March 2023

Pankaj Pradhananga with mentor, the late Dr. Scott Rains A Conversation with Mélange Editor, Fred Maahs Jr.  Pankaj grew up in the small town of Bhadrapur in Eastern Nepal that borders India. He attended a college in the  same town, later moving to Kathmandu where he pursued his Masters degree majoring in Marketing. His first […]

EqualWeb makes websites accessible Why is it important for every website to be accessible? In the physical world, it goes without saying that access for people with disabilities must be ensured, such as entrance ramps, accessible restrooms, and so on. The same goes for the digital world – morally, legally, and economically. People with disabilities

The company, Paratrek, is synonymous with outdoor adventures and these adventures are not only reserved for the able-bodied. Specifically, the mobility challenged and people with disabilities are usually the guests of honour. The company was built with love of a son for his father, at its base. Omer Zur, the founder of Paratrek, believes that

When you first meet Nawal Benzaouia, you will be captivated by her smile, her commitment to people with disabilities, and her keen business sense.  She is a force in the accessibility community.  Respected by her peers and clients, she has expanded her company, Massiraa, from France into Dubai, and continues to look for opportunities to

by Howard Blas Dean Cohen has fond memories of growing up in the Jewish youth movement of Melbourne, Australia.  While Cohen and his peers participated in B’nai Akiva or Habonim youth groups and camps, he remembers that “people with disabilities were excluded.  They didn’t have the same social and camp experiences that we had!”    In

President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities It’s not a stretch to think that an Anthropology major who grew up in Louisiana, attended Emory University in Atlanta, served in the Obama Administration, and happens to have a disability, would one day be the President and CEO of The American Association of People

Mindy Scheier, Founder, Runway of Dreams Mindy Scheier was a fashion designer and stylist for over 20 years working for brands like the INC collection and Sak’s Fifth Avenue in New York City. But never did she imagine that a comment from her son, Oliver, would cause her career to take a left turn and perhaps

by Albert Pensis and Michael Feeley, Saba Island Properties When we left New York City and moved to Saba, we became “expats”. We didn’t even think about it until people started calling us that –“Oh. You’re expats. There are lots of foreigners here on Saba.” We’re people. Yes, from another country, who fell in love

by Howard Blas The American Camping Association (ACA), which employs more than 320,000 camp staff and serves over 7.2 million children in its 2,400 ACA-accredited camps report in a 2017 study that 44% of camps offer specialized programs for individuals with disabilities. They proudly note, “For 120 years, the organized camp experience has been serving