Complex Identities
The Intersection of Disability with Race, Culture, Gender, and
Experience
Ella Callow, JD
ADA/Section 504 Compliance Officer
UC Berkeley
People with disabilities have diverse experiences and identities that intersect with
other aspects of their lives, such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, socio-economic
status, and more. Disability is not a single identity, but rather a complex and
multi-dimensional one that is influenced by many factors.
Throughout this session, we will explore the intersectionality of disability and how it
affects the experiences of people with disabilities. We will discuss the unique
challenges faced by people with disabilities from different backgrounds and how to
create inclusive environments that take into account the complexity of their
identities to ensure their needs are met. During this session, we will primarily focus
on the intersection of disability with race, culture, gender, and experience.
Housekeeping
No Images Involved
Refrain from Chatting
Questions Welcomed
Provide Name
Disability & Society in the Modern American Context (1900-)
● Eugenics | Legislation
● Institutionalization/Sterilization
● WWII
● ILM/DRM | Legislation
● Reenfranchizement
● Current status | Culture | Identity | Demography
Disability & Race
● Rates and Causes of Disability Differ by Race.
● The Role of Racism.
● Healthcare | Environment | Poverty
● Experience of Eugenics | Lingering Impact
Disability & Gender
● Disabled women have unique experiences from disabled men.
● The Role of Misogyny.
● SV/SH | Deprivation of Children | Exploitation
● Experience of Eugenics | Lingering Impact
Disability & Culture
● Different Cultures Conceptualize Disability Differently.
● The role of Colonization.
● Western | Indigenous American | Performing Mestizaje
● Experience of Eugenics | Lingering Impact
Disability & Experience
● At Times the Experiences of Disabled People are Unique among Peers.
● The Role of Xenophobia.
● Rejection | Reticence | Incarceration
● Experience of Ableism| Lingering Impact
What Challenges Emerge?
● Institutional Betrayal
● Trauma
● Identity Ambivalence
● Heightened Vulnerability
● Privilege
● Access is a Journey not a Destination
Increasing Institutional Capacity to Support All Disabled People
● The UC Berkeley Example.
● Require Compliance & Access Improvement of Equal Utility.
● Recognize Disability as the D in Diversity and Center Intersectional Identities in DEIBJ.
● Intentionally Disperse Training & Resources across All Divisions.
● Develop Accommodations to Policies, Practices and Procedures that Speak to Needs
of Disabled Women, BIPOC, Immigrants, etc.
● Take Disability Info & Collabs to Entities Supporting Them (Disability Justice).
● 13-23 Disabled Students up 229% | 5 yrs, Lawsuit Awards & Settlements down 80%.
● 2019 12K Survey Responses = 30% Felt Disrespected | Next Survey 2024.
Questions | Comments

Complex Identities: The Intersection of Disability with Race, Culture, Gender, and Experience.pdf

  • 1.
    Complex Identities The Intersectionof Disability with Race, Culture, Gender, and Experience Ella Callow, JD ADA/Section 504 Compliance Officer UC Berkeley
  • 2.
    People with disabilitieshave diverse experiences and identities that intersect with other aspects of their lives, such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, socio-economic status, and more. Disability is not a single identity, but rather a complex and multi-dimensional one that is influenced by many factors.
  • 3.
    Throughout this session,we will explore the intersectionality of disability and how it affects the experiences of people with disabilities. We will discuss the unique challenges faced by people with disabilities from different backgrounds and how to create inclusive environments that take into account the complexity of their identities to ensure their needs are met. During this session, we will primarily focus on the intersection of disability with race, culture, gender, and experience.
  • 4.
    Housekeeping No Images Involved Refrainfrom Chatting Questions Welcomed Provide Name
  • 5.
    Disability & Societyin the Modern American Context (1900-) ● Eugenics | Legislation ● Institutionalization/Sterilization ● WWII ● ILM/DRM | Legislation ● Reenfranchizement ● Current status | Culture | Identity | Demography
  • 6.
    Disability & Race ●Rates and Causes of Disability Differ by Race. ● The Role of Racism. ● Healthcare | Environment | Poverty ● Experience of Eugenics | Lingering Impact
  • 7.
    Disability & Gender ●Disabled women have unique experiences from disabled men. ● The Role of Misogyny. ● SV/SH | Deprivation of Children | Exploitation ● Experience of Eugenics | Lingering Impact
  • 8.
    Disability & Culture ●Different Cultures Conceptualize Disability Differently. ● The role of Colonization. ● Western | Indigenous American | Performing Mestizaje ● Experience of Eugenics | Lingering Impact
  • 9.
    Disability & Experience ●At Times the Experiences of Disabled People are Unique among Peers. ● The Role of Xenophobia. ● Rejection | Reticence | Incarceration ● Experience of Ableism| Lingering Impact
  • 10.
    What Challenges Emerge? ●Institutional Betrayal ● Trauma ● Identity Ambivalence ● Heightened Vulnerability ● Privilege ● Access is a Journey not a Destination
  • 11.
    Increasing Institutional Capacityto Support All Disabled People ● The UC Berkeley Example. ● Require Compliance & Access Improvement of Equal Utility. ● Recognize Disability as the D in Diversity and Center Intersectional Identities in DEIBJ. ● Intentionally Disperse Training & Resources across All Divisions. ● Develop Accommodations to Policies, Practices and Procedures that Speak to Needs of Disabled Women, BIPOC, Immigrants, etc. ● Take Disability Info & Collabs to Entities Supporting Them (Disability Justice). ● 13-23 Disabled Students up 229% | 5 yrs, Lawsuit Awards & Settlements down 80%. ● 2019 12K Survey Responses = 30% Felt Disrespected | Next Survey 2024.
  • 12.