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Yukon's rush for human gold
From the remotest region in Canada’s far north-west, a refreshing wind is blowing, as Stephen Jull for the Yukon council on disability relates how employers are feeling the benefits of taking on disabled workers
Stigma hate and pride: A Philadelphia story
It’s known as the “City of brotherly love”, but recent news coming out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania gave Alan Holdsworth, now living in America, pause for thought about whether that supposed warmth extended to disabled people
Greece is the word
With Greece teetering on the brink of economic collapse and having to rely on international financial help, disabled activist Yannis Vardakastanis reflects on the lives of disabled people in his country
Denmark: 80 years united
Stig Langvad is Chair of Danske Handicaporganisationer, Denmark’s umbrella of disabled people’s groups. He talks about how, even though they can operate at the centre of politics, disabled people remain marginalised in Danish society
Hope under Caucasian skies
Director of an Armenian NGO, Susanna Isajanyan tells how her experience of life in Russia inspired her campaign for equal rights and better access for disabled people throughout the Caucasus region
Beyond Berlusconi's bunga bunga
Its international reputation has taken a pounding and its prime minister Silvio Berlusconi may be the laughing stock of Europe, but Olga Baldassi Pezzoni tells us what life is like for disabled people beneath the sleaze
From wrongs to rights
Rights advocate Melissa Miller describes how disabled people and their organisations have set about changing hearts and minds in this West African state
Egypt's Revolution... Heba's hope for future change
As an Egyptian disability activist, Heba Hagras speaks about growing up in the Middle East and her hopes for disabled people in her country following February's revolution
After the flood: mopping up in the land of Oz
Australian blogger Mia G Vayner shares with Disability Now, her experience of life as a disabled Aussie and how she fared during the recent Queensland floods
Ireland's toothless Celtic tiger
As a blind person growing up in Ireland, Martin Conway went through the mainstream education system. He has also run his own business and is now a county councillor. Here he talks about the parlous state of disability politics among our nearest neighbours
Gaza: suspicion and resistance
Human rights activist Jody McIntyre took advantage of a temporary opening in the border to visit disabled people in the Gaza Strip
Uganda: Women in danger
Crimes of violence against disabled women are endemic in her East African homeland, says activist Laura Kanashu. But now, demands are being made on the Ugandan government to take action
Bollywood: fantasy and reality
Psychologist, academic, feminist, disability activist and film buff Dr Anita Ghai radiates love of her subject when she talks about disability and sexuality in Bollywood. As befits this melodramatic genre her love affair with Bollywood has its share of frustrations and disappointments as well as moments of bliss
Let our people go
To mark the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, US activist organisation ADAPT sends out a message to remind the community that too many of their fellow disabled Americans remain locked away in institutions
Challenges at the top of the world
The two years since Disability Now first featured Nepal in our World View section has been an exciting and challenging time for disabled people in the world's newest republic. Nepalese disability activist Maheshwar Ghimire (pictured right) brings us up to date on progress made and barriers still to be faced
At the end of South Africa's rainbow
Most people's memory of World Cup 2010 in South Africa is likely to be, not the football, but the rasping buzz of the vuvuzela. But disabled people are hoping for a more tangible legacy according to Muzi Nkosi, Chair of Disabled People South Africa
War and peace in the Indian Ocean
In May 2010, Sri Lanka, the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, celebrated the first anniversary of the end of the 26-year civil war. Susan Bennett has lived with and worked as a volunteer alongside its people since 2006. Here she describes the challenges for people with sensory impairments living in remote areas
Bolivia: a high mountain to climb
Feliza Ali Ramos is the disability programme co-ordinator with the Bolivian field team of development agency International Service. She reflects on her own life as a disabled woman in Bolivia and discusses how she is working to support people with disabilities in the fight for equal rights
Part of the Union
The European Union has grown in size and now encompasses some 65 million disabled people living in almost 30 different countries. Aurélien Daydé of the European Disability Forum looks at developments in European campaigning
Obama's ups and downs
One year into his presidency, the jury’s still out on Barack Obama, says Oregon-based journalist Dan Lawton, though hopes remain high for a better deal for disabled Americans
Mixed fortunes of war
Recently given an international human rights award for her work on the rights of disabled people, Rima Canawati is Programme Director of the Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation. She tells Disability Now how the Arab/Israeli conflict affects and shapes the lives of disabled people in the Palestinian Territories
