Disability Justice: History, Present, and Collective Action - 10 am PST - 12:30 pm PST on Zoom, 10/4/25

Join Maya-Gawonii of Cowrie Crossings for a 1.5-hour deep dive into the roots, realities, and possibilities of disability justice. This lecture will explore the historical foundations of ableism, from the violence of medical experimentation on enslaved African women to eugenics laws, the Ugly Laws, and the ongoing impact of systemic oppression. We will also examine pre-colonial understandings of disability in African and Indigenous cultures, where disabled people were honored as sacred and essential to community life.

In our journey through Disability: A History, Disability Today, and Applying This to Us, we will uncover the intersection of ableism with race, gender, and economic justice— naming the disproportionate impact on Black disabled women, queer and trans people, and those navigating poverty and state violence. Together, we will also identify tangible strategies to dismantle ableism in our own communities and workplaces, from shifting our language to building cultures of access, care, and interdependence.

This is a lecture with room for reflection, questions, and an interactive activity toward the end. Participants are encouraged to engage at their own pace and care for themselves in the ways that feel right. Whether you are new to disability justice or have been in the work for years, this space will invite you to think critically, imagine boldly, and commit to action.

Register here: https://forms.gle/dzq7xjZ9BB9Qu8VA9