The ADA Anniversary Didn’t Trend on Social Media. Here’s Why That’s a Problem.

ADA anniversaryYesterday, I shared my newest piece for Yahoo Life all about this month’s ADA anniversary. This year was a huge milestone — THIRTY YEARS — so I was excited to see all the coverage and disabled stories about where we’ve been, where we are and where we’re going in the next 30 years.

Well, Sunday’s official anniversary came and went. While, yes, there was coverage, one thing stuck out to me: The anniversary didn’t even trend on social media. And for some reason, I’ve been thinking about that a lot these past few days. Not because I’m sad or mad or annoyed, which I am (all three, actually), but because the lack of major recognition is just, well, the status quo when it comes to disabilities.

It’s something that disabled people like myself know all too well. It’s super disappointing that the ADA wasn’t even a blip in the news cycle ON THE ACTUAL ANNIVERSARY. At all. The anniversary of the biggest disability rights legislation and nope…nothing. What kind of inexcusable shenanigans are these??

I mean, this is what disabled people experience every day. This is our life, so I’m not surprised, but I would expect more from 2020.

On a deeper level, this lack of visibility is telling. It’s incredibly symbolic of how disabled people are still treated in 2020. We’re ignored. We’re left out. We’re forgotten about. We’re mocked. We’re undermined. We’re an after-thought.

So…why do I post photos of myself? To normalize disability. Maybe if more people saw disabled people, they would see us as actual human beings. Maybe they wouldn’t mock us with horrible names. Just a thought.

ADA anniversaryI don’t know who needs to hear this, but…

Disabled bodies are worthy

Disabled bodies are beautiful

Disabled bodies are hot

Disabled bodies are spectacular

Also, we need to start saying that word.

Disabled.

It’s not “differently abled”

It’s not “special needs”

It’s DISABLED.

Why are people so afraid to use that word?? I’ve seen people perform feats of word gymnastics trying to come up with a euphemism when really…

DISABLED IS NOT A BAD WORD

People are shocked when I say I’m PROUD to be disabled because we still live in a society where pride + disability don’t belong in the same sentence.

But I’m here to tell you they do belong together!! That’s why I’m so open about my life with a disability and want the world to see disabilities in a new way. My disability pride has taught me to be more vocal. To speak up. And, yes, to show my face — hi, selfies! Disabled people are here and we’re proud.

I recently asked my mom to take some new photos of me in my wheelchair for Disability Pride Month. Y’all know I haven’t always been comfortable in my body and that’s because I’m not used to seeing people like me, but that’s changing…and I couldn’t be more excited!! Disabled body representation is the future and I’m here for it.

My Essay (AND video!) on Yahoo: “How a Wheelchair Ramp and the ADA Changed My Life”

ADAHi, friends!! It seems like it was just yesterday when we were celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), but that was FIVE whole years ago!! Back then, I did a week-long blog series on the pivotal piece of legislation and this year, I’m so excited that I got to share my story with Yahoo Life…

And guess what?? I got to do an essay AND a video!!

This was such an important piece for me to write because I don’t know who I would be without the life-changing legislation. The disability community wanting things like accessibility and inclusion should never be considered “high expectations.” Disabled people advocating for basic human rights isn’t asking too much because…

DISABLED RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS

ADA ADASo it’s only fitting that I shared these photos over the weekend for the ADA’s 30th anniversary. They’re from last summer and it was my very first time in an accessible taxi. I was amazed at the freedom it gave me while exploring NYC. It’s that freedom, access and opportunity that disability rights activists have been fighting for and will continue to fight for. We celebrate, but realize there’s much more work to be done because true inclusion can’t happen without disability inclusion.

Here’s an excerpt of the piece, in which I write about how my parents first taught me about advocating for yourself in elementary school…

I’ve learned the sheer power of my own voice. I’m not sure who I would be in 2020 if it weren’t for the ADA. When people ask how they can support the disability community, I always say it’s simple: Listen to us. Listen to the people who are living with the disability every day and take your cue from the disabled people in your life. We know what we need — after all, we’ve been advocating for our entire lives.

I’d love to see our society get to a place where accessibility and accommodations aren’t headlines because they’re just so commonplace. Where disabled people don’t always have to advocate for themselves.

More than anything, though, I want disabled people to be proud of who they are. I want them to know that their voice has power. And I want them to live in a world that fully includes them!

