The Visibility of Disability Issues

My conversation with student disability activists in California

People with disabilities often have vulnerabilities and challenges too easily neglected, or even ignored, by the society around them. As we transition out of the most intense phase of the Covid pandemic, it’s important to remember that for many, that transition is not as easy as simply taking a vaccine.

Over the last few years, disability rights activists have insisted - and rightfully so - that the needs of the disability community not be ignored. While the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed in 1990, there are fundamental issues brought forward by the disabilities community that need further and continued attention.

Hybrid learning is an example. While Covid represents a risk to all of us, to people with disabilities the risk can be vastly greater. And for college students, pursuing their education should in no way be hindered by fear of infection. It seems only reasonable that institutions of higher learning would be doing everything in their power to make dual modality learning - the ability of students to have full access to education remotely, when in-class attendance represents a possible risk to their health - automatic. Yet sadly, there are instances of institutional resistance to that idea which are both unfortunate and surprising.

When I received a DM recently from a student at UCLA, asking for support of a protest action at their school on behalf of students with disabilities, of course I was glad to oblige. My conversation with student disability activists from various schools in California was inspiring to me, as I’m sure it will be to you as well. I hope it helps bring attention to their cause and will motivate students in other states to take similar actions. The verve, the energy, and the commitment that are demonstrated here are exactly what’s needed now - not only in support of disability issues, but in order to repair the world.

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