Bhopal - a disastrous legacy
On the night of 2 December 1984, some 3,000 sleeping residents were to die in the central Indian city of Bhopal in what was the worst industrial accident in the world ever. In time that staggering figure was to rise to an horrific 30,000 dead. Rajwinder Sahota looks back over the 25 years and counts the still rising cost of the disaster
Zambian positive attitudes
While being deaf and HIV-positive can be a frustrating and isolating experience, Susan Mshoka believes that’s not to say you can’t live a positive life
Korea's invisible people
Disabled student Hyeon-bok reflects on his own life as a disabled person in South Korea and on the low visibility of disabled people in the wider community
Fighting for our lives - Canada's chill wind of euthanasia
While disabled people across Canada are campaigning for better access, more support and greater inclusion, their lawmakers appear to be more concerned with making it easier for disabled people to choose death. Activists from Canadians with Disabilities here set out their case
West African ascent
Nigerian activist Cosmas Okoli tells how he’s encouraging disabled people to start fighting the attitudes to impairment, electoral fraud and inaccessibility that have delayed the development of equal rights
Eymar's Nicaraguan world
The story of Eynar Alexander Mendoza Vásquez’s life as a disabled person in Nicaragua has echoes all over the world and yet remains essentially his own
From Russia with rights
Susanna Isajanyan, director of a new Armenian NGO, tells how her experience of life in Russia inspired her campaign for equal rights and better access for disabled people throughout the Caucasus
Home and Away
When Aussie journalist Lee Kumatat was pondering whether to leave her native Sydney, she didn’t question the truth about the different attitudes she was told she might encounter
Our man in Bucharest
Ambassadors typically conceal themselves and their views behind the diplomatic mask. But HM Ambassador to Romania, Robin Barnett, decided to challenge some of the views in his host country by using his status both as a diplomat and a disabled person
Prague spring II - The revoution's still velvet
If you’re disabled in Eastern Europe, move to Prague, says Radek Musílek. The city has made huge advances since the end of Communism
A Swedish model
Swedish journalist Finn Helmann looks back on the tensions and arguments which led to the emergence of independent living in his country over the past 25 years and the questions it raises for today
Living under Moscow rules
Russia’s more than 14 million people with disabilities experience inadequate and inferior education, community isolation, and low self-esteem says Natalya Prisetskaya with Denise Roza
Baghdad nightmares
Salam Talib had to flee Iraq after an attempt on his life. But, he says, he was determined not to give up on his fellow disabled Iraqis
Great expectations
The election of Barack Obama as America’s next president has unleashed a wave of optimism. In the hours after his election, disabled activist Alan Holdsworth wrote of his hopes that President Obama could transform the lives of disabled Americans
Beijing: the Paralympic legacy
China has won praise for the way it hosted the Olympics and Paralympics. Now, four disabled people who attended the Paralympics tell us whether they truly herald a new era for disability rights in China
New laws will make history
Disabled Afghans’ human rights have been ignored for three decades, but there are signs of hope, says Sami ul Haq Sami
Olympic feast could be sweet or sour
Hosting the Olympics and Paralympics has prompted China to take real steps towards improving the lives of disabled people, but it still has a long way to go in improving its attitude to equality, says Shi Guangyu
New Nepal builds new hope
For centuries, Nepal has ignored disabled people. Activist Shudarson Subedi hopes rights can be built in from the ground up in the world’s newest democracy
India's long road to equality
There are at least 70 million disabled people in India, many living in poverty. But Javed Abidi says the country is making great strides towards equality
Pakistan's ray of hope
As a child, disabled campaigner Ghulam Nabi Nizamani had to crawl over broken glass to get around. He’s now trying to persuade the government in Pakistan to set up a disability ministry to address such basic needs as wheelchair provision
ADAPT's long climb towards equality
On 1 May, the US campaigning organisation ADAPT celebrates its 25th birthday. Activist and singer-songwriter Alan Holdsworth, aka Johnny Crescendo, founder of the UK’s Disabled People’s Direct Action Network and an ADAPT member since 1993, describes ADAPT’s huge influence on the rights movement
A ticket to write
Journalist Linn Martinussen has had to fight the system in Norway to establish a career in journalism
On a roll to the Oval Office
The presidential race isn’t just Republicans vs Democrats. lndependent candidate Frank Moore wants to become the first disabled president since Roosevelt
No tickets to work
The United States has a reputation for leading the rest of the world when it comes to disability rights, but the reality is somewhat different, says Robin Wenz
Care Kenyan-style
Despite widespread poverty, Kenyan society manages to find ways to support disabled people to live independently, says Juliet Barnes
China’s rocky road to rights
83 million disabled people may appear to have rights, but Stephen Hallett says repression lurks just beneath the surface.