Webinar Series Part 1:

How Racism, Ableism, and Audism Result in Disability Disparities

Disability disparities within the criminal legal system are staggering. It is estimated that over half of people who are incarcerated have at least one disability. System-impacted people with disabilities are a large and diverse population: they are disproportionately Black and brown and include people with learning, intellectual, vision, hearing, physical, and mental health/psychiatric disabilities.

In this webinar, Activating Change staff provided an overview of disability disparities in jail-impacted communities; discussed how ableism, audism, and racism intersect and drive widespread criminalization of people with disabilities and these disparities; and provided examples of barriers throughout the criminal legal system that lead to people with disabilities and Deaf people experiencing worse outcomes.

Presenters

Liam Esposito, Kaitlin Kall, Supreet Minhas, Nancy Smith, and Olga Trujillo

Watch the Recording

Webinar Part 1: Materials for Download

Webinar Series Part 2

The Impact of Structural Oppressions on People of Color with Disabilities 

Part two of our webinar series happened on January 31, 2023. This panel discussion featured people of color with disabilities who shared how ableism, audism, and racism have intersected in their lives. Our guest panelists also spoke about how these conditions of marginalization produce outcomes connected to higher rates of arrest and criminalization.

Presenters

Olga Trujillo (moderator), Max Barrows, Renee Lopez, and Brandon “BL” Williams

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Webinar Part 2: Materials for Download

Webinar Series Part 3

Integrating a Disability Equity Lens into SJC Initiatives

In the third and final webinar of this series, held on February 23, Activating Change staff provided practical steps for integrating principles of disability and language equity into local criminal legal reform and community engagement initiatives.

Presenters discussed:

  • Identifying where and how to get started

  • Integrating disability and language access into equity frameworks

  • Forming partnerships with disability and Deaf communities

  • Identifying and removing access barriers

  • Building out language and disability access in programs and initiatives

Presenters

Activating Change staff: Nancy Smith, Kaitlin Kall, Gregorio Mata, and Olga Trujillo

Watch the Recording

Webinar Part 3: Materials for Download

Additional Resources