Grace Dow
@gracedowwrites.bsky.social
📤 140
📥 113
📝 641
I am a writer who has cerebral palsy. Please visit my blog at
https://gracedowwrites.com/
Today's blog post is about recreational activities for disabled people.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/17/c...
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Celebrating Ability Through Recreation
Recreation supports health, connection, and joy. Yet disabled people often face barriers to participation. However, programs are changing that by offering adaptive sports, accessible nature activit…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/17/celebrating-ability-through-recreation/
about 2 hours ago
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Today's blog post is about independence as a disabled person.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/16/i...
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Independence and Disability
In a world that values autonomy and self-reliance, independence is often portrayed as the ability to do everything on one’s own. This narrative is deeply embedded in cultural ideals and reinforced …
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/16/independence-and-disability/
1 day ago
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Today’s blog post is about difficulty sleeping when you have cerebral palsy.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/15/s...
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Still but Not Resting
Cerebral palsy affects movement, posture, and muscle coordination. Most people recognize the physical challenges, but fewer understand the quiet and persistent struggle that happens at night. For m…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/15/still-but-not-resting/
2 days ago
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Today's blog post is about aging with cerebral palsy.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/14/u...
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Unchanged Diagnosis, Unfolding Life
CW: Mental Health I have lived with cerebral palsy for 26 years. It is the most common cause of childhood disability in the United States. It affects movement, muscle tone, and posture due to brain…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/14/unchanged-diagnosis-unfolding-life/
3 days ago
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Today’s blog post is about the psychological impact of cerebral palsy.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/13/t...
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The Tender Weight of Cerebral Palsy
CW: Mental Health Cerebral palsy is often described in terms of movement and muscle control. It affects coordination, posture, and mobility. But what is rarely talked about is the emotional weight …
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/13/the-tender-weight-of-cerebral-palsy/
4 days ago
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Today's blog post is about headstones.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/12/w...
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Written in Stone
CW: Death Last week, I was asked what should go on someone’s headstone. It is a deceptively simple question. Just a few lines carved into granite or marble, yet it carries the weight of a lif…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/12/written-in-stone/
5 days ago
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Today's blog post is about showing people you care.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/11/s...
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Showing Up with Heart
Cerebral palsy means that showing up can be challenging. Fatigue, pain, and accessibility are all factors in my daily life. I still try to show up for my family and friends as much as possible. I l…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/11/showing-up-with-heart/
6 days ago
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Today's blog post is about wanting to do everyday tasks.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/10/t...
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The Mundane
There is a strange kind of longing that comes with being disabled. It is not for adventure or excitement but for the mundane. I have never been able to shovel snow, change a lightbulb, or rake leav…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/10/the-mundane/
7 days ago
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Today's blog post is about my thoughts on cerebral palsy.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/09/t...
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The Thoughts That Follow Me
Living with cerebral palsy means constantly navigating a world that was not designed with my body in mind. I use a walker and a power wheelchair. While these tools give me mobility and independence…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/09/the-thoughts-that-follow-me/
8 days ago
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Today's blog post is about World Cerebral Palsy Day.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/08/c...
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Cerebral Palsy, What’s Unseen
Monday was World Cerebral Palsy Day, a day to raise awareness, promote inclusion, and honor the lived experiences of millions around the world. It is a moment to recognize not just the medical real…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/08/cerebral-palsy-whats-unseen/
9 days ago
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Today’s blog post is about World Teachers’ Day.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/06/t...
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Thank You, Teachers
Although World Teachers’ Day was yesterday, I am still reflecting on the incredible impact teachers have had in my life and countless others. It feels important to keep the appreciation going beyon…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/06/thank-you-teachers/
11 days ago
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Today's blog post is about the feelings associated with grief
gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/05/t...
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The Ache That Defies Reason
CW: Death Within grief, there are many emotions. People often feel sad, angry, confused, guilty, and numb. These feelings come in waves and often arrive without warning. One of the most commo…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/05/the-ache-that-defies-reason/
12 days ago
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Today's blog post is about phone calls.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/04/t...
