Disability News, Benefits, and Health Resources
Seventy million American adults live with a disability. Another 1.3 billion people worldwide (about the combined population of Europe and North America) share that experience, roughly 16 percent of the global population.
Disabled World (DW), also known to many readers as Disability World, reports on the policies, research, benefits, and assistive technology that shape their lives. Coverage centers on the United States: Social Security and SSI payments, Medicare and Medicaid rules, accessibility law, and medical research relevant to American readers. International stories appear where they intersect with American policy or practice. Disabled World has been publishing since 2004 under the banner Towards Tomorrow. Learn more about us.
"Disability is the only minority group that anyone can join at any time." - a widely shared saying in the disability community, often attributed to American comedian Josh Blue.
Popular Pages
Disability Loans and Grants
Financial assistance programs for low-income families, seniors, and disabled students.
Famous People with Disabilities
Well-known people with various disabilities and conditions who have contributed to society.
Disability and Health Statistics
Data, charts, and facts on prevalence, demographics, and trends.
Awareness Ribbon Colors
Guide to awareness ribbon colors for health, medical conditions, disability, and other causes.
Child to Teen Height to Weight Ratio Charts
Average height-to-weight ratios for children and teens, organized by age.
Recent Disability News and Information
Oksana Masters: Adapting Performance to a Changing Body
Paralympian Oksana Masters medaled in rowing, Nordic skiing, biathlon and cycling, showing how elite performance adapts as amputation and injury reshape a body. Published: 8 Nov 2026.
Charles Schwab and Dyslexia: Building Around Weak Spots
How Charles Schwab, diagnosed with dyslexia at 47, built a business by hiring for his deficits, and why the dyslexia superpower story overlooks the real lessons. Published: 5 Nov 2026.
Helen Keller: Language Access, Education and Independence
Helen Keller's path from childhood gestures to Radcliffe and socialist writing shows how access to language, books and teaching shaped her independent thought. Published: 2 Nov 2026.
Disability Pluralism: Understanding Many Ways of Being Human
Pluralism in disability explained: how the social model, the UN CRPD, Deaf culture and neurodiversity frame disability as a valued part of human diversity. Published: 31 Oct 2026.
Paper2Audio: AI Text-to-Speech App for Documents and Books
Paper2Audio is an AI text-to-speech app that turns PDFs, research papers, textbooks and ebooks into natural audio for people with dyslexia, ADHD or low vision. Published: 30 Oct 2026.
Kim Peek: Savant Memory, Disability and Measuring Ability
Kim Peek, the savant who inspired Rain Man, shows why exceptional memory, daily dependence and intelligence need to be assessed as separate human abilities. Published: 30 Oct 2026.
Newly Updated Pages
Nothing About Us Without Us: Disability Rights Principle: Nothing About Us Without Us is the disability rights principle that disabled people must shape the policies, research and services affecting their lives.
Controversies in Disability Studies: Ethics and Rights: Disability studies debates on the social and medical models, prenatal screening, assisted dying, assistive technology, media and language, with current data.
Nothing About Us Without Us: A Disability Oppression Review: Review of James Charlton's Nothing About Us Without Us, a landmark study of disability oppression, independent living and the global disability rights movement.