The BTPM Disabilities Beat is dedicated to promoting equity and acceptance by amplifying marginalized voices, holding corporations and governments accountable, and combatting misinformation and stigma through education about the disability community.
Coverage highlights the often-overlooked implications of economic, educational, policy, and environmental factors on the disability community, offering regional and national perspectives. Key topics include:
- Economic Disparities: Examining wage gaps for employees with disabilities and employment opportunities
- Civic Participation: Investigating the accessibility of ballot machines and voter resources
- Mobility and Accessibility: Addressing paratransit availability and infrastructure needs
- Policy Impact: Analyzing legislation and its effects on the lives of people with disabilities
Hear reports from the Disabilities Beat every Wednesday on BTPM NPR during Morning Edition and All Things Considered for impactful reports in about 5 minutes. These stories aim to spark meaningful conversations and drive positive change in our communities.
The BTPM Disabilities Beat is funded in part by the Peter & Elizabeth Tower Foundation.
Understanding Autism
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Recent public statements by federal sources and “influencer” culture have contributed to confusion and fear around vaccines, and Tylenol use during pregnancy. Join local experts and advocates for a virtual discussion of these recent statements about autism. Make informed decisions based on science and lived experience, not speculation.
Latest from the Disabilities Beat
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CMS admits it overstated New York Medicaid personal care users by 10 times when alleging New York has Medicaid fraud. How has the state responded? -
The family is asking for help in bringing over the three oldest sons from Malaysia, connection to community resources, and a memorial to their devoted father and husband. -
The admission to the Associated Press comes a week after New York sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services telling them their estimate was inaccurate. -
As the state negotiates an overdue budget, advocates seek funding for Daniel's Law, a fee-for-service payments under long term care plans, and protections for adult homes. -
New York advocates urge more funding for community mental health services, saying stronger supports could prevent youth hospitalizations. -
Seventy-five percent of all lifetime mental health conditions begin by age 24. Still, in New York, many young people with mental health conditions face barriers to accessing care. -
The disability community continues push for change after blind Rohingya refugee Nurul Amin Shah Alam’s death was ruled a homicide. -
A Buffalo-area provider of early intervention services shares what's at stake for New York's youngest in this year's state budget. -
New York’s Family Care program, which gives people with disabilities the choice to live with a family instead of in group homes, could expand if funding increases. -
Buffalo’s Funny Bones comedy night brings disabled performers together to build community, challenge stigma, and connect through humor. -
A Buffalo exhibit showcases the stories of women institutionalized in the Buffalo State Asylum, meanwhile, families and advocates push for access to more records. -
Advocates say the death of a blind Rohingya refugee in Buffalo highlights failures to recognize disability and connect people to community resources.
Additional BTPM NPR Disabilities Reporting
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The closing of a prominent Buffalo pain doctor's clinic several years ago raised questions. But forgotten in the mix was what happened to his chronic pain patients, that came to him with a legitimate concern? The aftermath of Dr. Eugene Gosy's clinic closure has highlighted the challenges Americans face in getting chronic pain treatment while our country confronts the opioid epidemic. -
Governor Kathy Hochul’s Executive Budget included $1 million for Special Olympics New York. WBFO’s Disability Reporter Emyle Watkins first reported in December that the organization was asking the state for at least $1.5 million in the next budget to prevent program cuts. Watkins spoke with their CEO after the budget was released to get her reaction. -
On Tuesday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul shared her vision for New York in her State of the State address, which often previews what may be included in her budget proposal. WBFO’s Disability Reporter Emyle Watkins spoke with the head of a local disability services agency to get her reaction. -
Ahead of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's State of the State address, one disability organization is asking the state to make a change that could rescue important programs for people with disabilities. -
Delaware North committed to a $100,000 donation to support unified sports programs in local schools. -
If you’ve ever been to a fundraiser at a restaurant, you know it’s a chance to have a great time with friends and support a cause. But for a local woman with a disability, a trip to Tully’s Good Times in Cheektowaga for a Special Olympics fundraiser, ended up being a bad time, as she was left to eat her meal off of a chair. -
One hundred years after a league we all know, the National Football League, was founded, another league launched with the hope of expanding access to football. WBFO’s Emyle Watkins shares how this new sport held a national tournament in New York State for the first time ever this October. -
Five months after WBFO published an investigation into at-its-face violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Buffalo quietly welcomed its first full-time ADA coordinator. WBFO’s Disability Reporter Emyle Watkins sat down with her to learn more about her background and goals for the city. -
This back-to-school season, Walmart announced sensory hours. WBFO asked parents and neurodivergent adults if these sensory hours were helpful to their experiences. -
Summer - it is a time of year widely romanticized in books, movies and TV. Grand adventures, grand gestures, falling in love…. But how much feels really authentic, like something you could have gone through? This summer, a local author has a new book that brings a fresh and relatable take on the great summer romance novel. WBFO’s Emyle Watkins has more.
