Do you follow ‘Barbie’ on Instagram? If not, you may have missed some ground-breaking toy industry news. Just announced on May 11, 2022, Barbie shared via the social platform that upcoming additions to Barbie’s Fashion Doll line will focus on disability representation and diversity inclusion. This includes a Barbie with a behind-the-ear hearing aid and a Barbie with a prosthetic leg; plus, a Ken doll with vitiligo, a condition where the skin loses pigmentation and appears blotchy.
The line will also integrate other aspects of inclusion, such as various body types and hair textures. In fact, a company statement described the upcoming line as its “most diverse and inclusive doll line.”
Lisa McKnight, EVP, Global Head of Barbie & Dolls Portfolio at Mattel, also shared, “Our Barbie Fashionistas line features a range of skin tones, body types and disabilities to reflect the diversity kids see in the world around them. Knowing that kids’ early childhood experiences help shape how they perceive the world, we are dedicated to reflecting a multi-dimensional view of beauty and fashion in our dolls.”
source: Barbie via Instagram
Initial consumer response appears to be overwhelmingly positive. One Instagram respondent, for example, said: “As someone who grew up with Barbie being her favorite toy, collects Barbie as an adult, and has worn a hearing aid since the age of five…..THANK YOU!!!! This brought tears to my eyes.”
This isn’t the first time Barbie’s parent company, Mattel, engaged the disability community with an inclusive product. Back in 2000, a Barbie doll with vitiligo debuted and quickly rose to be one of the top five best-selling Fashionistas at the time. Summer sales will soon reveal if the new Ken doll will garner the same level of success. And more recently in 2020, Mattel introduced a Barbie wheelchair user. This may be the first time, however, that the toymaker worked with medical professionals to ensure accurate representation. Dr. Jen Richardson, an audiology expert and hearing loss advocate, consulted on the inclusive design.
I’m honored to have worked with Barbie to create an accurate reflection of a doll with behind-the-ear hearing aids. As an educational audiologist with over 18 years of experience working in hearing loss advocacy, seminararbeit kaufen, it’s inspiringto see those who experience hearing loss reflected in a doll,” Richardson said. “I’m beyond thrilled for my young patients to see and play with a doll who looks like them.”
Barbie, which first debuted in 1959, now has more than 175 different types of dolls. Those eager to infuse disability representation into their Barbie collection can purchase the new dolls starting in June 2022, which just so happens to align with the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Dolls will be available via Amazon, Target and other retailers.
Three-year-old Colin Jr. loves dinosaurs. He makes a fierce dinosaur roar but, unlike his preschool peers, he’s never said the name of his favorite dinosaur species: “T-Rex.” It’s just two syllables. Although most 3-year-olds can have short two- to three-sentence dialogues (inclusive of the full word “tyrannosaurus”), T-Rex is currently beyond Colin’s vocabulary.
His pediatrician initially mentioned concern about developmental delays at his 18-month appointment, and again at his 24-month visit. “Looking back, it’s hard as a parent to come to terms with things your child is (or is not) doing, especially when you don’t really have much to compare it to. I never had a son before,” explains Christa Sweeney, Colin’s mother. “My [older] daughter more so followed typical developmental timelines, but I had heard that boys can take longer to speak and mature.”
Indeed, studies show that language development varies between the sexes (in association with prenatal testosterone), with males generally gaining language skills at a slower rate, according to the Women’s Health Research Institute. And in addition to the language deficits, males seem to be more likely to show delays in fine-motor function and personal-social skills at age three. So, assuming he had just a minor, common delay, Christa proactively enrolled her “happy boy” in Early Steps, an intervention system run by the Florida Department of Health that offers services to eligible infants and toddlers who have or are at-risk for developmental disabilities or delays.
Colin, wearing swimmy floats, swims in a pool with his toy dinosaurs overlooking on the pool edge. | source: Christa Sweeney
At that time, evaluators noted that Colin was displaying signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including delayed speech, the need for specific routine, repetitive movements and lining up of toys, among other indicators. But Colin wasn’t found to be autistic after being further evaluated by a double-board certified Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician, Dr. Sandra Cely of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics of Central Florida.
“As an expert in the field, she found him to be very expressive and communicative, but unable to verbally speak,” Christa says. Thus, Colin was diagnosed with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), a speech sound disorder. According to the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, this neurological condition affects the brain pathways involved in planning the sequence of movements involved in producing speech. The brain knows what it wants to say, but cannot properly plan and sequence the required speech sound movements. CAS is not the same as developmental delays in speech, in which a child follows the typical path of development but more slowly.
Secondary to CAS, Colin also has severe receptive/expressive language disorder, which can make conveying information even more challenging. While he’s more than three years of age, tests show that Colin’s receptive language equates to that of a young infant.
