AFA August 2025

The Center for Public Integrity held an event on July 26 — the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act — called “What is Home?” that explored the challenges of finding safe homes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. At the event, there were four storytellers with disabilities who

By John Manzella The advantages of dyslexia are extensive, but they often are not seized if the dyslexic student does not have access to quality special educational services. I’m a nationally syndicated columnist, author of several books and a speaker on global business, labor and economic trends. I’m also a beneficiary,

By Ellie Dolgin Even as scientists celebrate progress in the lab, a stigma-busting movement asserts that those with the autoimmune skin condition are more in need of acceptance than medicine Scientist John Harris doesn’t like to say the word “cure.” But after his discovery last year of a new strategy to

David Hick Blog: Living with Becker Muscular Dystrophy David Hick from the UK shares his life-altering journey with Becker muscular dystrophy after a July 2023 diagnosis at age 34. He traded garage work for guitar riffs and seized a clinical trial opportunity that sparked hope. Now living near Newcastle for research,

Languaging is a living form of expression, more than communication, it is the act of being fully present, connecting, responding, and expressing through all our senses. For example, when a little girl runs up to a new friend with arms wide open, she’s languaging joy and openness — without even saying

Friendship, when rooted in mutual respect and shared vision, can become a powerful force for change. This is the foundation of All Access Life, created by Dan and Brad, a duo whose bond transcends roles and titles. When Brad, a young man with non-verbal spastic cerebral palsy and complex communication needs,

Lee-Ann Reuber Forget the high-gloss gyms where bodies move like clockwork to curated playlists. In fact, scrap everything you think you know about fitness. Sekond Skin is letting new voices rewrite the rhythm. Lee-Ann Reuber identified long-standing barriers within mainstream fitness apps and responded with innovation, creating a platform intentionally designed

Close your eyes and picture learning to read, not by sight, but by feel. Now imagine doing that while also doodling, writing stories, solving math problems, and creating tactile art. That’s the experience the BrailleDoodle offers. It’s a simple yet brilliant invention designed to make braille literacy and tactile creativity accessible

Lucky Mae making the donation Helping others wasn’t always top of mind for me, not until life slowed me down with a second brain operation. I have been diagnosed with arteriovenous malformation (AVM) more than 27 years ago, a rare condition where blood vessels in the brain are tangled and can

By Christine E. Staple Ebanks Dawn Wangard and family Why mothers of children with disabilities are quietly becoming some of the most powerful changemakers of our time All over the world, some of the most powerful leadership is happening far from the spotlight—in living rooms, hospital corridors, and school meetings—where mothers