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The Disability DIGEST
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February 2026
The Everyday Work of Being Kind
I’ve been thinking a lot about kindness and generosity lately. We all know those people who always show up and help. They don’t wait to be asked, and they’re not doing it for credit. They do it because they can. My father-in-law is one of those people. He’s the kind of guy who’ll spend a Saturday painting a church he doesn’t go to simply because it needs doing. For years, he and my mother-in-law volunteered at the local Y. Eventually, they were honored with a playground named after them in recognition of all the things they had done to help. That kind of generosity has always stuck with me. Oftentimes, it’s not the big, dramatic stuff that earns people’s respect. It’s the smaller, constant efforts to make life easier for the people around you that do. It’s something I try to teach my kids. When the coach says, “Can everyone help clean up the field?” I don’t want my son to grab one ball and call it good. I want him to look around and figure out what still needs to be done. However, it’s not something you can simply tell kids. You have to model it. If I want them to be helpful, they have to see me helping. If I want them to treat people with kindness, it has to start with how I treat them and everyone else. We don’t always get it right. I’ve definitely had my moments. But I’ve learned that yelling doesn’t teach a better lesson. If anything, it teaches them it’s okay to scream when they’re frustrated. That’s not the message I want to send. The hard part is that kindness isn’t always easy. Sometimes, it feels natural, and at other times, you have to force yourself to do it until it becomes a habit. I look at my father-in-law and think, “Man, I wish I had more of that in me.” But you don’t have to be born with it. You just have to keep showing up. Over time, that effort makes a difference for other people and for who you become in the process. And sometimes it matters more than you realize. How Small Gestures Stack Up
I’ve had cases where a doctor who’s usually all business goes out of their way to help a client just because they like them. The same thing has happened with defense attorneys and mediators. They don’t owe us any favors, but if they respect you and like your client, they tend to push a little harder for a fair result. That doesn’t mean you have to be a pushover. You still stand your ground. You just do it without making everyone in the room hate you. Kindness makes a difference in the small, day-to-day things, too. When I call the Social Security office, I’m often stuck on hold just like my clients. We’re dealing with the same frustrating system. But I’ve learned that if I meet their attitude with more attitude, I don’t do anyone any favors. I might still be stuck waiting, but at least they won’t hang up on me. Of course, some days it takes a conscious effort, and some people are easier to be kind to than others, but it adds up. Even if it’s not always visible, people notice when you try. That’s something I’m still working on and still trying to pass along in my practice and at home. If I can be the kind of person who makes life easier instead of harder, and my kids or clients learn to do the same, I’ll take it as a win.
–Joel Thrift
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DIGITAL DECEPTION Secrets of the Internet’s Sneakiest Scams
The internet has become deeply intertwined with our lives, enabling us to reconnect with old friends, stay informed about the latest news, and explore new ideas. However, with the good comes the bad. Scammers have been developing new strategies to take our money, and if you’re not careful, you could become a victim. Here are three internet-enabled scams you should be aware of. Unfamiliar Emails We get emails every day, and most come from unfamiliar senders. These emails rarely contain relevant or beneficial information, but they often carry potential harm. Don’t click on links or attachments within these communications unless you expect
them. Scammers can even spoof friends’ or family members’ emails, so it’s always good to be cautious. Scam Calls Your phone number is public information, and scammers use that to their advantage. They often call seniors, claiming to be someone from their bank, cellphone provider, or another company with which they have an account. They ask for sensitive information shortly after the call begins. Never give it to them. The real organizations rarely call, and if they do, they will not ask for sensitive information. If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and contact the supposed organization directly to verify its authenticity.
Shared Networks When you enter a business, you may feel compelled to join its public Wi- Fi. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with this practice, you do not want to use public Wi-Fi to log into and view your bank account, medical information, or social media accounts. Scammers wait on public networks to intercept passwords. Shared networks are not as safe as they may appear.
The Cure for Burnout Isn’t Always a Vacation
We live in a hustle culture, where we’re encouraged to push ourselves to our limits: accomplish everything at work, get the kids ready for school and extracurricular activities, and take care of all of our other needs and responsibilities. These unending demands inevitably lead to burnout, which causes us to feel like we need a vacation. But wouldn’t it be nice if you enjoyed your life so much that you didn’t need to escape? Adjusting your habits, routine, and schedule can make this possible. It starts with your workday.
