Disabilities

Texas school officials have until early November to explain why they placed a limit on the percentage of children enrolled in special education, as a Houston Chronicle investigation revealed.

Texas May Be Denying Tens Of Thousands Of Children Special Education

11:10am October 21, 2016

by Bill Zeeble

Texas school officials have until early November to explain why they placed a limit on the percentage of children enrolled in special education, as a Houston Chronicle investigation revealed.

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Gary Linfoot was paralyzed by a helicopter crash in Iraq. He's one of the few veterans still using an iBOT, which allows him to rise up to eye level using Segway-style balancing technology. The wheelchair was discontinued in 2009, but may soon be reissued

A Reboot For Wheelchair That Can Stand Up And Climb Stairs

7:19pm October 17, 2016

by Quil Lawrence

Toyota announced this year that it's backing the return of the iBOT, which went out of production in 2009. Inventor Dean Kamen says a reboot would include improvements using the latest technology.

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Disabled And Fighting For The Right To Vote

6:00am September 04, 2016

by Pam Fessler

Tens of thousands of Americans with disabilities have lost their voting rights, often after a court assigns them a legal guardian. Now, some of those affected are petitioning to get back those rights.

Jason Olsen, a 39-year-old policy adviser for the Department of Labor, uses the Washington, D.C., Metro to commute to work three times a week. On the other days of the week, Olsen telecommutes from home to avoid the challenge of taking the Metro.

Workplaces Can Be Particularly Stressful For Disabled Americans, Poll Finds

9:14am July 13, 2016

by Yuki Noguchi

Many disabled adults want to work — and many do. But a survey shows that a workplace can be particularly stressful for them, and workplaces may not be doing enough to lower the stress.

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Health & Safety

Work Can Be A Stressful And Dangerous Place For Many

11:57am July 11, 2016

by Joe Neel

The latest poll on your health from NPR and its partners finds that most people think their workplace is supportive of actions to improve health. But gaps suggest there is room for improvement.

Zachary Briley lived in a community for people with developmental disabilities.

A Young Man With A Disability Goes Missing. How Do You Find Him?

7:00am March 20, 2016

by Wendy Wolfson

Zachary Briley's family found out that even though he was developmentally disabled, his disappearance was not classified as an emergency. Laws that protect adults' rights can make searches difficult.

An image taken from a video by Lego fan website Zusammengebaut shows a new minifigure in a wheelchair. The toy will go on sale in June, the company says.

National

Lego, In A First, Will Unveil A Minifigure In A Wheelchair

2:56pm January 28, 2016

by Bill Chappell

The wheelchair is part of Lego's City line and will go on sale in June, according to Lego's spokesperson in Britain and Ireland.

Cheryl Woolnough, director of training at Patriot PAWS in Rockwall, Texas, works with Papi, a Labrador retriever.

Veterans Say Trained Dogs Help With PTSD, But The VA Won't Pay

6:05pm January 04, 2016

by Lauren Silverman

Service dogs help veterans with physical disabilities, and there's increased interest in using dogs for symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, too. A study is underway to see whether that helps.

Michael Palone, 26, who has Asperger's syndrome and mild autism, is paid to assemble packages through a program run by The Arc in Union City, Calif. The program may close soon due to budget problems.

In California, Aid Withers For People With Developmental Disabilities

2:09pm December 04, 2015

by Melissa Hellmann

Budget cuts and rising costs are imperiling California's programs for people with developmental disabilities. The state had led the nation in providing innovative community based services.

A Mother Asks If She's Selfless Enough To Care For A Son With Autism

2:59pm November 30, 2015

by Lisa Aliferis

Sophie Sartain watched her grandmother take care of her intellectually disabled aunt, Dona, and thought that she could never be that devoted. Then her son was diagnosed with autism.