Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

ECS @heartoverheight.bsky.social · 19h

I sure miss working in IL. It was an honor to be OC’s systems advocate/community organizer ‘16-‘20. But it’s like I never really left either. It never leaves you.

Julia Métraux @juliametraux.bsky.social · 1d

At 14, Ed Roberts was disabled by polio. He later became known as the father of the independent living movement.

At @motherjones.com, I interviewed Scot Danforth about his new book on Ed Roberts' life. @ucpress.bsky.social

www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

The radical life of the father of independent living

A new book explores disabled activist Ed Roberts' revolutionary career.

www.motherjones.com

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Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) @autisticadvocacy.org · 2d

Today, October 13th, we celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day and International Plain Language Day! Take some time today to learn about what these holidays are and why they are important!

Orange, white, and blue gradient textured background. Text reads: What is International Plain Language Day? International Plain Language Day is a holiday that celebrates plain language. Plain language is a way of writing that uses cognitively accessible language.
Cognitively accessible language means that anyone can understand your writing easily. For example, people with different intellectual and developmental disabilities can understand your writing.
International Plain Language Day happens on October 13th each year.
Why is International Plain Language Day important?
Most writing is not cognitively accessible. Many people do not understand why plain language matters. International Plain Language Day is a day to show why plain language is important. One way to celebrate is to share plain language resources.

Orange, white, and blue gradient textured background. Text reads: What is Indigenous Peoples’ Day? Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a holiday that celebrates Indigenous people and history. Indigenous means people who have ancestors who lived in a place before others took over. For example, Native Americans are indigenous to North America.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day is on the second Monday in October each year. This year, the second Monday in October is October 13th. International Plain Language Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day are not always on the same day.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day started as a counter-celebration. A counter-celebration is a type of holiday made to protest another holiday. Indigenous Peoples’ Day was made to protest Columbus Day.

Orange, white, and blue gradient textured background. Text reads: Columbus Day is a holiday celebrated on the second Monday of October. Christopher Columbus was an European colonizer who lived in the 1400s. Colonizers are people who take land that belongs to other people. Columbus Day celebrates Christopher Columbus "finding" America. But that’s not true. There were already Indigenous people in America before Columbus came. So Columbus did not “find” America. Colonizers like Columbus did a lot of bad things to the Native Americans. They hurt and killed Native Americans.
Some places still celebrate Columbus Day. At ASAN, we do not think Columbus Day is a good thing to celebrate. Autistic and disabled Indigenous people are part of our community. So today we celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
Happy International Plain Language Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day!

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Sara Luterman @slooterman.bsky.social · 4d

If you work in the Office of Special Education, have been RIF'd and want to talk to a journalist about it, please hit me up on Signal at slooterman.18.

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Accessibility Awareness @a11yawareness.bsky.social · 5d

When you make the pitch for accessibility, be prepared for pushback. There are several myths and misconceptions, so it's good to be aware of what they are and how to dispel them.

a11ymyths.com

Accessibility Myths

A small project debunking common accessibility myths.

a11ymyths.com

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Lurie Institute for Disability Policy @lurieinstitute.bsky.social · 6d

People with disabilities can face barriers and stigma when adopting kids. In this webinar, facilitated by Kara Ayers, we will hear from two disabled parents, Robin Wilson-Beattie and Yomi Young, about their experiences with adoption. Register here: zurl.co/Pu2qu

Webinar flyer on a green background titled Disabled Parents' Adoption Experiences featuring speakers Robin Wilson Beattie and Yomi Young and facilitated by Kara Ayers. The event will be held on Monday November 10 2025 at 1 PM ET via Zoom. The flyer includes the Lurie Institute and Center for Parents with Disabilities logos speaker photos and icons indicating sign language interpretation and closed captioning.

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Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund @dredf.bsky.social · 7d

“I’m very fearful that we are headed towards a less inclusive, less diverse and more segregated public school setting.” - Karma Quick-Panwala, DREDF's Children & Family Advocacy Services Director in a new article by @propublica.org

www.propublica.org/article/educ...

These Activists Want to Dismantle Public Schools. Now They Run the Education Department.

