6/19/25 - Trumpism colliding with disability

Good afternoon ...

I'm sharing three stories about how the mood of politics today, and the policy precedents of the Trump administration, are affecting disabled people – in some slightly less obvious ways than the big program shakeups, legal challenges, and threatened cuts that are making most of the headlines.

Disabled People are Being Mistreated in ICE Detention Facilities

Broadwaybabyto, The Disabled Ginger - June 8, 2025

"We are not a small group and our voices will be heard. If we use them in unison, if we agree that no one is expendable and everyone deserves basic decency, compassion and care, we can turn the tides ... Keep telling Alma and Rodney’s stories. Shout their names until they’re released. When MAGA inevitably tries to make it about their ‘crimes’ or their status, push back."

We need to know about more stories like those of the two disabled ICE detainees profiled in this post. And we need to be as clear as we can be that two things are true. First, this mass deportation campaign is wrong to begin with ... motivated by racism and misdirected resentments, not any sort of true practical need or good-government morality. And second, it's exponentially more cruel for disabled people being treated this way, whose disabilities not only aren't treated as mitigating factors, but aren't being in the least accommodated. This piece also includes some good guidance on how we can help.

3 Arrested; State Capitol Police Block Protestors in Wheelchairs from Elevators

Kara Jeffers, WENY News - June 12, 2025

"Three people were arrested in Harrisburg today, after state capitol police denied elevator access to protestors in wheelchairs ... Police said they blocked access for fire hazard, security, and work productivity concerns. Wheelchair users, several from the Erie area, were frustrated that they were denied access to the third floor— where the Governor’s office is— but able bodied protestors were not blocked from using the stairs. "

This may have been a small incident in the scheme of things. And we can't really blame it on the Trump administration. It happened in a state where a Democrat is Governor. But I think it can fairly be seen as another small but important signal that the ground is shifting under disabled activists everywhere in the US. As long as I can remember, activists in wheelchairs have never been exactly loved by government officials. But they have been mostly tolerated and in important ways respected. And they have relatively rarely been targeted in ways unique to their disabilities. Blocking elevators but not stairs may or may not have been intentional. But the effect is very significant for disabled people, and symbolic. It's normal for security at government buildings to try to keep protesters at a distance. It's not normal for them to enforce their rules so selectively, and to use disabled activists' own disabilities to silence them. I fear what will happen if this sort of thing continues. And the mood in the country seems right for it to continue, and expand.

Dr. Oz thinks you should "prove that you matter."

Emily Ladau, Words I Wheel By - June 9, 2025

"Moreover, regardless of this distinction between 'able-bodied' people and other Medicaid beneficiaries, the entire notion of needing to earn your keep is problematic. It’s grounded in ableist standards of how people should function, and the belief that the issue isn’t people encountering circumstances often beyond their control, but rather just 'laziness.'"

The question of why, exactly, disabled people should want to work would be important and surprisingly tricky even if we weren't in an administration so eager to identify and cut off anyone it considers unworthy. There are dozens of genuine reasons why a disabled person might want to work, or work more than they currently are, and earn more money on their own. But there are also dozens of reasons why a disabled person might not be able to, right now or maybe even ever. And the bigger question remains. Aren't we worthy of a decent life – or at least Medicaid – simply because we are human beings? Does the traditional Western work ethic and capitalism really mean that each of us is valuable only to the extent that we produce? Maybe so. A lot of people seem to think this is obviously true and right. But it also runs against other ideas and values most people share at the same time – like the inherent value of every person, or that individuals are more important than the state. More than ever, we as disabled people need to think deeply about our own value, and clarify for ourselves why we deserve to be here.

Disability Thinking Weekday is a Monday-Friday newsletter with links and commentary on disability-related articles and other content. Please like, share, comment, and subscribe — for free, or with a paid subscription. A free subscription brings a newsletter to your email each weekday, and gives you access to Comments. Benefits of paid subscription also include:

• A monthly recap with links to all of the previous month's shared articles, organized by topic.
• Listing as a supporter, and a link to your website if you have one.
• You can recommend one disability-related article for me to share per month in a weekday post.

To to subscribe, upgrade to paid, or make a one-time donation, click one of the buttons below:

I am so grateful for your help and engagement, in whichever forms you choose!