, 2026). Dr. Houghton focuses on…
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What “Accessible” Leaves Unanswered
The restaurant has been chosen, the time nearly settled, and the reservation is ready to be made. The restaurant’s website describes the building as accessible, but it provides no details about the entrance, seating, or restrooms. Someone calls before the group confirms…
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The Second Request
A visitor who uses a wheelchair arrives early for an appointment and follows a sign directing visitors who need step-free access to a side entrance. The door is locked. After trying to find another way in, the visitor calls the front desk…
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The ADA at 36: How Far Does Access Reach?
The promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is reflected in ordinary places. It can be seen in an accessible entrance, a government website that works with a screen reader, or medical equipment that allows a patient to receive a complete…
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The Distance to the Door
Temperatures have pushed past 100 degrees this summer. For anyone who already hates the heat, even going out for lunch can feel like a questionable idea. A restaurant may be only a few miles away, but getting there is only one part…
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“Nothing About Us Without Us”: What Does Participation Mean in 2026?
On March 12, 1990, eight-year-old Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins left her wheelchair at the foot of the U.S. Capitol steps. Around her, other people with disabilities abandoned their wheelchairs and crutches and began the climb toward the Capitol. These images have become fixtures of…
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The Space Between Access and Participation
The Americans with Disabilities Act changed how access and inclusion are understood in the United States. Thirty-six years later, the question is no longer only whether people with disabilities are included. It is also whether they can use public systems, influence how…