CAIRE, LLC

04/14/2026

It was such an honor to be asked to participate in Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities book reading initiative for Developmental Disability Awareness month

Thank you for the lovely opportunity, Nabil Shaheen and crew!

03/25/2026

We discuss this a lot in training.

There are many studies that have proven that simulations do more harm than good.

In one study, they polled participants prior to the simulation training and then gave them the same survey after taking the training.

100% of the participants rated people with disabilities as *less* competent after they participated the training. Every single participant.

These trainings have been proven to foster feelings of fear and perceiving people with disabilities as victims to be pitied.

Disability simulation trainings were one of the driving factors in the creation of our training video- Disability Download: The Human Perspective.
Visit our website https://caireconsulting.com to learn more!

We get asked to do disability simulations fairly often, and always refuse. Disability simulations are where a non-disabled person uses a wheelchair, blindfold, ear coverings, or other device to pretend to be disabled for a day. The intent is to build empathy, but it does far more harm than good.

Instead we design field experiences and feedback sessions that bring people with a variety of disabilities together with decision makers. This is far more meaningful because:

- it centers disabled people and their lived experience
- it doesn't reduce the experience of disability to adaptive equipment
- it provides a fuller experience of not only the barriers, but the ways disabled people use and move through a space
- it builds leadership, connection, and value
- it gives opportunity for conversation and feedback
- it builds empathy based on actual experiences

Disability is a culture and a way of experiencing the world. You can never understand that by pretending to be disabled for a day.

Get in touch if your park of organization is interested in creating a Disabled-led experience together!

ID: text reads why we don't do disability simulations. Photo of a group of disabled folks on a paved trail. One person using a self-propelled wheelchair, two walking with a cane, one walking unassisted.

03/17/2026

Many airports will soon be required to provide changing tables for adults with disabilities. Now federal officials are looking for input on how to go about implementing the new mandate.

03/14/2026

I had the amazing opportunity to host a webinar with Jennifer Keelan during the pandemic.

I then went on to create a program called DREAM (disability representation equity and access in the media) while I was at The Ability Center. Jennifer’s book, All The Way To The Top, was one of 13 books to meet our criteria for children’s books representing disability in a way that met best practices.

Highly recommend it!

https://www.facebook.com/share/1CSo7oHhH5/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Today's A Mighty Girl Community Pick is in honor of the 36th anniversary of the Capitol Crawl: "All The Way To The Top: How One Girl's Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything" by Annette Bay Pimentel. Jennifer Keelan was just an ordinary girl who happened to use a wheelchair. But even as an 8-year-old, she knew her life would be a lot easier if people would think about what people with disabilities needed -- like cuts in a curb, lifts and elevators, and ramps so kids could easily go to school.

So Jennifer joined adult activists in the disability rights movement, and in 1990, as Congress debated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) -- a law that would make public spaces accessible -- she got out of her wheelchair at the bottom of the steps to the Capitol Building and climbed -- all the way to the top. Her part in the famous Capitol Crawl helped bring nationwide attention to the activists' fight -- leading Congress to pass world's first comprehensive civil rights law protecting the rights people with disabilities! This inspiring picture book shows young readers that anyone, no matter their age, can make an impact. Highly recommended for ages 5 to 9.

"All The Way To The Top" is available at https://www.amightygirl.com/all-the-way-to-the-top

For more books for children and teens starring Mighty Girls with disabilities of all varieties, visit our blog post "Many Ways To Be Mighty: 35 Books Starring Mighty Girls with Disabilities" at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=12992

To inspire children and teens with the true stories of courageous girls and women who changed the world, visit our blog post, "Dissent Is Patriotic: 50 Books About Women Who Fought for Change," at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=14364

For one of our favorite shirts celebrating the power of girls and women, check out the "Though She Be But Little She Is Fierce" t-shirt -- available in a variety of styles and colors for all ages at https://www.amightygirl.com/fierce-t-shirt

03/10/2026

We were on the road to Columbus today for a panel discussion with Ohio Association of County Boards of DD about CAIRE, LLC’s video, Disability Download

Thankful for the incredible advocates (Chloe, Sara, and Vera) who joined me in the discussion!

[pictured: a selfie of me, Sara and Chloe against a beige printed wall]

03/04/2026

March is Women’s History Month.

Disabled women have shaped history, advanced civil rights, challenged artistic norms and transformed how we understand disability.

From Judy Heumann’s leadership in the disability rights movement to Harriet Tubman’s abolitionist legacy, from Frida Kahlo’s groundbreaking art to Alice Wong’s impact on disability storytelling and advocacy, their contributions continue to influence generations.

Representation matters. History includes disabled women. Who else would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments.

Image description: Graphic titled “Disabled Women Who Shaped History” with NDI logo in the top right corner. The slide features four women with brief biographies and photos: Judy Heumann (1947–2023), disability rights activist and wheelchair user who helped lead the 504 Sit-in and advance the Americans with Disabilities Act; Harriet Tubman (c. 1822–1913), abolitionist and political activist who sustained a traumatic brain injury and likely lived with epilepsy; Frida Kahlo (1907–1954), Mexican painter who lived with chronic pain and mobility impairments; and Alice Wong (1974–2025), disability rights activist with spinal muscular atrophy and founder of the Disability Visibility Project. Portrait images of each woman appear below their biographies.

02/18/2026

🌟 We’re honored to feature Dawn Bentley, Founder & CEO of CAIRE, LLC — an educator, advocate, and community leader dedicated to fostering accessibility, inclusion, and equity in organizations and across our community. With 20+ years of experience and a passion for collaborative change, she champions spaces where all people belong.

💛 Dawn’s commitment to building inclusive, empowered communities aligns beautifully with the heart of KC4K and the youth we serve. We can’t wait for our guests to experience her insight and leadership at this meaningful celebration.

👉 Learn more & get your tickets at the kc4k.us!

02/16/2026

A one-of-a-kind museum chronicling disability history is reopening after a five-year hiatus in a new, bigger space that's hundreds of miles away from its previous home.

02/13/2026

The Wood Lane - Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities is doing amazing things! Their Occupational Therapists, including the incredible Sarah Rae, are paving the way for access in Wood County

We are excited to play a small role in this by providing our film, Disability Download: The Human Experience, as a part of the process to educate the community!

The Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities (WCBDD) has announced the launch of its Community Accessibility and Assistive Technology Program, a new initiative designed to expand opportunities and remove barriers for people with disabilities throughout Wood County.

02/04/2026

We had a wonderful day yesterday at Sunshine Communities for Rotary Club of Toledo’s Service Above Self Day

12/19/2025

Blue Origin will make history when it sends the first person who uses a wheelchair past the Kármán line, an internationally recognized boundary of space that's 62 miles above Earth, on its next mission.

Read more: https://abcnews.visitlink.me/JMRBO1

12/03/2025

Today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which serves as a reminder of how important accessible transportation is for our community.

Our TARTA Move service provides door-to-door service for riders whose disabilities make it difficult to use TARTA’s fixed-route buses. Our goal is to make sure every passenger can travel safely, comfortably, and independently.

If you or someone you know may qualify for TARTA Move, you can apply at https://tarta.com/ride-tarta/tarta-move/ or call 419-382-9901 to learn more.

We're proud of our amazing TARTA Move team, which connects people to healthcare, employment, education and community every day.