Disability | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/disability/RSS feed for DisabilityenMon, 04 May 2026 22:16:16 +0000Ahead of the 2026 Met Gala, the Metropolitan Museum of Art Introduced New Mannequins With Diverse Body Types Inspired by Real Peoplehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ahead-of-the-2026-met-gala-the-metropolitan-museum-of-art-introduced-new-mannequins-with-diverse-body-types-inspired-by-real-people-180988670/The new "Costume Art" exhibition pairs artworks with garments, some of them displayed on custom mannequins constructed through 3D printingMon, 04 May 2026 22:16:16 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ahead-of-the-2026-met-gala-the-metropolitan-museum-of-art-introduced-new-mannequins-with-diverse-body-types-inspired-by-real-people-180988670/The FDA Approves the First-Ever Gene Therapy for Deafness, Which Aims to Restore Hearing in Kids With a Rare Inherited Conditionhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-fda-approves-the-first-ever-gene-therapy-for-deafness-which-aims-to-restore-hearing-in-kids-with-a-rare-inherited-condition-180988635/The agency's decision is based on results from a clinical trial in which the treatment improved hearing in 80 percent of the pediatric participants. However, Deaf community advocates worry about the push to cure hearing lossWed, 29 Apr 2026 17:44:40 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-fda-approves-the-first-ever-gene-therapy-for-deafness-which-aims-to-restore-hearing-in-kids-with-a-rare-inherited-condition-180988635/A Disabled Parrot in New Zealand Became Alpha Male Thanks to His Innovative Fighting Stylehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/disabled-parrot-in-new-zealand-became-alpha-male-thanks-to-his-innovative-fighting-style-180988587/A kea parrot's half-beak became an advantage instead of a disadvantage, researchers suggest in a new studyTue, 21 Apr 2026 18:46:46 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/disabled-parrot-in-new-zealand-became-alpha-male-thanks-to-his-innovative-fighting-style-180988587/An Experimental Brain Implant Allows People With Paralysis to Type Their Thoughts With Their Mindshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-experimental-brain-implant-allows-people-with-paralysis-to-type-their-thoughts-with-their-minds-180988365/One of the two participants wrote words up to a speed similar to an able-bodied person texting on a smartphoneThu, 19 Mar 2026 18:47:18 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-experimental-brain-implant-allows-people-with-paralysis-to-type-their-thoughts-with-their-minds-180988365/Seven Fascinating Inventions Unveiled at the 2026 Consumer Electronics Showhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/seven-fascinating-inventions-unveiled-at-the-2026-consumer-electronics-show-180987980/A smart wheelchair, an A.I.-powered tennis ball launcher, a mirror that reports on your health and more were on display at the annual Las Vegas trade showFri, 09 Jan 2026 18:15:01 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/seven-fascinating-inventions-unveiled-at-the-2026-consumer-electronics-show-180987980/This Aerospace Engineer Just Became the First Wheelchair User to Travel to Spacehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-aerospace-engineer-just-became-the-first-wheelchair-user-to-travel-to-space-180987914/A brief commercial flight with space tourism company Blue Origin made Michaela "Michi" Benthaus' childhood dream come trueMon, 22 Dec 2025 21:11:58 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-aerospace-engineer-just-became-the-first-wheelchair-user-to-travel-to-space-180987914/A Frida Kahlo Painting Just Became the Most Expensive Work by a Female Artist Ever Auctionedhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-frida-kahlo-painting-just-became-the-most-expensive-work-by-a-female-artist-ever-auctioned-180987735/"The Dream (The Bed)," a self-portrait created in 1940, sold for $54.7 million. The previous record holder, Georgia O'Keeffe's "Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1," went for $44.4 million in 2014Fri, 21 Nov 2025 19:54:05 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-frida-kahlo-painting-just-became-the-most-expensive-work-by-a-female-artist-ever-auctioned-180987735/This Frida Kahlo Self-Portrait Could Become the Most Expensive Work by a Female Artist Ever Sold at Auctionhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-frida-kahlo-portrait-could-become-the-most-expensive-work-by-a-female-artist-ever-sold-at-auction-180987396/"The Dream (The Bed)" will go under the hammer at Sotheby's in November. Experts say it could fetch between $40 million and $60 millionMon, 29 Sep 2025 16:15:49 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-frida-kahlo-portrait-could-become-the-most-expensive-work-by-a-female-artist-ever-sold-at-auction-180987396/From Fashion to Fidget Spinners, This London Exhibition Celebrates Disabled Design, Innovation and Joyhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/from-fashion-to-fidget-spinners-this-london-exhibition-celebrates-disabled-design-innovation-and-joy-180987269/"Design and Disability" features 170 objects created by disabled artists, designers, photographers, inventors and moreThu, 04 Sep 2025 15:58:58 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/from-fashion-to-fidget-spinners-this-london-exhibition-celebrates-disabled-design-innovation-and-joy-180987269/How a Deaf Quarterback Changed Sports Forever By Inventing the Huddlehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/deaf-quarterback-changed-sports-forever-inventing-huddle-180987178/Paul Hubbard called for the football team at Gallaudet University to circle around him back in 1894Thu, 04 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/deaf-quarterback-changed-sports-forever-inventing-huddle-180987178/