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Youth Organizing (YO!) Disabled and Proud and California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC) proudly honor and celebrate Disability History Week (DHW) October 5-9, 2020.

The second week of October is Disability History Week in California, as passed by the legislature in 2010. Disability History Week is about educating youth with and without disabilities on the many contributions people with disabilities have made throughout American History. Throughout the week, organizations and schools across California engage in a wide variety of activities to celebrate and honor the disability rights movement.

A group photo of YO! members in a funny pose.



Join the Disability History Campaign
and get a FREE Disability History Week poster!

Is your school participating in Disability History Week this year?
Register your school here so they can get DHW resources, updates,
and a FREE Disability History Week poster for your classroom!

Thumbnail of previous year Disability History Week posters

2020 List of Blogs and Resources

Disabled Artists & Creatives

Cultivating Community Through the Works of Disabled Creators

  • Frida Kahlo Learn more Frida Kahlo was born on the 6th July 1907, though she later changed her birth year to 1910, tying herself to the start of the Mexican Revolution. Born and brought up in Mexico City, over the course of her short life and trailblazing career, Kahlo came to signify many things to many people and has continued to have a huge impact on those who discover her.
  • Jesse Cuellar Learn more Jesse “Sinz” Cuellar is graffiti artist from St. Louis, Missouri, who learned to paint with his mouth after a spinal cord injury left him paralyzed. His accessible artistry led to becoming a spokesperson for assistive technology companies; Jesse has provided demonstrations using his power wheelchair all over the country.
  • Micah Fowler Learn more Micah Fowler is an actor and public figure, currently starring on ABC's new fall comedy, Speechless. Unlike his character, Micah can speak and uses his voice to be a constant advocate for others with disabilities; he is a proud ambassador for the Cerebral Palsy Foundation. Micah recognizes the huge responsibility of representing the disability community and hopes to make them proud.
  • Annie Hanauer Learn more Annie Hanauer is an American dancer, performer and teacher with a disability; she lives between the UK and France. She is a graduate of Fine Arts in Dance University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. As member of Candoco Dance Company, Annie taught and played all over the world and at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing and the closing ceremony of Paralympic Games in London.
  • Marlee Matlin Learn more Marlee Matlin received worldwide critical acclaim for her debut in “Children of a Lesser God,” and also became the youngest and (only deaf recipient to date) of the Best Actress Oscar. She is also a bestselling author and disability advocate. Marlee serves as the national spokeswoman for the largest provider of TV closed captioning, and has spoken on behalf of CC in countries such as Australia, England, France, and Italy. She also serves on the boards of a number of charitable organizations.
  • Matt Maxey Learn more Matthew Maxey, founder of DEAFinitely Dope, hails from Atlanta, GA. As a hard of hearing individual, Maxey seeks to unite the hearing and Deaf community through music and sign language, breaking barriers in the process. His personal journey to find where he fits in best as a hard of hearing individual led to creating an outlet where others experiencing the same struggle to find their identity could find peace, unity, and enjoyment through DEAFinitelyDope.
  • Jillian Mercado Learn more Jillian Mercado is a fashion model represented by IMG/WME Worldwide. As a wheelchair user (due to muscular dystrophy), she is one of the few professional models who has a physical disability in the fashion industry. A prominent figure in the new wave of models challenging beauty ideals in the fashion industry, Mercado is keen to fight the lack of representation of people with disabilities in the fashion industry and their enduring stigma. Jillian is also a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology.

The Not so Distant Past

Activists and Advocates from 2000 to 2017 Who are Changing the Disability Community for the Better!

  • Latinx Disability Coalition View Page A coalition created for Disabled Latinx. It brings together diverse perspectives on being part of these two specific communities. It also provides insight and resources in both English and Spanish.
  • DiversAbility View Page An organization that increases the visibility of disabled people. Created and ran by people with disabilities from various backgrounds. It strives to create a space for all disabilities to foster a sense of community with one another.
  • Stacy Milbern on Medicaid Cuts View Page A queer Korean disabled activists shares their experiences on why access to support services is about more than just living in the community.

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