[Ohio-Talk] Articles that might be of Interest

Sat Dec 3 17:38:00 UTC 2022

In today’s clips:
•             npr: Medical Bills Remain Inaccessible for Many Visually Impaired Americans
•             Disabled People are often Marginalized, Taunted on Dating Apps. A New One Aims to Change That
•             The Washington Post: Holiday Gifts for People with Disability or Chronic Illness
•             Forbes: 5 Things People with Disabilities Look for in Social Media

Medical Bills Remain Inaccessible for Many Visually Impaired Americans
Lauren Weber, Hannah Recht, 12-1-22

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/12/01/1139730806/blind-disability-accessibility-medical-bills <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.npr.org%2Fsections%2Fhealth-shots%2F2022%2F12%2F01%2F1139730806%2Fblind-disability-accessibility-medical-bills&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065129910520%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=BSaE%2BbPGpHfg%2FEIpXUVbzAI1kE%2BPxtK%2F1VXaEELPOy0%3D&reserved=0>

A Missouri man who is deaf and blind said a medical bill he didn't know existed was sent to debt collections, triggering an 11% rise in his home insurance premiums.

In a different case, from California, an insurer has suspended a blind woman's coverage every year since 2010 after mailing printed "verification of benefits" forms to her home that she cannot read, she said. The problems continued even after she got a lawyer involved.

And still another insurer kept sending a visually impaired Indiana woman bills she said she could not read, even after her complaint to the Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights led to corrective actions.

Across the U.S., health insurers and health care systems are breaking disability rights laws by sending inaccessible medical bills and notices, a KHN investigation has found. The practice hinders the ability of blind Americans to know what they owe, effectively creating a disability tax on their time and finances.
Crucial notices are often in small print, impossible to read

More than 7 million Americans <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fresources%2Fblindness-statistics&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065129910520%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=e8SHMqUEKuIX2SLfagyo5IB7MhA4UvjW%2BlUbc2FC5co%3D&reserved=0> age 16 and older have a visual disability, according to the National Federation of the Blind. And having medical information and bills delivered in an accessible manner is the right of each of those people, protected under various statutes, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Affordable Care Act, and the Rehabilitation Act, disability rights legal experts said.

But some blind patients told KHN that the letters they receive can be impossible to read. Some websites contain coding that is incompatible with screen reader technology, which reads text aloud. Some health care systems and insurers fail to mail documents in Braille, which some blind people read by touch. And others who are visually impaired can read large print, with the possible aid of glasses or magnifying lenses, but the small-print medical bills they get are indecipherable.

"I tell them sending me small-print mail is like hiring a mime to communicate to me from outside my window," Stuart Salvador told KHN over Skype instant messaging. The 37-year-old lives in Greene County, Mo., and explained that a case of shingles when he was 28 left him with only residual sight and hearing. "I can tell something is there," Salvador said, "but I have no idea what I'm supposed to be getting from that."

Bills are sometimes sent to collections before the patient knows there's a problem

Salvador said it can take up to six hours for him to effectively convert a printed medical bill into Braille. He said he has been sent to collections multiple times by CoxHealth and Mercy hospital systems through their automatic medical debt referral systems after the health care providers sent him bills he could not read. As a result, he said, his home insurance carrier raised his annual premium by 11%, costing him an additional $133.51 and significant hassle.

Nancy Dixon, a spokesperson for Mercy, said that the health system could not find a bill for Salvador that was sent to collections in its records within the past 10 years, and that its policy is to make reasonable accommodations for any patient who requests them. CoxHealth did not respond to requests for comment.

Salvador noted that it's challenging for him and other visually impaired patients to fight for access to their billing information. If they realize a problem exists, he and other patients told KHN, communicating with the medical systems and insurers can be difficult. Often, they may not even be aware of the problem until it's too late. And some blind patients don't keep written documentation they cannot see, which otherwise might help with a possible legal challenge when overdue billing issues escalate.

Disability rights attorney Albert Elia, who is blind, said blind people stuck with inaccessible bills often are left with two options: to hope for government action or pursue long, costly lawsuits. The National Federation of the Blind, as well as the American Council of the Blind, have sued <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov%2Fcrt%2Fcase%2Fjulian-vargas-and-american-council-blind-v-quest-diagnostics-clinical-laboratories-inc-et&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130066753%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=VeSH3uPih8WvOXgyCI8FAbTd1vtp%2BCC8ES%2F9Y8O7ws0%3D&reserved=0> and won public settlements <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fprograms-services%2Flegal-program%2Frulings-filings-and-letters&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130066753%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=JDvEoDDbZGp5wCZzhzCUIXCxu2mdjm1sMuGPg0Mph%2FE%3D&reserved=0> regarding inaccessible medical information.