For many Americans, work is the greatest source of stress and burnout in their lives, but it doesn’t have to be. You can change that by adding practices that make your workday more enjoyable. Depending on what your workplace allows, you might try things like taking regular breaks, listening to music you enjoy, walking throughout the day, and putting work out of your mind when you leave for the day. When we get caught up in the chaos of everyday life, we often lose sight of what truly matters. Staying present in the moment and focusing on all the good things in life can help turn any sour experience into something sweet. Focus on all your blessings, from your home to your loved ones. Lastly, be sure to practice self-care and make time for the things you enjoy. Spend time with the people you love, participate in your favorite hobbies and activities, take a nature walk, and add elements to your home that inspire happiness. If you feel like it’s time for a vacation, you may need more than just a change of scenery!
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TAKE A BREAK
If you’ve ever lived through or seen the aftermath of a flood, you know how destructive they can be. Within moments, the rush of water can uproot and displace buildings, trees, and vehicles, making the situation incredibly dangerous for everyone in the area. Now, imagine if the flood consisted of a thicker, stickier substance than water. If you don’t have a strong imagination, don’t worry. This situation actually happened on Jan. 15, 1919. On that fateful morning, a massive steel holding tank filled with molasses stood on Commercial Street in Boston. The U.S. Industrial Alcohol Company built the tank during World War I, and many believed the construction was haphazardly rushed. It was common for those living and commuting on Commercial Street to hear the tank groan and creek. Around 12:40 p.m., the tank ruptured, releasing over 2 million gallons of molasses into the surrounding area. The molasses instantly swallowed up three young children who were by the fractured tank. One suffocated, another died after being struck by a railroad car, and the third suffered severe injuries from hitting a light post. Another local awoke to his house crumbling around him, causing him to scramble to his bed frame to stay afloat. Police officers, firefighters, and even sailors from the USS Nantucket responded to the event almost immediately. They freed some survivors, but it took days to uncover the extent of the damage. Twenty-one people lost their lives, while another 150 suffered injuries. The victims and their families sued United States Industrial Alcohol, which had to pay $628,000 in damages, only $8 million in today’s money. THE DAY BOSTON DROWNED IN MOLASSES A Sticky Situation
Dream Equality Festival Groundhog Hearts King Lincoln Muffin Pancake Rabbit Roses
Mouthwatering Mini Cheesecakes
• 12 oz package vanilla wafers • 16 oz cream cheese, softened • 3/4 cup white sugar • 2 large eggs Ingredients
• 1 tsp vanilla extract • 21 oz can cherry pie filling
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. In two 24-cup miniature muffin pans, line each space with a paper liner. 3. Using a food processor or resealable plastic bag, crush vanilla wafers into a fine crumb. 4. Press 1/2 teaspoon of crumbs into each paper liner. 5. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until light and fluffy. 6. Fill each miniature muffin liner with this mixture, almost to the top. 7. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until the cheesecakes are set. 8. Cool completely in the pan. 9. Top each mini cheesecake with about a teaspoon of cherry pie filling before serving. Enjoy!
Inspired by AllRecipes.com
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Kindness as a Daily Practice
1 2
Protect Yourself in the Digital Age
Design a Life You Don’t Need a Break From
Mouthwatering Mini Cheesecakes
3
A City Submerged in Sweetness
The Reason Behind Fashion’s Most Infuriating Design Flaw
4
WHERE ARE THE POCKETS?
A CLOTHING MYSTERY CENTURIES IN THE MAKING
Some design choices for clothing can leave you scratching your head, wondering why certain decisions were made. You’ve probably noticed that many pieces of women’s wear do not have pockets, and when they do, they’re considerably smaller than those in men’s clothing. Let’s dive deeper into how this came to be. Where are the pockets? To understand the dilemma with pockets in women’s clothing, one must go back to the late 1600s. At that time, women’s fashion consisted of long, bulky, flowing dresses. They had no built-in pockets, so women wore belts with attached pockets under their skirts that remained invisible to passersby.
period in the 18th century when large pockets were sewn directly into women’s clothing, but that trend didn’t last long. Eventually, someone (probably a man) determined that pockets ruined the female silhouette, and they effectively disappeared from women’s garments. To the dismay of many women nationwide, big pockets (or any pockets) have remained incredibly rare on women’s clothing. What about the tiny pocket?
Men’s and women’s jeans both commonly have a small pocket within one of the front pockets. While you may keep spare change in it or a golf tee when out on the course, you may have wondered what the initial purpose was. When Levi Strauss & Co. first designed their iconic denim pants in the 1870s, they intentionally added an extra pocket to accommodate pocket watches. Even as pocket watches faded into obscurity, the pocket remained.
As fashion evolved and purses became popular, the need for discreet storage waned, and dresses became smaller. There was a brief
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