07/30/2026
The late Alice Wong was a fierce advocate for the disabled community who highlighted the importance of cross movement solidarity and emphasized the vital role of intersectionality in the Asian American and disability rights movements.
Beyond an invitation to celebrate diversity across ethnicities, languages, and cultures, “Asian Americans are not a monolith” is a call to celebrate our diverse lived experiences, including disability status. Inclusivity is an integral part of our movement.
Image Description: Light blue graphic with cutout image of Alice Wong and on-screen text reading “The Fight for Accessibility Means Everyone”, “Disabled people have always existed, whether the word disability is used or not. To me, disability is not a monolith, nor is it a clear-cut binary of disabled and nondisabled...Being visible and claiming a disabled identity brings risks as much as it brings pride.” - Alice Wong, activist, author, community organizer
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Since the mid-1960s, the model minority myth has characterized Asian Americans as successful, conforming, "model" citizens who are valued for their achievements. This rhetoric has shaped public discourse on our communities and further pushed Asian Americans with disabilities to the margins. Recognizing that the model minority myth is inherently ableist is an important step to protecting the rights of disabled communities.
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In 2025, approximately 1.5 million AAPIs identified as disabled. Amongst students, this includes over 213,000 Asian American students and 21,000 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students who are served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). AANHPIs with disabilities are pivotal to our communities, movements, and fight for civil rights.
