Category: Blogs on Community Living

The Diagnosis That Changed Everything: Why Late Diagnoses Aren’t Late at All

Posted on | by Guest Author | 1 Comment on The Diagnosis That Changed Everything: Why Late Diagnoses Aren’t Late at All

By Darian Senn-Carter, Ed.D.

Image of a black man holding a white coffee cup. He has black round glasses and is wearing a yellow shirt.

For most of my life, I didn’t have the language to name the way I experienced the world. I’ve always known that I was different. I knew I felt things deeply, noticed details others missed, and often needed solitude to recharge. I learned early on to push through sensory overwhelm, intellectualize my emotions, and carefully manage how much of myself I showed to others. I got good at surviving in environments that weren’t designed with someone like me in mind.

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Caregiver Crisis for Disabled Individuals

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There is currently a huge caregiver crisis for disabled individuals in the U.S.

This firsthand account reflects a growing national conversation about the caregiver crisis for disabled individuals in the United States. A Psychology Today article (November 2023) emphasizes the increasing societal burden of adult caregiving, highlighting the emotional and financial stress placed on caregivers. In parallel, Harvard Health (May 2024) brings attention to the often-overlooked impact on caregiver well-being, noting that nearly 75% of caregivers are over the age of 50, and more than three-quarters are women—demographics particularly vulnerable to burnout and health complications. Tackling this crisis demands systemic reform: increased compensation, professional support for caregivers, and policies that invest in home and community-based services rather than defaulting to institutional care.

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An Update: 16 months Later… Baltimore Settled an ADA Lawsuit

Posted on | by Leah Smith | Leave a Comment on An Update: 16 months Later… Baltimore Settled an ADA Lawsuit

By Tracy Waller, Esq., MPH

On July 24, 2023, in a blog titled, “Accessibility: The Questions I’m learning to Ask,” I wrote about the 33rd birthday of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), juxtaposed with the stark reality that Baltimore is not accessible for people with disabilities. In that same blog, I discussed a Baltimore Banner article that cited it would cost the city over $650 million to make the city accessible.

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