One in four Americans is disabled, according to a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey released Thursday “At some point in their lives, most people will either have a disability or know someone who has a one,” Coleen Boyle, director of CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, said in a written statement. Read Binghui Huang’s story here. 
physical accessibility
Straw ban concerns disability community
Starbucks’ announcement that it will eliminate plastic straws from its stores worldwide by 2020 concerns some in the disabled community. The company says it hopes the ban will to reduce environmental pollution. However, numerous disability advocates spoke out saying the ban could be discriminating.
Why People With Disabilities Want Bans On Plastic Straws To Be More Flexible
Medical schools heighten focus on undergraduate accessibility
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) published a report today outlining common barriers to medical education faced by med school students with disabilities. The research on this topic was prompted by the AAMC‘s desire to promote diversity among its student, faculty and professional membership, and facilitate the standardization of accommodations. The report suggests that, although more medical school students are self-identifying as having disabilities, a culture of competition still promotes stigma around disability. Philadelphia public radio’s (WHYY) Elana Gordon wrote a short article summarizing the AAMC report and the responses it prompted from disability rights advocates.
Disabled Man Crawls Onto Plane After Airline Tries to Prevent Boarding
NY Times reports Hideto Kijima, a disabled rights activist who is partly paralyzed, said he was told by staff of a Japanese airline that he could not board because the small plane was not wheel-chair accessible. The episode has drawn significant public attention and the airline, Vanilla Air, has since apologized. Read more.
Boston’s Snow Cleanup May Ignore Disabled Population
People with disabilities in Boston are speaking out about accessibility after snowstorms. Read more
Fantasy Conventions Present Little Accessibility for Those With Disabilities
Professionals in the fantasy convention world are signing a pledge to refrain from attending the events until accessibility is taken more seriously by organizers. In an article from io9, some panelists at these conventions recount experiences where stages did not have ramps for those using wheelchairs. Read more
Advocates Call For Uber and Lyft to Expand Access for the Disabled
Uber and Lyft are facing lawsuits in several different states over discrimination against people with disabilities. Now, advocates want better access and equal service for disabled riders. Read more
Wheelchair Facts, Numbers and Figures [Infographic]
KD Smart Chair, a manufacturer of power wheelchairs, recently released an infographic that visualizes the facts, numbers and figures about the wheelchair industry. The infographic provides some interesting background on the history and use of wheelchairs in the U.S. and around the world. http://kdsmartchair.com/blogs/news/18706123-wheelchair-facts-numbers-and-figures-infographic
The New York Times
A New Guide to the Grand Canyon by Wheelchair
The New York Times offers a quick overview of a new book written by Cindy Harrington that is a guide to visiting the Grand Canyon for travelers with mobility limitations. Read more.
The New York Times
New York City Approves 30¢ Surcharge to Pay for Accessible Taxis
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio approved a 30-cent taxi surcharge as part of a plan to make city cabs wheelchair accessible by 2020. The city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission unanimously approved the charge on Wednesday. Read more.