UA CURRENTS

From the National Disability Institute: Disabled women have shaped history, advanced civil rights, challenged artistic norms and transformed how we understand disability.
Happy Women's History Month!

March is Women’s History Month.

Disabled women have shaped history, advanced civil rights, challenged artistic norms and transformed how we understand disability.

From Judy Heumann’s leadership in the disability rights movement to Harriet Tubman’s abolitionist legacy, from Frida Kahlo’s groundbreaking art to Alice Wong’s impact on disability storytelling and advocacy, their contributions continue to influence generations.

Representation matters. History includes disabled women. Who else would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments.

Image description: Graphic titled “Disabled Women Who Shaped History” with NDI logo in the top right corner. The slide features four women with brief biographies and photos: Judy Heumann (1947–2023), disability rights activist and wheelchair user who helped lead the 504 Sit-in and advance the Americans with Disabilities Act; Harriet Tubman (c. 1822–1913), abolitionist and political activist who sustained a traumatic brain injury and likely lived with epilepsy; Frida Kahlo (1907–1954), Mexican painter who lived with chronic pain and mobility impairments; and Alice Wong (1974–2025), disability rights activist with spinal muscular atrophy and founder of the Disability Visibility Project. Portrait images of each woman appear below their biographies.

Wish Local Empowerment Program
The Wish Local Empowerment Program provides grants to support Black-owned brick-and-mortar retail businesses across the United States. The $2 million fund awards approximately 4,000 grants to help cover operating expenses such as workforce retention, rent, inventory, customer outreach, and community engagement. The program aims to promote equity and strengthen diversity in entrepreneurship. Eligible businesses must have 20 or fewer employees and annual revenue under $1 million.

Wish Local Empowerment Program Wish is offering $2M in funds for up to 4,000 Black-owned businesses who participate in the Wish Local program. Learn more about the program here.

From National Association of Multicultural Rehabilitation Concerns (NAMRC)

Attention Colleagues,

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) is accepting public comments on a proposed rule that would revise how certain graduate programs are classified as “professional degree programs” for federal student loan purposes. If adopted in its current form, the proposal could limit access to higher federal Direct Loan borrowing for students in counseling-related pathways, making graduate education less affordable and potentially constraining the pipeline into the behavioral health workforce.

The comment period is open through March 2, 2026. NAMRC encourages rehabilitation counseling professionals, educators, students, and allies to submit comments describing the real-world impact of these changes on access, training, and workforce capacity.

Submit comments here (Regulations.gov):
https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/ED-2025-OPE-0944-0001

Why this matters for NAMRC and rehabilitation counseling
Counseling and rehabilitation counseling are licensed, clinically intensive professions that require graduate-level education, supervised training, and ongoing professional accountability. Reclassifying these programs in ways that reduce loan availability would likely:
• Increase financial barriers for future counselors and rehabilitation counselors
• Reduce entry into the profession, particularly for students from underserved and underrepresented communities
• Exacerbate behavioral health workforce shortages, including capacity to serve individuals with disabilities and complex support needs

Tips for submitting an effective comment
When writing your comment, consider including:
• Your role and perspective (e.g., rehabilitation counselor, counselor educator, graduate student, supervisor, administrator, employer)
• Professional training and licensure realities: highlight required graduate preparation, supervised clinical hours, credentialing, and scope of responsibility
• Concrete impact: how reduced federal borrowing would affect students’ ability to enroll/complete training, programs’ ability to recruit/retain students, and service access for the communities you serve
• Specificity matters: individualized, experience-based comments are typically more persuasive than generic form language
• Privacy reminder: avoid including sensitive personal information in public submissions

Regulations.gov

In honor of Black History Month, Disability Rights Florida highlights 17 Black Disability Activists and Advocates who have made impactful change.

Read about them here: https://disabilityrightsflorida.org/blog/entry/impactful_black_disability_advocates_and_advocates?fbclid=IwY2xjawP7LstleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFJVGpqemNDd0J4QUFUbXZXc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHl7-UTrE_WYvngIM2A653h0wyWzwFWWTaywoQsGl1bsCjBCZNrhBUInsAzbp_aem_AMsP5Bpjabltb9hIsSwxWA

DRF Blog: Impactful Black Disability Activists and Advocates Black History Month 2022: Celebrating Black Disability Activists Both Past and Present

Disability inclusion is essential to understanding our shared history and to building an economy that works for everyone.