The cycle of inaccessibility repeats — over and over

Meredith Weaver, a senior staff attorney for Disability Rights Advocates, who helped monitor the implementation of a blind accessibility settlement agreement <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdralegal.org%2Fcase%2Fkaiser-permanente-structured-negotiations%2F&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130066753%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=zmA14laYyzui7E4%2Bhc01WQ2krJCNV%2FhV%2FfjaqlUYxeM%3D&reserved=0> with health care giant Kaiser Permanente, said her clients often ask for documents to be sent in Braille or be readable by online screen readers. They then typically receive one document that works for them before the cycle begins anew.

"It felt like whack-a-mole to continually make those requests," Weaver said.

After the terms of the settlement agreement with Kaiser Permanente expired in 2018, Weaver said, she began to hear from clients who faced the same barriers yet again.

Kaiser Permanente spokesperson Marc Brown said that the health system conducted an accessibility review after KHN informed it of Weaver's comments, and he said the company found "no significant defects in the platform, nor do we know of any inaccessibility issues" that would limit someone from paying their bill or using its website. (KHN is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.)

Websites of many major health insurers pose accessibility problems. 'It's shocking to the conscience'

KHN found multiple accessibility issues on the public-facing webpages of Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross and UnitedHealthcare, major insurers that visually impaired and blind customers flagged as having accessibility problems. The errors, which KHN identified with the help of a tool created by WebAIM <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwebaim.org%2Fabout%2F&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130066753%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=8UqWFCFbBXJiR6FzhKyFpxqvYEI6pQb%2B6XDlumRMzdo%3D&reserved=0>, a nonprofit web-accessibility organization, include webpage coding that would make it difficult for a blind customer using screen reader technology to shop for a health plan or find an in-network doctor.

After he learned of KHN's findings, Andrés J. Gallegos, chairman of the National Council  <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fncd.gov%2F&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130066753%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Uxb8uXcxXKvMlRumHKY%2B6wAs6JIhQ5CAIb1pWB8jr%2Bw%3D&reserved=0>on Disability <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fncd.gov%2F&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130066753%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Uxb8uXcxXKvMlRumHKY%2B6wAs6JIhQ5CAIb1pWB8jr%2Bw%3D&reserved=0>, an independent federal agency that advises the White House and Congress, said the council should look more deeply into the issue.

"It's shocking to the conscience," he said, noting the law clearly provides for such accessibility protections.

All three insurance companies said they work hard to make their services accessible and strive to fix member issues.

"It's the year 2022. Everything is being done electronically; everything is being done online," said Patrick Molloy, a blind 29-year-old in Bucks County, Penn. "It shouldn't, in theory, be terribly difficult to make websites and billing platforms accessible to customers with visual impairments. But it's the world we live in."

Getting a lawyer involved doesn't always solve the problem, said Lucy Greco <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwebaccess.berkeley.edu%2Fabout%2Fstaff-bios&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130066753%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Y4w6MrA4vvmc6IaeRh06sBWLB33%2BtjyBfD%2F8rP7aPxk%3D&reserved=0>, a web-accessibility specialist at the University of California, Berkeley. The blind 54-year-old sought legal help in early 2020 to stop Anthem Blue Cross from mailing her printed notices she cannot read — which sometimes resulted in lapsed benefits because she could not read the written request to sign and return the documents. She now receives some but not all communication through email, which she had requested, and via the company's online portal.

Greco employs an aide to read her mail to her every other month, to help fill in the gaps, but she has still missed insurance notices and bills. She recently raised the aide's wages to $30 an hour, as Greco wants to ensure she can retain a trustworthy person with all her personal information. But not everyone can afford to hire an aide.

"It makes you feel helpless and it makes you feel dependent on people you might not want to feel dependent on," she said.

'It's not easy to enforce these laws'

Even when federal entities step in to fix such issues, the problems persist. Kate Kelly, a 61-year-old in Greenwood, Ind., who is visually impaired and has hearing loss stemming from multiple sclerosis, was so fed up with receiving multiple bills in standard-sized text from her insurer, Aetna, that she filed a complaint with the HHS Office for Civil Rights in early 2020.

But after the office came to an agreement with Aetna to stop sending her bills in standard-sized text that fall, she said, Aetna soon resumed sending some documents in text too small for her to read. Kelly pushed HHS to reopen her case. This July, records show, the office closed it due to what it said was a lack of jurisdiction, despite its involvement in obtaining the previous resolution.

Kelly said her large-print bills still get delayed — one from March just came in August — and she is now required to sign for them when they're delivered. When she tried to use the online portal, she said, her screen reader could not read certain numbers and other information.

"It's hard to fight back; it's hard to participate in the system," she said. "You see why insurance companies get away with it, as it's not easy to enforce these laws."

Alex Kepnes, an Aetna spokesperson, said company staffers had reached out to Kelly after KHN's questions and they "regret the inconvenience that this has caused her." Kelly said she missed Aetna's call, and although she called the next day and tried once more to reach the company, she had yet to hear back as of Nov. 28. She did receive a complaint form from the company — the text was in small print she cannot read.

Meanwhile, Kelly said, her utility company manages to get her a bill in large type every month. And she promptly pays it.