Entering (and Navigating) the Disability Commuity
As is the case for many parents entering the disability community alongside their child with special needs, Christa and her husband, Colin Sr., embarked on a crash course to learn about this uncommon, misunderstood disorder. The nonprofit Apraxia Kids estimates that 1-in-1,000 children are affected by CAS.
“You kind of go down this rabbit hole with what you think you need to help your child. It can become obsessive ─ researching online, following various support groups on social media, exploring different cognitive and diagnostic test options… and insurance really doesn’t cover anything related to apraxia of speech, so it’s tricky,” says Christa, a native of New Jersey who now resides in Sanford, Florida. But Colin’s healthcare team helped the Sweeney family shift their focus to better support him. “I am not frustrated in the ‘why’ anymore. I am more involved in chasing the how [to best help him],” Christa says.
The Sweeney family advocates for childhood apraxia of speech awareness. Picture: 7-year-old Reagan, Colin Sr., Christa, 3-year-old Colin Jr.
Colin started private speech therapy sessions when he was around two years old; initially via Zoom during the pandemic and, eventually and much more effectively, face-to-face. Then, once he turned three, Christa connected with her local school system to create an Individualized Education Program (IEP), a written document that’s collaboratively designed to meet a child’s unique special educational needs.
Colin is currently receiving therapy in the public school system, under the disability category of language impairment, with twice-weekly speech therapy sessions; in addition to the developmental therapy sessions that the Sweeneys have privately continued.
Unlocking a Voice
Colin’s speech therapist is working to increase his functional communication skills by imitating a variety of basic consonants and vowels. The plan is to improve his ability to imitate individual sounds to then link sounds into syllables, and syllables into words.
And that plan is already proving to be successful! “Colin’s vocabulary is improving every day from the therapy he is receiving and it just warms my heart to hear him speak up and answer questions [in class],” says Kelsey Beall, his preschool teacher at Academy of Excellence. “Colin is bright and he’s the sweetest boy. He certainly doesn’t let his apraxia of speech get in his way of learning or making friends. Colin is very loved by his classmates and I adore teaching him!”
Others agree that progress is underway. “Colin is one of the most determined and patient children I have worked with,” says Jennifer Foret, an Infant Toddler Developmental Specialist. “He has learned to use a variety of communication methods, such as sign language, gestures, visual supports, word approximations, words and his iPad to communicate what he is thinking, feeling or requesting.”
Colin enjoys attending preschool. | source: Christa Sweeney
The Sweeneys encourage all forms of communication. “I just want to be able to communicate with him, in whatever way he does so. I’d say he primarily uses sign language at this point but, hopefully, his verbal communication will continue to improve over time.” Remaining flexible is key, especially since Colin often feels frustrated when misunderstood, as is common with CAS.
“Colin’s family is supportive and loving. They show persistence and consistency working to increase his ability to communicate,” Foret attests. “They also let Colin be himself, give him so many opportunities to just have fun and play with family and friends; and they make sure he is provided with the best learning opportunities that engage his imagination and creativity. He uses that creativity, and the confidence instilled by his parents, to make sure his voice is heard, no matter which method of communication he is using at the time.”
Continuing the Conversation
Each child with CAS is unique, and how quickly they learn to talk or improve oral communication is dependent on several variables, says Apraxia Kids. However, experts agree that early intervention is essential.
“Research-based treatment should start early and be matched to the level of severity of CAS. Even though this process can be overwhelming for parents to navigate, there are several resources available that can guide caregivers through each step of diagnosis and treatment,” Foret says.
As to not experience the “summer slide,” a common educational regression that occurs during break periods, Colin will continue private therapy sessions throughout the summertime, and then return to the public school program in August. Christa acknowledges that a CAS journey comes with many hurdles ─ within education, healthcare, insurance and the community at large.
Colin likes playing with his friends. | source: Christa Sweeney
But advocating for Colin is key. “He is the sweetest little boy. He loves hugs and interacting with other people. I just think he’s perfect!” Christa declares.
Parents are the best advocates for their children. If you suspect that your child may have a speech delay or CAS, seek help through a pediatrician, a speech-language pathologist or Early Steps office; and explore resources at Apraxia-kids.org and ChildApraxiaTreatment.org (including free courses for parents and professionals).
Maintaining personal hygiene is essential to one’s physical and mental health. Showering, shaving, brushing teeth and other self-care actions may be simple tasks for many people. But for individuals with physical limitations and certain disabilities, hygiene routines may require extra support. Some people with disabilities utilize assistance aids, such as handrails, shower chairs and an array of other bathroom accessories. Here’s a squeaky clean round-up of disability-friendly personal hygiene products and bathroom aids:
Available in dark blue, pink or turquoise, this accessible robe, sold by Buck & Buck, is soft to the touch and also quick-drying. Its poncho-like design with a deep front zipper makes dressing easier.