Black disabled leaders have always shaped history, even when history failed to recognize them.

From voting rights and civil rights to disability justice, LGBTQ+ liberation and education, Black disabled leaders helped build movements that expanded access, opportunity and participation for millions. Too often, their disabilities are erased from the story, or their contributions are overlooked altogether.

At NDI, we believe disability inclusion is essential to understanding our shared history and to building an economy that works for everyone.

We’d love to hear from you. Tell us in the comments about Black disabled leaders who inspire you or whose stories you value.

Image description: A teal graphic titled “Black Disabled Leaders Who Shaped History.” The image features four Black leaders shown from left to right. Fannie Lou Hamer (1917–1977) is identified as having mobility impairment, chronic pain and vision loss, and as a powerful advocate for voting rights, economic justice and health equity. Brad Lomax (1950–1984), who had multiple sclerosis, is described as a key organizer who helped bridge the Black civil rights and disability rights movements. Audre Lorde (1934–1992), who lived with cancer and chronic illness, is described as a poet, essayist and activist who shaped feminist, Black liberation, LGBTQ+ and disability justice movements. Barbara Jordan (1936–1996), who had multiple sclerosis, is described as a trailblazing lawyer, educator and politician.

The Deaf Organizations Fund provides unrestricted Impact Grants to organizations and programs serving Deaf communities. Funding supports immediate community needs, such as food security, housing, safety supports, and access to mental health services. The focus is also on long-term organizational sustainability through capacity-building, fundraising, and operational support. Priority is given to organizations strengthening services and resources for Deaf community members.

Deaf Organizations Fund Deaf Organizations Fund aims to strengthen organizations working with deaf communities.

Registration for the Spring 2026 NCSAB Conference is open!

Theme: Beyond Barriers: Innovation Leads to Independence
When: April 1 – 3, 2026
Where: Grand Hyatt Washington, 1000 H Street, NW, Washington DC 2001

Participant Registration: https://www.uacurrents.org/RegistrationSystem/Register?m=2wu

Exhibitor Registration: https://www.uacurrents.org/RegistrationSystem/Register?m=2wv

The NCSAB Spring 2026 Training Conference will take place April 1–3, 2026, in Washington, DC at the Grand Hyatt Washington. This annual gathering of state agency leaders and professionals who serve people who are blind and visually impaired focuses on advancing strategies that break through barriers and harness innovation to promote greater independence and opportunity for individuals across the country. Attendees can expect engaging sessions, networking, and shared learning on emerging practices, technological advancements, and collaborative approaches that empower consumers to achieve personal and vocational independence in today’s evolving landscape.

Some blind fans to experience Super Bowl with tactile device that tracks ball

Some blind fans to experience Super Bowl with tactile device that tracks ball Some blind and low-vision fans will have unprecedented access to the Super Bowl thanks to a tactile device that tracks the ball, vibrates on key plays and provides real-time audio.

The following information is being shared with you in partnership with Microsoft and ACB’s special interest affiliate, Blind Information Technology Solutions (BITS).

The American Council of the Blind thanks Microsoft for its ongoing commitment to equitable access for its platforms, products, and services for people who are blind or have low vision.

Microsoft is inviting screen reader users worldwide to share their experiences using Narrator and other screen readers through a short survey.

If you are a screen reader user or work closely with someone who is, please consider filling out the survey below to help improve accessibility on Windows. Feel free to share this survey with your network.

Windows Narrator User Survey – Fill out form

forms.office.com

AFB's Research Team is Looking for Your Help!

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is conducting a research study seeking U.S.-based adults 55 and older who are experiencing changes in their vision. The aim of the study is to understand what it’s like for older adults to adjust to vision changes and what services can help them. We are especially interested in including the perspectives of individuals who have chosen not to participate in vision rehabilitation or support services and who prefer to remain unaffiliated with blindness or low vision groups.

To assist with our study, interested participants will complete a 60-minute interview or a 90-minute focus group, in person or virtually, with AFB researchers. Participants will be paid for their time.

Here's how you can help: Share our Aging Study Flyer with people you know who are at least 55 years old, have had recent changes in their vision, are not affiliated with any blindness groups, and have not received vision rehabilitation. For example, you might share this link with your relatives, neighbors, fellow church members, friends, and others in your community who fit these criteria.