Thank you to those who were able to attend yesterday's event. Dr. Brandie Bentley led a powerful discussion about the treatment of people with #disabilities in healthcare and intersections with race - honoring narratives, allowing space for discomfort, and guiding us to identifying solutions.

MICHIGAN MEDICINE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN Center for Disability Health and Wellness "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." – REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. Social Justice Through a Disability Health Lens This impactful event will include the premiere of a brief documentary series featuring personal interviews of African Americans living with disabilities and discussing their experiences in the healthcare system. Their narratives highlight the need to enhance accessibility and quality through individual and systemic change. Moderators and panelists will lead a discussion to address barriers, recognize the valuable contributions of both providers and patients, and collaboratively identify strategies to improve healthcare quality for people with disabilities. OBJECTIVES: Facilitate Reflection and Meaningful Dialogue: Thoughtfully examine the healthcare experiences of African Americans with disabilities. Foster an open, engaging discussion that inspires curiosity, highlights innovative approaches, and nurtures self-awareness of the positive impact providers can have on disability health. Co-Create Strategies for Equitable Care: Collaborate with clinicians and providers to co-create actionable strategies that promote inclusive practices and dismantle systemic barriers. Nurture a spirit of respect and engagement, inspiring shared commitment to implement meaningful changes in clinical care. Together, advance equity, safety, and respect for African Americans with disabilities. We encourage you to contribute to the conversation as we explore new perspectives about disability healthcare. WHEN: Thursday, January 22, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET WHERE: Online on Zoom, register here: https://michmed.org/3Gz82 WHO: Healthcare providers, clinicians, and healthcare system staff ASL interpretation and Zoom automated captions will be provided. For questions, contact Andy Brosius at abrosius@med.umich.edu.

Please join us at U-M CDHW on 1/22/26 as we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and co-create solutions for how his message of social justice can inform healthcare for people with #disabilities.
WHEN: Thurs, Jan 22, 2026, from 12 to 2 p.m. ET
WHERE: Online on Zoom, register here: michmed.org/3Gz82

Healthcare, more than any other industry, has a responsibility to ensure accessible environments and services for people with #disabilities.

To learn about the resources that the U-M CDHW is creating to address disability healthcare disparities, check out our website

disabilityhealthresources.org

Wheelchair? Hearing Aids? Yes. ‘Disabled’? No Way.

Thank you to @um-ihpi.bsky.socia for encouraging me to integrate questions about disability identity into your poll. For me, #disability is not a word to be avoided but one that can enhance understanding and facilitate problem solving. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/15/h...

Promotional graphic for the DisabledInSTEM 2026 Mentorship Program. The background is a dark blue gradient with flowing wave-like patterns in blue and gold. At the top, white text reads: “DisabledInSTEM 2026 Mentorship Applications Now Open.” Below, a yellow box with black text says: “Seeking Disabled Mentees and Dedicated Mentors to Champion Inclusion in STEM.” At the bottom, white text states: “Applications due December 5th.” In the lower right corner, there is the DisabledInSTEM logo.

It's that time of year again... time for #DisabledInSTEM 2026 Mentorship applications! I'm so excited to be running this program for the sixth year and seeing the growth over the years!

Mentee form: forms.gle/um5DvYnBi3tn...
Mentor form: forms.gle/BvaxnQm8uhUR...

Applications due December 5th!

Hopefully this helps to increase awareness and encourage healthcare providers and systems to ask the right questions and be able to offer appropriate supports and accommodations

Disability after 50: Poll looks at self-identity and help with health care People over 50 who have serious or significant health conditions may not identify as disabled, nor ask for or receive accommodations in health care that the ADA provides for.

#Disability after 50: Poll looks at self-identity and help with health care|medschool.umich.edu/health-lab/disability-af... Thanks to @um-ihpi.bsky.social for partnering to examine questions of disability identification and access.

Thank you @um-ihpi.bsky.social for allowing me to be part of this poll. Our research has important implications for how we identify and provide access to healthcare for people with #disabilities - and particularly older adults who may not identify as disabled

Thank you @madhupai.bsky.social for posting. We have always underfunded public health in the United States. Current actions appear to be a deliberate attempt to eliminate monitoring and reduce trust in scientific data in order to avoid accountability and implementation of evidence based approaches.

