Jessica Leah
@jessical-2022.bsky.social
Disability Advocate | Wheaton College '19 | Sociology MA American University ‘22 | PhD Candidate in Social Policy at the Heller School at Brandeis University
I was literally just discussing this today w/a friend, as somebody who is in the social sciences (social policy to be exact), it feels like we are getting the short end of the stick. On so many fronts, I am seeing colleges and ppl, “be like let’s do away with the social sciences!” 1/2
The James G. Martin Center has released model legislation to put non-STEM faculty under the thumb of university boards and administrators. Look for red states to take this up soon.
jamesgmartin.center/2025/12/amer...
jamesgmartin.center/2025/12/amer...
American Higher Education Restoration Act — The James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal
This suite of reforms prioritizes excellence in teaching and ideological diversity and intellectual seriousness in faculty hiring.
jamesgmartin.center
December 10, 2025 at 4:24 AM
I was literally just discussing this today w/a friend, as somebody who is in the social sciences (social policy to be exact), it feels like we are getting the short end of the stick. On so many fronts, I am seeing colleges and ppl, “be like let’s do away with the social sciences!” 1/2
I read this as like, “Accessibility is wasteful!” 🤷🏼♀️ #disability
At State Dept., a Typeface Falls Victim in the War Against Woke
www.nytimes.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:19 AM
I read this as like, “Accessibility is wasteful!” 🤷🏼♀️ #disability
If anything in some instances the HHS secretary does NOT even know anything about accessibility. At one of my previous institutions, the president was the former HHS secretary and had no idea that there were NO such thing as registration papers or certificates of service animals.
Disability education should not be put into HHS because it's not a health issue, it's an education issue. The idea that disability = health is dehumanizing and, frankly, simply wrong.
December 3, 2025 at 9:29 PM
If anything in some instances the HHS secretary does NOT even know anything about accessibility. At one of my previous institutions, the president was the former HHS secretary and had no idea that there were NO such thing as registration papers or certificates of service animals.
Reposted by Jessica Leah
If you ever wondered what GOP gerrymandering looks like in red states with blue cities, I present:
December 2, 2025 at 8:49 PM
If you ever wondered what GOP gerrymandering looks like in red states with blue cities, I present:
Reposted by Jessica Leah
If you are reading that article that thinks too many students get accommodations & feeling like maybe it has a point, you should instead read @dorfmandoron.bsky.social's "Fear of the Disability Con" (www.jstor.org/stable/45284...).
Fear of the Disability Con: Perceptions of Fraud and Special Rights Discourse on JSTOR
Doron Dorfman, Fear of the Disability Con: Perceptions of Fraud and Special Rights Discourse, Law & Society Review, Vol. 53, No. 4 (DECEMBER 2019), pp. 1051-1091
www.jstor.org
December 3, 2025 at 1:59 AM
If you are reading that article that thinks too many students get accommodations & feeling like maybe it has a point, you should instead read @dorfmandoron.bsky.social's "Fear of the Disability Con" (www.jstor.org/stable/45284...).
As somebody who was born and raised in the suburban Atlanta area, all I can say is that this is amazing! The #democraticparty needs to take note of this and that the Deep South is an area to be watched.
NEWS: Democrat Mary Robichaux has defeated Republican incumbent Kurt Wilson in a runoff election to become the next Mayor of Roswell, Georgia. A major upset and another sign of shifting suburban politics in the South.
December 3, 2025 at 5:17 AM
As somebody who was born and raised in the suburban Atlanta area, all I can say is that this is amazing! The #democraticparty needs to take note of this and that the Deep South is an area to be watched.
Reposted by Jessica Leah
Even by the standards of The Atlantic, this is an extraordinarily weak evidence base for an article.
Data from a tiny handful of schools that isn't measuring the variable at issue and a few thin, secondhand anecdotes.
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
Data from a tiny handful of schools that isn't measuring the variable at issue and a few thin, secondhand anecdotes.
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
December 2, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Even by the standards of The Atlantic, this is an extraordinarily weak evidence base for an article.
Data from a tiny handful of schools that isn't measuring the variable at issue and a few thin, secondhand anecdotes.
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
Data from a tiny handful of schools that isn't measuring the variable at issue and a few thin, secondhand anecdotes.
