Grace Dow (@gracedowwrites.bsky.social)

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

I am a writer who has cerebral palsy. Please visit my blog at https://gracedowwrites.com/

163 followers 118 following924 posts

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

4 July

Today’s blog post is about what independence truly means for disabled Americans. gracedowwrites.com/2026/07/04/y...

gracedowwrites.comYou Cannot Light Fireworks While Extinguishing Our RightsCW: Xenophobia, Ableism, Racism, & Institutionalization Today, our neighborhoods come alive with barbecues, laughter, and fireworks. We settle into the familiar routines of our 4th of July cele…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

3 July

Today's blog post is about how extreme heat affects disabled people. gracedowwrites.com/2026/07/03/t...

gracedowwrites.comThe Heat Arrives Like a Warning, and Disabled People Feel It FirstAmong today’s largest climate change concerns are the effects of extreme heat on public health. The risks are far greater for disabled and chronically ill people, not only because they are mo…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

2 July

Today's blog post is about an overpayment I owe Social Security. gracedowwrites.com/2026/07/02/w...

gracedowwrites.comWhen Bureaucracy Punishes the DisabledNot even a week has passed since I was told I had my nighttime PCA hours back. Now, I have another hurdle to deal with. I found out yesterday that I owe the Social Security Administration more than…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

1 July

Today's blog post is about my feelings on disability pride month. gracedowwrites.com/2026/07/01/t...

gracedowwrites.comThis Disability Pride Month, I’m Not Proud. I’m Exhausted.Today is the first day of disability pride month. My understanding of cerebral palsy has changed over time. I am comfortable with my disability. However, I can’t say that I am proud of my disabilit…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

30 June

Today's blog post is about the treatment of a paraplegic man by police in Oregon. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/30/w...

gracedowwrites.comWhen Police Ignore DisabilityCW: Police Brutality & Death In Medford, Oregon, the city’s decision to settle a disability-related lawsuit marks a significant moment. However, it is also part of a broader narrative concernin…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

29 June

Today's blog post is a reflection on the past 26 years of my life in America. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/29/2...

gracedowwrites.com26 Years in AmericaI came home to America 26 years ago today, on June 29, 2000. Massachusetts will always be my home. I grew up here, and it’s the only home I’ve ever known. My family is the only one I’ve ever known.…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

28 June

Today’s blog post is about having to prove your worth. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/28/b...

gracedowwrites.comBelonging Is a Right, Not a RewardCW: Ableism Disabled people have been made to prove their worth for too long. Society sees value in work, earnings, or productivity, and anyone who doesn’t meet these standards is expected to…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

27 June

Today’s post is about getting the PCA hours I need and how bureaucracy still shapes disabled people’s lives. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/27/r...

gracedowwrites.comRelief, Roadblocks, and ResilienceCW: Institutional Bias Yesterday, after two months of grueling work, anxiety, and frustration, I received a notice from MassHealth informing me that I’d been approved for 60 PCA hours per wee…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

26 June

Today’s blog post is about disabled children who can't attend school because of a long history of school exclusion and harsh discipline practices that were never designed with them in mind. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/26/w...

gracedowwrites.comWhat Happens When School Becomes a Warning, Not a WelcomeCW: Exclusion A child’s first day of school is a very exciting day for most families. Parents drop off their children with the hope that they will learn, make friends and have fun. But for on…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

25 June

Today’s blog post is about how policy changes in Washington are reshaping daily life in classrooms across the country. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/25/c...

gracedowwrites.comChildren Can’t Wait for WashingtonThis week, the Department of Education buzzed with talk of the federal overhaul amid a summer heat wave. There are plans to reorganize two key functions of the central department: special education…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

24 June

Today's blog post is about accommodations for disabled college students. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/24/a...

gracedowwrites.comAccommodations Represent Equal Access, Not Special TreatmentCW: Ableism In recent years, disability accommodations have become a heated debate on college and university campuses. A recent article, The Law School Accommodations Racket, has sparked renewed in…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

23 June

Today's blog post is about the 27th anniversary of Olmstead v. L.C. and why it matters more than ever before. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/23/t...

gracedowwrites.comThe Freedom Lois and Elaine Fought For Lives in My StoryCW: Institutionalization Yesterday marked the 27th anniversary of the Olmstead decision, a landmark ruling that guaranteed disabled people’s right to live in the most integrated setting possible. T…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

22 June

Today's blog post is about the updated accessibility standards for US Airlines. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/22/d...