We still have a long way to go in breaking down stereotypes about disabilities and the constant ableism can be exhausting. Society sees disability as less than and makes a lot of assumptions about what it’s like to live with a disability. Let’s change this!

ADAAlso, I can’t finish this post without giving a huge, special shout-out to my fab sister for being my stylist again!! She picked out the perfect ensemble for my interview and I’m so grateful for her fashionable eye and sense of style. Isn’t she great?? Thanks for helping me celebrate the ADA, sis!!

You can read the full piece here and I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to email me anytime at mellow1422@aol.com and let’s chat! And of course, feel free to share my essay on Facebook, Twitter or even your local refrigerator. If you share on Twitter, be sure to tag me @melissablake so we can connect! I can’t wait to hear from you! Love you all… xoxo

My Essay on The Week: “It’s Time to Redesign the Accessibility Logo”

accessibility logoI’m so glad that I got to write about this!! It’s my second op-ed for The Week. I’ve long been an advocate of redesigning the accessibility logo to better reflect WHO we are as people with disabilities and the reality of our lives!! When it comes to things like inclusion and disability representation, it’s so important that they’re accurate.

This is something that I’ve wanted to write about for awhile, so when one of my former editors (hi, Elizabeth Yuko, if you’re reading!! 👋🏻) sent me this story tip, it was just the timely news hook I needed.

So what exactly was that news hook, you ask? The state of Ohio is trying to redesign the accessibility logo to better reflect people with with a disability, to make it more dynamic and less stagnant, where the person is just sitting in their wheelchair waiting for someone to come and push them.

Unfortunately, the plans are being put on hold, and that’s unfortunate. A revamped, more modern logo would go a long way to changing public perception about what it’s like to live with a disability in 2019 — it would definitely squash some of those outdated stereotypes of someone who is helpless and dependent on others.

Here’s an excerpt of the piece, in which I remind society, YET AGAIN, of all the things disabled people are and what they’re not. You’d think people would catch on by now, but…

We are a vibrant, independent people who aren’t sitting around, dependent on others. I often say that living with a disability is a verb in every sense of the word; that’s something the able-bodied community tends to forget sometimes. People with disabilities are working, socializing, shopping, vacationing, and just generally going about their lives. The last thing we’re doing is waiting for someone else to help us get somewhere.

Maybe that’s why I feel so strongly about the power of the accessibility logo’s proposed redesign. A logo that shows someone in a wheelchair propelling themselves forward could instill a better image of people with disabilities in the national mind. Every day, I and millions of others in the disability community fight stigmas and stereotypes. Showing us as we really are, even if it’s only in an illustration, would be a powerful way to help us be seen and better understood.

You can read the full piece here and I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to email me anytime at mellow1422@aol.com and let’s chat! And of course, feel free to share my essay on Facebook, Twitter or even your local refrigerator. If you share on Twitter, be sure to tag me @melissablake so we can connect! I can’t wait to hear from you! Love you all… xoxo

[Photo via Unsplash]

Let’s Talk Travel: My Guest Post on accessibleGO…

Guest PostYesterday, I shared my interview with Miriam Eljas from accessibleGO, the new travel service for people with disabilities! I was thrilled when accessibleGO turned the tables and asked me some questions for their awesome blog!! The questions were thought-provoking and made me reminisce about all my travel adventures over the years! Here’s an excerpt of my guest post, complete with some classic touristy photos of my family in the Big Apple…

My parents made sure that my sister and I grow up having lots of travel adventures! We traveled twice a year (in the summer and at Christmas) to visit my grandparents in Alabama. We’d drive down there any always stop at places along the way, like Nashville or the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis. My parents wanted each trip to be fun and educational, and those trips are some of my favorite childhood memories. We also flew to Disney World when I was 13 for a Make-A-Wish trip, which was exciting since I’d never been there before.

It’s interesting because being on vacation with my family was one of the only times growing up when I didn’t have to think about my disability or worry about an upcoming surgery. It was a time when I could be just me and that was such a special gift my parents gave me!