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Ten Years, Two Calls, One Heart
CW: Death In 2011, my parents told me a dog had been found for me. I was elated. The news felt monumental, like a door opening to a new chapter in my life. Without hesitation, I picked up the phone…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/04/ten-years-two-calls-one-heart/
13 days ago
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Today's blog post is about being mentioned in an obituary.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/03/t...
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The Quiet Honor of Being Named
I wasn’t expecting it. I was reading through the obituary of someone who shaped my life in quiet and enduring ways. Then I saw it, my name. It was tucked into a sentence, a small mention, but it st…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/03/the-quiet-honor-of-being-named/
14 days ago
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Today's blog post is about the lasting impact of reaching out to someone.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/02/w...
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When a Text Becomes a Treasure
CW: Death When my former paraprofessional passed away last week, I found myself going through the hundreds of text messages we exchanged over the years. As I grew up, we sometimes went months…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/02/when-a-text-becomes-a-treasure/
15 days ago
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Today's blog post is about being there for people.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/01/t...
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The People Who Show Up
In a world that often celebrates grand gestures, there is a quieter, more enduring kind of love. There is the love that simply shows up. It is the kind of love that is there during the good times a…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/10/01/the-people-who-show-up/
16 days ago
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Today's blog post is about boundaries as a disabled person.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/30/l...
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Lines Blurred
As someone with cerebral palsy, boundaries can be difficult to control. I’m required to allow others into places and situations most people consider private. I need help using the restroom and taki…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/30/lines-blurred/
17 days ago
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Today’s blog post is about being present.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/29/t...
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The Moment Is Now
CW: Death For the past few days, I’ve been reflecting on a lifetime worth of memories with my former paraprofessional. She met me when I was a preschooler. At 26, I can’t remember a time where she …
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/29/the-moment-is-now/
18 days ago
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Today's blog post is about my family and friends.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/27/a...
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A Life Carried by Love
I was born in Kolkata, India, and came to the U.S. on June 29, 2000, when I was nine months old. From the day I arrived, it was clear that I was cherished deeply. Numerous family members were eager…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/27/a-life-carried-by-love/
20 days ago
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Today’s blog post is a tribute to my former paraprofessional. Thank you for everything you’ve done for the last two decades Pamela Noyes. I’ll miss you terribly!
gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/25/m...
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More Than a Paraprofessional
CW: Death Some people come into your life and stay steadfastly. My former paraprofessional was one of those rare people. She met me when I was just a preschooler, and from that moment on, she never…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/25/more-than-a-paraprofessional/
22 days ago
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Today's blog post is about the 80th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/24/e...
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Eighty Years, One Mission
Next month marks the 80th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a milestone that honors decades of advocacy and progress toward inclusive employment. First recognized in 19…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/24/eighty-years-one-mission/
23 days ago
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Today's blog post is about the estimated cost of living adjustment for Social Security beneficiaries.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/23/t...
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The Harsh Math of SSI
CW: Poverty Disability advocates are cautiously welcoming the projected 2.7 percent increase in Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits for 2026. While the cost-of-living adjustme…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/23/the-harsh-math-of-ssi/
24 days ago
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Today's blog post is about the hearing titled Barriers to Work for People with Disabilities.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/21/d...
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Disability at Work
On September 16, 2025, the House Ways and Means Committee held a pivotal hearing to address the barriers to work that disabled people face. This discussion highlighted the urgent need for reform in…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/21/disability-at-work/
26 days ago
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Today's blog post is about politics impacting disability rights in the United States.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/19/d...
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Disability Rights in Decline
CW: Ableism Eight years ago, Sara Fernandez was passing through airport security in Newark, New Jersey when a TSA agent turned to a colleague and asked, “Do I need to pick her up and put her throug…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/19/disability-rights-in-decline/
28 days ago
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Today's blog post is about HOAs denying reasonable accommodations.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/18/a...
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A Door That Would Not Open
CW: Ableism In Noblesville, Indiana, a family is facing a difficult battle. Alongside the physical challenges following a tragic accident, they are also contending with their homeowners’ asso…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/18/a-door-that-would-not-open/
29 days ago
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Today's blog post is about the CDC taking away remote work as an accommodation.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/17/w...
