Fashion Week Starts to Break Barriers

New York Fashion Week wrapped up and actress Jamie Brewer took the spotlight by making history and headlines by being the first model with Down syndrome at the event.

I believe many headlines used the term Down syndrome to label Brewer, but she should not be classified by her disability.

Opinion: Battle Looms Over Social Security Disability and Other Funds

A technical rule change engineered by House Republicans on the first day of the new Congress may signal the beginning of a major battle over the future of the Social Security Disability program—and, more broadly, other federal programs for people with disabilities.

The immediate issue is the fate of the SSDI trust fund, which is expected to become exhausted in 2016. If new funding is not found, SSDI benefits will be cut by about 20 percent for 9 million workers, 2 million of their children, and about 160,000 spouses.

Democrats: Attack on Social Security

WASHINGTON — Democrats and Social Security advocates are accusing House Republicans of launching a sneak attack on disability insurance on the very first day of the new Congress.

The House on Tuesday passed legislation laying out parliamentary rules for the year. The bill included a little-noticed provision blocking Congress from shifting funds to prevent a 2016 shortfall in Social Security's disability insurance program.

Down Syndrome: A Year of Grief and Joy From ABC NEWS

In one week from today it will be one year since I decided to become the mother of a child with Down syndrome.

It was March 21, 2013 –- World Down Syndrome Awareness Day. But I didn't know that. All I knew was I was 15 weeks pregnant, lying on a table, having an ultrasound and waiting for the tech to tell me what else was “wrong” with my baby.

Girl with Cerebral Palsy Learns to Walk with the Help of a Horse

            

PORTLAND- Four-year-old Abigail Fantz giggles and her curls bounce as she stands straight up on a moving horse. She's held in place by a team of adults, but she's not practicing a circus trick - she is in a unique therapy called hippotherapy (hippo is Greek for horse).

 

Abigail has cerebral palsy and can't walk without a walker, but standing, kneeling, and sitting on a pony named Pippin is strengthening her trunk and her left side. Eventually, she'll be able to sit up and stand up straight and eventually walk all on her own.

Study: 1 In 4 With Cerebral Palsy In Pain

Many children and teens with cerebral palsy are struggling with chronic pain, researchers say, but it often goes unrecognized and untreated.

Born with cerebral palsy, but determined to triumph

For Jesse Martinez— a 19-year-old with cerebral palsy— his struggles are more than meets the eye. And his latest accomplishment means more than anyone could fathom.
On June 15, Martinez graduated with high ranks from South San Antonio High School and stunned the crowd when he walked to accept his diploma.
“When I crossed I felt as if I died and went to heaven because it felt amazing,” Martinez said. “I’ve always told myself one day, the world is going to know who I am and for me, this was the perfect way to put myself out there.”

A Call to Focus on Finding Jobs for People with Disabilities

Robert Lambert, a blind worker at
Blind Industries and Services of
Maryland, carries fabric that
has been cut into pieces for
military uniforms in Baltimore, M.D.

As the United States prepares to observe the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act Thursday, it's tempting to say, "hold the celebration." That's because for those with disabilities, the employment picture has, sadly, not improved since the ADA was signed into law 22 years ago.
In fact, during the recent recession, it deteriorated five times as badly as did employment for the rest of American workers. While the non-disability workforce shrank by about 2 percent, for people with disabilities, the number working fell by over 10 percent. And according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the picture has remained grim as the economy has begun its recovery: While 3 million new jobs were added to the able-bodied work force, workers with disabilities have seen their ranks shrink further.

Questions Linger After Deportation Averted

The case of a Moncton, N.B., family who faced deportation because of their son's medical condition is raising questions whether Canada's immigration policies discriminate against people with disabilities.
On Friday, the Maeng family was spared deportation back to South Korea out of concerns that their youngest son, who has been diagnosed with autism and epilepsy, might cost the province's health and education systems too much.
Canada's immigration law includes the provision for medical inadmissibility. Those whom the provinces deem would represent an excessive demand on social services can be refused.

Life Is Tough When Sibling Has a Disability

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Even when 7-year-old Fanny Gunn gets mad at her twin brother, Lennon, for playing too rough, she’s expected to keep her cool. When her friends come over, she’s expected to let them know they can’t shut him out of their play.
Lennon has autism, and his behavior may alternate between long bouts of contentedly holding a spoon and constant screaming, so it’s not easy. But Fanny gets a lot of practice.
When a friend doesn’t understand Lennon’s autism, she will explain: “He has a different brain.”Life can be a little tougher for siblings of children with disabilities. Their brother or sister often gets the lion’s share of parents' attention, and the siblings often must pitch in more than most. They may find themselves thrust into the jobs of translator and protector.