You can read the full guest post here! Also, good news: accessibleGO is having a $250 travel gift card giveaway in March for people who submit a hotel accessibility review! Click here to submit your review and happy travels, friends, wherever your adventures may take you!! xoxo

How One Travel Platform Helps People With Disabilities

travel platform helps people with disabilitiesAs you all know, I’ve taken lots of vacations over the years! My childhood, especially, was filled with one road trip after another, with stops at hotels, historical sites, state parks, rest stops — every trip had the hallmarks of a classic family vacation. Still, traveling is never easy when you have a disability, as my family has learned over the years. From inaccessible buildings to rental cars that aren’t exactly wheelchair-friendly, there’s a lot to consider before you jet off for fun! That’s why I was so excited when accessibleGO contacted me a few months ago! The full-service travel platform helps people with disabilities take the stress out of vacations, and I recently got the opportunity to interview Miriam Eljas, the company’s incredible founder and CEO! Read on for tips for traveling with a disability and how accessibleGO plans to expand in the future…

So tell me about accessibleGO. How did it come about and when?
I started accessibleGO because of my mother, Emma Eljas. accessibleGO is a travel platform for people with disabilities, offering bookings, reviews and community.

My mom had multiple sclerosis and was a wheelchair user for as long as I could remember. As a kid growing up in Silicon Valley, I saw her go from using a cane to a walker to a wheelchair as the disease progressed. I have strong memories of trying to go with her to places that, as a wheelchair user, were not accessible, and frequently getting information over the phone that was completely inaccurate, though well-intentioned.

I always wanted to do something for accessibility that would make a difference and travel has this amazing ability to impact your life in more ways than just seen as a pleasant trip. Travel can lift you up, inspire you and leave lifelong impressions. Travel is also an area that needs significant change so that everyone can enjoy the same experiences no matter what personal situation they have.

My mom was also the kind of person that would never take “no” for an answer and she always found a way, no matter what. This attitude is an incredible gift she gave me and that mentality has helped shape accessibleGO.

These powerful childhood experiences inspired me to create accessibleGO along with my partner and co-founder, Jeff Schlanger.

Why is it so important to have a travel service specifically for people with disabilities?
So many hotels, attractions, landmarks and more are still not accessible and it’s amazing in this day and age, even with ADA laws, to arrive at a destination and to experience barriers.

One wheelchair user on Facebook recently told of her experience where she booked a hotel that claimed to be accessible — only to find the hotel lobby elevator banks could only be reached by stairs. So her husband had to carry her heavy power chair over the stairs every time they wanted to go in or out.

Another wheelchair user reported traveling to a resort for his honeymoon to find the accessible bathroom was not usable, so he had to “shower” with a sink for two weeks.

To pay hundreds of dollars for a hotel stay, or to fly across the country to visit a special attraction you’ve dreamed of and find this kind of surprise is unacceptable. We feel that the power of the crowd is critical and the more users we have, the more we can demonstrate strength in numbers by reviews, comments and other calls to action to affect change. These days, hotel live by their online reputations and a hotel with accessibility problems cannot ignore a powerful demographic writing negative reviews and sharing it online.

How has the company expanded since its creation?
We released the website this past July, when we launched our booking engine for hotels, along with our Trip Resources of local travel information as well as a Travel Ideas section for travel inspiration. We have chosen to focus on the top 20 most popular cities in the USA, offering content like Top 10 Accessible Things to do in Orlando or 48 Hours in Las Vegas. We also launched a community blog of popular bloggers!

Next month, we are launching the car and flights booking capabilities along with a few exciting new account offerings, as well as some new sections offering more tools for creating a community of like-minded travelers sharing information about accessibility.

We’ve also started a project of gathering accessibility data on hotels, so that when you use our booking engine, it will not just say if a hotel claims to be accessible but will also state all the data we have, like if the hotel has a step-free entrance or if they are very welcoming to service animals. Even though all of this is required by the law, it helps to know when a hotel actually promotes these accessibility features.

How do you hope to expand in the future?
Right now, we are focusing on domestic travel in the USA and will eventually expand globally.

While you can use the booking engine to book hotels around the world, all our content in the Travel Ideas section and Trip Resources is based around the top 20 USA cities. We are about to release another 10 cities on our platform, which we are very excited about, including cities in Hawaii by popular demand.

What is your #1 travel tip for people with disabilities?
Planning ahead, combined with being flexible, is the single most important travel tip we can offer. The secret to a successful trip is doing everything you can to ensure a smooth experience, as planning is critical for traveling with a disability, but accepting the fact that things may not go as you plan and to know this too is part of the journey.

travel platform helps people with disabilitiesThank you, Miriam!! Be sure to follow accessibleGO on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay up-to-date on all the fun adventures!! Happy travels!! xoxo