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When the System Fails Disabled Employees
CW: Ableism The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently took away remote work accommodations for disabled employees prompting widespread concern among disability rights advocates and le…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/17/when-the-system-fails-disabled-employees/
about 1 month ago
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Today's blog post is about home and community based services provided by Medicaid.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/16/n...
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No One Left to Help
Across the United States, disabled people and their families are facing a growing crisis in accessing reliable care. The shortage of disability support services is not confined to one region. It re…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/16/no-one-left-to-help/
about 1 month ago
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Today's blog post is about a lawsuit regarding the accessibility of UBER.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/15/u...
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Uber’s Ride to Discrimination
The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Uber Technologies Inc., accusing the company of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. The case centers on Uber’s wait-time fee policy,…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/15/ubers-ride-to-discrimination/
about 1 month ago
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Today's blog post is about cuts to special education funding in the United States.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/14/w...
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When Inclusion Becomes a Target
Earlier this month, the Trump administration made a sweeping decision to cancel more than eighteen million dollars in federal grants that supported special education and disability services across …
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/14/when-inclusion-becomes-a-target/
about 1 month ago
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Today's blog post is about the emotional and psychological toll of pain.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/13/o...
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One Question, All My Pain
CW: Pain Yesterday, my physical therapist asked why I had texted him to apologize for experiencing pain earlier in the week. I didn’t have a good answer. Not one that made logical sense anyway. He …
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/13/one-question-all-my-pain/
about 1 month ago
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Today’s blog post is about my 26th birthday.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/12/26/
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26
Today is my 26th birthday. It’s not a milestone birthday. Nor one that comes with balloons shaped like numbers or a themed party. It’s hard to believe how fast time has flown by. My 26th birt…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/12/26/
about 1 month ago
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Today's blog post is about suicide prevention strategies for disabled people.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/11/s...
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Suicide and Disability: A Silent Emergency
CW: Suicide Yesterday was World Suicide Prevention Day. Each year on September 10, World Suicide Prevention Day brings attention to a global crisis that affects millions of lives. It is a day to re…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/11/suicide-and-disability-a-silent-emergency/
about 1 month ago
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Today's blog post is about group projects in school.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/10/g...
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Grouped Alone
It happens in classrooms every day. A teacher says, “Get into pairs,” and the room turns chaotic. Friends find each other quickly. Confident students scan the room and make fast decisions. However,…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/10/grouped-alone/
about 1 month ago
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Today's blog post is about early mortality among people with IDD.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/08/t...
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The Lifespan Gap
CW: Death A recent report from England has revealed a deeply troubling reality. Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are dying nearly 20 years earlier than the general population…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/08/the-lifespan-gap/
about 1 month ago
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Today's blog post is about Medicaid cuts affecting disabled people.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/07/i...
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It’s Life or Death
Across the United States, thousands of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities rely on Medicaid not just for healthcare but for survival. Often, people with intellectual and develop…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/07/its-life-or-death/
about 1 month ago
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Today’s blog post is about living with cerebral palsy as an adult. Thank you for making your incredible film Dan and Samuel.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/06/a...
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A Shift in Care
For years, cerebral palsy has been treated as a childhood condition. However, cerebral palsy is a lifelong disability. More than 800,000 adults in the United States live with CP, and many have face…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/06/a-shift-in-care/
about 1 month ago
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Today’s blog post is about the the slippery slope of assisted suicide.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/05/d...
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Dying for Help
CW: Assisted Suicide For years, advocates of physician-assisted suicide have assured the public that such laws would remain tightly controlled. They promised that only mentally competent adults wit…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/05/dying-for-help/
about 1 month ago
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Today's blog post is about waiting for a Medicaid waiver.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/04/h...
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How Long Do We Wait?
Florida recently passed a law to speed up access to disability services. While it is being touted as a breakthrough for thousands of disabled people and their families it feels like a delayed respo…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/04/how-long-do-we-wait/
about 1 month ago
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Today’s blog post is about accessibility in public schools.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/03/n...
