The Conversation

Helping your student with disabilities prepare for the future

Written by Joseph Madaus, Professor of Education, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, University of Connecticut

Planning is important for any teen on their way to college – but for those with disabilities, it's absolutely imperative.NCVO London, CC BY-SA

Summer is a busy time for high school juniors. They’re getting ready to say goodbye to school as they know it and they’re researching colleges, visiting campuses and trying to figure out...

Glioblastoma, a formidable foe, faces a 'reservoir of resilience' in McCain

Written by Duane Mitchell, Professor of Neurosurgery, University of Florida

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) returned to the Capitol July 25 to cast what was a tie-breaking vote to proceed to debate a bill to repeal Obamacare.AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

As a naval aviator, John McCain was shot down during the Vietnam War and spent five and a half years as a prisoner of war. He received inadequate medical care for injuries that nearly...

A philosopher argues why no one has the right to refuse services to LGBT people

Written by Mark R Reiff, Affiliated Researcher in Legal and Political Philosophy, University of California, Davis

Ever since the Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that gay people have the right to marry, those upset by this ruling have shifted their strategy from denying the right to limiting its enforcement.

Even if gay people have a right to marry, they argue, people also have the liberty to practice their religion as they wish. Accordingly, they...

The hidden extra costs of living with a disability

Written by Sophie Mitra, Associate Professor of Economics, Fordham University

Costs of transportation and accessibility are just two factors that increase cost of living for persons with disabilities. Corepics VOF/shutterstock.com

Disability is often incorrectly assumed to be rare. However, global estimates suggest than one in seven adults has some form of disability.

The term “disability” covers a number of...

How public feuds on social media and reality TV play out in court

Written by Shontavia Johnson, Professor of Intellectual Property Law, Drake University

How incriminating is your Instagram feed?Jirapong Manustrong/Shutterstock.com

Free expression on TV and social media generates big ratings and even bigger online followings. Unscripted reality stars claim to bring their authentic expressions to the public through these channels. Beyond influencing the court of public opinion, though, can reality...

Senate GOP opens health care debate. Now what?

Written by Jeffrey Lazarus, Associate Professor of Political Science, Georgia State University

On July 25, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell narrowly managed to keep a Republican effort to reform health care alive. We asked our experts to consider the importance of this procedural vote and what happens next.

Jeffrey Lazarus, Georgia State University

Which bill will it be?

Senate Republicans have voted to start debate on a health care...

Learning disabilities do not define us

Written by James Gentry, Associate Professor, Tarleton State University

Though challenges like dyslexia can make learning difficult, these disabilities shouldn't define who you are – or what you can do.Tim Kwee, CC BY-NC

I am an educator of educators. I teach others how to be the best teachers. But, I’m also different.

I have learning challenges.

As we celebrate the anniversary of the Americans with...

How to succeed in college with a disability

Written by Stephen Byrd, Associate Professor of Education, Elon University

Whether you have a physical disability, mental illness or learning challenge, there are strategies to help you earn your degree.Stocksnap

If you’re entering college as a student with a disability, the first thing you should know is that you’re not alone. In a study of approximately 11,000 young adults with disabilities, nearly 20...

Hong Kong's democratic struggle and the rise of Chinese authoritarianism

Written by Kelly Chernin, Lecturer in International Communications, University of Florida

Four pro-democracy Hong Kong lawmakers of the Legislative Council have been ousted.AP Photo/Kin Cheun

In July, a Hong Kong court purged four pro-democracy politicians from its Legislative Council.

This move comes after two other Hong Kong lawmakers were expelled from the Legislative Council earlier this year and at the same time as the recent death...

Do challenges make school seem impossible or worthwhile?

Written by Daphna Oyserman, Professor of Psychology and Education, University of Southern California – Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

When school gets tough, do you think it's worthwhile? Or time to give up?Pavlin Plamenov Petkov/Shutterstock.com

Did you get where you intended to in life? Are you as healthy, wealthy and wise as you want to be? If not, perhaps the problem is a lack of motivation.

Some studies suggest that motivation – rather than ability or skill – is...