The SoundBot SB510 HD is a water-resistant speaker that easily attaches to your shower door or wall. Shower yourself with music therapy, or tune into your favorite podcast or book on tape.
Forgo stinky washcloths for a fun, fish-shaped scrubber. This kid-approved, mold-resistant cleansing tool are made of soft silicone, gentle enough for sensitive skin and sensory-sensitive kiddos.
These soft, graspable tubes are compatible with an array of bathroom items, like shaving razors and toothbrushes, and many other household items, like utensils and markers. Lengths can be cut to personalized sizes. Six foam grips came in a pack.
This spa-like foot scrubber uses silicone bristles to gently scrub feet and toes clean. It’s kind of like a cleansing massager right in your own bathroom!
P&G-owned Herbal Essences has inclusive-designed shampoo and conditioner bottles. The first-ever mass hair care brand in North America to do so, the accessible-friendly packaging features raised (braille-like) symbols intended to help consumers with low- to no-vision distinguish products by touch.
Easy to inflate, this portable no-spill hair washing aid comes with two hair clips, one comb, one inflatable tray and one sip lock. Use with a standard sink or with alternatives near a bedside.
For DIY aromatherapy, toss calming essential oil shower steamers into your warm shower stream. Studies show that aromatherapy may reduce anxiety, depression, headaches and pain (especially for those with kidney stones or osteoarthritis), and also may improve sleep and quality of life.
Available in blue, mint or pink, this chair is rated high among consumers because of its super simple assembly (just snap together), convenient shower sprayer holder, drainage holes and padded back and arms. The frame is lightweight, yet sturdy enough to safely accommodate up to 350 pounds.
source: Lifestyle Mobility Aids via Amazon
Lutron Motion Sensor Light Switch
For disability-friendly lighting, some opt for rocker light switches, voice-control smart devices or motion sensors. The Lutron Maestro Occupancy Sensing Switch turns lights on and off for you automatically as you enter and exit the bathroom.
The prosthetic leg that an amputee wears on a daily basis cannot typically be used in the shower because of its metal components. And until now, waterproof leg prosthetics were expensive. But a new option now in the product development stage, called Lytra, which is being created by industrial designer Harry Teng, is an upcoming affordable prosthetic leg designed that will allow below-the-knee amputees to shower safely and maintain residual limb hygiene. Stay tuned on this one! AmeriDisability will keep you informed as to when this product hits the market.
Made by Nurture, these rinse-free shampoo caps can freshly shampoo and condition hair without full access to water. Each order includes six shampoo caps.
Designed by medical experts, this swivel seat allows for safer, 360° positioning, plus a sliding transfer option. Additional features included comfy padding, a safety belt and adjustable leg height.
This unique grab bar has a ladder-like design with four handgrips to allow the user to stand with a natural hand-over-hand motion. It has a pivot and lock feature to allow for walking assistance or when transferring to a walker or wheelchair.
Keep bath essentials conveniently in reach as you take a rejuvenating bubble bath. The beautiful bamboo surface of this tray swivels with ease, and simply suctions to the inside or outside of any porcelain tub.
These cleansing mitts have a pocket specifically intended to hold a bar of soap. The one-size-fits-all gloves have elastic wrists to remain snuggly in place during use.
source: Maddawash Terry Soap Mitts via RehabMart.com
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Ahead of its Annual Meeting of Shareholders, held in the spring of 2022, Starbucks introduced innovations to its global store portfolio to further strengthen communities and create environments where all feel welcome, part of its continued effort to be a People Positive company. As part of this commitment, the company will expand the number of Community Stores it opens globally, establish tools to help Starbucks better understand the communities it serves and set a new standard for inclusive and accessible store experiences that benefit Starbucks partners (employees) and customers.
Starbucks commitment to be People Positive – a bold aspiration to enhance the well-being of all who connect with the company, rooted in inclusion, opportunity and community – sits at the heart of Starbucks’ Mission and Values, and comes to life through Starbucks partners and its stores.
“Since our earliest days, we have worked to create a culture of warmth and belonging in our stores – a place where everyone is welcome,” said Katie Young, senior vice president of global growth and development at Starbucks. “We know that the more we design for inclusion, to be welcoming and to strengthen our communities, the better our business will be and the better the Starbucks experience will be for our partners and customers. It inspires and motivates us to make our store and digital environments even more inclusive and accessible at every turn.”
Starbucks
Expanding Community Store Initiative Globally
As part of its goal to enhance the well-being of all who connect within its stores, Starbucks will open or dedicate 1,000 Starbucks Community Stores globally by 2030. These store concepts create environments for Starbucks partners to connect with, engage and represent the communities they serve.
