Recent Blog Posts
From Miami to Los Angeles: Noticing Accessibility in a New Place
As many of you know, back in August, I moved to Los Angeles, California to attend the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) after spending my whole life being born and raised in Miami, Florida. Along with this move came plenty of culture shocks. I noticed the popularity of breakfast burritos, beaches with views of mountains, cliffside roads with breathtaking views, but most notably the advancements in disability accommodations in California, as opposed to Florida.
Voting in 2026
Check your registration and voting status, make sure you can vote this election cycle.
Update on DIG’s Supper Social Club
As we continued to meet, we watched people come out of their shells. Those same young adults who were once quiet began starting conversations, forming friendships, and looking forward to each event. Confidence grew. Laughter came easier. The Supper Social Club became more than dinner; it became a place of belonging.
From Being a Number to Building Possibility
If you are navigating life with a disability, know this: Your path does not need to mirror anyone else’s to be meaningful. The journey is not about returning to who you were – it is about discovering who you can still become.
Benefits – 26-01
People with disabilities can work without losing their financial security or health care benefits. There are many programs available that make it possible to still collect benefits while working. Here is a brief overview of a few programs available.
Happy Holidays 2025
DIG will continue to advocate, educate, and empower because every person deserves dignity, opportunity, and full participation in their community. Thank you for being part of our journey this year and being part of the DIG family.
Benefits – 25-11
A PASS (Plan to Achieve Self-Support) allows you to set aside other income besides your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or resources for a specified period of time so that you may pursue a work goal that will reduce or eliminate the SSI or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits you currently receive.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Bridging the Screening Gap
I am forever grateful to my family doctor for pushing me to get that mammogram screening done. Early detection matters. My tumor was stage 2A and had it gone much longer, my outcome could have been much different.
Identifying a Healthy vs. Unhealthy Relationship
Anyone can be a victim of domestic violence and it’s important to remember that it’s not your fault and there is always a way out!
Benefits – 25-10
As long as your disabling condition still meets our rules, you can keep your Medicare coverage for at least 8 ½ years after you return to work. (The 8 ½ years includes your nine-month trial work Period)
Your Medicare hospital insurance (Part A) coverage is premium-free. Your Medicare medical insurance (Part B) coverage will also continue.
Be Kind, Always!
September is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness, offer support, and educate society on suicide prevention. If you or anyone you know is struggling and needs support through a suicidal or mental health crisis, call the suicide and crisis lifeline at 988.
Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month: A Personal Journey
Working with Quad 13 has given my life a new purpose. My hope is that, by sharing my story, you feel inspired to join our mission—whether by sharing a conversation, wearing a lime green ribbon, or supporting the cause.
Benefits – 25-09
If you are a person with a disability and pursuing employment, you are not alone. You can find many agencies providing employment support and help you to reach your vocational goal.
What You Should Know About Your Parental Rights
If parents truly have the right to “direct the upbringing, education, and care of their minor children,” then let’s use this law to change how we teach students in separate classrooms, students in modified/access point programs, and even those students in behavior programs.
If the system needs to change, and we believe that it does, then let’s make it better and stronger and safer for all students.
Communication Strategies: Hurricane Preparedness
It is important to plan ahead for yourself and your loved ones. You can do this by staying informed during hurricane season. Three strategies we recommend are using weather updates, social media, and having a communication plan with family or loved ones.
Benefits – 25-08
The intent of asset building initiatives is that as individuals develop assets, they will be able to move out of poverty and remain out of poverty. Many asset building services for people with disabilities will NOT cause loss of critical SSI disability cash payments and essential health insurance such as Medicaid and Medicaid waivers.
The Americans with Disabilities Act at 35: A Promise in Peril
The rollback of disability rights has also been fueled by the broader political push to eliminate Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) programs. These initiatives were designed to ensure that workplaces and institutions reflect the diversity of the communities they serve, including people with disabilities. Yet in the current climate, DEIA has been mischaracterized as “wokeness” and dismissed as a matter of preference rather than a matter of rights. This framing is not only inaccurate, it is dangerous. It ignores the legal obligation to provide reasonable accommodations and treats the needs of disabled individuals as optional.
35th Anniversary of the Signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
While the ADA reshaped the American society for the better by enabling millions living with disabilities to participate more fully in everyday life, we can use this celebration of it’s signing to recommit ourselves to the ADA’s vision – A nation where every individual, regardless of ability, can live with dignity, opportunity and independence. The ADA’s 35th anniversary is not just a celebration – it is a call for all of us to continue the work.
Preparing a Pet Plan: Hurricane Preparedness
It’s important to have a plan in place that accounts for every family member, including your pet. For many of us, our pets aren’t simply animals; they are family. They rely on us for food, shelter, and safety, just as much as we rely on them for companionship. This month we are focusing on making sure your furry friends are prepared and safe during a storm.
Benefits – 25-07
To be eligible for disability benefits, a person must be unable to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA).
