The Voiceless Minority

A common topic discussed within the disability community is the need for affordable, accessible housing. A home is supposed to be a haven, a refuge to relax in, but for those with disabilities, an inaccessible home can be an unsafe hindrance. With the use of reasonable accommodations and universal design homes, people with disabilities can once again find a safe and accessible haven. One of the first lessons a person with a disability learns is to adapt to the world around them. Those who cannot afford a fully customized accessible dwelling can find it frustrating and ultimately unsafe. When I moved into my first apartment. I was placed in a unit that had steps at the entrance. The steps had railings on both sides. I was able to lift my four-wheel walker up the steps one-handed while maintaining my balance by using my other hand to hold onto the railing as I walked up the steps. I did this for a while until I had a decline in my health and had to begin using a wheelchair. From that poi...

  Hi guys, it’s your friendly neighborhood super-advocate, Jay, back again with another blog post. I have written quite a few in the last month. I want to express my gratitude for your overwhelming support of not only my writing but, perhaps more significantly, I wish to thank you for your continued support of issues that affect the lives of people with disabilities. You constantly inspire me to come up with new content and have reassured me that this blog does make a difference.   Today, I thought it would be appropriate to write a post in honor of Disability Awareness Month. Anyone who has been following the blog as of late will remember that a few years ago, I wrote a piece for Florida Self Advocacy Central and reposted it here. The blog focused on an organization known as The Hive Inclusive Community in Tampa, Florida, which is currently set to open in late 2025. The mission of The Hive, according to their website, is “to foster inclusive communities where every member...