Wiley’s Walk
Join the journey. Walk the path.
Writing by Kerry Ann Wiley about disability, adaptation, participation, and the difference between access and inclusion.
New on Wiley’s Walk
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Where Does True Inclusion Begin?
Every October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) arrives with good intentions and familiar messages. Posters appear, speeches are given, and organizations remind their teams that inclusion matters. When November comes, attention often shifts elsewhere, and the focus on accessibility and inclusion…
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Why Disability Awareness Matters
In recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) Disability has three dimensions: impairment, activity limitation, and participation restrictions. Disability is one of the most common and least acknowledged aspects of life. How people respond to it reflects their values and approach…
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Honoring Service Through Inclusion: Veterans with Disabilities and NDEAM
Each October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) shines a spotlight on the talents and contributions of workers with disabilities, including millions of veterans whose service has left a lasting mark. Their experiences remind us that honoring service also means supporting inclusion,…
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Government Shutdowns and Disability Services: Preparing for Gaps, Protecting Access
On October 1, 2025, the federal government entered a shutdown after Congress failed to agree on a spending bill to fund operations for the new fiscal year. The funding lapse stems from unresolved differences between Democrats and Republicans over how federal money…
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Outside the Count
Patterns form quietly. Expectation settles in, and order begins to take shape. What first seems neutral — steady, reliable —gradually gathers influence. Each repetition decides what belongs and what is left aside. Outside the Count follows these patterns and lingers with what…
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A Moment of Decision: What the Room Teaches
In every classroom, moments arise that reveal who belongs and who is left out. This essay reflects on the quiet choices that teach us what inclusion truly means. There is a moment in every classroom that rarely appears in lesson plans, a…
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Sophia’s Seat: Lessons on Belonging, Bullying, and Change
Sophia watches as groups form. Chairs scrape, voices rise. She lingers, waiting for an opening that never comes. Chairs pull close. Voices drop and heads lean in. Plans form in whispers. She is not invited to join. When the teacher asks the…
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Rethinking Access: Understanding Federal Policy Shift
Abstract As of September 12, 2025, the U.S. Department of Energy no longer requires buildings receiving its funding to meet long-standing accessibility standards under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The department’s decision, issued through a direct final rule, has sparked significant…
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NDEAM: Where Awareness Meets Action
Excerpt:Awareness is the starting point, not the finish line. NDEAM reminds us that inclusion is not a statement but a structure, shaped through accessible design, informed leadership, attentive culture, and partnerships that open doors. Progress shows what is possible when participation becomes…
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The Door May Narrow
It begins quietly, almost imperceptibly. Desire stirs — a move toward a job, a dream, a love, a chance — and for a time, the way seems open. The horizon widens, clear and promising, as if life itself has said yes. The…