gracedowwrites.comDisabled Passengers Hold Their Breath as Accessibility Promises Are Put to the TestA federal deadline looms for United States airlines that will have the potential to significantly change the landscape of air travel for millions of disabled people — many of whom are waiting with …

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

21 June

Today's blog post is about how unclear caregiving boundaries can quietly undermine a disabled person’s autonomy. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/21/w...

gracedowwrites.comWhen Help Stops Feeling HelpfulAs a disabled person who relies on caregivers every day, I believe that needing care means more than helping me do tasks I can’t do for myself. It means acknowledging my individuality and ind…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

20 June

Today's blog post is about needing 24/7 care as a disabled person. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/20/c...

gracedowwrites.comCerebral Palsy Doesn’t End When the Sun Goes DownOn Tuesday, I had my reevaluation with my new personal care management agency. They determined that my decrease in PCA hours was due to MassHealth removing my night hours. I was frustrated because …

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

19 June

Today's blog post is about the future of the Olmstead decision and what it means for disabled Americans. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/19/w...

gracedowwrites.comWhen Home Becomes a Human RightCW: Institutional Bias For decades, disability rights advocates have fought for the ability to live in their community rather than in institutions. But a new opinion issued by the U.S. Department o…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

18 June

Today’s blog post is about living with a lifelong disability while constantly being asked to prove it. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/18/d...

gracedowwrites.comDisabled People Deserve Stability, Not Constant ScrutinyDisability benefits are meant to provide financial support to disabled people who cannot work. But for those with permanent disabilities, that stability only lasts until the government asks them to…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

17 June

Today’s blog post is about how efforts to fight Medicaid fraud are impacting disabled people. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/17/t...

gracedowwrites.comThe Care That Keeps Us HomeCW: Rape & Violence Jennifer Kucera’s past is impossible to escape. Three blocks away from her home in Berea, Ohio, is the nursing home where she says that she contracted scabies, was punched i…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

16 June

Today’s post is about people with intellectual and developmental disabilities losing access to essential care. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/16/f...

gracedowwrites.comFor People With IDD, the Care They Count On Is Slipping AwayNationwide, facilities that provide services to disabled people are facing budget constraints that are making it harder to provide services. For example, Kentucky’s Lee Specialty Clinic is getting …

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

15 June

Today's blog post is about Kansas’ exit from the Texas v. Kennedy lawsuit and its impact on disability rights. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/15/a...

gracedowwrites.comA Turning Point in Disability RightsKansas’ decision to withdraw from Texas v. Kennedy was a milestone in a battle that has gotten national attention from disability advocates, lawmakers, and families. The lawsuit challenges a federa…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

14 June

Today's blog post is about how living with a disability can feel like a full‑time job, draining time and energy long before you ever get to the parts of life that truly matter. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/14/t...

gracedowwrites.comThe Fight We Shouldn’t Have to FightYesterday, I wrote a blog post about how being disabled can feel like a full-time job. I spent hours doing things directly related to my cerebral palsy. It’s a cycle that exhausts you long before y…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

13 June

Today's blog post is about why being disabled can feel like a full-time job. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/13/t...

gracedowwrites.comThe Job I Never Applied ForWhen most people think of work, they imagine paychecks, offices, or clocking in for shifts. People can go home at the end of their workday. However, living with a disability often feels like a full…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

12 June

Today’s blog post is about how disabled lives are debated, dismissed, and too often dehumanized. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/12/t...

gracedowwrites.comThe Real Crisis Isn’t Prenatal Testing. It’s How We Treat Disabled People.CW: Abortion, Ableism, Death, Murder, & Cyberbullying The story of Jesse and Ashley Ridgway, two social media influencers who publicly shared their decision to terminate a pregnancy after a pre…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

11 June

Today's blog post is about the human impact of mistakes made by the Social Security Administration. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/11/w...

gracedowwrites.comWhen a Government Letter Turns Your Life Upside DownJulie Spradlin knew there was a problem right away when she read the notice from the Social Security Administration. Spradlin, from Union City, Georgia, has cerebral palsy and has not been able to …

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

10 June

Today's blog post is about Dr. Oz’s harmful comments about Medicaid’s work requirements. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/10/y...

gracedowwrites.comYou Weren’t Put Here to Watch TV” — But Survival Isn’t a SoundbiteDr. Mehmet Oz’s recent support of Medicaid work requirements has reignited a debate that could have grave implications for millions of Americans who rely on the program for healthcare. Oz is now th…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

