More than 50 disability advocacy groups are calling on senators to reject Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. In a letter, advocates cite Barrett’s record in cases relevant to disability rights, which they say “raises significant concern,” as well as the rushed nature of the confirmation process.
About 30 Delawareans per day have been admitted to the hospital with Covid-19 over the last two weeks. Wednesday was the first time in months that the number of people in the hospital for Covid at any one time topped 100. Gov. Carney said the state is not seeing a “specific outbreak” and that he has no plans to enact temporary restrictions.
UD Associate Professor Ashley Pigford co-directs the Interaction Design Lab, where he creates novel technology to enable people with physical disabilities to perform activities of daily living independently. Two of Pigford’s recent designs can be operated by foot and by an arm with limited mobility, respectively, to enable independent eating.
As the school year begins, educators who work with students receiving special education services are finding creative ways to meet social distancing requirements while providing close contact, sometimes including physical touch, that the students need. Clear masks, gloves and plexiglass barriers all help educators and students work on reading and social skills while minimizing the threat of contagion.
Some families with parents stationed at Dover Air Force Base, many of whom do not have a support network of family or friends living close by, report feeling overwhelmed by the time and energy they must dedicate to supporting their children through remote learning on top of their jobs. Military families with children with disabilities are seeing particular difficulties, as the changing class schedules and reliance on distance learning technology can be disorienting to students receiving special education services.
