On May 16, the Department of Energy suggested removing accessibility requirements for over 17,000 federally funded buildings that serve millions of Americans. They claimed this change was “non-operational” and implemented it as a direct final rule, essentially skipping the usual process of public notice and comment.
This marks the first significant rollback of federal civil rights protections concerning disabilities in U.S. history, which is quite unprecedented. The department is employing shortcuts that are typically reserved for minor adjustments, which could undermine taxpayer rights in buildings they fund.
It’s noteworthy that, apart from advocacy publications for individuals with disabilities, this issue has drawn almost no national media attention.
The media often exhibits a strange pattern when it comes to covering the rights of disabled individuals. For instance, in 2024, over 40 media outlets, including at least six major U.S. publications, extensively reported on a New York woman who received a $165,000 settlement related to her emotional support parrots.
Recently, the New York Times gave significant coverage to a California police officer accused of faking a disability, while ignoring alarming reports from Senator Bernie Sanders’ office. Those reports suggested that around 67,000 Americans might die in 2025 while waiting for disability benefits, largely due to proposed cuts in Social Security staffing.
Sadly, the media often fails to portray people with disabilities, especially women and those with invisible illnesses, as individuals deserving of rights. Instead, we are frequently shown as either inspiring figures or deceptive villains. Despite serious legal protections being eroded, stories about quirky emotional support animals attract more attention than the pressing issues at hand.
I’ve seen this pattern firsthand. I have myalgia encephalomyelitis, a complicated neuroimmune disorder similar to long COVID. When my request for accommodations—backed by documentation from leading medical professionals—was dismissed by a Brooklyn apartment committee, I felt compelled to file a complaint with the relevant government agency. Thankfully, I had legal insurance, but it resulted in a lengthy court struggle where I ultimately lost my home and savings as I tried to enforce rights that should be safeguarded by law.
My attorney pitched my story to the New York Post, with the hope that it would raise awareness about my condition. Unfortunately, the portrayal diminished my very real struggles to simply “having allergies to laundry detergent.”
A publication called Habitat Magazine trivialized my situation, reducing it to a “spat” and disregarding my legitimate medical needs. Now, my home equity is gone, yet I’m still burdened with 24 years of mortgage payments on a home that I no longer own. If no one upholds my rights to necessary accommodations, I’m left feeling trapped, unsure of where to turn.
The legal system hasn’t been accommodating either. At one point, a judge revoked a previously granted accommodation requiring me to attend my trial, and another dismissed my claims without even examining the evidence.
This bias is systemic. The category of “disability” is unique in that individuals must prove their status to file discrimination complaints. To demonstrate that my rights have been violated, I need to show that my building failed to provide equal access, which involves uploading my medical records to a public database—quite an intrusive requirement.
Media portrayals that reinforce negative stereotypes can have dangerous implications and perpetuate discrimination. The public often reacts with hostility, viewing those who seek accommodations as unworthy. Many individuals, including myself, wrestle with high rates of suicidal thoughts, driven more by feelings of distrust and dismissal than by depression.
NPR recently covered the story of Taylor Kurt, who lost her medical school acceptance due to her cerebral palsy affecting her ability to perform CPR. The coverage was sympathetic but framed Taylor as a role model for aspiring young girls with disabilities. While inspiring, this narrative doesn’t represent everyone with a disability.
Not all individuals with disabilities fit the mold of an inspirational figure. Many of us are simply trying to navigate life like everyone else. If the only way to secure rights is to act as a palatable representative, then true equality doesn’t exist. If the media continues to remain complicit during this significant rollback of human rights, it shifts from being a hypothetical issue to a chilling reality.
