Jessica Leah

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.

*Shoulf NOT have

Individuals with disabilities should not have to keep being burdened with this. #disability #serviceanimal #rideshare #disabilitydiscrimination 5/5

Suggestions
1) Reimbursing drivers for cleaning fees & seat protectors
2) Paying drivers a little extra for picking up someone with a service animal. (Service animal handlers are allowed to declare that they have a service dog before requesting a ride.
3) Paying their drivers a living wage. 4/5

It should have taken this long to get this refund. In the past, and in discussions with other rideshare services, I have provided suggestions on how to improve the experience for both drivers and service animal handlers. 3/5

While I am grateful to finally have something, I should not have had to jump so many hurdles to get this. This has involved me calling numerous individuals, including my state's AG office, my local representative, and making multiple phone calls to Uber to plead for a refund. 2/5

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

Our elected officials spectacularly failed to save USAID, and now we are watching the same thing happen to the CDC. Our elected officials need to stop treating this as business as usual. 3/3

The dismantling of USAID, a federal funded gov’t agency, was a test case by the Trump admin to determine how quickly they could tear up a critical gov’t agency and whether Congress would speak up. 2/3

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

I hope someone primaries him…

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

While I do not have that many followers, I would like to get in touch w/a reporter to report about this bc the more the public knows the better. Lastly, I would also like to find an attorney who can take this case on a pro bono basis. No service animal handler should be denied a ride. 5/5

After my most recent incident, I complained to Uber, and they have escalated my complaint. I tried to call them yesterday after not hearing anything for over a week. They said they had no additional news for me. I am exhausted. 4/5

Due to my disability, I am unable to drive. While there are services such as the Ride for people w/disabilities, it is not always reliable or convenient, thus, I am forced to rely on rideshare services. 3/5

I'm tired of being denied rides by Uber and Lyft bc of my service animal. I have gone above and beyond to try to prevent the dog fur from going everywhere. No matter what I do, I either get a bad passenger rating that I have to dispute. Or refused a ride altogether. 2/5

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

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...

The answer options that I have included are sensory, physical or mobility-related, intellectual or developmental disability, mental health condition, chronic illness or medical condition, or other. Are there any other options that I should be sure to include? 2/2

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!

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/

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.

As shown in this NPR article, people like me are being actively harmed in real time by Trump’s threats to Harvard and the NIH cuts. 2/2 #raredisease #USH1F #disability

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.

Since the US politics have decided to target DEI spaces, I’ve seen a huge drop of engagement in #DisabledInSTEM

Disabled, disability and accessibility are part of the list of banned words for grants too really really highlights that these identities are being specifically targeted to be silenced.

🔊 Listen Now: A woman fears her eyesight won't be saved in time due to research grant cuts All Things Considered on NPR One | 4:18

Several weeks ago, I had the opportunity to speak with Craig LeMoult from @npr.org and @wgbh.org about the impact that the Trump admin’s attacks on Harvard are having on #USH1F research. These cuts on NIH funding are hurting people like myself in realtime.

Unanimous Supreme Court makes it easier to sue schools in disability cases Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the unanimous opinion, with Justice Clarence Thomas, joined by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson writing se...

This is huge for students w/disabilities at all levels. Regardless of ability, every student deserves access. I’ll definitely be referring to this case in my dissertation.