Lessons from the U.S. Disability Justice Movement
Surviving Repression Through Mutual Aid and Solidarity
The disability justice movement in the United States is a powerful example of how communities can build resilience and achieved a degree of independence, creating more political and social space for organizing, under repressive systems. Through mutual aid, interdependence, and solidarity, this movement has shown us how to not only survive but challenge oppression and build a foundation for justice. Here's some history, lessons, and practical recommendations for organizing resistance today.
What is Disability Justice?
Disability justice isn’t just about securing legal rights or accommodations. It’s a framework that goes deeper, addressing the intersections of ableism with racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and other systems of oppression. Coined by the collective Sins Invalid in 2005, it centers on those most marginalized within the disabled community—people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with complex disabilities.
Key Principles of Disability Justice
Intersectionality: Recognizing that ableism is intertwined with other forms of oppression.
Leadership by those most affected: Those directly impacted must lead the way.
Interdependence: Valuing mutual reliance as a strength, not a weakness.
Collective liberation: Understanding that none of us are free until all of us are free.
Recognizing wholeness: Seeing each person as inherently valuable and complete.
Major Achievements of the Disability Justice Movement
Section 504 Protests (1977): Disability activists occupied federal buildings for nearly a month, demanding enforcement of anti-discrimination protections. This direct action led to significant policy changes.
Americans with Disabilities Act (1990): Decades of organizing culminated in this landmark legislation guaranteeing civil rights for disabled people.
Medicaid Cuts Resistance (2017): Groups like ADAPT staged direct actions, including high-profile sit-ins at Congressional offices, to stop devastating healthcare cuts.
Key Lessons for Surviving Repression
1. Build Interdependent Networks of Care
Lesson: The movement’s emphasis on interdependence shows us that mutual aid isn’t charity—it’s survival. Networks that provide for immediate needs also build trust and resilience.
Example: During the COVID-19 pandemic, disability activists organized mutual aid to deliver food, medication, and care to those most vulnerable.
2. Center Leadership by Those Most Affected
Lesson: Leadership must come from those directly impacted by authoritarian policies. These are the folks with the clearest understanding of what’s at stake and what’s needed.
Example: ADAPT’s Medicaid defense campaigns were led by people who relied on Medicaid for survival, ensuring that the movement’s priorities were rooted in lived experience.
3. Leverage Direct Action and Civil Disobedience
Lesson: Nonviolent direct action disrupts oppressive systems and forces attention on injustice. The disability justice movement shows how creative, bold actions can drive change.
Example: The Section 504 protests set the stage for modern disability rights advocacy, showing how sustained pressure can force policy shifts.
4. Advocate for Collective Liberation
Lesson: The movement’s ethos—“none of us are free until all of us are free”—underscores the importance of intersectional solidarity.
Example: Disability justice activists frequently align with racial justice, queer liberation, and immigrant rights movements, recognizing that authoritarianism targets socially, economically, and politically excluded groups collectively.
5. Prepare for Long-Term Struggle
Lesson: Change is slow, and repression doesn’t end overnight. Organizing for the long haul requires resilience, adaptability, and commitment.
Example: The disability justice movement’s persistence through decades of systemic ableism offers a model for sustaining resistance.
Practical Recommendations for Today’s Resistance
1. Establish Local Mutual Aid Networks
Organize food, medication, and caregiving support for those cut off from services under authoritarian policies.
Create resource-sharing hubs where communities can exchange goods and services.
2. Train in Accessibility and Inclusivity
Make sure protests, mutual aid efforts, and advocacy are accessible to all, including people with disabilities.
Use disability justice principles to train broader movements in inclusive organizing practices.
3. Build Coalitions Across Movements
Partner with racial justice, LGBTQ+, and immigrant rights groups to create intersectional resistance networks.
Advocate for shared goals, like healthcare access and housing justice, to unite diverse movements.
4. Document and Share Stories of Resistance
Amplify the voices of those most affected by authoritarian policies, using digital platforms to share their stories.
Archive lessons and tactics from resistance efforts to guide future movements.
5. Prepare for Repression
Develop security protocols to protect individuals and networks from surveillance and retaliation.
Create legal defense funds and identify allies who can support activists facing state repression.
The Takeaway
The disability justice movement reminds us that surviving authoritarianism isn’t just about defiance—it’s about care, solidarity, and building the world we want to see. By organizing mutual aid networks, centering marginalized voices, and committing to long-term struggle, we can weather the storm of repression and move toward collective liberation. The tools are in our hands. Let’s use them.