Disability Day of Mourning
People with disabilities are twice as likely as non-disabled people to be victims of violent crime. Every year, the national media covers dozens of stories about murders of people with disabilities by family members or caregivers, and many more go unnoticed. Too often, the coverage focuses on sympathy for the murderer because they had to live with or care for a person with a disability. The message to the public is that our lives—not our deaths—are the tragedy.
Each year on March 1st, the Pittsburgh disability community comes together to mourn and call for justice for the dozens of disabled people murdered by their parents and caregivers. We embrace our community and reject narratives that dehumanize us and cast our deaths as good or justified.
If you believe a person with a disability is in danger or being abused, call:
Childline
1-800-932-0313
Adult Protective Services
1-800-490-8505
The videos and speakers for several past vigils can be found below:
Each year on March 1st, the Pittsburgh disability community comes together to mourn and call for justice for the dozens of disabled people murdered by their parents and caregivers. We embrace our community and reject narratives that dehumanize us and cast our deaths as good or justified.
If you believe a person with a disability is in danger or being abused, call:
Childline
1-800-932-0313
Adult Protective Services
1-800-490-8505
The videos and speakers for several past vigils can be found below:
- SPEAKERS:
Opal M. (they/them) serves as the Executive Director of PCDJ. They live at many marginalized intersections. Opal works faithfully for a world that is just, equitable, and joyful.
Kayte Rose is a disabled activist, artist, troublemaker, and problem solver. They have always been angry.
Aviva Ron (she/her) is a disabled, queer and Mad person doing the best that she can. Her love of stories leads her towards justice.
Bethany Ziss (she/her) is a disabled person and a doctor, who believes the two are not mutually exclusive.
Bethany Stevens (she/her) is a queer femme wheelchair-using sexuality educator completing a doctoral degree in sociology. Trained as an attorney and holding a Master of Arts in Sexuality Studies, she has a diverse background of interests that ground her work in human rights. She has lectured and offered workshops internationally and taught courses in public health, disability studies, and social work across the country. Bethany lives in Atlanta with her wife, a tiny chihuahua named Theo, and an elegant polydactyl tuxedo cat Raven. Connect with and follow her on Instagram, TikTok, & YT @disaBethany.
Alisa Grishman is a Pittsburgh-based disability advocate and professional rabble rouser. When she’s not fighting the good fight, she enjoys knitting and spending time with her cats.
- SPEAKERS:
Opal M (they/them) is trans and nonbinary, Autistic and multiply disabled and parents Autistic and Disabled young people. Opal is PCAA’s co-pilot. They work for a world that is just, equitable, and joyful.
Elaine Houston (she/her) is a multiply disabled Pittsburgh transplant, volunteer patient advocate, and disability rights advocate. She can frequently be spotted in the community with her service dog, Oak III, from Canine Companions.
Bethany Ziss (she/her) is a disabled person and a doctor, who believes the two are not mutually exclusive.
Alisa Grishman (she/her) is a disability activist, a self-described shameless agitator, and has been arrested multiple times fighting for disability rights. She founded Access Mob Pittsburgh and co-runs Ballots for Patients and Care to Vote.
Sarah Selvaggi Hernandez (she/they) is a Deaf.Autistic author, educator, occupational therapist, and international speaker. She was also the first openly Autistic person elected to serve in the United States government. She runs the popular social media site The Autistic OT and is currently joining the autistic community’s effort to #StopTheShock at the Judge Rotenberg Center in Canton, MA.
Michael James (he/him) is a queer disabled designer, facilitator, and leader. He has learned about what the Pittsburgh healthcare system is like for disabled people as a patient, peer, and advocate.
- SPEAKERS:
Daeja Baker (she/her) was born and raised in the North Side of Pittsburgh. She is an organizer and poet, using both for radical, sustainable change RE: GOOD. She is currently studying to get her MSW in direct practice and mental health, which she will use to grow her community and policy advocacy work. “My ancestors watered the seeds of the diaspora so that I may take root this Revolution.”
Cori (they/them) is a nonbinary, disabled social worker and co-founder of the Pittsburgh Center for Autistic Advocacy. A community organizer by training, Cori works to create connection, community, and cross-movement solidarity.
Opal (they/them) is trans and nonbinary, Autistic and multiply disabled and parents Autistic and Disabled young people. Opal is PCAA’s co-pilot. They work for a world that is just, equitable, and joyful.