Under Trump, the Department of Education has been bringing in activists hostile to public schools. It could mean a new era of private and religious schools boosted by tax dollars — and the end of publ...

www.propublica.org

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Thinking Person's Guide to Autism @thinkingautism.com · 13d

We know that nonspeaking people have #MoretoSay. October is AAC Awareness Month, and AAC app maker @assistiveware.bsky.social is celebrating with a short AAC understanding video. Please watch, take to heart, and share.

youtu.be/jGpglhW7I54?... #AACawarenessMonth #nonspeaking #neurodiversity

Nonspeaking people have #MoretoSay

YouTube video by AssistiveWare

youtu.be

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Sara Luterman @slooterman.bsky.social · 9d

ICYMI: @bcrodriguez.bsky.social and I dug deep into the history of blaming moms for their kids’ autism and how some moms see echos of that dark history in MAHA

This isn't the first time moms have been blamed for their kids' autism

One of the earliest theories of autism is centered on “refrigerator mothers.” Echoes of it can be found in plans to Make America Healthy Again.

19thnews.org

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ECS @heartoverheight.bsky.social · 11d

This was such an awesome project to be a part of, Thank-You @lurieinstitute.bsky.social for having me!

#DisabilityPregnancy #DisabledPregnancy #PregnancyResearch #Lactation #IBCLC

Lurie Institute for Disability Policy @lurieinstitute.bsky.social · Aug 28

The "Lactation and Breastfeeding with a Disability" webinar recording is now available!

Watch the recording: zurl.co/5OXyv
FAQ & Resource Guide coming soon!

#DisabilityPregnancy #DisabledPregnancy #PregnancyResearch #Lactation #IBCLC

Webinar Recording Available Now. On the laptop screen, text reads: “The crib was wildly inaccessible for both of us. It is a special kind of helplessness when you can't reach your own baby" attributed to Elizabeth Soper.

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ECS @heartoverheight.bsky.social · 12d

Same.

In the U.S., a green ribbon on dwarfism feeds the cure mentality. Here, ribbons mean telethons, pity, and the idea our bodies can be “fixed.”

Dwarfism doesn’t need a ribbon. It needs rights, access, and respect.

drerinpritchard.bsky.social @drerinpritchard.bsky.social · 12d

This is why I dislike #DwarfismAwareness month. T shirts with cringe inducing slogans will not change attitudes.
image description - A pair of t shirts, one with a picture of two bears stating 'Mama bear: dwarfism awareness' and the other child's one 'I wear green for dwarfism awareness'.

ECS @heartoverheight.bsky.social · 13d

It’s only day 2 of #DwarfismAwarenessMonth & I’m already exhausted. Thought I’d sit this one out, but here I am again. Who wants a piece on the actual history of DAM, before AH parents of dwarf kids & big pharma co-opted it into a green ribbon cure campaign? Because for us, it’s DAM every DAMn day

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Dom Evans @domevans.electricmarshmallow.com · 14d

The #DisabledJoy hashtag was started in March 2018 by Andrew Farkash on Twitter.

It's quickly evolved as a disability concept created for and by the disabled community.

As such, we want to celebrate Disabled Joy as a part of Disability month which is October.

#ChronicLoaf #Criptober

Purple to blue to green gradient story might background with text in the center. White text reads: "what does disabled joy mean to you?" At the bottom in the center hashtags #DisabledJoy #Criptober

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Disability Scoop @disabilityscoop.bsky.social · 14d

While many services will continue, Congress' failure to fund the government could have big implications for people with #disabilities who depend on a wide array of federal programs. #shutdown

What The Government Shutdown Means For People With Disabilities

While many services will continue, Congress' failure to fund the government could have big implications for people with disabilities who depend on a wide array of federal programs.

www.disabilityscoop.com

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Amadi Lovelace @amaditalks.bsky.social · Sep 4

The actors who portrayed The Munchkins, the largest group of people with dwarfism on film ever, were not credited, there were named only as "The [M-slurs]" and despite working for ~2 months, had most of their promised pay withheld by the film's casting agent.

This AI erasure is insult on injury.

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Neal Carter @nealcarter.bsky.social · Feb 12

I don't care whether you prefer to describe my community as "persons with disabilities" or "disabled people" if you live in one of the 17 states in the #Section504 lawsuit, contact your states Attorney General immediately. #CripTheVote

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