9 June

Today’s blog post is about what happens when Money Follows the Person ends. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/09/m...

gracedowwrites.comMoney Follows the Person, But Kansas Forgot the PeopleCW: Institutionalization For years, a federal initiative has supported disabled Kansans in reclaiming something the Supreme Court has guaranteed: the right to live in the community rather than livi…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

8 June

Today’s post discusses the impact of integrated healthcare for adults with IDD. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/08/w...

gracedowwrites.comWhole-Person Care Changes LivesCW: Weight Integrated care offers a powerful way to reduce emergency room visits and hospitalizations among adults with developmental disabilities. For many in this population, navigating the healt…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

7 June

Today’s blog post is about the human cost of cutting care, and why updated language doesn’t protect disabled people from losing services they need. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/07/w...

gracedowwrites.comWords Don’t Help People Get Out of BedThe Massachusetts Legislature’s recent move to update state laws by removing outdated disability-related language is an improvement. The words used in legislation influence societal attitudes and s…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

6 June

Today's blog post is about the impact of new work requirements for people who receive Medicaid. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/06/e...

gracedowwrites.comEighty Hours or Else: What Work Requirements Really Mean for Medicaid RecipientsFrom time to time, a policy change reminds me of the difference between how legislators write a law and how it affects people’s lives. The new Medicaid work requirements serve as just one example o…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

5 June

Today's blog post is about movement and cerebral palsy. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/05/t...

gracedowwrites.comThe Invisible Work Behind Everyday MovementOur bodies naturally move so usually we don’t think about it at all. Tasks like standing in line or walking around a store are so easy for most people that they do not realize that these acti…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

4 June

Today's blog post explores why water safety matters for disabled people. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/04/a...

gracedowwrites.comA Tragic Reminder of Why Water Safety Matters for Disabled PeopleCW: Missing Person With summer fast approaching, water safety is vital, especially for disabled people. Beaches, oceans, lakes, and rivers are dangerous even for seasoned swimmers. The immediate ha…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

3 June

Today’s blog post is about how policy failures endanger medically fragile children and their families. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/03/w...

gracedowwrites.comWhen Policy Fails FamiliesFamilies in Minnesota caring for medically fragile children are facing a crisis. For years, parents have depended on private insurance plans from Medica and HealthPartners to fund the skilled nursi…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

2 June

Today’s blog post is about why Rep. Gross’s words feel like a direct threat to my independence. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/02/i...

gracedowwrites.com“If It Costs More”: What Rep. Gross’s Words Mean for My Life at HomeCW: Institutional Bias When I first heard Ohio Representative Jennifer Gross’s recent comments on long-term care, I was disappointed. Gross, who is the chair of the Ohio House Medicaid Commit…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

1 June

Today's blog post is about the impact of self-advocacy. gracedowwrites.com/2026/06/01/s...

gracedowwrites.comSelf‑Advocacy Shouldn’t Be This HardCW: Institutionalization As a child, I had high expectations for myself. I did not see my disability as an obstacle. However, I did not anticipate possessing the strength, the patience, and the sel…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

31 May

Today’s blog post is about the discrimination disabled people face within the housing market. gracedowwrites.com/2026/05/31/s...

gracedowwrites.comStill Locked Out: Disabled Americans Face Housing BarriersCW: Discrimination More than fifty years after the Fair Housing Act was passed, disabled people still experience many challenges in accessing and maintaining housing nationwide. These challenges ar…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

30 May

Today's blog post is about why accessibility is more than a building feature; it's a matter of safety, dignity, and independence. gracedowwrites.com/2026/05/30/t...

gracedowwrites.comTrapped at Home: The Hidden Crisis in Accessible HousingCW: Homelessness A disabled veteran from Boston slept outdoors in the rain recently — not because he lacked shelter but simply because the elevator in his apartment building broke. Stevie Wheels, w…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

29 May

Today’s blog post is about disabled people being forgotten about by the policies and systems meant to support them. gracedowwrites.com/2026/05/29/d...

gracedowwrites.comDisabled People at the Mercy of PowerCW: Fraud & Institutionalization Disabled people are being used as pawns in political battles around the world over budgets, bureaucracy, and the value placed on care. From Argentina to the Uni…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

28 May

Today's blog post is about disabled children being stuck in hospitals. gracedowwrites.com/2026/05/28/a...

gracedowwrites.comAmerica’s Children Are Being Hospitalized by a Broken SystemCW: Foster Care Across the United States, an alarming trend has emerged: an increasing number of children are staying in hospitals after they no longer need medical care. They are not recovering fr…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

