Greetings, Humanity Collective,

Welcome to the May 2026 issue of Humanity Matters | Matters of Humanity. I am grateful to be with you in a season that asks so much of us, including clarity, courage, restraint, compassion, and resolve. In moments like these, I am reminded that our work is not simply to react to what is happening around us, but to stay rooted in why we do this work in the first place and to inform, encourage, energize, and equip those advancing justice, dignity, and access in communities near and far.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. I want to speak plainly to the heart of this collective and emphasize that the emotional weight of this work is real. For advocates, practitioners, and everyone who shows up day after day to hold space for others, the strain can be profound. We cannot keep pouring from an empty vessel. Tend to your own well-being as fiercely as you tend to the well-being of those you serve. Remember to schedule time for rest and self-care this month. You are not in this work alone.

This newsletter also invites us to honor the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 2026. I do so with great pride and reverence. The ADA is a sound, powerful, and necessary civil rights law. It has changed lives, opened doors, and affirmed that dignity and access are civil rights, not special privileges. Yet we are living in a time of real tension. Protections once considered settled are being challenged. The ADA itself has not been repealed, but the enforcement environment is shifting. Practitioners cannot afford to be passive. We must stay vigilant, informed, and proactive.

Humanity Consideration Consultants will hold A Live ADA Clinic virtually on Friday, July 24, 2026, from 10 AM - 11:30 AM Eastern Time. See more details within this newsletter and on our website. We hope you will join us for this important conversation. Register today!

Throughout this issue, we explore stories that challenge us to reflect on history, mental health, civil rights, accessibility, and the enduring value of human dignity. While the subjects vary, each reminds us that progress is never guaranteed and that building inclusive communities is a shared responsibility that calls upon our common humanity.

As always, I encourage you to stay informed, engaged, and grounded in the art of humanity that drives this work. The law is only as powerful as those who know it, use it, and defend it.

On April 20, 2026, the US DOJ published a DOJ Interim Final Rule extending ADA Title II website accessibility compliance deadlines. Please consider this deadline extension as breathing room to do the work well, not permission to delay. Use this time wisely. Audit your digital spaces. Train your teams. Build accessibility into your process now. Make sure your public-facing work reflects both what the law requires and what emotional intelligence demands.

This Mental Health Awareness Month, Humanity Consideration Consultants reaffirms our commitment to advocating for well-being. We believe that true justice encompasses not just physical and civil rights, but also the fundamental right to mental health and peace of mind for all.

This month, we are honored to feature a conversation with author Gillian Grable, whose compelling 2023 book, "Until We Meet Again: The Life of Jennie Raffield Williams," brings to light a remarkable life that might otherwise have been forgotten. Grable's work is a powerful reminder of the importance of storytelling, the indelible mark individuals leave on history, and the profound power of preserving lives often overlooked. Join us as we delve into the inspirations and insights behind this remarkable narrative.

Gillian Grable’s dedication to unearthing and honoring Jennie Raffield Williams’s story resonates deeply with Humanity Consideration Consultants’ mission to amplify and champion dignity in action. Her book serves as a vital reminder that mental well-being, civil rights, and human dignity are intrinsically linked to recognizing and valuing every individual’s narrative, ensuring that no life is truly forgotten.

I often think about and study civil rights laws as part of both my profession and my personal connection to the protections these laws provide. As an African-American woman, I have witnessed and experienced discrimination firsthand. Social justice is the backbone of my life's work and the legacy I hope to leave behind.

My superpower is the knowledge and wisdom my parents shared with me, which continues to shape how I navigate the world. They taught me self-worth, compassion for others, and the belief that I could become anything I set my mind to. Just as importantly, they taught me that I am neither beneath nor above anyone else.

My upbringing and educational experiences taught me to extend humanity and grace to others regardless of how they might treat me. That lesson was never about diminishing myself to elevate someone else. It was about understanding that we all put our pants on the same way. We are equal in worth, even when discrimination attempts to tell us otherwise.

That sense of self-awareness allows me to sit confidently at any table and advocate not only for myself but also for others. It is impossible for me to think about civil rights protections without thinking about the sacrifices made by those who came before me.

My parents were 25 years old when the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law. They belonged to a generation that witnessed the brutality inflicted upon people who fought simply for the right to vote, people who were beaten, terrorized, and killed in pursuit of freedoms that should have never been denied. They remembered the despicable, inhumane assaults on Fannie Lou Hamer (at the order of highway patrolmen), Congressman John Lewis (peaceful protest - Bloody Sunday), and countless others.

I often find myself whispering, 'I am glad my parents are not here to witness these legal and societal shifts regarding civil rights protections.' To witness such things once is too much.

The Jim Crow era was marked by legalized racial segregation, voter suppression, economic exclusion, intimidation, and violence directed primarily at Black Americans across the South. Although the Civil Rights Movement led to landmark reforms, including the Voting Rights Act of 1965, many Americans continue to question whether those protections remain secure.

On April 29, 2026, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in Louisiana v. Callais, significantly narrowing protections under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. For many Americans, particularly those who personally lived through segregation and the struggle for voting rights, the decision reopened painful memories and renewed fears about the fragility of civil rights protections.

One of those voices belongs to Rev. Oliver, a decorated Army veteran and Pastor Emeritus of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church. In a short interview recorded following the Supreme Court's April 29, 2026, decision, Rev. Oliver became emotional as he reflected on his memories of the Jim Crow era and his concerns about the nation's current direction. His words carried the weight of lived experience, faith, sacrifice, and concern for future generations.

Rev. Lowman J. Oliver, III is a Pastor Emeritus, retired educator, military veteran, and lifelong civil rights advocate whose life and leadership span decades of service to community, country, and faith. A native of Sanford, Florida, he pursued studies in political science, history, religion, and philosophy before earning a master's degree in Supervision and Administration. Throughout his career, Rev. Oliver served as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, military leader, pastor, and advocate, dedicating his life to helping others learn, grow, and thrive.

For more than six decades, Rev. Oliver has remained actively engaged in efforts that promote civil rights, civic participation, community service, and social justice. From participating in demonstrations challenging school segregation during the Civil Rights Movement to advocating for justice, voting rights, and community empowerment today, he has been a consistent voice for equity and human dignity. During his twelve years as Pastor of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, he helped establish ministries addressing hunger, homelessness, voter registration, and other community needs. His unique perspective, shaped by education, military service, faith, activism, and lived experience, offers valuable insight into both the progress achieved through the Civil Rights Movement and the challenges that remain today.

In recognition of the 36th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Humanity Consideration Consultants invites you to join a live virtual ADA Clinic, an interactive public forum bringing together ADA and accessibility professionals from legal, digital, policy, and communication access fields. Engage directly with panelists, explore current ADA Hot Topics, and submit your real-world questions on accessibility, implementation, and emerging issues affecting individuals, organizations, and communities nationwide.

Mark your calendars! Below are events that align with our mission of advancing humanity, dignity, accessibility, and civil rights.