February is Disability Awareness Month. It’s also the month of Valentine’s Day. This month is a good time to talk about relationships. Today, we’re going to bust some myths. Some people have wrong ideas about what people with IDD want, need, and deserve from romantic relationships. We talked with three people with IDD about these myths. Here’s what they had to say.

Many people with disabilities use Social Security to help pay for basic needs. This includes SSI and SSDI. These programs are meant to help people live safe and healthy lives. But old Social Security rules can make life harder instead of easier. This week, we talk with our friend Logan about why these rules need to change. We talk about how fixing them can help people with disabilities…

The Network Nothing About Us Without Us People with IDD have valuable lived experience. They should work on projects about their lives. Most project staff want to work with people with IDD. But findin...

Last week, James shared his thoughts about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was a hero of the civil rights movement. The disability rights movement has many heroes, too. Some are well known. Others worked behind the scenes for years to make change happen. Last week, we honored Dr. King and his call to serve others. This week, James reflects on another leader who lived those values every day: Bob Kafka.

In January, we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on his birthday. Dr. King worked for civil rights, fairness, and dignity for all people. He believed that change happens when people come together and take action. That is why Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is also known as the Day of Service. We do not honor Dr. King only with words.

Last week James asked us to resolve to be kinder in 2026. This week we are talking about a special way of being kind: being a strong ally. We hear from our friend Pauline Bosma about ways you can be a strong ally. What Makes a Strong Ally? Pauline is part of the LGBTQ+ community and has IDD. She tells us that being an ally to both groups starts with listening.

The end of the year is a good time to think about what you have done. You can look back at the goals you met. Or you can think about what you finished. Self-Advocate Network did a lot this year. So the team has a lot to be proud of. We talked about what we are most proud of doing in 2025.

It's the start of a new year. Many of us are making New Year’s resolutions. We think about the things we want to do better in the year to come. Resolve to Be Kinder In a new video, James talks about some of the typical resolutions we make. James then challenges us to resolve to be kinder in 2026. Being kinder can change how people feel, how they are treated, and how safe they feel in the world.

The Network Nothing About Us Without Us People with IDD have valuable lived experience. They should work on projects about their lives. Most project staff want to work with people with IDD. But findin...

Guest Post with Kim Fulda, DrPH, Professor, Executive Director of NorTex, UNT Health Last month, we talked with Dr. Kim Fulda about substance use disorder (SUD). It can affect people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). We’re heading into the holidays. This is a time when people feel stress. It might cause them to start or increase substance use. So this month, Dr.

Work is more than a paycheck. It gives people purpose and independence. It helps them build connections. But for many people with IDD, myths and stereotypes get in the way of getting jobs. It’s time to break those myths about IDD and employment! Cynthia Burrow is the owner of Strategic Education Solutions (SES). James Meadours is SES’s Advocacy and Outreach Lead.

It’s homecoming season. Across the country, people are cheering for their teams. They are celebrating “Friday night lights.” It’s a fun time for students to come together. But for many people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), those moments of celebration never happen. They may be included in the classroom. But they are left out when the bell rings. They deserve inclusion beyond the classroom.

World Mental Health Day was October 10. We can use this time to remember that mental health is a human right for people with IDD. To support IDD and mental health, going beyond the basics includes care that is fair. It should be respectful. It should center on the whole person. IDD and Mental Health Needs Mental health is important for everyone.

Guest post with Kim Fulda, DrPH, Professor, Executive Director of NorTex, UNT Health October is Substance Abuse Prevention Month. We’re learning more about IDD and substance use. Last month, we learned that people with IDD can have substance use disorder (SUD). We learned the truth about some harmful myths.  UNT Health is leading a project in Texas to share the truth about SUD.

Guest post with Kim Fulda, DrPH, Professor, Executive Director of NorTex, UNT Health September is National Recovery Month. Some people think that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) don’t use substances. This is not true. We’re learning more about IDD and substance use. Some people with IDD have substance use disorder (SUD). SUD is when using drugs or alcohol creates serious problems in your life.

YouTube video by Self-Advocate Network

YouTube video by Self-Advocate Network

In 1973, Congress passed the Rehabilitation Act. It’s sometimes called the Rehab Act for short. It helped clear a path for disability rights and inclusion. Before this law, many people with disabilities didn’t have rights in schools and at jobs. They were left out of public life. The Act helped change that. It made sure people with disabilities had more equal rights.

YouTube video by Self-Advocate Network