Jezebel: Disabilities

Starbucks Pays $75,000 For Firing Dwarf Barista

Margaret Hartmann — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 23:56:00 EDT

Starbucks will pay $75,000 to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed when a barista who has dwarfism was fired after asking for a stool. During Elsa Sallard's training in 2009, a manager decided that she would pose a danger to customer and employees and let her go. In addition to the settlement, Starbucks will provide training on disability issues to managers and supervisors at stores in El Paso, Texas. More »

Dubai Doctor Recommends Premarital Genetic Testing

Erin Gloria Ryan — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 12:03:00 EST

In celebration (?) of International Rare Diseases Day, a doctor in the UAE has recommended that couples get tested for genetic disorders before marriage in order to prevent producing babies that have rare and expensive conditions. While from a logical standpoint this makes sense, as some would argue that it's irresponsible for couples with debilitating genetic conditions to pass on those genes, on the other hand, this reeks of proto-eugenics. More »

Intellectually Disabled Man Banned From Sex

Anna North — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST

A British court has banned a man with an IQ of 48 from having sex, on the grounds that he "does not have the capacity to consent to and engage in sexual relations." Is this really fair? More »

Woman Sues Facebook For Banning Her

Margaret Hartmann — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:09:00 EDT

In July, Facebook banned Karen Beth Young of Maryland for spamming people about cancer awareness groups and friending strangers. Now she's suing the company for breach of contract and violating the Americans with Disabilities Act, since she has bipolar disorder. More »

Generous British Taxpayers To Fund One Man's Deflowering

Anna North — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:30:00 EDT

The British government's plan to pay for a mentally disabled man's visit to a prostitute has sparked an interesting debate: is sex a human right? More »

The Foreign Celebrities You Must Know To Be Naturalized

Wheelchair Dancer — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:20:00 EDT

You'd think weapons scientists and surgically altered actresses had nothing in common, right? You'd be wrong about that. But perhaps the only way to discover the connection is, as I did, to become an American citizen. More »

3 Reasons We're Over Amanda Palmer

Anna North — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 12:20:00 EDT

We liked Amanda Palmer when she fired back at her record company for calling her fat, and when she showed off her armpit hair on the red carpet. But now we're sick of her, and here's why: More »

In Which Disabled Women Get Makeovers

Sadie Stein — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:00:00 EST

In the UK, there's a new version of a popular makeover show: How to Look Good Naked...With a Difference. The "difference?" All the women on this series are disabled in some way: More »

Britain's Missing Top Model Misses The Mark

Dodai Stewart — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:20:00 EST

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The word "model," in and of itself, speaks of perfection. Model student. Model citizen. You'd think a show featuring models who are also disabled would be interesting, but it really isn't. Shocker: You can be disabled and pretty. More »

The Blond Leading The Blind

Anna Holmes — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:10:00 EST

[Madrid, November 3. Image via Getty]

"She Was A Real Pioneer"

Katy Kelleher — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:40:00 EDT

A statue of Helen Keller will be installed in the National Statuary Hall today, to represent Alabama. This will be the first statue in the U.S. Capitol building of a person with a disability. [CNN] More »

Aimee Mullins On Her Right To Choose ... Her Legs

Anna North — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:30:00 EDT

"I don't have any issue wearing legs that aren't human-like, but I want the option to have human-looking legs. [...] individuality and personal choice are important. How many colours do iPods come in?" — Aimee Mullins, amputee, actress, athlete [NewScientist] More »

Quadriplegic Woman Completes Solo Sail Around Britain

Margaret Hartmann — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:40:00 EDT

On Sunday, yachtswoman Hilary Lister, 37, completed a series of 40 day sails started in June 2008, becoming the first female quadriplegic to sail solo around Britain. She controls the boat through a "sip and puff" system of straws. [Telegraph] More »

The Blind Leading The Blind

Margaret Hartmann — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:20:00 EDT

Two years ago, a German gynecologist began training blind women to use their heightened sense of touch to detect lumps in patients' breasts. So far, the 10 trainees have found more and smaller tumors than doctors in 450 cases. [CNN] More »

British Company Makes Porn For Blind People

Anna North — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:20:00 EDT

Porn for the blind often meant volunteers awkwardly describing hard-core scenes — until Clickforeplay started recording its "naughty stories," with real people acting out steamy scenarios (albeit with clothes on). [BBC] More »

Banished Employee, Others Speak Out Against Abercrombie's Awfulness

Anna North — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:40:00 EDT

Riam Dean, the Abercrombie & Fitch employee who was sent to the stockroom because her prosthetic arm violated the store's "Look Policy," is suing for £20,000. Her mom and a fellow ex-Abercrombie employee e-mailed us about Abercrombie's discrimination. More »

Controversy Over Seeing Eye Horses And Other Odd Service Animals

Margaret Hartmann — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:00:00 EDT

Today Good Morning America reported on a new trend: A wider variety of animals, including parrots, ferrets, snakes, and monkeys are being used to assist people with disabilities and psychological problems. More »

Shop At Your Own Risk

Sadie Stein — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:15:00 EST

Susan Curran, 58, is a regular at her local Marks and Spencer, where she frequently meets friends in the cafe of the British chain's nearest outpost. But after Susan, who suffers from cerebral palsy, got stuck in a bathroom and was forced to pull the emergency bell, she was banned from the store. After being told by a manager that "staff were not trained to deal with her and workers were being put at risk," she received a letter stating that "You are not permitted to enter into any of our stores again. If you choose to ignore this notice you will be asked to leave." [Telegraph] More »

In 1982, at the age of 25, Barbara Buchan...

Margaret Hartmann — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:15:00 EDT

In 1982, at the age of 25, Barbara Buchan was competing for a spot on the U.S. cycling team when a horrific accident shattered her skull and left her in a coma for two months. Doctors didn't think she would survive, and even when she woke up they said she may never speak or walk again. But Buchan struggled through six years of painful rehabilitation determined not just to walk, but to compete in cycling again. Yesterday, at 52, Buchan finally fulfilled her dream of winning a gold medal, breaking a world record in the individual 3,000 meter cycling pursuit at the Paralympics in Beijing. Though she still has trouble reading and speaking and coordination problems in her arms and hands that make shifting gears difficult, she has built up her leg strength and endurance to compensate, and relies on her team mates to help tighten bolts and tweak her bike before races. It's an incredible comeback and she's still not done — Buchan will race again in Beijing on Friday in the 25-kilometer road time trial. [NY Times] More »

The BBC is launching a new reality show...

Jennifer — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:20:00 EST

The BBC is launching a new reality show in which young women will compete for a modeling contract. Sounds familiar, yes? But this series has an added twist: The women participating are all disabled. Says the production company, "Our intention is to empower both the women featured in the project and thousands of others, who shouldn't be invisible to the fashion industry just because they are disabled people." Wonder if Heather Mills will be a judge? [Guardian] More »