Recent Blog Posts

Representation in Musicals + My Recommendations

More than anything, this class taught me to look beyond whether disability is simply present in a story and instead ask how it is represented.

A Playground for Everyone

That is why accessible playgrounds are so important. They are made so that more kids can play together. Some have ramps instead of stairs, swings with extra support, sensory toys, and smoother ground. These changes help more kids join in, instead of being left out.

36 Years of the ADA: Why It Still Matters

As we recognize this anniversary, we should also remember that the ADA only works when it is understood, respected, enforced, and upheld. Its protections affect real people in real ways every day. The ADA establishes the minimum standards required by law, but our goal should never be to do the bare minimum.

Asset Building for Individuals with Disabilities

Public benefit programs for people with disabilities, especially Supplemental Security Income (SSI), are not aimed at increasing assets and independence for people with disabilities, as a result individuals with disabilities often have very limited income and few, if any, assets. 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.

Get Ready to Vote: Check Your Registration for Florida’s Primary Election

Even if you have voted before, it is a good idea to check your registration information now. If you moved, changed your name, or need to update your signature, taking care of it before the deadline can help prevent problems later.

The View From Here (26-06)

Behind the Wheel – Part 1 By: Justine Chichester “The road to success is always under construction.” – Lily Tomlin For many people, getting behind the wheel of their car is something they hardly think about. They grab their keys, start the car and head off to work, the grocery store or dinner with… Read More »

Hurricane Season: Prepare Before the Storm

For people with disabilities, emergencies can affect more than shelter and supplies. Power outages, transportation changes, communication barriers, service interruptions, and limited access to medication or medical equipment can all impede staying safe and accessing needed support. Planning ahead can help reduce stress and make emergencies easier to manage.
Preparation does not need to happen all at once. Start by thinking about the things you use every day and what you would need if you had to leave quickly or stay home for several days.

Get Ready to Vote: Check Your Registration and Signature

Many people register once and do not think about it again, but information can change over time. If you moved, changed your name, or your signature looks different than when you first registered, it is a good idea to update your information now.
Your signature is especially important. In some situations, election officials compare the signature on voting forms to the signature they have on file. If your signature has changed because of age, disability, illness, injury, or simply signing differently over time, updating it now may help you avoid problems later.

Benefits 26-06

Social Security Disability Insurance or Title II, Disability Benefits SSDI: pays benefits to people with disabilities and certain members of their family if the beneficiary is “insured,” meaning that he/she worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes.

Supplemental Security Income SSI or Title XVI pays benefits to people with disabilities based on financial need.

What Do You Have to Lose?

I didn’t get everything done correctly, but I exceeded my expectations and I met some amazing ladies in the cast, who I now call my angels. I am grateful to Phillip Church and his team, who brought us all together to bring Rebekah Taussig’s book to the theater.

More Than a Role: Finding Strength on Stage

All I knew was, there was a part for a woman who used a wheelchair. Imagine that! The thought that there was an interest to recruit someone with a disability, specifically a woman with a disability!

Benefits 26-05

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Social Security Income (SSI) both provide needed financial assistance to many people in the United States who have mental health conditions.

Local Elections: Why They Matter in 2026

Local elections are where change is most immediate and visible. When you vote, you are helping decide how your community is built, how services are delivered, and whether your community is inclusive and accessible. Your vote helps shape the place where you live every day.

Benefits 26-04

The Bottom Line: You can work, You can protect your benefits, You can increase your income.
With the right guidance, work becomes an opportunity—not a risk.

A Landmark Decision Years in the Making

This month, the 11th Circuit made something clear: The ADA is violated not only when individuals are institutionalized, but also when state systems place them at serious risk of institutionalization.
The court recognized that systemic failures in providing services can be a form of discrimination.

State Elections: Why They Matter in 2026

State decisions have a direct impact on people with disabilities. These decisions affect access to health care and support services, funding for disability programs, and whether housing and transportation are accessible.

The View From Here (26-03)

For decades, disability advocacy has focused on access: access to buildings, transportation, education, employment and civic participation. Those efforts have opened doors that were once firmly closed. But, I believe, representation is what truly changes hearts and minds. It sends a message to those of us living with disabilities that You Belong Here Too. Not just in spaces that were designed specifically for you. But everywhere.

Federal Elections: Why They Matter in 2026

Federal elections directly affect the laws and programs that support people with disabilities. These decisions affect daily life, such as healthcare, housing, employment, education, and independence.
When Congress changes, priorities, funding, and protections can change. For people with disabilities, these choices matter.
Your vote helps shape the direction of federal policy and the future of disability rights.

Benefits 26-03

So Why Work? Besides the obvious — earning more money — working brings so much more: It’s not about “losing benefits.” It’s about building a better future.

The View From Here (26-02)

For some time now, I have felt a quiet pull to more intentionally merge art with advocacy. This role is another step in doing just that. I truly feel that disability representation expands creativity. It brings depth, resilience, and a perspective that the world needs more of. Theater uniquely asks us not just to witness a story, but to feel it. And that is often the beginning of change.