Why we need to report on people with disabilities - Curated by Judy Woodruff
People with disabilities faced a mountain of obstacles even before COVID-19, from getting an education, finding a job, accessing transportation and even just being with friends. Now the pandemic has only underlined that vulnerability. On National Disability Day, we owe it to these more than 50 million Americans, and to ourselves, to try to understand just how serious their challenges are. Read these articles to understand the challenging circumstances facing people with disabilities.
The disability community is disproportionately affected by issues like police violence and climate change. But media rarely includes disabled …
Roughly 14 percent of students enrolled in U.S. public schools receive special education services. As families across the nation grapple with home learning, what are the particular challenges the parents of these children face? Judy Woodruff reports and talks to Selene Almazan of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, a nonprofit aiming to protect the rights of children with disabilities.
For 15 years, Ross Ryan traveled an hour from his Oregon home to clean bathrooms, mop floors, and take out trash at noisy car dealerships and cavernous state buildings from 4 p.m. until midnight. His employer paid him about 60 cents per completed task—and it was legal. Ryan’s employer was a …
When New York began allowing outdoor activities in June, Emily Ladau, 29, ventured out in her Long Island town of West Babylon after long months of staying inside because of the novel coronavirus. But her moment in the sun was marred — as a wheelchair user, she found that restaurants spilling over …
Texas public school students with severe cognitive disabilities could receive up to $1,500 for tutoring, therapy, and other support services to …
About the Author:
Broadcast journalist Judy Woodruff is the anchor and managing editor of the PBS NewsHour. She has covered politics and other news for five decades at NBC, CNN and PBS. She is a founding co-chair of the International Women's Media Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting and encouraging women in journalism and communication industries worldwide. Woodruff is a graduate of Duke University, where she is a trustee emerita. She is also the recipient of more than 25 honorary degrees.
Judy Woodruff is a senior correspondent and the former anchor and managing editor of the PBS NewsHour. She has covered politics and other news for …