A family's reflections on disability and health care

How do forty-some years of experience provide a basis for understanding disability?

In the Washington Post for 29 December 2022, Roxanne Roberts published an article describing how a son’s disability changed Judy Woodruff’s and her family’s lives. Ms. Woodruff, the eminent US television newscaster, has a son named Jeffrey who was born with spina bifida and as an adolescent suffered a dibilitating injury during a surgery related to that condition. In “Judy Woodruff on how her son with disabilities changed her view of health care: The ‘PBS NewsHour’ anchor is stepping down but still plans to report from around the country, with some stories about people with disabilities“ weaves together a recount of Ms. Woodruff’s career and the family’s life with Jeffrey.

I think that many readers will find Ms. Roberts’s account interesting. Parents and those special educators who work closely with them may have an even greater interest in the article, because it describes the case of another family’s experience and reflections on that experience.

Here is Mr. Roberts’ lede:

Last month, TV anchor Judy Woodruff had some news of her own: She is stepping down from “PBS NewsHour” on Friday, Dec. 30.

One of the most respected and honored journalists on television could have retired. Instead, she’s embarking on a new PBS project, “America at the Crossroads,” where she’ll spend the next two years traveling around the country trying to figure out what voters want, what they need and how to repair the deep divides.

One subject close to her heart that she wants to highlight? People with disabilities.

There is a lot to Ms. Roberts’s report. Also, there’s a lot more to know about Judy Woodruff. See the sources for links.

Judy Woodruff in 2012. Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/newshour/7907975166/ 082712_InsideNewsHour_007.Used consistent with Creative Commons authority. Via wikimed

Sources

Roberts, R. (2022, Deccember 29). Judy Woodruff on how her son with disabilities changed her view of health care: The ‘PBS NewsHour’ anchor is stepping down but still plans to report from around the country, with some stories about people with disabilities. Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/12/29/judy-woodruff-pbs-newshour/

Wikipedia. Judy Woodruff. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Woodruff