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
This recent article, published in @theatlantic.com , offers a gross one-sided misrepresentation of students w/#disabilities requesting accommodations. The author argues that many students are “faking” their disabilities to receive extended-time testing, especially at elite institutions. 1/6
Accommodation Nation
America’s colleges have an extra-time-on-tests problem.
www.theatlantic.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:11 PM
This recent article, published in @theatlantic.com , offers a gross one-sided misrepresentation of students w/#disabilities requesting accommodations. The author argues that many students are “faking” their disabilities to receive extended-time testing, especially at elite institutions. 1/6
Reposted by Jessica Leah
Here we are
CDC has overhauled its website to assert that “the claim ‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim”
November 20, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Here we are
Silly question to ask left hand folks… does anyone have the recommendations for the best pens for left hand people? I love my fancy pens, but they always give me issues when writing. So instead, I am forced to use a pencil and get the “wonderful” smudge on my hand. #lefties #lefthandproblems
November 19, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Silly question to ask left hand folks… does anyone have the recommendations for the best pens for left hand people? I love my fancy pens, but they always give me issues when writing. So instead, I am forced to use a pencil and get the “wonderful” smudge on my hand. #lefties #lefthandproblems
We are still seeking nominations for the following positions in our section. Please reach out to our nominations chair, @catherinetan.bsky.social! Serving in our section's committee is a great opportunity to make connections!
Hi all,
We are still looking for people in the following positions:
1) Chairperson elect
2) Secretary/Treasurer elect
3) Program Committee Chair
4) Publicity Committee Chair
5) Membership/Mentorship Committee Chair
If you are interested, please reach out to @catherinetan.bsky.social!
We are still looking for people in the following positions:
1) Chairperson elect
2) Secretary/Treasurer elect
3) Program Committee Chair
4) Publicity Committee Chair
5) Membership/Mentorship Committee Chair
If you are interested, please reach out to @catherinetan.bsky.social!
Here are the positions:
1. Chairperson elect (1 year, three years total)
2. Secretary/Treasurer-Elect (3 years)
3. Program Committee Chair (2 years)
4. Publicity Committee Chair (2 years)
5. Membership/Mentorship Committee Chair (2 years)
6. Graduate Student Council Member at large (2 years 2/4
1. Chairperson elect (1 year, three years total)
2. Secretary/Treasurer-Elect (3 years)
3. Program Committee Chair (2 years)
4. Publicity Committee Chair (2 years)
5. Membership/Mentorship Committee Chair (2 years)
6. Graduate Student Council Member at large (2 years 2/4
November 14, 2025 at 12:17 AM
We are still seeking nominations for the following positions in our section. Please reach out to our nominations chair, @catherinetan.bsky.social! Serving in our section's committee is a great opportunity to make connections!
Also, the student rep gets to run the section’s Bluesky account!
Here are the positions:
1. Chairperson elect (1 year, three years total)
2. Secretary/Treasurer-Elect (3 years)
3. Program Committee Chair (2 years)
4. Publicity Committee Chair (2 years)
5. Membership/Mentorship Committee Chair (2 years)
6. Graduate Student Council Member at large (2 years 2/4
1. Chairperson elect (1 year, three years total)
2. Secretary/Treasurer-Elect (3 years)
3. Program Committee Chair (2 years)
4. Publicity Committee Chair (2 years)
5. Membership/Mentorship Committee Chair (2 years)
6. Graduate Student Council Member at large (2 years 2/4
October 21, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Also, the student rep gets to run the section’s Bluesky account!
My time as a student rep for the @asadisability.bsky.social will be coming to a close in 2026 after serving almost three years. I had a great time getting to know people in the section. If anyone is interested in the position or has question, feel free to dm me.
ASA Elections are coming up soon! We are seeking nominations for the following positions within our section. Terms would start in 2026! 1/4
October 21, 2025 at 8:27 PM
My time as a student rep for the @asadisability.bsky.social will be coming to a close in 2026 after serving almost three years. I had a great time getting to know people in the section. If anyone is interested in the position or has question, feel free to dm me.
