A look at the flawed special ed complaint process, a theater company’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ features 50 disabled adults, an autistic man gets Maryland to change its driver’s test, and more news for the week ending Sept. 30, 2023.

Spotlight

Disability groups win fight to be included in health equity research The designation of disabled people as a ‘health disparity population’ allows for more funding and research into the health equity barriers disabled people face. (Washington Post)

Education

Significant flaws found in special ed written state complaint process The report’s findings include which states had the most and least favorable outcomes for parents and advocates who filed complaints. (k12dive.com)

New York

GED test center for people with disabilities opens in NYC It’s equipped with both general and specific assistive technology. (NYN Media)

In Long Island, FedEx Partnership Opens Door for Employment for People With I/DD A YAI- FedEx partnership will bring some neurodiversity to the company’s Garden City workforce. (YAI.org)

Photos from Schenectady’s Walk for Autism — Cosplay and Character Edition The event on Sept. 23rd had some A+ costumes. (Times Union)

Former New Rochelle police officer charged with stealing funds from autism charity  A 25-year veteran of the New Rochelle Police Department who retired in August 2021, was charged with grand larceny in the fourth degree. (westchester.news12.com)

A NYC student’s yearslong struggle to get proper instruction for dyslexia Experts estimate that 5% to 20% of students may have some degree of the language-based learning disability. (Gothamist)

MTA puts limits on ‘life-changing’ taxi service for disabled riders The $16 million the MTA spent each year for the on-demand program was a drop in the bucket compared to the agency’s overall paratransit budget. (Gothamist)

Outside of New York

Chicago Public Schools’ vocational training program for students with disabilities could expand  (Chalkbeat)

Louisiana Dept. of Education failed to investigate 40% of disability complaints (Louisiana Illuminator)

In Massachusetts, abuse and neglect in some residential schools for children with severe autism (Boston Globe)

Nashville theater company puts on ‘Beauty and the Beast’ featuring 50 disabled adults Go behind the scenes! (Wbur.org)

A company’s special ed teacher training courses didn’t meet Virginia standards The state Board of Education unfortunately approved the new partnership with the below-par company. (richmond.com)

Driving

An autistic man kept failing Maryland’s driver’s test. Officials changed it. The overhaul comes as part of an MVA effort to make its testing more inclusive. (Washington Post)

Autism

Boston College professor creates program to help Black teens with Autism improve mental health Still in its testing phase, the virtual program is a way to role-play. (CBS News)

Student on autism spectrum thriving in marching band “It’s so incredibly touching to see him out on the field overcoming so many social, spatial and linguistic challenges.” (starbeacon.com)

Caregiving

End of pandemic-era payments to family caregivers could complicate workforce shortages (McKnights Senior Living)

Parents Working Overtime

What it takes to get a disorder recognized How a nonprofit was created to build a community for children with Non-Verbal Learning Disability (NYNMedia)

The World

Brazil: Disability Plan Should End Warehousing Thousands of people with disabilities live in institutions or inclusive residences under prison-like conditions. (Human Rights Watch)

‘Ask, Don’t Assume’ launched to challenge perceptions around disability The ad campaign from M&C Saatch, which can be seen on the streets of London, is powered by the lived experiences of disabled people. (Creativebrief.com)

Sports

The Rise of Autistic Ultrarunners A fascinating, first-person essay from autistic ultrarunner Ishmael Burdeau. (Irunfar.com)

Books

Stephen King’s ‘Holly’ is admirably nuanced about autism The King, this time, seems to get it right. (Washington Post)

First Person

My teenage son has autism. Here’s what I wish his teachers and therapists understood. “Although we, parents, aren’t necessarily authorities in the fields of education or therapeutic interventions, we are experts in our children.” (Chalkbeat)