Globally, nearly 150 Community Stores already exist, creating a space aimed to help uplift communities in locally relevant ways. These store concepts – led by partners who directly connect to the initiative or cause of that store – provide intentional and dedicated programming and experiences that support economic opportunity in communities, create pathways to opportunity for Starbucks partners, and amplify the positive impact of Starbucks partners and the Third Place. Community Stores around the world are inclusive of several store models, from serving under-resourced and vulnerable communities, to empowering farmers, youth and women, supporting military communities and creating impact in partnership with local nonprofit organizations.
In the U.S., these locations focus on helping provide economic opportunity in rural and urban communities through local hiring, creating dedicated space for communities to come together for events, partnering with local artists and working with diverse contractors and sub-contractors or focus on supporting service members, veterans and military families.
Starbucks
Leveraging New Tools to Better Understand Communities Starbucks Serves
Starbucks will use the American Human Development Index (HDI), developed and calculated by Measure of America (MoA), an initiative of the Social Science Research Council, to identify where its Community Stores could provide the most value and better serve vulnerable communities in the United States.
This information will help inform where and how Starbucks expands its Community Store portfolio in the United States, leveraging insights to create custom, innovative programming focused on inequities across education, food security, health and economic security. In addition to supporting economic development in under-resourced neighborhoods, Community Stores also serve as incubators for how Starbucks can scale locally-relevant programming to nearly 9,000 Starbucks stores across it serves across the country.
The HDI, one of the most widely used indices of well-being around the world, is a summary measure of average achievement in key dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, access to knowledge, and having a decent standard of living.
Designing Inclusive Experiences
With the recognition that 1-in-4 American adults has a disability and all people experience changes to their physical or mental health, Starbucks is working to extend disability inclusion and accessibility.
Starbucks is committing to design, test and scale more inclusive design standards and experiences across its store portfolio, starting in the U.S. and then expanding standards globally, with the goal of ensuring that physical and digital Starbucks environments will meet an elevated standard of accessibility by 2030.
Starbucks
These standards will provide customers with more options to enjoy both their in-store and digital Starbucks experiences by creating more ways to communicate both visually and audibly and by offering more tools to help customers navigate physical store environments. To advance these standards, Starbucks is testing technology solutions in select store locations including:
Speech-to-text technology that provides a live visual display of speech for partners and customers to reference when placing or picking up an order.
Order readiness notifications through a customer order status board that visually provides an update and confirms when an order is ready.
These efforts build on other accessible design improvements over the last year. Since 2021, Starbucks has offered free Aira service, which connects people who are blind or have low-vision to trained, professional visual interpreters who provide instant access to visual information about the customer’s surroundings through a smartphone app. Starbucks also offers multiple formats of the menu including large-print and Braille menus in all stores in the U.S. and Canada.
Globally, Starbucks operates 11 Signing Stores that provide a space for the Deaf and hard of hearing community to connect through sign language and celebrate Deaf culture.
“We applaud Starbucks’ commitment to designing more accessible in-store and digital experiences that create a true sense of belonging for everyone,” said Jill Houghton, President and CEO, Disability:IN. “This inclusive design methodology helps level the playing field by recognizing disability is part of the human condition and is a natural part of anyone’s identity. We know that by designing a better experience for people with disabilities, you are also designing a better experience for all.”
Baby food maker Gerber recently announced the photogenic winner of its 12th annual Photo Search. Judges chose 7-month-old Isa Slish because of her “overwhelming happiness and bright, shining personality.”
The winning cutie, from Edmond, Oklahoma, just so happens to be breaking barriers as the first Gerber Baby to have a limb difference. According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 1 in every 1,900 babies is born with a limb reduction defect in the United States.
“Isa is a strong, amazing little girl that loves to interact with the world around her and nothing will stop her. Her smile lights up the room and her laughter is irresistible,” said Meredith Slish, Isa’s mother. “Before she was born in September of 2021, we knew Isa was special, and she has shown us that every day since she came into our lives. We found out when I was 18 weeks pregnant that Isa would be born without a femur or a fibula in her right leg. We hope Isa’s story can bring more awareness for limb differences and create greater inclusion for children like her. Because, just like Isa, they too can be or do anything they want!”
source: Gerber
This isn’t the first time Gerber has chosen a member of the disability community. In 2018, Lucas Warren of Georgia, who was 18 months old at the time, made headlines as the first Gerber Baby with Down syndrome, a condition in which a person has an extra chromosome. The lengthy roster of Gerber Babies dates back to 1928 when Ann Turner Cook first held the title.
What Does the Gerber Baby Do?
