“My life, so far, has unfolded in three distinct chapters: the day I was born, the day I had my first brain operation, and the day I had my second.” – Lucky Mae Fornoles Quilao Here’s my AVM Story In my younger years, life was kind. I had my mother, my […]

Debbie Austin Welcome to this issue of Accessibility for All where we highlight the voices, ideas, and efforts shaping a more inclusive world. In this edition, Christine E. Staple Ebanks, known as “The Special Needs Mama Bear,” shares how she turned confusion and fear into advocacy and strength. Her story is a

Photo by Joel Holland on Unsplash A horse therapy program in Namibia brings joy to children with learning disabilities Through her program, Susan de Meyer creates a unique therapeutic environment that fosters emotional growth and communication skills in children who might struggle in traditional educational settings. The interaction between the children

When the world slammed shut during the COVID years, most people baked bread, binge-watched TV series or finally cleaned out that spare room. Adele Smolansky did something else entirely. When she saw her younger sister struggling to learn during lockdown, she didn’t wait for someone else to help her sister through

Virgie Hoban When it comes to designing assistive technology, listening matters just as much as engineering That’s something the team at Augmental understands well. Speaking about the company’s groundbreaking device, the MouthPad^, Virgie Hoban offers an inside look at how this small, tongue-operated interface is redefining digital access for users with limited mobility, and potentially

Meet Adishi Gupta, a boundary-pushing artist whose work is as bold, layered, and unapologetic as the title of the show was a part of—Disabled and Disorderly. With a style that’s as much about emotion as it is about rebellion, Adishi uses her art to explore identity, visibility, and the lived experience

The Intrepid Wheelies Maria Dalmon’s life is a clear demonstration that physical or societal limitations are no match for determination, intellect and a refusal to accept less than what one deserves. Born in 1955 in Sydney Australia’s western suburbs and diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 18 months, one would assume that

Award-winning recording artist, CEO of RAMPD, Disability Culture Icon Lachi is a globally touring recording artist, award winning social entrepreneur, GRAMMYs Chapter Board Governor, and host of PBS’ American Masters series ‘Renegades’. Born legally blind, Lachi uses her platform in music, storytelling and fashion to amplify identity pride and Disability Culture.

Can you tell us about your journey into music and how your blindness has influenced your songwriting? As a quirky little outcast, I turned to my piano as a creative outlet. Through song, I was able to understand myself and the world around me better, and in turn, have others understand

Let’s talk about type 1 diabetes (T1D).It’s about people who wake up every day knowing their bodies need extra vigilance just to stay alive. For Jessica Diniz, President and CEO of what was once known as JDRF—now rebranded as Breakthrough T1D—the mission is to make every day better for people living