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No Elevator, No Excuse
A broken elevator might not seem like a crisis to most people, but for Naomi Jones, a junior at Alexandria Senior High School in Alexandria, Louisiana, it has become a barrier to her education. Nao…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/03/no-elevator-no-excuse/
about 1 month ago
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Today’s blog post is about accessibility in public schools.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/08/29/u...
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Unlivable by Design
The housing crisis in America is not just about affordability. It is about accessibility. Across the country, disabled people are being left behind in a market that rarely considers their needs. A …
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/08/29/unlivable-by-design/
about 1 month ago
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Today's blog post is about the horrific shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minnesota.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/02/p...
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Protect Every Child
CW: Gun Violence & Death In the quiet sanctuary of Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, a morning Mass turned into a nightmare. Amid the chaos of gunfire and fear, a story of cour…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/02/protect-every-child/
about 2 months ago
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Today’s blog post is about the federal government’s plan to roll back a landmark rule that impacts the employment of disabled people.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/01/t...
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The 7% Betrayal
Federal officials are moving to dismantle a key policy aimed at increasing employment opportunities for disabled people. The U.S. Department of Labor has proposed eliminating a 2013 rule that requi…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/09/01/the-7-betrayal/
about 2 months ago
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Today's blog post is about grief
gracedowwrites.com/2025/08/31/g...
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Grief Is a Season Without a Name
CW: Death Yesterday was National Grief Awareness Day. It was founded in 2014 by grief advocate Angie Cartwright, who endured profound personal losses including her mother, sister, and husband. She …
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/08/31/grief-is-a-season-without-a-name/
about 2 months ago
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Today's blog post is about disabled people being called inspirational.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/08/30/i...
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Inspiration Is Not Inclusion
In recent years, there has been growing awareness about the challenges that disabled people face. But despite the increased attention, there’s still a tendency to oversimplify these experiences and…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/08/30/inspiration-is-not-inclusion/
about 2 months ago
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Today's blog post is about the lack of accessible housing in America.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/08/29/u...
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Unlivable by Design
The housing crisis in America is not just about affordability. It is about accessibility. Across the country, disabled people are being left behind in a market that rarely considers their needs. A …
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/08/29/unlivable-by-design/
about 2 months ago
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Today's blog post is about discrimination against disabled people in healthcare.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/08/28/i...
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Invisible in the Exam Room
CW: Ableism A recent report from The American Academy of Pediatrics reveals a troubling trend: disabled children are more likely to skip doctor visits if they or their families have experienced dis…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/08/28/invisible-in-the-exam-room/
about 2 months ago
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Today's blog post is about immigrants in Massachusetts’s healthcare workforce.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/08/27/n...
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No Country for Caregivers
Massachusetts is facing a growing crisis in its healthcare workforce, driven by abrupt changes in immigration policy that have left hundreds of employees without jobs. Recently, MassHealth terminat…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/08/27/no-country-for-caregivers/
about 2 months ago
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Today's blog post is about emergency evacuation plans for disabled students.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/08/26/f...
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Forgotten in the Fire
CW: Natural Disasters In moments of crisis, schools are expected to act swiftly to protect every student. Unfortunately, disabled students are often left out of emergency evacuation plans. Despite …
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/08/26/forgotten-in-the-fire/
about 2 months ago
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Today's blog post is a reflection on the article The Madden Sisters Don’t Want to Be Institutionalized.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/08/25/t...
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The Power to Choose
CW: Institulization In a moving and eye-opening piece, The New York Times article The Madden Sisters Don’t Want to Be Institutionalized offers a candid look into the lives of two disabled sisters w…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/08/25/the-power-to-choose/
about 2 months ago
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Today's blog post is about how President Trump’s effort to end mail-in voting would affect disabled people.
gracedowwrites.com/2025/08/24/n...
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No Envelope, No Access, No Democracy
President Donald Trump’s announcement of an executive order to eliminate mail-in voting ahead of the 2026 midterms has sparked intense backlash, particularly from disability rights advocates. The d…
https://gracedowwrites.com/2025/08/24/no-envelope-no-access-no-democracy/
about 2 months ago
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