Free bus passes for some Disabled people could make England more accessible/Vane Monte via Pixabay
August had a lot of disability-related news. Here’s a selection of what we’ve been keeping track of from throughout the month.
Burnham to scrap restrictions on disabled people’s bus passes in England
Aletha Adu, The Guardian (UK)
This story zeroes in on an effort by new UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to increase accessibility for Disabled people on public transportation in England. The goal is to reduce barriers for free bus pass usage. The initiative, which must still pass parliament, will allow these passes to be used at any time of day rather than their current limit of 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays. The government departments in charge of the change, which Burnham has earmarked £60 million (approximately $81.3 USD) for, believe the changes will take until at least April to implement.
From the story:
“Disabled people face extra costs every day and many need to travel in the morning for work, education and healthcare. Making free bus travel available around the clock is a welcome step that will put money back in people’s pockets and remove barriers to everyday life.” — James Taylor, executive director of strategy impact and social change at Scope, one of the UK’s leading disability non-profits.
How Steve Way Became the Secret Weapon of Furious
Anthony Breznican, Esquire
This story is a profile of noted disabled activist, comedian, and actor Steve Way as he stars in a Hulu series, Furious. In the piece he talks about connecting with a character who may have disability-related similarities to him but is also world away from Way’s life as a public figure and substitute teacher.
Way plays Alden Drummings, who the actor says is living in fear. However, the article dives into how Way and his cast mates navigated various scenes, including one steeped in romance, and how the show creates a space to unpack disability-related situations that are rarely shown on screen.
From the Story: “I think the world scares him [the character]…He just loves his mother. Dad’s out of the picture. All he has is strangers, and that’s scary enough. So he surrounds himself with the same four walls because it’s safe.”— Steve Way
People with disabilities say Medicaid income limits can stifle career advancement
Natalie Krebs, NPR, in partnership with Iowa Public Radio & KFF Health News
This story focuses on Disabled people being put between a rock and a hard place in having to pick between their health and having a stable career. People like Iowan Erica Carter who has a high paying job and who was forced off of a Medicaid program that had covered her medical expenses. Now, she spends tens of thousands of dollars a year on expenses like wheelchair repairs and home health care that she previously had covered.
Carter’s experiences mirror barriers for many Americans who face heavily restrictive income limits in order to qualify for state benefits.
From the story:
“I want to pay my own way. I don’t mind paying taxes,…I just want an option…I have no options right now.” — Erica Carter, interviewee
Social Security adds 14 health conditions to fast-track disability list. See what they are.
Aimee Picchi, CBS News
This piece showcases rare disabilities that the Social Security Administration have added to their compassionate allowances program. This program, which stems from a list of approved disabilities, allows social security claims to be fast-tracked and, as a result, provide faster access to much-needed support. The list now stands at 314 conditions and the administration says this has led to 1.2 million people getting timely care they might have otherwise gone without. See the article for the full list.
Nearly a decade later, New York still hasn’t passed organ transplant protections for people with disabilities
Nái Remy, Spectrum Local News
This article highlights how organ transplant protections for people with disabilities have not been passed into law in New York State. Ongoing efforts to ensure that Disabled New Yorkers aren’t denied an organ transplant based purely on their disability have been in the works since at least 2017 a similar federal bill is awaiting final passage in the Senate. While Disabled Americans are covered by federal legislation, advocates for these additional bills feel they will strengthen legal protections in an area of health law that has gone fairly untested.
The piece also pulls back the curtain on the political calculus at play in cases like this. Republican Assemblyman Joe Sempolinksi has removed his title as lead sponsor and given it to Democratic Assemblyman Angelo Santa Barbara. Both were drawn to the bill because they have Disabled children.
From the story:
“I don’t care whose name is on it. I don’t care how it passes. I just want it to pass.” — Republican Assemblyman Joe Sempolinksi
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