Race, Poverty, and Disability: A Social Justice Dilemma

On Becoming Scholars and Activists for Disability Rights

“…These disparities contribute to the pervasive poverty rate among individuals with disabilities (U.S. Census Bureau Newsroom, ). Furthermore, individuals with disabilities experience additional stressors and expenses related to daily living that place them at risk for poverty (Suarez‐Balcazar, Balcazar, Taylor‐Ritzler, Ali, & Hasnain, ). These stressors include the need to purchase costly adaptive equipment, modifications to the home for accessibility, the costs of receiving personal care services, and overall stressors associated with environmental, psychological, and social barriers (Suarez‐Balcazar & Cooper, ).…”

“…Individuals with disabilities from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds often experience challenges when applying for social services like vocational rehabilitation (which provides supports for pursuing employment and educational opportunities), including difficulties in obtaining all required documents, difficulties meeting eligibility criteria, and receiving fewer services than some white consumers (Oberoi, Balcazar, Suarez‐Balcazar, Langi, & Lukyanova, ; Taylor‐Ritzler, Balcazar, Suarez‐Balcazar, & Garcia‐Iriarte, ). Moreover, these individuals are also underserved by health services and, as a result, they are likely to have limited access to preventive treatments and experience secondary conditions (Suarez‐Balcazar, Balcazar, Taylor‐Ritzler et al., ). Finally, independent‐living outcomes are less favorable for African Americans, Latinos, and other minorities with disabilities than for Whites (Suarez‐Balcazar, Balcazar, Taylor‐Ritzler et al., ).…”

“…Moreover, these individuals are also underserved by health services and, as a result, they are likely to have limited access to preventive treatments and experience secondary conditions (Suarez‐Balcazar, Balcazar, Taylor‐Ritzler et al., ). Finally, independent‐living outcomes are less favorable for African Americans, Latinos, and other minorities with disabilities than for Whites (Suarez‐Balcazar, Balcazar, Taylor‐Ritzler et al., ).…”

“…As Suarez‐Balcazar, Balcazar, Taylor‐Ritzler et al. () argued, empowerment is rooted in the assumption that many youth value the opportunity to be involved in making decisions that affect their lives and that such participation has a positive impact on their well‐being, increases their choices, and motivates them to pursue their goals and aspirations.…”

Embracing our principles and moral compass

“…Given the limited employment opportunities available to individuals with disabilities and the discrimination from employers and society in general that they often face (see Suarez-Balcazar et al, 2013), self-employment and entrepreneurship is an alternative that is grounded in the principles of empowerment, selfdetermination, and social change. The authors described an empowering self-entrepreneur employment initiative aimed at improving systems.…”