BREAKING BARRIERS 2025 Exhibit A private room from Disco Walls

At the Lansing Shuffle for Breaking Barriers 2025. The crowd is relatively small but the #disability community is definitely present and the art is thought provoking. www.artworkarchive.com/rooms/discow...

Adaptive learning tools being sold in Walmart. Signs of progress and #disability integration and inclusion.

Thank you @samanticka.bsky.social for this substack post and your focus

Judge rules against NIH grant cuts — and calls them discriminatory The decision means that the US biomedical agency has to restore funding to hundreds of research projects, but the government will likely appeal.

After ruling the NIH grant cuts were illegal yesterday, Judge Young, a Reagan appointee on the bench since 1985, ended the hearing with a blistering 15-minute speech.

I've cleaned up my notes — here are his remarks in full. 🧵

When You Lose: Three Steps to Keep Going On Thursday, Congress passed a budget bill that slashed Medicaid and food assistance by over $1 trillion over the next decade, along with burdensome paperwork requirements and job loss penalties that ...

Reading this post and realizing that I'm still processing my feelings while I need to be thanking and supporting allies and working to create something tangible. Thank you Sam Cane
open.substack.com/pub/sammka/p...

We did suspect, but this is beyond the pale. Apparently when large, US- centered datasets were inaccessible, their content was altered. 🧪
www.psypost.org/secret-chang...

Thank you @pfanderson.bsky.social for posting. The article reflects both the importance of the work going on to understand and enhance how we teach elementary school students as well as the tragedy of our current political environment which is taking away funding from such peer reviewed science.

Thank you @um-ihpi.bsky.social for providing this important breakdown

Top 10 things to know about your health costs right now New and potential ways that changes in health policy may affect your insurance or care

A lot of things are changing in #healthpolicy that could affect individuals' health care costs and access to coverage and care. But it doesn't all take effect at once.

Two of our members break down some of the most important recent and upcoming changes here: ihpi.umich.edu/news-events/... #Medicaid

Another exciting and important program by @docswithdisability.bsky.social

Thank you @disabilityscoop.bsky.social for highlighting transition issues...

Thank you @amydiehl.bsky.socia for this post. This is why training, mentorship & sponsorship are so important for women in academia. The rules are different from the expectations and pressures - especially us. Many of us need to learn what they are and both boundary setting and negotiation skills.

With Liberty and Justice for all...

A new goal to work on during my sabbatical...

Taking time this 4th of July to catch my breath and spend time with family. Thank you @docinsano.bsky.social for sharing this link and reminding us of the importance of celebrating #disability pride month.

Thank you @diyabled.bsky.social for your inspiring words and important reminder. Happy #disabilitypride month.

Exciting developments in #spinal cord injury research. Thank you @shihcheng.bsky.social for posting

Thank you @debbiedingell.house.gov for all your work standing up for the people of Michigan and of the United States

Influenza Vaccination and Cardiovascular Risk This meta-analysis updates a previous meta-analysis examining the association of seasonal influenza vaccination with prevention of adverse cardiovascular events for a new large clinical trial.

What if something quick and free could cut your heart attack risk by 34%? Getting a flu vaccine each year is linked to a 34% lower risk of major cardiovascular events. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Senate Budget Reconciliation Bill will have Devastating Consequences for Millions of Families  - Caring Across Generations We are outraged by the recent actions taken by Senators who voted to gut Medicaid—a lifeline for millions of children, older adults, disabled people, and families across this country.

We are outraged by the recent actions taken by Senators who voted to gut Medicaid—a lifeline for millions of children, older adults, disabled people, and families across this country.

Our full statement: caringacross.org/news/senate-...

The recipe for economic growth isn’t tax cuts for the rich.

It’s investment in our people — in health care, infrastructure and education — to build a strong middle class.

You don't grow the economy through trickle-down nonsense — yet that's what this GOP budget is all about.