Disabled People are often Marginalized, Taunted on Dating Apps. A New One Aims to Change That
11-30-22

https://www.wvxu.org/2022-11-30/disabled-people-are-often-marginalized-taunted-on-dating-apps-a-new-one-aims-to-change-that <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wvxu.org%2F2022-11-30%2Fdisabled-people-are-often-marginalized-taunted-on-dating-apps-a-new-one-aims-to-change-that&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130066753%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=JyGsqWwEYwRe8reslu8nK1o%2BEyfjZFZgCy%2FpwwoukxQ%3D&reserved=0>

Jacqueline Child, like millions of 20-somethings, used dating apps in her search for a partner. But unlike many of her peers, she got responses like, “I hope you’re not planning to have children,” and “my mother told me to run!” The reason? Jacqueline revealed to her would-be suitors that she has a disability.

In her case, a connective tissue disorder that recently required surgery and a feeding tube. That kind of rejection and verbal abuse is a common issue faced by members of the disabled community and one that, together with her 32-year-old sister, Alexa Child, Jacqueline Child hopes to change.

In October, the two launched Dateability <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Finfo.dateabilityapp.com%2F&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130066753%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=BdzT5ObxvAkrbt8NdLC58kyQe5JtkcZApIzztyc9N3Q%3D&reserved=0>, the first dating app created by someone with disabilities for users with disabilities and chronic illnesses. The app’s motto is “making love accessible.”

Julia and Alexa Child join Here & Now‘s Robin Young to talk about the app and the reasons it’s needed.

Holiday Gifts for People with Disability or Chronic Illness
Amanda Morris, 12-1-22

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2022/12/01/gift-guide-disability-chronic-illness/ <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fwellness%2F2022%2F12%2F01%2Fgift-guide-disability-chronic-illness%2F&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130066753%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=X%2F9XSeggeTkPNk6v3RotECkdC2mzsudwOX3jptFTbhE%3D&reserved=0>

For the holidays, giving a gift that specifically considers a person’s disability can be a great way to make them feel seen and supported.

Many products in this guide are made by disabled people, who are more likely to face job discrimination or work limitations that can restrict their income. And you’ll find gift ideas for people with a variety of different needs and conditions.

And even if you aren’t shopping for someone with a disability, you can still support disabled people by buying holiday cards or sponsoring a guide dog, both of which are listed below. (All prices are subject to change.)

For people with illness or chronic conditions

A hot water bottle
A hot water bottle can soothe sore joints or muscles. Heat Treats, a company based in the United Kingdom, sells a variety of cute hot water bottle covers with their bottles, such as this cow-shaped cover <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.heat-treats.co.uk%2Fcream-highland-cow-hot-water-bottle-pj-case%2F&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130066753%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ByRnb383PE%2BWRXyn%2BK%2FCyLl8iE9Zr8PmTDnYG662cLg%3D&reserved=0>. Hugo Frosch USA also sells faux fur covers, kids’ water bottles and a line of eco-friendly water bottle covers made from sustainable materials. Price: $23 from Heat Treats or $26.95 from Hugo Frosch

Compression gloves
Clothing items like compression socks, gloves or braces can ease swelling and pain and help with chronic conditions associated with poor blood circulation, such as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hopkinsmedicine.org%2Fhealth%2Fconditions-and-diseases%2Fpostural-orthostatic-tachycardia-syndrome-pots%23%3A~%3Atext%3DTilt%2520Table%2520Test%2520for%2520POTS%2Care%2520measured%2520during%2520this%2520test.&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130066753%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=bmhfioLGK8TNhECyYnepBOJfYciOEdiZ%2BDwA2KDTYz8%3D&reserved=0>. Bibipins sells compression accessories in several fun patterns, such as these galaxy-patterned compression gloves <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbibipins.com%2Fproducts%2Fgalaxy-compression-gloves&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130066753%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2BhdeiI7XD1JtB4gQYmsQdqAwJ%2BGL6Jq1D7VcHULyvh8%3D&reserved=0>.  On its website, Bibipins is described as a “Black, disabled and queer owned company.” The shop also has a line of rainbow compression items to celebrate LGBTQ+ identities. Price: $15

Cancer treatment often involves surgical placement of a port under the skin, usually on the chest. The port <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cancer.gov%2Fpublications%2Fdictionaries%2Fcancer-terms%2Fdef%2Fport&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130066753%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=YhyT2CIQAQI90Wp5%2FeFEdKX4eJfsO%2FeinyqzJNpqa%2BU%3D&reserved=0> is used to draw blood or receive drug therapy without repeated needle sticks. These shirts from ComfyChemo <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.comfychemo.com%2Flong-and-short-sleeve&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130222970%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=jSQ5bqfIc%2B7yomQmBah9Qng7gu4IUHVMzaGJbBJxhTg%3D&reserved=0>,, with zippers that make it easier to reach the port while keeping your shirt on, are designed by nurses, and they can make the chemo experience a little more comfortable. Price: $37.95

