Disability Justice
In this series we will learn that disability is more than just rights; it’s sexual, sensual, divine, and political. To fully appreciate its transformative power, we have to first understand language, power, oppression, and our history.
⬇︎ Scroll below for upcoming and past webinars ⬇︎
Disability justice is a framework that builds upon itself. Created by Patty Berne, Mia Mingus, Eli Clare, Sebastian Margaret, Leroy Moore, and Stacey Park Milbern in 2005, disability justice aims to centers sick and disabled people of color, queer and trans disabled folks of color, people impacted by ableism and other systems of oppression. In this series we will learn that disability is more than just rights; it’s sexual, sensual, divine, and political. To fully appreciate its transformative power, we have to first understand language, power, oppression, and our history. This 3-part workshop series will allow participants to thoroughly understand disability justice as an emerging movement with potential to be revolutionary.
Webinar 1 of the Disability Justice workshop series provides a foundation for understanding disability as a social justice issue by exploring access needs, language, and the many insidious forms of ableism and the ways they tie into other forms of oppression.
Webinars 2 & 3 will be led by leaders who are steeped in disability justice framework and integrate it into their day to day practices. Disability justice is also deeply rooted in art which will be showcased in this series. Learn more about the 10 principles of disability justice and how to fold them into your life.
Recommended Reading
Skin, Tooth, and Bone: The Basis of Movement is Out People, 2nd Ed by Sins Invalid
Crip Camp, A Disability Revolution, directed by Nicole Newnham and Jim LeBrecht
*Note from our November speaker Dara Baldwin about this film: "This is NOT a documentary that embraces Disability Justice, it is a disability rights documentary. Disability rights centers white people. Disability justice centers BIPOC. There are no films/books that completely give the Disability Justice story or information - not yet - those are in the works by many. In fact we boycott that movie because it is yet another film/documentary that centers white disabled people and erases all disabled BIPOC. As you watch the documentary you do not see or hear from disabled BIPOC nor or any of their names said or stories told. And all in the film, including the director, are the white disabled people who we fought to get disability justice started.
The exhaustion of fighting them to be better and include racial justice in their work was the reason disability justice was created.
The disability rights community is racist and erases any contributions of BIPOC as part of their movement.
Crip the Camp is no movie to introduce people about disability justice."
About our writer for the Disability Justice series, Rosemary McDonnell-Horita
Rosemary McDonnell-Horita (she/her) is a fierce, determined disability advocate and educator. She is a queer, disabled, Japanese American woman raised in Southern California. Rosemary is constantly re-imagining the world around her to include disabled youth, queer/trans communities, and prioritizing the voices of youth of color. After attending the California Youth Leadership Forum in 2010, she went on to continue her leadership on many different levels, including in Washington DC. Currently, Rosemary is the Impact Officer of Programs for Netflix’s, Crip Camp Impact Campaign. The team’s goals are to promote understanding of disability as a social justice issue and build relationships across lines of difference. The campaign has provided a model for cross-disability solidarity and intersectional movement building that centers disabled BIPOC “voices” and experiences. She strongly believes in honoring those who came before her, and leading the way for future generations to continue to lead and make change in this world.
Headshot image description:
Photo of Rosemary, a Japanese American light-skinned woman with wavy shoulder length brown hair smiling at the camera. She is seated in her wheelchair, wearing a black and white patterned top and seated in front of a mosaic tiled wall.
Disability Justice Webinar 1
with Kaitlyn Hatch
October 20, 2021 - 7pm - 8:30pm EST
CLOSED - Click below to watch the recording of this webinar.
We’re so grateful for the opportunity to have Kait join us to open the first webinar in our Disability Justice series. In this webinar, we will learn about the foundation for understanding disability as a social justice issue by exploring access needs, language, and the many insidious forms of ableism and the ways they tie into other forms of oppression. Kait will share their insights on disability as a lens for cultivating awareness of emptiness / interbeing / boundlessness, owning your mind, and impermanence. We will also learn about using mindful awareness as a means to understand the fullness of what it is to be human.
Disability Justice Webinar 2
with Dara Baldwin
November 17, 2021 - 7pm - 8:30pm EST
CLOSED - Click below to watch recording of the webinar.
Our second webinar of the Disability Justice series will be led by Dara Baldwin. Dara will discuss the history of disability, why Disability Justice was created, and the difference between disability rights and disability justice. We will learn about American Disabilities Act (ADA) laws and racism within the disability rights movement. Dara will also cover the 10 principles of disability justice and how we can fold them into our own lives.
Disability Justice Webinar 3
with Moeena Das
December 15, 2021 - 7pm - 8:30pm EST
CLOSED - Click below to watch recording of the webinar.
In this webinar, Moeena will talk about her personal journey with her disabled identity. We will also learn about ableism and why language matters, as well as facts, figures, and definitions of disability.
Our conversation will help us become more aware of just how common the disabled experience is, with an understanding of how to be more conscious about our day-to-day language and behavior, and why that matters.