27 May

Today’s blog post is about how needing help is a natural part of being human. gracedowwrites.com/2026/05/27/m...

gracedowwrites.comMy Life, My Way, With HelpThanks to Steve Way for this post idea. CW: Ableism Independence is a cornerstone of society. From the time we are young, we are encouraged to do things for ourselves. When someone needs help, whet…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

26 May

Today’s blog post is about the impact of losing care as a disabled person. gracedowwrites.com/2026/05/26/t...

gracedowwrites.comThe Fight to Stay HomeCW: Institutionalization Going to the bathroom at night is a challenging task for Issac Wide. Movement is a challenge. His daily routine is built upon a care system designed to maintain his safety …

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

25 May

Today's blog post is about how the American foster care system is ill-equipped to meet the needs of disabled children. gracedowwrites.com/2026/05/25/t...

gracedowwrites.comThe Children the System OverlooksCW: Foster Care & Death Two young boys died recently while in the care of Arizona’s Department of Child Safety —Christian Williams, 15, and Jacob Blodgett, 9—both of whom had Type 1 diabetes. T…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

24 May

Today’s blog post is about the societal stigma associated with disability benefits. gracedowwrites.com/2026/05/24/d...

gracedowwrites.comDisabled and Deserving of More Than ScrapsCW: Poverty & Fraud Whenever discussions about disability benefits occur, I frequently hear the same comments: “It must be nice not having to work,” or “People just want handouts.” These critic…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

23 May

Today's blog post is about the fair hearing denial that arrived yesterday and how I’m processing it. gracedowwrites.com/2026/05/23/a...

gracedowwrites.comA Setback, Not a Stop SignYesterday, I finally opened a letter that I had been waiting on for what felt like forever. I knew the outcome could go either way. I clung to a faint hope that this time, the system would acknowle…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

22 May

Today’s blog post is about the people trapped in hospitals and institutions because support systems break down. gracedowwrites.com/2026/05/22/i...

gracedowwrites.comIndependence, InterruptedCW: Institutional Bias In September 2025, Ravi Mehta went to the hospital anticipating a routine visit—a simple adjustment to the settings on his ventilator. It was something he had done many times…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

21 May

Today’s blog post is about how discussions of fraud overshadow the daily realities of older adults, disabled people, and family caregivers. gracedowwrites.com/2026/05/21/p...

gracedowwrites.comPoliticians Talk About Fraud; Disabled People Talk About Staying AliveDiscussions surrounding Medicaid are frequently simplified into political rhetoric focused on budgets, political disputes, and fraud. However, for millions of older adults and disabled people, Medi…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

20 May

Today’s post explores how Texas v. Kennedy could impact disability rights in the US. gracedowwrites.com/2026/05/20/o...

gracedowwrites.comOlmstead’s Legacy Is Under ThreatCW: Institutionalization The fight for disability rights in the United States is entering a critical new stage, with potential repercussions that could affect how millions of disabled people live a…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

19 May

Today's blog post is about the predicted cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security beneficiaries. gracedowwrites.com/2026/05/19/c...

gracedowwrites.comCOLAs and the Real Cost of DisabilitySocial Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries could see their monthly benefits rise again in 2027, as early projections indicate a higher cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). Cu…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

17 May

Today’s blog post is about a young man’s death exposing tragedies within disability services. gracedowwrites.com/2026/05/17/a...

gracedowwrites.comA Flag Above the Capitol, and A System in CrisisCW: Death, Abuse, & Neglect Having the American flag over the U.S. Capitol in one’s memory is a prestigious honor. This honor is usually reserved for military heroes, dedicated public servants,…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

16 May

Today’s blog post is about the humanity that gets lost when your disability is treated as documentation instead of part of your life. gracedowwrites.com/2026/05/16/t...

gracedowwrites.comThe Quiet Fight to Keep My HumanityI’ve spent much of the last month preparing my appeal for PCA services. It has forced me into this kind of emotional introspection, which I wouldn’t wish on anyone. To appeal, I had to revisit some…

Grace Dow

@gracedowwrites.bsky.social

15 May

Today's blog post is about abuse and neglect in group homes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. gracedowwrites.com/2026/05/15/n...

gracedowwrites.comNeglect in Plain Sight: The Overlooked Crisis in Group HomesCW: Abuse, Neglect, & Death The death of Sean Feldsted, a disabled man from Manitoba who endured months of malnutrition before his death, is far more than a family tragedy. It starkly reveals t…