Jason Hahr

The Voiceless Minority

Having a Disability Does Not Mean One Cannot Learn By: Samantha Lebron

The term ‘glass ceiling’ is typically used in business settings, and it refers to the final position an individual reaches beyond which they are unable to advance despite having qualifications that make them eligible for higher-level positions. To be clear, this has to do with bias that exists in those environments, not necessarily the policies that are in place. However, for this piece, I will use it about those who have disabilities that have been, or are currently being, educationally stunted...

We Can All Learn Something from Noted Disability Advocate, Garret Frey By: Jason Hahr

Do you think your life is challenging? You must pay bills, work forty-plus hours a week, take care of a family in some cases, and find the energy to get out of bed, and that is just on a typical day. The above scenario may seem challenging or tedious to some people. Still, when we compare it to the struggles that noted disability advocates such as Garret Frey go through every day, we begin to realize that maybe we don't have it so awful after all. You may be wondering, "Who is Garret Frey, and...

Robots Like Rosie From The Jetsons May Soon Be Your Caregiver By Jason Hahr

As a journalist, it is your job to always be on the lookout for the next story or trend. I am no different; I am always looking for the next topic to cover on this blog; however, I never thought I would find it while chilling with my dad on a Tuesday afternoon. For those of you who don’t know him, let me quickly make an introduction. My dad is a loving, caring, ornery 63-year-old pain in my butt, but I love him with all my heart. Approximately 13 years ago, he became disabled, and we have grown...

Breaking the Ice With a New Caregiver: Essential Questions to Ask a Caregiver During An Interview By Samantha Lebron

Some people with disabilities require the assistance of a caregiver. Below are some questions you can ask during an interview. Interviewing a caregiver beforehand allows both you and that potential caregiver to get to know one another and see if the care they can provide can meet your needs. Note, these are not the only questions you should ask during an interview; the questions below are a good place to begin if you are unsure of what you should ask. These questions were transcribed from one of...

Disney Does Not Crip Cast, Instead Presents An Authentic Portrayal of Disability In “Out of My Mind” By Jason Hahr

Anyone who knows me knows I'd jump, not literally, unless we are talking about a spasm, if I saw a casting call flyer with the criteria listed above. The sad reality is, crip casting is a thing. Crip casting, for example, happened in the movie The Upside.Bryan Cranston, who I am not denying is a great able-bodied actor, was chosen to play the disabled character Phillip, even though it does not appear as if he has a physical disability himself. The example of crip casting in The Upside is not unu...

If the Program Doesn’t Exist—Then What? Advocating for the Right Fit By: Michelle Zeman

That’s right, the U.S. Department of Education’s guidance shares what to do when out-of-state requests are made. This also includes requests for postsecondary programs for people with Autism and/or other developmental disabilities. The document states that if a VR recipient is seeking services that fall into their Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE), the agency should accommodate an out-of-state option if there are none available in-state. I have not personally had any experience working wi...

You Asked for Help, They Let You Go: The Reality of Employers Ignoring the ADA By: Michelle Zeman

In one case, a previous Walmart employee in Henderson, NC, had five seizures between January and May 2017. The Walmart location knew about her epilepsy diagnosis and was given doctor’s notes. The location promised her that each absence would be excused; however, they did not explain the reason for her absences. Instead, they fired her due to her attendance. Oh, you thought that was it? Walmart has done this in two other locations in North Carolina. One previous Walmart employee in Raleigh and St...

Autism, ADHD, and Maternal Obesity: A Personal Reflection from an Autistic Woman By: Michelle Zeman

This shocked me, too! According to an Australian meta-analysis, obesity during pregnancy was found to be more than double the risk of a child developing ASD, while the risk of ADHD increased by 32%. In this meta-analysis, maternal overweight and obesity before and during pregnancy were studied, and interestingly enough, showed significant links with psychiatric and behavioral problems in children later in life.I was reading this from a Newsweek article, and, of course, I have to practice philoso...

A Much-Needed Nod of Thanks and Love to My Parents, By: Jason Hahr

There are several types of intimacy one can engage in during a relationship. However, intimacy is generally defined as “a feeling of close connection and deep understanding between two people” (Dictionary.com). For the purposes of this post, we will discuss the following areas of intimacy. Emotional, Physical, Sexual, Intellectual, Spiritual, Social. Seeing that I’m no expert in psychology, having taken only enough psychology classes to earn a minor in College, I will rely heavily on other resou...

The Fine That a Major Airline Received for Its Treatment of People with Disabilities Doesn’t Get to the Heart of The Problem, By: Jason Hahr

One aspect of traveling that has not always been disability-friendly is flying. In an article I wrote for this blog earlier this year, I highlighted a prototype of a wheelchair accessible seat on a plane. That post discussed what the future may hold for travel. Today's post will discuss how I envision us reaching our goal and the steps we can take to accelerate our progress. Anyone who knows me knows that I love to travel, but planes are not usually accessible to me. People with disabilities oft...

