As many parts of the country are being blanketed with snow, the importance of keeping sidewalks and curb cuts clear becomes paramount.

Discrimination in a fact of life for many groups of people, but to be honest, I never really gave much thought to discrimination growing up. It wasn’t until I became disabled when I was 14-years-old when I finally understood what discrimination meant. It meant not only being misunderstood, but being rudely mistreated. No one truly understands what discrimination is until they’re on the receiving end of things.

It’s not every day you see someone with a disability in the center of an ad campaign. bBut every once in awhile, a great commercial featuring a person with a disability comes along, and the good news is that there are several impressive examples.

The makeup company Sephora hit some turbulence this week. Among their “Painted Love” lipstick shades, designed by legendary tattoo artist and reality TV star Kat Von D, was a fairly benign “peach beige” shade. But the name of the shade was anything but benign – celebutard, an oh-so-clever mashup of “celebrity” and “retard”.

As an Activist with a physical disability who is also an herbalist named Jane Hash (my real name), I have learned to accept controversy as a part of life, to choose the causes I fight for wisely and laugh at people’s jokes even if they aren’t very funny.

Since starting the journey of blogging about disability, I’ve received so many poignant and engaging comments on my posts. I’ve been supported and encouraged, as well as challenged to think in new ways.

The Americans with Disabilities Act may have been passed over 23 years ago, but apparently that still isn’t enough time for society to get their act together when it comes to following all aspects of the law. ADA violations happen every day all over the country with many businesses feeling the ultimate sting of not complying – being shut down.

Everyone loves stories about the underdog. I mean, what’s not to love? Every day there are examples of people who persevere, who adapt to life in incredible ways and who approach life with positivity, focus and a passion to go out and accomplish their dreams.

As a young girl with severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, Deserae Constantineau often relied on her mother to ensure her healthcare needs were met and that she received necessary accommodations at school.

A smart business strives to appeal to as many customers as possible and customers with disabilities love to shop and spend money as much as the next guy. There are over 48.9 million living with a disability in the U.S.