Spoonie Threads makes ostomy bag covers in fun patterns and colors <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fspooniethreads.com%2Fcollections%2Faccessory-ostomy-bags&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130222970%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2Be1ktlFP8Zf8x9si%2BZuGxRsa3Lej8BNRr6VgNZnGPBA%3D&reserved=0>, as well as some with humorous expressions such as “Go with the flow.” Another place to order fun ostomy bag covers is through Stoma Style <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fstomastyle%2F&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130222970%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=dtoubPrtmti9ix22n5NqWH56IY%2FbJV6vEzuIRV%2F2qEQ%3D&reserved=0>, a business run by Lisa Wilkinson, a woman in the U.K. who has an ostomy bag and wears some of the designs she creates. Wilkinson ships to the United States for about $5, but orders can take two to three weeks to complete. Price: $17.50 from Spoonie Threads for one cover, or $30 from Stoma Style for two or three covers

For people who use mobility aids or prosthetics

Prosthetic leg sleeve covers
Getting a custom prosthetic paint job can be expensive, but a prosthetic sleeve can be a cheaper, fun way to add your personal style to a prosthetic. Fred’s Legs allows people to order sleeves with decorative patterns <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffredslegs.com%2Fcollections%2Fprosthetic-sleeve-covers%2Fproducts%2Fstatic-white-lightning-prosthetic-suspension-sleeve-cover&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130222970%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Y7D3dogbAu0kNYnIeAQByrpvYowSK4Jy6olvB2157ks%3D&reserved=0> in specific sizes to match their prosthetics. The company was started in 2001 by Kurt Pauloz, an amputee who is also a certified and licensed prosthetist. Price: $27 and up

A wheelchair bag
People who use wheelchairs often have to carry purses in their laps. But Ffora makes an essential bag set <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fliveffora.com%2Fcollections%2Fffora-core-essentials-sets%2Fproducts%2Fnew-essentials-set&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130222970%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=JTfwC7VPGKTwT4Rg7MVKGx4QGQKks9pktrLvnCbzzCw%3D&reserved=0> that can be attached to the side of a wheelchair. The company also makes other attachments for wheelchairs, such as cupholders. Price: $90

Decorative stickers
People who use mobility aids such as crutches, walkers or wheelchairs sometimes like to decorate them to add their personal style. Herboreal Art, run by a queer disabled woman, sells a pack of pretty mobility aid stickers <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.herborealarts.com%2Fproduct%2Ffloral-mobility-aid-clear-stickers-blue&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130222970%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=pFjGQmDj1%2FPuKGn%2FNbIPtKohRMl%2FQLvVd6FPCej4ySE%3D&reserved=0> that feature flowers for $17. Another option is to get this “Disability Is Diversity” sticker pack <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cripriot.com%2Fproduct-page%2Fdisability-is-diversity-sticker-pack&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130222970%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ur52dmPdW3L7tGyC1Ljw6I91MiW9OXDA0CJoVu7%2FWxU%3D&reserved=0>, from Crip Riot, a business with a diverse, intersectional team of deaf and disabled creators. Price: $13.99 to $17

Seamless back jeans
Adaptive clothing <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fbusiness%2F2021%2F08%2F06%2Fadaptive-clothing-target-kohls-jcpenney%2F%3Fitid%3Dlk_inline_manual_30&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130222970%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=j3u6dAbQ27SjcwF81Qa0mAxNJIoh4UXcUyylCVCf4JU%3D&reserved=0> eliminates back seams so that people who use wheelchairs can easily put on pants and comfortably sit in them all day long without pain. IZ Adaptive makes a variety of adaptive clothing such as jeans for women <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fizadaptive.com%2Fcollections%2Fwomens-adaptive-jeans-chinos-for-wheelchair-users%2Fproducts%2Fgame-changer-seamless-back-jeans-for-women&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130222970%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=tN7H2OgAMBxgFEmQyBttsvOPO%2BoPosQDdpihM9KPPqo%3D&reserved=0>, which look stylish and professional. Price: $125

Amputee teddy bear
Made by Vermont Teddy Bear, these customizable amputee teddy bears <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vermontteddybear.com%2Fthe-amputee-coalition.html&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130222970%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=mCYc66%2Bm0YjDhSN7n2yPtwM9a8UUIJKYAqBL8VfInmU%3D&reserved=0> are great gifts for children who might benefit from seeing their limb differences represented <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Flifestyle%2F2019%2F03%2F04%2Ffirst-there-was-transgender-doll-then-one-with-an-amputated-leg-now-these-dolls-with-differences-are-giving-kids-boost%2F%3Fitid%3Dlk_inline_manual_34&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130222970%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=yVi8ix9AydUD7aZqFC5X%2FgY7TZTgvWKbPmBpCk33oGw%3D&reserved=0> in their toys. The teddy bears are designed in partnership with the Amputee Coalition, a nonprofit group that provides support for amputees, and 20 percent of every sale goes to the coalition. Price: $70