Earlier today, after spending weeks requesting a refund from Uber over an incident where I was denied a ride due to my service dog, Uber finally agreed to not only refund the cancelled ride and the Uber Pet ride I took afterwards as a result, but also to give me credit. 1/5
October 2, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Earlier today, after spending weeks requesting a refund from Uber over an incident where I was denied a ride due to my service dog, Uber finally agreed to not only refund the cancelled ride and the Uber Pet ride I took afterwards as a result, but also to give me credit. 1/5
About seven months ago, I watched in horror as the Trump admin rapidly dismantle USAID. I remember being devastated over my sister losing her job, but also furious that Congress did not almost nothing. 1/3
September 3, 2025 at 10:08 PM
About seven months ago, I watched in horror as the Trump admin rapidly dismantle USAID. I remember being devastated over my sister losing her job, but also furious that Congress did not almost nothing. 1/3
Please repost and share. People w/disabilties should not have to constantly worry about getting denied a ride from Uber or Lyft due to their #serviceanimal. #disability #discrimination
This is a long shot... Last week, for the umpteenth time, I was denied a ride by an Uber driver due to my service dog, even though I brought a towel for his fur. I have been denied on so many occasions. This most recent incident felt like the final straw, as it made me super late for a class. 1/5
August 20, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Please repost and share. People w/disabilties should not have to constantly worry about getting denied a ride from Uber or Lyft due to their #serviceanimal. #disability #discrimination
This is a long shot... Last week, for the umpteenth time, I was denied a ride by an Uber driver due to my service dog, even though I brought a towel for his fur. I have been denied on so many occasions. This most recent incident felt like the final straw, as it made me super late for a class. 1/5
August 20, 2025 at 7:29 PM
This is a long shot... Last week, for the umpteenth time, I was denied a ride by an Uber driver due to my service dog, even though I brought a towel for his fur. I have been denied on so many occasions. This most recent incident felt like the final straw, as it made me super late for a class. 1/5
Reposted by Jessica Leah
Democracy is the best political system, not because it is perfect, but because it puts an expiration date on a regime. No government can stay popular, effective & altruistic for long. It's healthy for a new administration to come in and so on...
August 17, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Democracy is the best political system, not because it is perfect, but because it puts an expiration date on a regime. No government can stay popular, effective & altruistic for long. It's healthy for a new administration to come in and so on...
This might seem like a silly question, but I want to ensure I am checking all the boxes. I am designing a survey for students w/disabilties. One of my questions asks what type of disability you have. 1/2
August 11, 2025 at 8:56 PM
This might seem like a silly question, but I want to ensure I am checking all the boxes. I am designing a survey for students w/disabilties. One of my questions asks what type of disability you have. 1/2
@asanews.bsky.social do better in supporting your scholars w/disabilities!
@asanews.bsky.social @asadisability.bsky.social missed the deadline to request a remote presentation by 2 days and now I can’t present my own research that I have been working on for two years. This is incredibly ableist for an organization that claims to promote "access for all”. Do BETTER ASA!
July 21, 2025 at 3:14 PM
@asanews.bsky.social do better in supporting your scholars w/disabilities!
Reposted by Jessica Leah
I think a lot of people don’t realize how hard it is to get approval to work on animals in the first place. You have to have a clear & well-researched justification for every experiment. You have to fully explain why there is no other way to address the question without animals 1/
I’m all for more NAMS, but it has its limits. There are no LLMs or organs-on-a-chip that can model viral pathogenesis, vaccine efficacy, or candidate drugs. We only use animals when there is no other choice.
This will only stop more lifesaving research.
www.drugdiscoverytrends.com/nih-announce...
This will only stop more lifesaving research.
www.drugdiscoverytrends.com/nih-announce...
NIH announces end to funding for animal-only studies - Drug Discovery and Development
Drug Discovery and Development covers strategies and technologies related to pharmaceutical research and development and drug formulation.
www.drugdiscoverytrends.com
July 8, 2025 at 1:55 PM
I think a lot of people don’t realize how hard it is to get approval to work on animals in the first place. You have to have a clear & well-researched justification for every experiment. You have to fully explain why there is no other way to address the question without animals 1/
The #ushersyndrome community is one of the most powerful rare disease communities bc it is an example of what can be accomplished when researchers, patients, and their families work together. Unfortunately, so much of the work towards a cure is being threatened by the Trump admin. 1/2
June 24, 2025 at 6:53 PM
The #ushersyndrome community is one of the most powerful rare disease communities bc it is an example of what can be accomplished when researchers, patients, and their families work together. Unfortunately, so much of the work towards a cure is being threatened by the Trump admin. 1/2
I was the person interviewed for this story, and Trump’s cuts on Harvard are acting harming people like myself in real time. Every single day I live in fear that my version will not be saved.
Jessica Chaikof says research into gene therapies could someday save her eyesight. But she worries cuts to federal research funding could mean that therapy won't be ready in time.
She hoped key research could help save her eyesight. Then the Trump funding cuts came
Jessica Chaikof says research into gene therapies could someday save her eyesight. But she worries cuts to federal research funding could mean that therapy won't be ready in time.
n.pr
June 24, 2025 at 1:55 PM
I was the person interviewed for this story, and Trump’s cuts on Harvard are acting harming people like myself in real time. Every single day I live in fear that my version will not be saved.