The hidden extra costs of living with a disability

Article Title: The hidden extra costs of living with a disability
Article Author(s): Sophia Mitra, Daniel Month, Hoolda Kim, Michael Palmer, and Nora Grace 

In the article titled “The hidden extra costs of living with a disability,” the authors shed light on the often overlooked financial challenges faced by individuals with disabilities. While disability is more prevalent than commonly assumed, affecting one in seven adults globally, what’s less recognized is the extra financial burden it imposes. People with disabilities encounter higher medical expenses, necessitate assistive devices, and often require modified housing or increased transportation costs. These additional costs can amount to several thousand dollars annually, posing a significant economic strain on households. Leaders can advocate for policies that provide financial support and reasonable accommodations, ensuring that disability-related expenses do not hinder employees’ well-being and participation in the workforce. 

Reflection Prompts 

1. In “The hidden extra costs of living with a disability”, the authors mention many different sources of extra costs that people with disabilities must incur, simply to attempt to live. Reflect on your own experiences of incurring extra costs for something that may not be within your control, and how it may feel to encounter that daily. 
2. Reflecting on the Dr. Angelou Principle (and US²s final Core Principle) of once you know better, you must do better, how can you use this information to improve the workplace experiences for all people with disabilities?