Language Is More Impactful Than We Know by Jason Hahr

Many years ago, I wrote a blog post entitled “Terminology Debate,” which explored the impact of language on society. Well, as they say, evergreen material constantly circles back around. The time has come to revisit the topic of language. We all know President Trump does not pull punches and is not the most sensitive or eloquent person. That being said, this blog has nothing to do with politics; instead, it addresses some insensitive remarks Trump made late last year. He used the “r-word” about...

The Practice of Paying Some Americans Subminimum Wage Is Not Going Away Anytime Soon: by Jason Hahr

We look forward to pieces from you in the near future. Today, we return to the frequent topic of politics. Late last week, the Trump administration removed a rule put in place by the Biden administration that would have ended the practice of paying some people with disabilities subminimum wages. Specifically, the rule would have put an end to sheltered workshops and C-14 certificates. What is a C-14 certificate? Essentially, it allows businesses that obtain one to pay people with disabilities si...

It’s Not A Festive Fourth of July When You Have Hyperacusis By Samantha Lebron

In the above scenario, I would be the full-grown adult covering my ears because I have a hearing disorder called hyperacusis. Hyperacusis is a rare hearing disorder that makes everyday sounds seem unbearably loud, painful, or frightening. The brain perceives sounds as loud regardless of their frequency, whether low or high. For as long as I can remember, sounds have always dictated how I go about my day. I was not diagnosed with hyperacusis until I was 25. Before my diagnosis of hyperacusis, my...

Supportive Decision-Making May Be a Reality in Some States, But We Still Have a Long Way to Go By Jason Hahr

Another week is beginning here at The Voiceless Minority. We hope you had a restful, enjoyable weekend. Now it’s back to the advocacy grindstone. Near the end of last week, we focused on several topics, including AI chatbots and their potential to assist people with autism. We also focused on an initiative put together by Wells Fargo Bank to change the way corporate America thinks about disability. Today, our focus is on something a little different.Last October, Disability Scoop shared an artic...

Wells Fargo Partners with University of Connecticut for Much-Needed Neurodiversity Training Program, By: Jason Hahr

Last October, Disability Scoop published an article in observance of Disability Employment Awareness Month, which takes place every October. The article focused on a new partnership between Wells Fargo Bank and the University of Connecticut. The program aims to increase training in corporate America and help employers better accommodate their neurodivergent employees. According to the article, there is a large portion of neurodivergent people in America who are either unemployed or underemploy...

Fitness, Autism, and the Future of AI: How MoveMuse Fits the Mold By: Michelle Zeman

In September 2024, GemmoAI and the University of Limmerick launched the MoveMuse chatbot—a tool designed to help adults with Autism become more physically active. Through the application, it utilizes a method called “WOOP” - Wish (what you want to do), Outcome (how you’ll feel), Obstacle (what might stop you), and Plan (how to overcome the problem).  When I read this article, I found it interesting because I’ve seen applications that use different methods for weight loss. However, I hadn’t quite...

The Ride Ahead Documentary Strikes a Personal Cord, By: Jason Hahr

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Wednesday, that you slept well, and are ready to tackle the day. Advocacy never stops, nor does a good writer. When I was thinking about today’s post, I originally wanted to cover another topic; however, something came into my inbox, and it was as if God and the universe were telling me to pay attention, because here was something special. On July 21st, which happens to be the day after my 39th birthday, PBS will premiere a documentary entitled “The Ride Ahe...

Gordon Hartman To Build an Ultra-Accommodating Hotel for People with Disabilities: By Jason Hahr

I have been giving a voice to the “Voiceless Minority” for over 12 years. I have been blessed by both my loyal readers and by my amazing colleagues and friends. I have been able to use this platform not only to document my advocacy journey, but I have also been able to highlight fellow disability champions. Today, I would like to highlight 1 of those fellow champions.Gordon Hartman of Texas is a former home builder in San Antonio, Texas, who has a daughter with multiple disabilities. In 2010, he...

Rethinking How We React to Disability, By Jason Hahr

Happy Monday, everyone. We hope you enjoyed our post from Friday. Today, we will discuss a rather disturbing trend. Last October, Disability ScoTop published an article entitled How School Shooting Fears Led to A 10-Year-old Boy with Autism Being Handcuffed. Due to the publication's limited number of free views per month, I will summarize the article below before I comment on the issues it raises.In 2023, after saying to a teacher that he should bring a gun to school so that kids would listen to...

The Future Looks Bright After Presenting at My First Family Café:, By Jason Hahr

It is time to put virtual pen to paper once again. The Voiceless Minority has been silent for the last two months, and we apologize for that. As anyone who is an activist for any cause knows, advocacy never stops. We recognize that our silence over the last two months not only affects us personally, but also significantly impacts The Voiceless Minority as a whole. That being said, let’s transition into today’s post.On June 14th, Michelle Zeman, Samantha Lebron, and I gave a presentation at the 2...
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