For people who struggle with fine motor control skills

Adaptive cutting board
This cutting board from the Rehab Store <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rehab-store.com%2Fp-waterproof-cutting-board.html%3Fgclid%3DCjwKCAjwp9qZBhBkEiwAsYFsbwkUd-48x4Qvs79BAadSx_2t2eJPJGcS9Fn0_EoD5ruF9dPZpKf_mhoCKMYQAvD_BwE&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130222970%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=HWkqaCigubJQhQf80gG3dMBZcGRdJRB7Ne0gV2zMWys%3D&reserved=0> comes with edges and spikes, which allows people with dexterity or fine motor issues to more safely and easily cut their food. The spikes can be used to hold the food in place while someone is cutting it, and the edges can keep things from falling off the cutting board. Price: $46

A set of universal grips
These EazyHold grips <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Feazyhold.com%2Fcollections%2Ffrontpage%2Fproducts%2Fyouth-to-adult-5-pack&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130222970%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=KR5viCIO8g0PFqNNJXGLzwxJKOEgR%2Fq81b7Gn3FDn08%3D&reserved=0> were created by three sisters who started to struggle with gripping things as they got older. They are easily washed and can be used to help grip tools, hair brushes, toys, forks, toothbrushes, cups or even tennis rackets. Price: $40

For people who are neurodiverse or who have cognitive disabilities

Fidget toys
Fidget toys are helpful for those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or autism. At the All Things Sensory Shop, fidget toys are made by Alissa, a 30-year-old with a sensory processing disorder, anxiety, ADHD and autism. In the shop’s mystery fidget bundle <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.allthingssensoryshop.com%2Fproduct-page%2Fmystery-fidget-bundle-1&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130222970%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=B%2F%2FzFO5UneFoPzqSJdJE%2Bew1JKdKUYutTaUasuOu96A%3D&reserved=0>, you can indicate the sizes and colors of fidgets you want. You can even choose noisy or quiet fidgets. Price: $25

Therapy dough
Pinch Me therapy dough <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FPinch-Me-Therapy-Dough-Ounce%2Fdp%2FB076DYVK2Q%3Fref_%3Dast_sto_dp%26th%3D1&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130222970%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=9HB%2FsDJFMb95r9Jp8b%2Bve6t6RcIzB%2BUMFYozsa8OL00%3D&reserved=0> is a therapeutic putty that can be used to reduce anxiety, improve hand strength in people with fine motor control issues, or give autistic people sensory stimulation through both touch and smell. Price: $29.95

A weighted blanket
Weighted blankets <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Flifestyle%2Fhome%2Fweighted-blankets-might-ease-insomnia-and-anxiety-heres-what-to-know-before-buying-one%2F2019%2F01%2F18%2F71b1aefa-1a6f-11e9-8813-cb9dec761e73_story.html%3Fitid%3Dlk_inline_manual_52&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130222970%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=z7bnGjZnmjIG8iIUanTFJze71biUFvdFBPCIx%2FktI4U%3D&reserved=0> can be a great tool for people with ADHD or autism to calm down or counteract sensory overload. Mosaic Weighted Blankets is owned by Laura LeMond, a woman with a sensory processing and attention deficit disorders. The company offers prints that include Vincent van Gogh’s “Starry Night <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mosaicweightedblankets.com%2Fcollections%2Fall%2Fproducts%2Fstarry-night-cotton-mosaic-weighted-blanket&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130222970%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=jb6mQYGfclgOOpMFIACGHaWkaIRmIUAhJYts1sVuSkc%3D&reserved=0>” painting, unicorns <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mosaicweightedblankets.com%2Fcollections%2Fall%2Fproducts%2Funicorn-weighted-blanket&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130222970%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=GGctRpwbC1B7X%2FP8u2W6hlf4xpNxTAldmYHBH5EznLc%3D&reserved=0> or dinosaurs <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mosaicweightedblankets.com%2Fcollections%2Fall%2Fproducts%2Fdinosaur-themed-weighted-blanket&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130222970%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Y02qMG%2F8jZexsZsD7oSZqJ2gkKUd7TKEKQh%2BrmYuNZ4%3D&reserved=0>, and also allows you to order customized weighted blankets. Price: $130

A Tile Mate tracker
People with ADHD can often struggle to remember where they put things, but this nifty bluetooth tracker from Tile Mate <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tile.com%2Fproduct%2Fblack-mate-premium%3FcategorySlug%3Dtile-mate&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130379195%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=PrSulvrGQUnBYXi4UA5ckE5THRFF%2BYIVZ%2FohtFe00L8%3D&reserved=0> can help them easily find their most important items, such as a phone or keys. Price: $24.99

Disability awareness socks
Socks can be a great way to show off personality or disability pride, such as these Down Syndrome Awareness ones made by John’s Crazy Socks <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fjohnscrazysocks.com%2Fcollections%2Fdown-syndrome-socks&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130379195%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=FUqZJpwJiylPNtlDMR9mI7Bubkvk6We9as%2FmWrl1KaQ%3D&reserved=0>, a company started by John Lee Cronin, a man with Down syndrome who happens to have an affinity for socks. Some of the company’s sock designs feature drawings of superheroes with Down Syndrome that can give an extra boost of confidence to people wearing them. Five percent of the company’s earnings are donated to the Special Olympics. Price: $13.99

