UNDERSTANDING DISABILITY IN THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY

Societal norms pertaining to sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as norms around ability, often work to deny LGBTQ+ people and people with disabilities opportunities that others enjoy in their daily lives. Some studies have even proposed that the traumatic effect of discrimination and rejection on LGBTQ+ people’s mental and physical health can itself be considered a disability. Disabled LGBTQ+ people who live at the intersection of these two identities can face compounded discrimination and stigmatization, and it is important for those who serve, interact with, and love and care for those individuals to understand this complex dynamic. To learn more, click here.

Additional resources:

• Have you seen the new disability pride flag?https://disabilityrightswi.org/news/celebrate-disability-pride-month/

• Disability Flag Meaning - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCm8iTKs0Tg

• LGBTQ+ People with Disabilities - https://www.respectability.org/resources/lgbtq/

• Disability and LGBTQA+ Resource Guide - https://lgbtq.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/DisabilityResourceGuide_June2018.pdf

• 8 Ways to be a better ally to LGBT Disabled peoplehttps://www.stonewall.org.uk/about-us/news/8-ways-be-better-ally-lgbt-disabled-people

• The Intersection of LGBTQ History and Disability - https://epgn.com/2020/10/20/theintersection-of-lgbtq-history-and-disability/

Advancing Women And Girls With Disabilities

Women and girls with disabilities are subjected to multiple layers of discrimination. Based on their gender and disability status they often face “double discrimination”. This inequality is exacerbated for women and girls with disabilities who are members of marginalized ethnic or racial groups or part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community. To learn more, click here.

Additional resources:

• Empowering Women and Non-Binary People with Disabilitieshttps://www.respectability.org/womenwithdisabilities/

• Women with Disabilities Fact Sheet - https://www.un.org/womenwatch/enable/WWDFactSheet.pdf

• Spotlight on Women with Disabilities - https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ODEP/pdf/Spotlight-on-Women-withDisabilities-March-2021.pdf

• Reproductive Justice for Disabled Women: Ending Systemic Discrimination - https://www.americanprogress.org/article/reproductive-justice-for-disabled-womenending-systemic-discrimination/

Domestic Violence And People With Disabilties

March is recognized as National Disability Awareness Month, and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence is taking an opportunity to raise awareness about people with disabilities who also experience domestic violence. Click here for six facts about people with disabilities and domestic violence.

Additional resources:

• Abuse and Exploitation of People with Developmental Disabilities - https://disabilityjustice.org/justice-denied/abuse-and-exploitation/

• A report on violence against kids with disabilities is sobering – if not surprising - https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/04/12/1091679303/a-report-onviolence-against-kids-with-disabilities-is-sobering-if-not-surprisin

Advancing Economic Security For People With Disabitilies

To advance economic security for people with disabilities, policymakers must level the playing field for disabled workers while also guaranteeing access to housing, nutrition, and health care for those who are unable to work. To learn more, click here.

Additional resources:

• Why Native American children have higher rates of disabilityhttps://abcnews.go.com/Health/native-american-children-higher-ratesdisability/story?id=76841563

The Closing Of Willowbrook

A watershed case in the evolution of the legal rights of people with disabilities to live in dignity arose out of public awareness of the horrific conditions under which children and adults with disabilities were living at the Willowbrook State Developmental Center in New York. This case set important precedents for the humane and ethical treatment of people with developmental disabilities living in institutions. This, in turn, served as the impetus for accelerating the pace of community placements for people with developmental disabilities, expanding community services, increasing the quality and availability of day programs, and establishing the right of children with disabilities to a public education. To learn more, click here

Additional resources:

• The Year of Willowbrook 2022 1hr 35mins– The Last Great Disgracehttps://youtu.be/63Imoby2X6c

• 50 Years After a Landmark Lawsuit, How Does NY Treat People with Developmental Disabilities? - https://www.nyclu.org/en/news/50-years-after-landmark-lawsuit-howdoes-ny-treat-people-developmental-disabilities

• Former residents of Willowbrook recall its horrors as fight for disability rights continues - https://www.timesunion.com/state/article/a-disgrace-former-willowbrook-residents17860905.php

• Willowbrook State School: How a Lawsuit Closed the Gates to a Notorious Institution and Opened the Doors of Opportunity for Thousandshttps://history.nycourts.gov/events/willowbrook-state-school/

• The Racialized History of Disability Activism from the “Willowbrooks of this World”https://activisthistory.com/2019/11/04/the-racialized-history-of-disability-activism-fromthe-willowbrooks-of-this-world1/

Achieving Health For All

Disability inclusion is critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and global health priorities to achieve health for all.

Universal health coverage will not be achieved if persons with disabilities do not receive quality health services on an equal basis with others. Investing in universal health coverage for persons with disabilities will benefit not only individuals but also communities. To learn more, click here.

Additional resources:

• Prioritizing disability in universal health coveragehttps://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(19)31638-1/fulltext

• Addressing health inequities faced by persons with disabilities to advance universal health coverage - https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/addressing-health-inequitiesfaced-by-persons-with-disabilities-to-advance-universal-health-coverage

• Public Health Milestones Through the Years - https://www.who.int/campaigns/75-yearsof-improving-public-health/milestones/#year-1945

Calendar

Discover the many occasions, holidays, and awareness dates to learn and talk about disabilities. Click here to access the shared resource folder.

Please note: Developmental Disability Awareness month calendar will be completed closer to March 2024

For more information about the Multicultural Resource Center or the Student Association Disability Services contact Arleny Alvarez-Peña, Associate Director for Multicultural, Interfaith, and Intersectional Affairs

Email: aalvarez-pena@albany.edu | Phone: 518-442-5565