The Disability & Intersectionality Summit (DIS) is a biennial national conference that centers the multiple oppressions that shape the lived experiences of disabled individuals, as told by disabled people, in a setting organized by disabled activists.
DIS aims to create dialogue on how our society must address systemic oppressions using an intersectional approach. The conference centers the experiences and knowledge of multiply marginalized disabled people such as, queer disabled people of color, undocumented transgender disabled people, or formerly incarcerated disabled people among others.
This summit builds on the work of Black feminist, legal scholar, and civil rights leader Kimberlé Crenshaw who was the first to use the term intersectionality. Crenshaw's work in critical race theory, racism, and gender and the ways these frames of identity impact power is the knowledge we draw from.
Co-Organizers for DIS2020
Finn Gardiner
He/Him
Somerville, MA
Alice Wong
She/Her
San Francisco, CA
ChrisTiana ObeySumner
Her/They
Seattle, WA
Lydia X.Z. Brown
They/Them
Roxbury, MA
Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
She/They
Seattle, WA
Lisette Torres-Gerald
She/Her
Lincoln, NE
Holly Pearson
She/Her
Boston, MA
Sandy Ho
She/Her
Boston, MA
Dawn Welters
She/Her/Hers
Washington D.C.
Our Fiscal Intermediary:
The mission of Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network is to provide community, support, and resources for Autistic women, girls, nonbinary people, and all others of marginalized genders. For more information on AWN visit their website here.