For people with vision or hearing loss

A stuffed animal seeing eye guide dog
These cute stuffed animals sold by Two Blind Brothers <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwoblindbrothers.com%2Fcollections%2Fguide-dog-collection&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130379195%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=TP90W3jRDQtE2w3N1wF5klBjB6hKveluA4TH2RbJTVo%3D&reserved=0> come with their own names stitched in Braille onto their ears. The company was created by blind brothers who use the profits to fund blindness research. Price: $32

A vibrating alarm clock
Using noise to wake up can be difficult or impossible for people who are hard of hearing or deaf. But these alarm clocks made by Sonic Alert <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sonicalert.com%2FSBP100-Alarm-Clock&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130379195%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=z1pTvC42QqD5CVb7B5oLGMaF6IlvXCDgYwBBrbK63Gk%3D&reserved=0> can go into someone’s pillow to wake them up with powerful buzzes and vibrations. Price: $36.99

Deaf pride apparel
Wearing clothes that show off American Sign Language can be a way for people who identify as part of the deaf community to show their pride. A number of deaf creators sell designs online, such as Ericka B. Olujie, a Black woman who says the purpose of her company, the Erry B. Shop, is to spread knowledge of Black deaf culture. Her apparel includes hats, T-shirts, pins, hoodies and tote bags. Price: starting at $18.99

A tactile drawing board
This raised line drawing board <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.braillebookstore.com%2FRaised--Line-Drawing-Board.1&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130379195%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Rr7nWmlcF%2BYCssyseW0mPaAIj%2Fr4MgbnazzVcBiTB74%3D&reserved=0> sold by Blind in Mind, The Braille Superstore allows blind or low vision people to create tactile drawings with a regular sheet of paper and pen. Not only does this empower them to more easily make art, but it can encourage tactile literacy skills. Price: $14.95

Scattergories accessibility kit
The classic game of Scattergories can easily be made accessible to blind and low-vision people through an Accessibility Kit  <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F64ozgames.com%2Fcollections%2Ffamily-games%2Fproducts%2Fscattergories-accessibility-kit&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130379195%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=fp0KwrQNeEF4N9pjMGil0ubHhS7oLeDY4nvApdcEehA%3D&reserved=0>sold by 64 Oz. Games, which use Braille, tactile cues or sometimes QR codes. You can also find kits for other popular games including Settlers of Catan or Taboo. Prices generally range from $15 to $150

A children’s book featuring disabled characters
There are an increasing number of children’s books featuring disabled characters, and “I Deaf-initely Can, Rhett the Heeler <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rhetttheheeler.com%2Fproduct-page%2Fi-deaf-initely-can-rhett-the-heeler&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130379195%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=m%2FJC%2BO3kFFkrhqqYcHFtIjmQU8JdhkVgg45Gr6Nic4M%3D&reserved=0>” features not just a deaf woman but also her deaf dog. The story is based on the lives of Karlie Waldrip, a deaf education teacher in Texas who uses American Sign Language commands with Rhett, her deaf Australian cattle dog. Waldrip posts videos of Rhett’s tricks on Instagram <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Frhett_the_heeler%2F%3Fhl%3Den&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130379195%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=CaCwIeSUZ6JtHCE%2Ff%2BmED4%2FShQnFFdfDERqa5maAMJY%3D&reserved=0>. The book was illustrated by Lucy Rodgers, who is also deaf. Price: $18.99

Hearing aid sweatbands
Hearing aids can be vulnerable to damage from dust, dirt, sweat and water. Hearing aid sweatbands <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fhearingaidsweatband.com%2Fthe-original-hearing-aid-sweat-band-2-per-pack%2F&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130379195%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=7TCctYqs4FJQPpMeOUD6MfkK8Szo9qrXvjDsLBrt8j0%3D&reserved=0> can help protect the devices, keeping them dry and clean.can help protect the devices, keeping them dry and clean. They could be especially useful for someone who is active or who loves the outdoors. They come in a variety of colors and the company was founded by man who wore hearing aids. Price: $29.95

For everyone
Holiday greeting cards
To go with your gift, consider getting greeting cards <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmfpausa.com%2Fcollections%2Fgreetingcards&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130379195%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=GbhPyCNragoK1CkMvMikZ0fW%2B%2BsrrOxBLExGdYDqn4w%3D&reserved=0>made by the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists. Every piece of art sold by this self-help-oriented collective is painted by someone who either was born without hands or lost the use of their hands. Price: $10.95 for six cards

