Table of Contents The basics of obesityObesity, disabilities, and practical consequencesObesity: the financial costsChallenges for people with disabilities that can lead to obesityDisability benefits for obesityMedically qualifying for disability benefitsResidual functional capacity analysisApplying for benefits based on obesityDoes the ADA consider obesity a disability?Conclusion About 48.9 million people, or approximately 19.4 percent of the non-institutionalized …
The first time I read this brief letter from Amy Silverman to herself, 13 years younger, I felt the sting of tears more than once. Writing a letter to yourself may seem like an author’s indulgence, but in many cases, it is nothing less than a subversive act, a declaration of independence you gift to …
Writing a Letter to Yourself: Comfort, Wisdom, and Shared Experiences Read More »
Table of Contents FECA benefits in focusWhat are the requirements to receive FECA benefits?What FECA benefits do federal employees get?Permanent disabilityFederal disability retirement in focusWhat disability retirement benefits do federal employees get?How does the process work?How to proceed when you are disabled on the job as a federal employeeThe work-related requirement only applies to FECAApply …
FECA or Disability Retirement? Options for Federal Employees Disabled at Work Read More »
Have you ever wondered how to talk to your children about people with disabilities? Even very well-meaning parents can find themselves in embarrassing situations; children often just say whatever comes into their minds, and that’s not always what you want them to say, especially when it comes to people who might look or act a …
Table of Contents The Air Carrier Access ActPreparing to travelPre-flight notificationAccessibility informationThe need for an attendantThe medical certificate requirementOn the day of travel: Getting through the airportEscortsSecurityIn the terminalOnboardHelp getting on and off the planeSeat assignmentsService animalsSafety briefingIn-flight accommodationsMobility aids on the planeWhen something goes wrong: Protecting your rightsAsk to speak with the Complaints Resolution …
Table of Contents “I’m sorry.”“Parenting must be so hard for you. I don’t know how you do it. I couldn’t do what you do. You’re a superwoman / superman / superparent / superhuman.”“I’m sorry you had to put your life on hold / Don’t forget to take care of yourself.”“Is there a cure you can …
Did you know that people with disabilities don’t have the same right to a minimum wage that others have? Although this probably strikes most of us as unfair or even shocking, it’s true. The most basic guiding principle of labor law is the familiar “equal pay for equal work.” However, thanks to a federal law …
Table of Contents Overview of disability insuranceThe basics of long-term disability insuranceWhat is a long-term disability?Costs of LTD insuranceTerminology: understanding LTD policiesWhat alternatives are there to long-term disability?Self helpNetwork of family and friendsIs short-term disability an alternative to long-term disability?Are Social Security Disability and Workers’ Comp alternatives to long-term disability?Is LTD coverage worth it?Benefits of …
Table of Contents Genetic diversity and disabilityGenetic diversity: conserving it, imposing it, or eliminating it?Disability culture and life worth livingThe bottom line Bioethics and the disability community have always had a strange and uncomfortable relationship. That is because many of the mainstream controversies that define modern bioethics have a direct impact on people with disabilities: …
What is Disability Culture, and Do Reproductive Technologies Threaten It? Read More »
The 2016 election brought the #CripTheVote movement into the forefront of American politics. However, the movement wasn’t just about that election. It’s about increasing the visibility of people with disabilities for all elections and achieving better representation at all levels of government. The #CripTheVote movement gained a lot of momentum after Donald Trump was called …
