An article from The Baltimore Sun says The Kennedy Krieger Institute, a research facility focusing on pediatric developmental disabilities, has a therapeutic program that teaches patients with paralysis how to scuba dive. One therapist even theorizes that the pressure of deep water affects how nitrogen is circulated through patients’ tissues and improves their sensitivity.
recreation
Boxer Creates Class for People with Disabilities
Boxer Derry Matthews tells The Guardian why he started a boxing class for people with disabilities and why he wants it to catch on worldwide. The initiative was born out of a social media friendship. Read more
Minnesota Community Saves Canadian Resort for Disabled Travelers
The Wilderness Discovery Resort For the Disabled will stay open for at least 20 years, thanks to a campaign from a small community in Minnesota. Read more
GoFundMe Partners with the Special Olympics
A partnership between crowdfunding site GoFundMe and the Special Olympics has launched nearly 500 campaigns from athletes, teams and delegations hoping to compete in the 2017 winter games. Read more
McGill University: Q&A with Paralympian
In an interview with The McGill Daily, Paralympic swimmer Sarah Mehain shares her perspective on disability in the media, accessibility in school athletics and having an invisible disability. Read more
Strategies For Travelers with Disabilities
The New York Times’ travel section interviews the authors of a new book on traveling with a disability. Read more
Why ‘Inspirational’ Isn’t A Compliment to People with Disabilities
With the kickoff of the Rio Paralympics, one author explains why “inspiration” isn’t the right word to use in media coverage. Read more
Media Cautioned Over Using the Words “Superhuman” and “Brave” in Paralympic Coverage
Members of the media are encouraged to avoid specific words in covering the Paralympics. Read more
The Root
Paralyzed Eric LeGrand Delivers Graduation Speech After Controversy
Former Rutgers University football player Eric LeGrand delivered a moving speech at his graduation in May despite his keynote invitation being rescinded just a few weeks earlier. LeGrand, who was paralyzed during a football game against Army in 2010, took to Twitter to express frustration after being uninvited to speak at graduation. Rutgers officials insisted it was a matter of miscommunication– LeGrand would still be able to make a speech but former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean was the official keynote speaker.
Meanwhile, Kean said he’d donate his speaking fee to create a scholarship fund for LeGrand. Read more.
7-128 Software
Top Web Sites for Accessible Gaming – 2014
The best web sites for vision-, hearing- and motion-impaired users have been announced by 7-123 Software. The Salem, Mass. software company released its seventh annual winners list on March 31. The web sites were reviewed to recognize noteworthy contributions to the accessible gaming community. Read the list here.