On Disabilities

Joe Biden rallied supporters Wednesday, Nov. 4, in Wilmington, Del. Though he is now U.S. president-elect, Biden will have to await outcomes of January run-off races in the Senate to know much support he's likely to get there for his health care agenda.

What Biden's Election Means For U.S. Health Care And Public Health

12:00pm November 09, 2020

by Selena Simmons-Duffin

The Trump administration has been marked by a scaled-back federal investment and involvement in U.S. health care. Biden's team has plans to change that — even if Republicans retain Senate control.

John Morris, here in Bogotá, Colombia, has a website called Wheelchair Travel and hosts a travel podcast.

A New Rule Means Some People With Wheelchairs Can't Fly On American Airlines

5:49pm November 02, 2020

by Joseph Shapiro

A new policy from American Airlines, the largest airline in the United States, put a limit on the weight of a wheelchair. Now, many power wheelchairs are too heavy to fly on smaller regional jets.

What It's Like To Be A Radio Host With Hearing Loss

4:58pm October 27, 2020

Manoush Zomorodi of the TED Radio Hour podcast talks with NPR's Mary Louise Kelly about her hearing loss and strategies she's developed to cope.

On average, each U.S. nursing home is connected to seven others through shared staff, a study by Yale and UCLA researchers suggests. Rigorous infection control measures can curb the spread of the coronavirus, but many workers say they still don't have suf

They Work In Several Nursing Homes To Eke Out A Living, And That May Spread The Virus

6:30pm October 26, 2020

by Jackie Fortiér

Most nursing homes are connected by shared staff to seven others. Instead of limiting workers to one facility to curb COVID-19 spread, advocates urge better pay and more PPE for nursing home staff.

Recruiting patients for medical studies has been challenging during the pandemic, especially older people who are more vulnerable to COVID-19.

A Big Alzheimer's Drug Study Is Proceeding Cautiously Despite The Pandemic

4:15pm October 20, 2020

by Jon Hamilton

Researchers launched a major study of an experimental Alzheimer's drug this summer. They also learned a lot about how to protect participants who must make frequent visits to a medical center.

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Mary Louise Kelly: How A Veteran Radio Journalist Adapts To Hearing Loss

9:20am October 16, 2020

by NPR/TED Staff

For years, NPR host Mary Louise Kelly found ways to do her job and manage hearing loss. But now she can no longer rely on reading lips or leaning-in. She describes how she's adapting all over again.

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Rebecca Knill speaks at TED@WellsFargo, February 5, 2020, at the Knight Theater in Charlotte, NC. Photo: Ryan Lash / TED

Rebecca Knill: Technology Has Come So Far—When Will Our Mindset Catch-Up?

7:49am October 16, 2020

by NPR/TED STAFF

As a deaf person, Rebecca Knill is anti-noise and "neutral" on sound. She explains how technology allows her to hear what she wants to hear, and asks why our mindset about ability hasn't caught up.

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Frank Fahland, 61, is one of hundreds of Libby, Mont., residents who has an asbestos-related disease. That makes them potentially more vulnerable to complications from COVID-19.

COVID-19 Stalks A Montana Town Already Grappling With Asbestos Disease

2:50pm October 11, 2020

by Nate Hegyi

In Libby, Mont., an estimated 1 in 10 have an asbestos-related illness, after decades of pollution from a now-shuttered mine. With lungs already scarred, many fear contracting the coronavirus.

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A woman recovering from fever linked to COVID-19 checks medications in her home in Mineola, N.Y., this spring.

Nearly Two-Thirds Of U.S. Households Struck By COVID-19 Face Financial Trouble

7:30am September 28, 2020

by Blake Farmer

Plus, of all U.S. homes that include someone with a disability, 63% report serious financial hardship during the pandemic, and 37% have used up all or most of their savings.

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Dao Thi Hoa, right, chairwoman of the Intergenerational Self Help Club in the Khuong Din ward of Hanoi in Vietnam, checks the club's account book with other members.

Older People, Got A Pandemic Problem? A Club To Help You Figure It Out — Yourself

4:48pm September 23, 2020

by Malaka Gharib

Vietnam's Intergenerational Self Help Clubs encourage older people in the neighborhood to find solutions to their own challenges, whether it's feeling lonely or needing a little extra cash.