Grace Dow
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gracedowwrites.bsky.social
Grace Dow
@gracedowwrites.bsky.social
150 followers 120 following 760 posts
I am a writer who has cerebral palsy. Please visit my blog at https://gracedowwrites.com/
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gracedowwrites.bsky.social
Today’s blog post is about how ICE’s (Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s) actions are impacting disabled people.

gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/27/w...
When Disability Meets ICE, People Pay the Price
CW: Death & ICE The death of Wael Tarabishi has left a North Texas family heartbroken, not just because of the loss but also due to the circumstances surrounding it. Wael, a 30-year-old U.S. ci…
gracedowwrites.com
January 27, 2026 at 5:11 AM
gracedowwrites.bsky.social
Today's blog post is about how Winter weather impacts disabled people.

gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/26/w...
Winter’s Weight on Disabled Lives
Winter Storm Fern, as it has been dubbed by The Weather Channel, has hit much of the U.S. Cold weather means snow, bitter cold temperatures, and shorter days, which disproportionately affect disabl…
gracedowwrites.com
January 26, 2026 at 5:37 AM
gracedowwrites.bsky.social
Today’s post is about aging with a disability and the need for more support.

gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/25/a...
A Lifetime of Living Needs a Lifetime of Support
Families who care for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities often face overwhelming challenges, and the experience of people like Sally Mitzel and her daughter RaeAnn makes that r…
gracedowwrites.com
January 25, 2026 at 5:57 AM
gracedowwrites.bsky.social
Today’s blog post is about creating a future where more disabled people can live in their communities.

gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/24/o...
One Open Door
CW: Institutionalization Nova Scotia’s new home-share program comes at a time when the province is changing the way people with disabilities live and interact within their communities. It&#82…
gracedowwrites.com
January 24, 2026 at 8:30 AM
gracedowwrites.bsky.social
Today’s blog post is about ICE’s (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) impact on healthcare.

gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/23/s...
Safety or Survival: A Choice No Patient Should Face
CW: Childbirth The increased presence of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in and around medical settings is redefining the way people interact with the healthcare system. The consequences …
gracedowwrites.com
January 23, 2026 at 5:42 AM
gracedowwrites.bsky.social
Today’s blog post is about proposed changes to Medicaid waivers.

gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/22/w...
When Budget Cuts Become Life or Death
For decades, the Aged and Disabled Waiver has been a lifeline for many Nebraskans. It is the difference between stability and crisis, freedom and institutionalization, or for some people, li…
gracedowwrites.com
January 22, 2026 at 8:00 AM
gracedowwrites.bsky.social
Today’s blog post is about how disability service systems fail people when assessment tools oversimplify the reality of people’s needs.

gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/21/t...
The Fragility Behind Disability Systems
As Australia prepares to overhaul the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) with the Instrument for the Classification and Assessment of Support Needs (I-CAN) tool, warnings from psychologist…
gracedowwrites.com
January 21, 2026 at 12:44 PM
gracedowwrites.bsky.social
Today's blog post is about disabled people who are abused.

gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/20/w...
Who Protects the Most Vulnerable?
CW: Abuse A recent case from Suffolk County, New York, has gained significant attention after a home health nurse was arrested for allegedly assaulting a five-year-old child with disabilities. Acco…
gracedowwrites.com
January 20, 2026 at 7:11 AM
gracedowwrites.bsky.social
Today’s blog post is about how policy changes are putting healthcare at risk, particularly for elderly and disabled Americans.

gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/19/e...
Efficiency for Whom?
Recent federal policy changes are quietly reshaping health care in the United States. Their effects will impact not only older adults but also millions of disabled people who depend on these system…
gracedowwrites.com
January 19, 2026 at 11:55 AM
gracedowwrites.bsky.social
Today's blog post is about the cost of college when you are disabled.

gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/18/w...
What College Really Costs When You’re Disabled
People often think that disabled students’ biggest challenges in college are receiving accommodations or managing their health along with coursework. However, the real struggles begin long before s…
gracedowwrites.com
January 18, 2026 at 8:42 AM
gracedowwrites.bsky.social
Today's blog post is about the transition to adulthood for disabled adults and the need for more support.

gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/17/t...
The Disability Cliff
The transition from childhood to adulthood is a milestone most people anticipate with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. But for disabled young adults that transition can be even more difficult.&…
gracedowwrites.com
January 17, 2026 at 11:03 AM
gracedowwrites.bsky.social
Today's blog post is about caring for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities as they age.

gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/16/c...
Care That Honors a Lifetime of Living
CW: Death Some stories reveal not just a person’s life, but the cracks in the systems meant to support them. Mickey Wesley’s is one of those. He was 11 when he moved into the boys&#8217…
gracedowwrites.com
January 16, 2026 at 6:40 AM
gracedowwrites.bsky.social
Today’s blog post is about a young baseball player and the brutal gaps in our healthcare system that now shape his fight to recover from a devastating accident.

gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/15/t...
The Cost of an Injury No One Planned For
CW: Injury, Impaired Driving, & Mental Illness Baseball loves its underdog stories. The late‑round pick who finds his way into the spotlight The kid from a small town who refuses to quit. The p…
gracedowwrites.com
January 15, 2026 at 7:26 AM
gracedowwrites.bsky.social
Today's blog post is about fatigue related to cerebral palsy.

gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/14/t...
The Hidden Exhaustion of Cerebral Palsy
Imagine waking up each day knowing that every movement, every step, reach, or turn, will take two to three times more effort than it does for others. This is the reality for many people with Cerebr…
gracedowwrites.com
January 14, 2026 at 7:57 AM
gracedowwrites.bsky.social
Today's blog post is about health insurance denials.

gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/13/s...
State of Denial: How Insurance Companies Shape Access to Health Care
CW: Death The CBS News video “State of Denial: How insurance companies affect health care today” explores how and why patients who have health insurance may not be able to access needed care. The v…
gracedowwrites.com
January 13, 2026 at 7:06 AM
gracedowwrites.bsky.social
Today’s blog post is about how someone’s geographical location impacts disability services in America.

gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/12/l...
Lines on a Map, Lives in the Balance
Throughout the United States, the availability of disability services varies significantly, leading to a drastic change in people’s quality of life when moving from one state to another. This reali…
gracedowwrites.com
January 12, 2026 at 8:39 AM
gracedowwrites.bsky.social
Today's blog post is about work requirements associated with Medicaid.

gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/11/m...
Medicaid Cuts Break People, Not Budgets
The federal government is moving forward with new Medicaid eligibility rules, and the disability community is bracing for impact. On the surface, the changes sound straightforward: Congress voted l…
gracedowwrites.com
January 11, 2026 at 9:28 AM
gracedowwrites.bsky.social
Today’s blog post is about the emotional toll of navigating the world of disability services.

gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/10/p...
Past the Pages
As someone with cerebral palsy, I often feel dehumanized. For as long as I can remember, I’ve had to justify my existence and the support I need to navigate the world. During my childhood, ev…
gracedowwrites.com
January 10, 2026 at 10:34 AM
gracedowwrites.bsky.social
Today's blog post is about how public education is failing disabled students.

gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/09/w...
When “Inclusive Education” Leaves Disabled Children Behind
Across North America, families of disabled children are watching the same pattern unfold: schools promise inclusion, but the supports that make inclusion a reality are disappearing. The result is a…
gracedowwrites.com
January 9, 2026 at 6:57 AM
gracedowwrites.bsky.social
Today's blog post is about the nationwide shortage of home healthcare workers.

gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/08/w...
When Care Isn’t There
An essay by Heidi Knudsen in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette puts a human face on a problem too often discussed only in policy terms: the severe shortage of home healthcare workers for disabled people.…
gracedowwrites.com
January 8, 2026 at 7:52 AM
gracedowwrites.bsky.social
Today's blog post is about disability accommodations in college.

gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/07/t...
The Disability Boom on Campus
CW: Ableism   At UC Berkeley, students with psychological and emotional disabilities now make up about 40 percent of all participants in the Disabled Students’ Program. This figure shows not o…
gracedowwrites.com
January 7, 2026 at 8:40 AM
gracedowwrites.bsky.social
@domesticemployers.bsky.social @careglobal.bsky.social Today's blog post is about the reality of family caregiving in America.

gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/06/w...
When Caregiving Exposes a Broken System
Rebecca Gayheart’s essay about caring for actor Eric Dane after his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is intimate and candid. One reason it resonates with so many people is tha…
gracedowwrites.com
January 6, 2026 at 7:22 AM
gracedowwrites.bsky.social
Today's blog post is about the reality of family caregiving in America.

gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/06/w...
When Caregiving Exposes a Broken System
Rebecca Gayheart’s essay about caring for actor Eric Dane after his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is intimate and candid. One reason it resonates with so many people is tha…
gracedowwrites.com
January 6, 2026 at 7:20 AM
gracedowwrites.bsky.social
Today’s blog post is about the emotional toll of navigating the disability support system.

gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/05/w...
What They Can’t Quantify
When I read David M. Perry’s essay about navigating the disability support system for his son with Down syndrome, I felt a familiar ache, one that falls between recognition and exhaustion. Hi…
gracedowwrites.com
January 5, 2026 at 8:59 AM
gracedowwrites.bsky.social
Today's blog post is about disabled people who are killed by their family members.

gracedowwrites.com/2026/01/04/w...
When Caregiving Turns Deadly
CW: Murder A recent murder case out of Volusia County, Florida, is simply heartbreaking. According to reporting by WESH, 69-year-old Deborah Collier was found with her 13-year-old great-granddaught…
gracedowwrites.com
January 4, 2026 at 7:38 AM