Isa will serve as the 2022 Gerber Spokesbaby which, surprisingly, includes an official spot on Gerber’s Executive Committee as Chief Growing Officer (CGO). And let’s hope that she isn’t a picky eater (like many little ones) because, among her new duties, she’ll serve as Chief Taste Tester to sample new baby food products and, then, provide Gerber’s executive team with “advice.” AmeriDisability could not confirm before press time how her responsive smiles, frowns, cries and spit-ups will translate into food scores and product development!
“Gerber’s Photo Search is an opportunity to celebrate the joy that babies bring. We’re thrilled to welcome Isa to the Gerber family as this year’s Spokesbaby and Chief Growing Officer,” said Tarun Malkani, Gerber President & CEO. “Isa’s submission brought smiles to all of our faces, and she truly embodies the idea that every baby is a Gerber Baby. We could not be more excited to work with Isa and her family throughout this next year to find moments of joy for every Gerber Baby.”
In addition to the opportunity to be featured on Gerber’s social media channels and marketing campaigns throughout the year, Isa and her family were awarded a $25,000 cash prize, free Gerber product for up to one year, a CGO wardrobe valued at $1,000 provided by Gerber Childrenswear and a $1,000 gift card from ezpz® for all of Isa’s mealtime dishware and utensils. Gerber will match Isa’s $25,000 cash prize with a donation to support March of Dimes’ maternal and infant health programs.
“With this year’s donation supporting March of Dimes’ maternal and infant health programs, Gerber is furthering its long-standing partnership to give every family the best possible start,” said Stacey D. Stewart, President and CEO of March of Dimes. “We’re proud to be part of this year’s Photo Search and join Gerber in congratulating Isa and her family!”
The first Gerber Baby image appeared om Gerber packaging and advertisements | source: Gerber
Model Behavior
Isa loves spending her days babbling to her older sister Temperance (age 4) and enjoying the breeze outside in the evening with her dad John. Her favorite foods include Gerber Sweet Potato Puffs and Gerber 1st Foods Butternut Squash. Isa is a happy baby and enjoys playing with her hippo and listening to her favorite movie soundtracks.
Shortly after the Gerber announcement, Meredith shared that Isa’s future could include a series of surgeries, potentially on her hip and also on her clubbed foot. The Slish Family is already committed to promoting awareness of limb differences and, for those interested, the family recommends organizations such as the Amputee Coalition and The Lucky Fin Project. These organizations provide an array of relevant, supportive resources.
People with disabilities who need catheters face significant challenges in getting health insurers to adequately cover the cost of supplies, leading some to even re-use their catheters, according to a study released in March 2022 by the Spina Bifida Association and Duke Health.
The study reports that, among all catheter users surveyed, the average annual out-of-pocket cost for catheters and catheter supplies is $789, and for users who must pay anything out-of-pocket, the average annual cost is $1,464. The average amount that individuals pay out-of-pocket for catheters and catheter supplies varies significantly by type of health plan and by brand of commercial plan.
Among the catheter users surveyed with commercial coverage, those with United Healthcare reported having the lowest coverage, with 42 percent surveyed reporting that United Healthcare covered none of the catheter costs. The average annual out-of-pocket costs for catheters and catheter supplies for users surveyed that were insured by United Healthcare was $2,188, followed by BlueCross BlueShield ($1,670) and Aetna ($1,385). Cigna had the highest catheter coverage of the commercial health plans included in the report. Among the catheter users surveyed, 79 percent reported that the insurer covered “all or some” of their catheter costs.
More than one in ten (12%) of the users surveyed report reusing catheters, with a majority citing cost issues and lack of health plan coverage as a factor.
source: Shutterstock
“Life can be challenging enough for people with disabilities and their families, and it’s unfair that insurance companies are only adding to this burden by refusing to cover everyday, crucial medical supplies,” said Jenna Davis, whose 2-year-old daughter Merritt relies on catheters due to living with Spina Bifida.
“When our insurance company denied coverage for Merritt’s catheters, we were stunned. They had lumped catheters in the same supply category as bandages and gauze. Merritt uses over one thousand catheters a year, so to pay out-of-pocket for these, we’re talking thousands and thousands of dollars in excess medical costs,” added Davis.
People with a public or government health plan reported having better coverage for catheters than did those with commercial or private plans, paying the least out-of-pocket (an average of $531/year).
The study, which surveyed 2,510 people with disabilities, was conducted to determine to what extent catheters are being covered by health insurers and health plans. The report was co-sponsored by United Spinal Association, Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, and Paralyzed Veterans of America.
The Spina Bifida Association along with all partner organizations and allied stakeholders will work with Congressional and federal agency officials to ensure that all people with disabilities who use catheters have the access and coverage they need for prescribed medical supplies to maintain their own health and to avoid costly and avoidable hospital readmissions, infection and even death.
