Disabilities Archives - Sheri Byrne-Haber's Blog

Group of many diverse people holding plates of food in their hands standing in front of a table full of buffet-style hors d’oeuvres

Disability Inclusive Holiday Party Planning

It’s that time of year again. Planning an inclusive holiday party goes beyond picking out festive decorations or sending fancy invitations. It’s about creating an environment where every employee feels welcome, safe, and able to fully participate. For employees with…

Accessible provision for wheelchair users by FAA

Accessibility Triumph Thursday: The FAA has Agreed to Define Safety Criteria for Wheelchair Users in the Cabin in 2025

Big news in accessible air travel! The FAA has agreed to define safety criteria for wheelchairs in the cabin in 2025. This transition is happening faster than I expected, which is incredible news for the disability community. Having a wheelchair…

Screenshot from Sheri Byrne-Haber’s laptop showing the Barbie Fashionistas website with an overwhelming amount of pink. The page view is a specific Barbie (Striped top, pink skirt, sunglasses, 65th anniversary). In the lower-left corner is an icon of a black and white human figure with a circle and a green dot and text that says “Exit Accessibility Mode”

Is “Blind Barbie” really inclusive?

“Blind Barbie” is all the rage recently. Barbie has become increasingly inclusive over the past decade, including Barbies with different skin tones, hearing aids, vitiligo, alopecia, a wheelchair-using Barbie, a Skipper with a prosthetic leg, the facial characteristics associated with…

book and gravel on a table in a law court with a lawyer writing

Why Litigation is Essential for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance

This article is NOT legal advice. If you find yourself in a situation where you are either considering filing or possibly defending accessibility litigation in the US, you need to consult a US lawyer who specializes in accessibility cases. The…

Black, white and red image with the text “Project 2025 Presidential Transition Project” with a red circle and a slash running through it over the text

Project 2025’s threat to Disability Rights

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is turning 34 this week. But it could be eviscerated if Project 2025 is implemented. The Heritage Foundation has spearheaded Project 2025. It aims to reshape various aspects of the U.S. federal government through…

a top finger with a red circled sentence 'I voted'

All Accessibility is Political: Understanding the Intersection of Accessibility, Disability, and Politics

You can’t talk about accessibility without talking about disability because accessibility is inherently tied to the experiences and needs of people with disabilities. When we explore accessibility for people with disabilities, we are talking about physical access to buildings as…

A picture from the TommyHilfiger.com website shows adaptive clothing for people with disabilities. One model has a prosthetic arm, and another is in a manual wheelchair. Both are wearing Tommy Adaptive clothing.

Diverse or Just Pretending? Why Your Stock Photos Need Authentic Disability Representation

Many companies limit website images to licensed ones stored in a central image repository. Frequently, they do this to ensure that only “approved” images are used. Unfortunately, the disability-inclusive images in these repositories often fall short of an acceptable minimum.…

Wheelchair-using student in 1:8 resource room setting with a one-on-one aide.

Fight Club, Parent Edition

When you are expecting a child, your mind fills with visions of a picture-perfect future. You think about first words, school pictures, friendships, proms, and the milestones of independence like getting their first driver’s license, job, or going to college.…

Circle split into thirds showing Diversity flowing into Equity with the word Knowledge appearing in the overlap, Equity flowing into inclusion with the word Opportunity at the overlap, and inclusion flowing back into diversity with the word allyship at the overlap. In the center is the word Belonging.

Diversity Managers — Here’s what you need to know about Disabilities

When I start a new contract or job, one of the first meetings I pursue is with the Chief Diversity Officer or if there isn’t one, whomever is at the top of the DEIB food chain. I have completed two…

Groups that don’t care about people with disabilities

I can no longer support “disability as an afterthought” Authors note: Because of Medium’s refusal to address its accessibility issues for both authors and readers, I’ve moved my last three years of blogs to Substack. Please sign up there for notices of all…

Category: Disabilities