Green Disability explores the confluence between accessibility & ecology.
The climate crisis especially harms vulnerable people, but we need to go beyond the topic of fragility.
The resilience & lived experience of people with disabilities must be heard in environmental & disaster-prep policy-making; however, marginalized voices have often been excluded.
The disability movement is one of the biggest on Earth. Environmental catastrophe is arguably the worst risk to face humanity, and there is an astounding movement to address this. We need more bridges between these two movements for the mutual benefit of everyone. It’s urgent we all act together. Everyone who supports our planet is invited to support Green Disability. Eco-activists know marginalized communities need to be amplified!
There are some powerful efforts that combine ecological and accessibility concerns. We have listed only a few resources below. We encourage you to become involved, and please let us know of any resources we should include: revolution@aciu.org
There is much to explore. Given the impaired way much of humanity treats nature, we modern humans have what could be called a “green disability.” What should we all do about this now? Even if we don’t have answers, we can break the silence with civil discussion.
Resources on Green Disability:
- #GreenDisability – Please add this hashtag wherever you can. You will find this in a number of places such as Facebook and LinkedIn.
- Puneet Singhal – This young person with disabilities in India is a force of nature for Green Disability. You may read his story at https://www.youth4nature.org/stories/green-disability. Puneet is a co-owner of the below LinkedIn group which you should check out and join. You may also wish to visit Puneet’s #GreenDisability news letter on LinkedIn.
- LinkedIn Green Disability Group – Be sure to join the Green Disability group on LinkedIn. Yes, all major social media have major inherent flaws. However, more than 1,700 concerned leaders from throughout the world, many from the Global South which is most vulnerable to climate change, are building an international grassroots community via LinkedIn. You’re invited to join us, just click the link at the bottom of this (it’s all free).🌱 Please grow our network by introducing yourself, we’d love 💚 to hear from YOU & why this subject’s important!! This isn’t a typical social media group featuring “drive-by posts.” Your thoughts, visions, questions, concerns are appreciated, as long as they respect the dignity of all. Sign up here & now: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13810034/
- Disability Debrief reaches thousands regularly about international topics of interest to people with disabilities and our allies. They feature a whole section about the intersection between disability and climate. Their work is on climate led by Áine Kelly-Costello, a disabled storyteller and campaigner based in Aotearoa New Zealand: https://www.disabilitydebrief.org/climate/
- Accessible Climate Strategies by Alex Ghenis offers Disability-Forward Climate Consulting. Interview with Alex can be found here in Unsustainable Magazine.
- Aciu Institute supports this and related efforts, including UU and mental health activism.