Psychology is valuable as a college major or even as a one-off elective because it teaches us about ourselves and our social world, developing psychologically literate citizens. Psychology prepares us to interact with diverse people in our daily lives, communities, and careers. Chances are, even in the most basic psychology class, you learned about development across the lifespan and stereotyping and prejudice toward ethnic and racial minorities.
But did you learn about people with disabilities, the largest minority group in America, an identity that will surely affect you or a close loved one at some point in your life? Probably not, because it is barely mentioned in most psychology courses.
A Forgotten Minority
Our analysis of the top undergraduate universities in the country shows that fewer than 35 percent offer even one psychology course that focuses on topics outside of psychiatric and cognitive disability, such as physical (the most common in America), sensory, chronic health, or intellectual disability.
Furthermore, most psychology courses take a medical model perspective to disability and include little social model content. The medical model treats disability as a pathology within the individual while the social model points to society as a major cause of disability. Large subfields of psychology focus on the social construction of minority groups and prejudice, so it is especially surprising that psychology is teaching these outdated assumptions about disability. This lack of representation continues at the graduate level and beyond. Only about 2 percent of psychology faculty at all APA-accredited programs documented a disability.
credit: NAMI
Representation Fights Ableism
Last month, we published research comparing disability attitude change across three undergraduate elective psychology classes. One class included education about disability from a social model perspective and had an instructor with a disability. The second class had an instructor with a disability but did not cover disability. The third class, a control group, did not cover disability or have a disabled instructor. As expected, we found that the first class had the most positive change in disability attitudes, followed by the second class, while the third class showed no change.
These findings are a promising indication that disability representation from a social model may reduce ableism, or prejudice toward people with disabilities, yet more work needs to be done. Future work should include a class with disability content and a nondisabled instructor to disentangle the potentially powerful effect of having a disabled instructor. Furthermore, disability should not be relegated to electives; rather, it should be represented in all psychology coursework, especially Introductory Psychology, which serves a broader student population and more than 1 million undergraduates each year.
A Vicious Cycle
The lack of disability representation in psychology courses contributes to the invisibility of disability. When I first began teaching psychology, I spent some time discussing disability in the stereotyping and prejudice unit, but not nearly as much time as I spent covering racial and sexual minorities, because there is more research in that area. Still, I got several comments in course evaluations that I focused too much on disability, such as “[Dr. Bogart] spent too much time on disability. Teach about something that college students can relate to.” That’s how I learned that messages like this article are needed. Disability is much broader and more common than people think. I’ve gotten better at helping students understand the scope of disability, but without reinforcement from other classes, media, and the culture at large… it is easy to forget.
Even more important are the implications for students with disabilities, who make up about 11 percent of the undergrad population. Sadly, students with disabilities are 16 percent less likely to graduate compared to students without disabilities. It is disenfranchising for disabled students to not see people like them as professors or represented in courses. Representation can make the difference between persisting in college or deciding that they don’t belong.
credit: Shutterstock
Empowering Disabled Students
Covering disability in my classes normalizes and destigmatizes talking about it. After almost every term, a student tells me that, because of my class, they felt comfortable disclosing their disability for the first time. Some discover that someone in their friend group shares a similar disability but never spoke out—instant solidarity and social support. Students with learning disabilities are empowered for the first time to request accommodations through university disability services. A legal right—an accommodation like notetaking, captioning, or extra time on a test—transforms a struggling student into an empowered, confident, successful student.
Improving Disability Representation in Higher Education
How can instructors increase disability representation in their classes? The lack of disability representation in psychology is a vicious cycle. Since most psychology instructors received little education on disability, they won’t feel prepared to teach it. And, unfortunately, turning to textbooks won’t help either, because they rarely include disability. To help instructors infuse disability representation into their courses, my colleagues and I developed a free teaching resource with recommended readings, videos, and activities to supplement psychology textbooks. I also co-founded the Disability Advocacy Resource Network (DARN), where disabled scholars, teachers, and allies can learn from each other. Ultimately, teaching about disability in psychology will reduce disability disparities in classrooms and communities.
Key Take-Aways
Most psychology courses do not teach about the largest minority group in America, people with disabilities.
A new study finds that psychology courses teaching about the social model of disability may reduce ableism.
With the series finale of NBC’s “This Is Us” approaching at the end of May 2022, the award-winning show continues to spotlight diverse themes, such as addiction, adoption, career endeavors, caregiving, disabilities (i.e. Alzheimer’s, anxiety, heart disease, high blood pressure, PTSD, vision impairment), educational pursuits, family dynamics, obesity, racial disparities, relationship struggles, sexual identity and other important topics.
The entertainment industry doesn’t always get it right when it comes to portrayals of characters with disabilities. But perhaps the cast and crew of “This Is Us” are in fact representing “us” – including our disability community – fairly well.