Sponsor a guide dog
Sponsor a guide dog for the blind, either as a gift for someone else or on your own through the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, a U.K.-based charity. You can choose to sponsor puppies named Grace, Moose or Albus <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.guidedogs.org.uk%2Fhow-you-can-help%2Fdonating%2Fsponsor-a-puppy%2F&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130379195%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=HzI%2BPzisLejYjmtsuj6a43xQI1%2FmnLGQrsi9gcHp9HU%3D&reserved=0> and get updates and photos on how the dog is developing. Price: $4.35 per month

5 Things People with Disabilities Look for in Social Media
Andrew Pulrang, 11-30-22

https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewpulrang/2022/11/30/5-things-people-with-disabilities-look-for-in-social-media/?sh=3c19c76431c6 <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fandrewpulrang%2F2022%2F11%2F30%2F5-things-people-with-disabilities-look-for-in-social-media%2F%3Fsh%3D3c19c76431c6&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130379195%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=c%2Fd%2FF%2FWk7JRgcuBbZeIZtXICCAgo2CLZCEkbFxwTyzU%3D&reserved=0>

Disability and Social Media

The recent turmoil with Twitter has prompted many online disabled people to think more deeply about what they really need and want from social media platforms.

Anxiety and debate over the direction of Twitter under Elon Musk’s ownership is affecting nearly every corner of Twitter, and of all online communities. Users and business partners wonder about Musk’s ability to manage the company and the application itself with a drastically reduced staff pushed to its limits. And many inside and outside Twitter’s user base worry about whether Musk's purported “free speech absolutist” approach will make Twitter even more toxic than it has sometimes been in the past. Will Twitter become a liberating bastion of free expression? Or, as a recentVox.com article <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vox.com%2Frecode%2F23440075%2Felon-musk-twitter-layoffs-check-mark-verification&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130379195%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=zTBq9RD4qCEApdjtG9MssxAE4k6ItRSwR4JlfQs1O4c%3D&reserved=0> suggests it might, will it devolve into "an even more intense cesspool of negative content than it already is?” This is an even more of a concern for marginalized groups that are vulnerable to bullying and various forms of prejudice, such as racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia, xenophobia – and ableism, too.

#DisabilityTwitter <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fhashtag%2FDisabilityTwitter&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130379195%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=mKTaAyn3p0DKle4P6OylOH3FoHiIH2rFxH8AESOeGQs%3D&reserved=0> in its various forms and communities has been particularly on edge, and in something of a holding pattern. A November 11 Time article <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftime.com%2F6230469%2Fdisability-users-twitter-elon-musk%2F&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130379195%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=3OgdV7ShJWTnaY50iL16majHTcEYO%2BYRkG%2FZOqvf0bA%3D&reserved=0> notes that, "For people with disabilities who’d found an emotional support system on Twitter, anxiety over Musk’s upheaval was especially sharp.”
That’s partly because Twitter has been unusually well suited to disabled users and disability communities. Over time and gradual refinement, it became remarkably accessible to people with disabilities as online platforms go – though never of course completely accessible. Twitter has also served as a "megaphone" for disabled voices and disability issues. And despite social media's reputation as a polarizing and isolating force in modern culture, Twitter arguably increased and enriched disabled people's connections with wider society.

"Many people with disabilities use Twitter to organize, fundraise and run businesses," notes Amanda Morris in the Washington Post <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fwellness%2F2022%2F11%2F18%2Fdisability-support-twitter-harassment%2F&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130379195%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=zaBVbGVd1w1dN0jH1%2FlusvQRVOzo0yZeD%2BwFlfyLnO4%3D&reserved=0>. And Disabled blogger Imani Barbarin <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcrutchesandspice.com%2F2022%2F11%2F16%2Fwith-twitter-crumbling-it-feels-like-the-world-is-collapsing-on-disabled-people%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2wQi-EBU-6zj_x_vwrgby7804NQ9jNjdv7Gz9SgLe7tnSfkHMFHkMWeRY&data=05%7C01%7CMichael.Graham%40ood.ohio.gov%7C25d79d27c6614ce2682508dad3b372f3%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0%7C0%7C638055065130379195%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=acgsLHB8DJRETNpIdDb3quMnG1GADqHufUeF4hYEhes%3D&reserved=0> writes, "Platforms like Twitter helped us to feel less alone and gaslit by our experiences and allowed us to contextualize our experiences in a way that gave us peace."
With so many aspects of Twitter's future feeling uncertain, now is a good time to consider what disabled people need most from social media — from Twitter, from other popular platforms, or perhaps from something that hasn't been invented yet.

1. Accessibility
This should be an obvious and easily understood requirement. But it’s worth explaining and underlining. Disabled people need social media Interfaces that people with any kind of disability can use with relative ease.

For people with physical disabilities, including those that change or limit fine motor functions and general stamina, this includes full access to all features, with fewer clicks, minimal typing required, and usable with a variety of input devices other than standard the mouse and keyboard.

For people with sensory disabilities, like visual, hearing, and speech impairments, accessibility also means simple site layouts with less clutter, and strong and easily accessed tools for rendering content in alternative formats like audio for text, text for voice, and text descriptions for all graphics and video.