Kathryn Rose (they/she) has always been angry. They are multiply disabled, a lifelong disability advocate, a collector of hobbies, a habitual elected official pesterer, an avid sci-fi/fantasy reader, and a creative thinker. She will talk about fat acceptance, swimming, making stuff, or systemic thinking with almost anyone, but if you’re excited, she’s excited to hear about it. They beg you to wear your mask, as they are immunocompromised and miss their friends and the pool very much. Kayte currently works as an Operations Analyst.
Owen Taeger (he/him) is a trans and multiple disabled Pittsburgher who spends a lot of time thinking about how to create justice.
Heather Tomko (she/her) is the Outreach Coordinator National Rehabilitation Research and Training (RRT) Center on Family Support at the University of Pittsburgh, focused on research and programming for unpaid family caregivers. As a disabled woman, Heather is passionate about disability advocacy and access. She serves on the Board of Directors of CLASS, Film Pittsburgh, The Andy Warhol Museum, and AT&T’s Advisory Panel on Access and Aging. She has a blog, The Heather Report, where she shares about her life with a disability. She has also been published in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Public Source, and Marie Claire.
Bethany Ziss (she/her) is a disabled person and a doctor, who believes the two are not mutually exclusive.
- SPEAKERS:
Imani Barbarin is a disability rights and inclusion activist and speaker who uses her voice and social media platforms to create conversations engaging the disability community. Born with cerebral palsy, Imani often writes and uses her platform to speak from the perspective of a disabled black woman.
Bethany Ziss (she/her) is a disabled person and a doctor, who believes the two are not mutually exclusive.
Coley (they/xe) is a Black neurodivergent, nonbinary, 4th generation Pittsburgher. Coley is a champion of justice for systematically exploited LGBTQ+ youth at a local nonprofit.
Opal (they/them) is trans and nonbinary, Autistic and multiply disabled and parents Autistic and Disabled young people. Opal is PCAA’s co-pilot. They work for a world that is just, equitable, and joyful.
Kathryn Rose (they/she) has always been angry. They are multiply disabled, a lifelong disability advocate, a collector of hobbies, a habitual elected official pesterer, an avid sci-fi/fantasy reader, and a creative thinker.
Cori (they/them) is a nonbinary, disabled social worker and co-founder of the Pittsburgh Center for Autistic Advocacy. A community organizer by training, Cori works to create connection, community, and cross-movement solidarity.
- SPEAKERS:
Cori is a nonbinary, disabled social worker and co-founder of the Pittsburgh Center for Autistic Advocacy. A community organizer by training, Cori works to create connection, community, and cross-movement solidarity.
Opal is an Autistic, disabled parent of Autistic, disabled children. Opal is non-binary, and uses they/them pronouns. Opal is the Assistant Director of Pittsburgh Center for Autistic Advocacy, and works for a future that is just, equitable, and joyful.
Jessica Benham is the State Representative for PA House District 36. She was co-founder of the Pittsburgh Center for Autistic Advocacy (PCAA), where she worked to ensure that individuals with disabilities are treated fairly in the legislative process. While a graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh, she was involved in the effort to organize a union of graduate student workers. Jessica is the first openly Autistic state legislator in PA and the first out LGBTQ+ woman in the state house. She has focused on fighting for access to healthcare, a clean and healthy environment, fair funding for education, and LGBTQ and disability rights.
Sharon Janosik (she/her) is an Autistic adult, parent, Special Education Advisory Panel member, volunteer Family Leader with Families 2 the Max, volunteer individual & systemic education and disability advocate.
Bethany is a disabled person and a doctor, who believes the two are not mutually exclusive.
Resources
ASAN’s Anti-Filicide Toolkit
Ruderman Family Foundation on Media Coverage of Murder of People with Disabilities by their Caregivers
Disability Memorial Website
What’s Next?
What Else Can I Do? Handout [PDF]
What’s Next? Handout [PDF]
Crisis Resources
The vigil can bring up many different kinds of feelings. It is okay not to be okay. If you are in crisis please do not hesitate to reach out.
Re:solve Crisis Network:
1-888-796-8226
Trans LifeLine:
877-565-8860
Crisis Text Line:
Text HOME to 741741
Center for Victims Hotline:
866-644-2882
Deaf Crisis Line: VP:
321-800-3323
Help with Self-Care
Everything Is Awful and I’m Not Okay: questions to ask before giving up
You feel like shit: an interactive self-care flow chart