1. Provide the title of your story or series and the names of the journalists involved.
The Disability Diaries: 20 years after the ADA
Carrie Feibel
Part 1: MP3 | PDF
Part 2: MP3 | PDF
Part 3: MP3 | PDF
Part 4: MP3 | PDF
Part 5: MP3 | PDF
2. List date(s) this work was published or aired.
Aug. 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 in 2010
3. Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
In 2010, disability advocates marked the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The law has made it easier for people with disabilities to take buses, go to movies, even vote. But the law was not a panacea. In this five-part series, I explore the reality on the ground, talking with real Houstonians who cope with a disability. Day One began with a profile of a paralegal who began life as "able-bodied" but slowly became unable to walk due to multiple sclerosis. The interview focused on his changing self-perception and his daily struggles just to be a regular guy. Day Two looked at the world of work. It focused on the fact that the ADA has not solved the problem of high unemployment among people with disabilities. The story explained some of the reasons and profiled two individuals who want to work (one has a physical disability, one has struggled with severe depression). And it looked at a Texas program that tries to help them find jobs. Day Three zoomed in much closer on the problem of disability and employment, by taking listeners to a summer camp for blind teenagers. Although ostensibly a feature about the Texas camp, the story talked about how the skills learned at camp are meant to encourage the blind teenagers and help them gain the confidence to eventually find careers. Day Four focused on independent living. It profiled a couple that has fought to stay out of nursing homes despite severe physical limitations. The story then looked at federal and state policies, and focused on a Texas program to help people with disabilities transition from group homes back to independent living. Day Five offered listeners a chance to think about cultural implications. It profiled a local theater group that mixes "able-bodied" actors with actors who have disabilities. The story explored how people with disabilities are perceived, and how they perceive themselves. It delved into questions of language and stigma.
4. Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work? I used federal and academic reports and census data on disability and unemployment. I used NIH data about rates of blindness among children and in the general population. I also requested and used CMS data on
nursing homes and assisted living to learn about policies and payment rates concerning people with disabilities. There was also general research online and on the phone on the history of the ADA, the history of the independent living movement, and the history of federal policies on "back to work" programs.
5. Explain types of human sources used.
Federal and Texas advocates/organizations working on disability, Cornell Employment and Disability Research Institute, Texas health officials, Texas Medicaid officials, Texas rehabilitation counselors, an HMO director, a local rehabilitation hospital, Texas advocates and teachers for the blind, local theater director, local teacher at school for students with autism, local residents (youth and adult) who have a disability.
6. Results (if any).
I would describe the series as explanatory journalism, meant to raise awareness. The stories did feature some individuals calling for changes in funding or policy, but I am unaware if my stories have caused any obvious change in those areas as of yet.
7. Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain. No.
8. Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
I wanted to recognize the anniversary of the ADA and measure how, or if, the law had improved the lives of people with disabilities. The difficulty was narrowing the scope, and also bringing policy to life through real people and their stories. I did this by focusing on various areas of life — work, culture, and the ability to live independently. A series seemed to work best but I would also advise a future reporter to focus even more narrowly on one specific policy and its local impact, which would allow the reporter to hold policy makers accountable for possibly making a change.