Social media platforms should also take into account cognitive and learning disabilities. Simplicity and design elegance are good for all users, but essential for people with learning disabilities, cognitive impairments, and other neurological conditions. To be truly accessible, platforms like Twitter should always strike a careful balance between offering lots of choices and sophisticated content, and overwhelming users with cool features that are too hard to learn and adapt..

2. Community
At their best, social media platforms can be places where people with disabilities can readily find information and other like-minded disabled people, unfettered by geography or the need for physical exertion to find them.

But simply exposing people with disabilities to ideas and potential friends isn’t enough. What disabled people need most is credible information, not breathlessly-delivered rumors and conspiracy theories. And they crave disability communities actual disabled people can relate to and comfortably join.

Disabled people also want to meet other disabled people, not just well-meaning but sometimes misguided non-disabled allies. This is part of a long-term trend in recent decades where people with disabilities have increasingly looked to and relied on each other, rather than just family non-disabled disability professionals. Online disability culture has accelerated this trend. Fostering true disabled peer communities of substantial size and richness is one of the greatest achievements of the social media revolution.

Disabled people on social media also look for topical and emotional variety. They want a robust mix of reliable information, positive encouragement, strong advocacy, personal support and validation – but also honest, unflinching exploration of mistreatment, exclusion, and all forms of ableism. Too much “positivity” can indeed be “toxic.” Relentless cheerleading and celebration of disabled high achievers can feel deceptive, privileged, and even discouraging. At the same time, even the harshest disabled critics and fiercest advocates need periodic doses of hope and optimism. Sometimes it helps for disability social media to generate that deliberately.

3. Emotional safety
This should also go without saying, but bears repeating. Disabled people want social media to be as free as possible from abuse and bullying.

Most disabled people already encounter more than enough ableism in “real life.” This includes everything from schoolyard bullying of disabled children, to workplace discrimination of disabled adults, to the kind of physical and emotional abuse that’s always a risk for people who need every day personal care.

On top of this, the worst of online ableism can include,, but is not limited to, awkwardly taboo and more deeply offensive terminology, as well as disability-related personal attacks and insults directed at disability communities, and at specific individuals. This is one of the most immediate concerns about the new Twitter. Free speech environments with little or no moderation can easily devolve into places where few disabled people will want to spend time. Disabled people value free speech and diverse opinions as much as anyone else. But most also value atmospheres in which both overt and subtle forms of ableist pestering and bullying are at the very least consistently discouraged rather than defended.

Of course, there is also a difficult gray area between offensive, harmful dialog, and sincere, well-intentioned – but also wrongheaded, annoying and wearying – disagreement or advice. Most disabled people want to hear contrary opinions. And it can be valuable to know what non-disabled people are really thinking, underneath politie euphemisms.
But some questions and ideas about disability are more than just irritating. For example, asking or demanding a disabled person online to explain every detail of their disability can read more like aggression or intimidation than as a request for enlightenment. And repeatedly suggesting that disabled people are better off dead, or that society is better off with fewer disabled people, has little value in spurring debate or diversity of opinion. They read as existential threats and create lasting emotional wounds.

4. Emotional sustainability
Disabled people online want to be challenged, stimulated, and engaged. But on some platforms they often find themselves bogged down by a flood of pestering and annoyances. This includes demands for unpaid emotional labor – like being asked over and over again, every day, to “educate” others for free on disability issues – or being exposed to hundreds of other people’s pain, then criticized for not consistently responding in just the right way.

Persistent questions about disability basics, and rehashed ableist arguments can also cause widespread burnout in online disability communities. For instance, it’s exhausting to be constantly challenged by contrarians and pot-stirrers to prove your own disability, or the existence and importance of ableism. And while advice is usually offered with good intentions, it can be exhausting to be repeatedly lectured by non-disabled people about how they think disabled people should handle disability discrimination, inaccessibility, bureaucratic problems, and everyday encounters with ableism.

Minimizing these many points of friction in online communities, while not micromanaging dialog or “tone policing” disability discourse is one of the most difficult but important challenges for any social media platform. Disability discourse online should be rich, lively, and inclusive, but also just plain pleasant enough to keep disabled people engaged and energized.

5. Visibility
One of the best things about Twitter has been that disabled people were able to meet, share, vent, and organize as distinct communities, but in plain sight of influential people outside the disability community. Disabled people crave a degree of privacy and kinship exclusively among disabled people. But at the same time they don’t want to be sequestered away where nobody else knows what they are thinking, doing, and working for.

Disabled people need social media platforms that expose politicians, government officials, management in business and non-profit sectors, academics, policymakers, and journalists to disability culture and priorities. Disabled people also want platforms that amplify their individual work beyond the disability community, and effectively boost their creative, business, and career opportunities.

Exactly how to deliver all of these qualities isn't obvious. Twitter never completely delivered them. But it's a challenge open to both Twitter under its new ownership, all other existing social media platforms, and anyone else with the ambition to start from scratch.