Disability Representation
Kate and Toby’s son, Jack Damon (also referred to as Jack Jr.), is played by three different actors, all of whom — like the fictional character — have visual impairments. Yup, three actors because, as dedicated fans know and love, “This Is Us” features flash-back, flash-forward and present-day scenes. On the show, Jack was diagnosed with retinopathy of prematurity.
Newbie actor Johnny Kincaid made his television debut during this sixth and final season portraying an adorable, toddler-aged Jack. His mother, Marisol Kincaid, took to Instagram to talk about Johnny’s disability representation.
via @holdingsunshine on Instagram
“Johnny has albinism which comes with low vision and an eye condition called nystagmus,” her post read. “Although his character has a different visual impairment, we are SO thrilled for the representation and inclusion of the blind and low vision community in a television show that does so well at showing all the nuances of life with SUCH a huge reach!”
Albinism is an inherited genetic condition that reduces the amount of melanin pigment formed in the skin, hair and/or eyes, according to the National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation. About one in 18,000 to 20,000 people in the U.S. have some type of albinism; though occurrence can be as high as one in 3,000 in other parts of the world.
This season, viewers also got a glimpse of 7-year-old Jack, played by Karl Seitz. Seitz was born with bilateral Peters Anomaly, an eye disorder that involves thinning and clouding of the cornea and attachment of the iris to the cornea, which causes blurred vision. While his run on “This Is Us” has been short, we expect great things to come for this budding talent. Seitz was just accepted to the Academy of Music for the Blind!
Adult-aged Jack, who fans first meet a few seasons back, is portrayed by Blake Stadnik, a Pittsburgh native with a musical theater background. Stadnik lost the majority of his eyesight due to Stargardt Disease, the degeneration of the macula, a small area in the center of the retina, as defined by the National Eye Institute.
And similarly to Kincaid’s comments about disability representation, Stadnick has also taken to social media to share his feelings. “It is a dream come true to be on screen with the incredible cast of “This Is Us,” and it’s an enormous honor to represent a low-vision character that is so powerful and nuanced,” he said.
More from Moore
Emmy Award nominees won’t be announced until summertime, but buzz is growing around the Emmy-worthy performance of Mandy Moore. The actress/singer’s role as Rebecca Pearson stretched her acting chops as she was charged with transforming into various aged versions of the character, essentially spanning Pearson’s entire adult life. As “This Is Us” comes to an end, Rebecca and the entire family are grappling with her cognitive decline following an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Prior to this role, Moore didn’t have a connection to this neurodegenerative disease but has since developed a passion for brain health advocacy. In fact, Moore became a national ambassador for the Be Brain Powerful campaign, an effort to empower women to take control of their brain health.
“I’ve learned the importance of early detection and diagnosis for Alzheimer’s as I’ve researched for my role as Rebecca, and I’m honored to be an ambassador for Be Brain Powerful,” Moore shared when she joined the effort. “Early detection doesn’t happen often enough, and I’m looking forward to spreading awareness about brain health. This is the first step to break down these barriers and get these conversations started sooner with our loved ones and our healthcare provider.”
Be Brain Powerful campaign
People with disabilities constitute the nation’s largest minority group. And the disability community is the only group any of us can become a member of at any time… which was true for the fictional character of Rebecca and, of course, true for many of us in real life.
Acting Mindfully
Throughout the series, Susan Kelechi Watson has seamlessly portrayed Beth Pearson, a character in her pursuit to find her own identity while excelling as a wife, mother, dancer, professional and all-around rock of a human. Additionally, Beth supports her husband, Randall (played by Sterling K. Brown), as he navigates a different kind of brain battle: anxiety disorder, depression and stress. Watson and Brown collectively voice the importance of mental health awareness – on and off camera – especially among the African American community as health disparities linger on.
Brown addressed the unfortunate stigma that remains. “The idea that needing help is the admittance of weakness – there is a part of that on a culture level that I hope that people are beginning to let go of,” he shared on The Hot Zone. Adding, “Seeking help is actually an admittance of strength. You see that there are some holes or blind spots that you cannot reach on your own… that I need someone to help me be the best version of myself as possible.”
Watson agrees. “There is an amount of balance that we have to remind ourselves to have,” she said, especially as people continue to encounter and, perhaps, normalize significant stressors as of late (i.e. pandemic, racial uprising, etc.). Watson appreciates the movement of self-awareness, self-care and spirituality. She also emphasizes the importance of being a whole person and not pigeonholed into one box, such as ‘mother’ or ‘career person.’
source: Mental Health Association of Central Florida
Watson, a two-time Screen Actors Guild Award winner for her strong performance on “This Is Us,” will continue the conversation about mental health when she serves as the keynote speaker at the Legacy Of Champions Luncheon on May 25, 2022 in Orlando to benefit The Mental Health Association of Central Florida.
