It probably doesn’t show up on your calendar, but May is Disability Insurance Awareness Month. And you might agree that such a month is useful, when you consider the following:

Dillie Nerios is a Florida food stamp recruiter. Her job is to sign up 150 seniors monthly in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Darkness can be paralyzing.

If you work for an employer who offers a benefits package that includes life insurance and disability income insurance, consider yourself fortunate. But you can’t necessarily consider yourself fully protected. And if you don’t have appropriate life and disability insurance, your long-term financial goals could be at risk.

Dr. Stuart Hetrick never planned to open New Image Med Spa in Ahwatukee Foothills.

Lottery confidentiality

Spring is in the air. And if you’re like many people, you may be looking forward to doing some spring cleaning around your house and yard. But this year, why not go beyond your physical environment and do some “sprucing up” of your financial situation?

Don't be surprised if you find yourself sitting near a horse the next time you dine out.

Arizona Bridge to Independent Living and the MaxInMotion Foundation are pleased to announce the development of a series of adaptive sports clinics for youth in Arizona. The half-day clinics will introduce children 18 years and under to wheelchair basketball and power soccer for athletes with disabilities.

Those 19 or older who have a disability and live in the Phoenix area or one of Phoenix’s nine sister cities are eligible for the fourth annual Phoenix Sister Cities International Competition for Writers with Disabilities. The deadline for submitting entries is May 3.

As part of their curriculum, Keystone Montessori students in the adolescent program are encouraged to interact with society and make improvements within their community.

A House panel voted Wednesday to void parts of local anti-discrimination ordinances designed to give protections to transgendered individuals.

Justin Hines: A Canadian vocalist known for his work with charity and his indomitable spirit in the face of disability performs in Mesa.

City elections

After five hours of heated and passionate public comment and discussion on Tuesday, the Phoenix City Council approved a change to the city’s human resources ordinance to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or disability.

It may not be a question of knowing whether Beethoven is better for you than the Beastie Boys.

Forget the ferrets. Cancel the cats. And don't even discuss the ducks.

If you’re planning to get remarried, you have plenty of company: More than 40 percent of all U.S. weddings are second marriages for at least one of the participants, according to an estimate by the National Stepfamily Resource Center. Naturally, a second marriage will bring many changes to your life — not the least of which may be changes in your financial strategy and goals.

A DNR, or a “Do Not Resuscitate” form, is a legal order signifying that a patient does not want to be resuscitated if he or she is to suffer cardiac or respiratory arrest. It tells emergency personnel that the patient does not want CPR, endotracheal intubation, defibrillation, cardiac life support drugs or related medical procedures. This does NOT withhold medical interventions necessary to provide comfort or to alleviate pain. You may recognize this order by its bright orange color, often found attached to the refrigerator in someone’s home. Typically, these orders are in effect for persons whom are terminally ill and prefer to avoid painful or invasive procedures at the latter stages of their life. It is important to have the DNR form easily locatable, as emergency personnel must see the form in order to honor it. DNR bracelets are also an option. These forms are available through various medical organizations or you can print your own. Contact me if you would like an electronic copy of the printable version or if you have any further questions about DNR forms.

This time of year, we’ll take nearly any excuse to get out and enjoy the weather. Fortunately, Chandler’s got a good one in its Feb. 23 Classic Car and Hot Rod Show.

Eight of the top wheelchair rugby teams from around the country will travel to the Valley of the Sun this weekend to compete in the 2013 Phoenix Rugby Rave at the Virginia G. Piper Sports & Fitness Center for People with Disabilities (SpoFit), 5031 E. Washington St. in Phoenix. Admission to attend the Phoenix Rugby Rave is free.

Love is in the air this week, as Valentine’s Day rolls around again. During the course of your life, you’ve probably sent your share of flowers and candy. But if your valentine is also your spouse — and, in particular, your long-time spouse — you may want to go beyond roses and chocolates this year to give a gift that can help lead to financial security.

In the state Legislature, Sen. John McComish said the bills he usually works to pass are big-picture items that affect Arizona residents in indirect ways. So it was a nice change of pace he said to work on a bill that would have an immediate impact on a nonprofit that does a great service for the Ahwatukee Foothills community.

Director Kief Davidson’s journey through Rwanda and Sudan was not only a filmmaking venture, but a life-or-death trek for eight Rwandan children afflicted with rheumatic heart disease. A firsthand look into their lives and the high-risk surgical procedures they must endure, “Open Heart” is a powerful documentary bringing much-needed attention to a disease that affects nearly 18 million people worldwide.

Nearly 20 students from Mountain Pointe High School gave spectators a glimpse into their daily physical education activities on Thursday at the Arizona Adapted Physical Education Conference in Phoenix.