Big Impact on the Small Screen
Representation of people with disabilities remains, unfortunately, lacking in entertainment. Even though 26% of American adults have some type of disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control, only 2.4% of all speaking or named characters in films are shown with a disability, according to a study by the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
The staggering gap between 2.4% and 26% is unacceptable and perplexing. So while it makes perfect sense that Jack Damon be played by actors with visual impairments, not all casting directors and producers regularly employ disability representation. “This Is Us” has shined a light on Alzheimer’s, blindness and mental health, in addition to an array of other important real-life issues. While we’re sad to see this meaningful show come to an end, let’s all hope its influence is a much overdue start toward proper disability inclusion and representation. Because, after all, shouldn’t entertainment include all of “Us?!”
A team of researchers led by the Kessler Foundation has demonstrated the feasibility of a novel approach to improving interview skills among autistic adolescents. Their article, “A pilot RCT of virtual reality job interview training in transition-age youth on the autism spectrum,” was published in the November 2021 issue of Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders.
The authors are Helen M. Genova, PhD, Katie Lancaster, PhD, Mikayla Haas, Michael DiBenedetto, Denise Krch, PhD, and John DeLuca, PhD, of Kessler Foundation, James Morecraft and Alexandra Edwards, formerly of Kessler Foundation, and Matthew J. Smith, PhD, of the University of Michigan School of Social Work.
Interviewing skills, which are essential to successful jobhunting, are challenging for adolescents on the autism spectrum, who often have difficulty with social interactions. Researchers focused on improving these skills in this randomized, controlled trial conducted in a high school setting.
Dr. Helen Genova is Associate Director of the Center for Autism Research at Kessler Foundation.
The 14 participants were divided into either an experimental group or a control group. The experimental group received 10 hours of Virtual Reality Job Interview Training (VR-JIT), which included interviewing with a virtual human and receiving feedback. The control group continued to receive their normal services as usual. To track performance, all participants were video recorded while performing mock job interviews at baseline and follow-up. Students filled out pre- and post-intervention questionnaires related to job interviewing anxiety and self-efficacy.
The study showed that certain job interview skills improved in the group that received the job interview training, while the control group’s performance did not change over time. Students were positive about their experiences with the VR-JIT, reporting that the VR-JIT program was easy to use and enjoyable.
The results provide preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of this tool for improving interviewing skills in students on the autism spectrum. “By conducting this pilot study in the school setting, we showed that it is feasible to incorporate this training in the educational curriculum for autistic students,” said Dr. Helen Genova, associate director of the Center for Autism Research at Kessler Foundation, and a faculty fellow with the Level Up: Employment Skills Simulation Lab at the University of Michigan School of Social Work.
“This pilot study may prove to be a promising initial step toward job readiness for transition-age youth on the autism spectrum. To increase their employment prospects, we need to continue to explore new and effective ways to prepare these students for the workplace.”
Lily D. Moore (“Never Have I Ever”), Erica Durance (“North to Home,” “Open by Christmas”), Benjamin Ayres (“You, Me & the Christmas Trees,” “Detention
Adventure”) and David DeSanctis (“Where Hope Grows”) star in “Color My World with Love,” a new original for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. The movie recently wrapped production for airing later in 2022.
“Everyone has a dream to fall in love and get married one day, even people with disabilities,” said Moore. “I hope viewers take away that ‘Color My World with Love’ is about painting your own story through your emotions and that we all have endless possibilities.”
credit: Crown Media
In the film, Kendall (played by Moore) is a talented artist with Down Syndrome who creates beautiful paintings in the Impressionist style that reflect the reality of her subjects as she sees them. Thanks to the support of her mother, Emma (played by Durance), and grandmother, Bev (played by Karen Kruper, “The Wedding Veil”), Kendall is
happy and thriving. Her life takes an exciting turn when she meets Brad (played by DeSanctis) in a cooking class at the local center for diverse learners… and romance blooms.
But Emma has spent the last 22 years trying to protect her daughter and has reservations about Kendall and Brad’s new relationship, especially when it quickly moves in a serious direction. Not wanting Kendall to experience heartbreak, Emma tries to slow things down. With the help of Nic (played by Ayres), a longtime family friend of Brad’s, Emma slowly
accepts that Kendall is ready to – and should – live her own life. In the process, Emma learns a lesson from Kendall about how to look beyond what’s in front of you and see the beauty that exists. And, just maybe, she finds herself ready to find love once again.
“Color My World with Love” is from Spell Love Productions LTD. Orly Adelson, Jonathan Eskenas and Kimberley Bradley are executive producers. Charles Cooper is producer and Peter Benson directed.
Will you watch this inclusive film?
The article header image features movie stars Lily D. Moore and David DeSanctis.
