Disability Advocacy and Research Network at SPSSI

Kathleen Bogart, Oregon State University

Katie Wang, Yale School of Public Health

Disability Advocacy and Research Network, a collective of psychologists and students who have and/or specialize in disability, hosted two events at SPSSI, a symposium and an interactive discussion.

Comprising 26% of the adult U.S. population, people with disabilities represent the largest minority group in America. Disability is also especially likely to intersect with other socially marginalized identities. In our symposium at SPSSI entitled “Perceptions and Experiences of U.S. People of Color with Disabilities,” we probed this intersection. Krauter and Bogart found significant differences in coping with discrimination between people of color and White people with disabilities, providing initial evidence for the distinct challenges facing disabled people of color as they make sense of their identities. Elderkin and Gelerian demonstrated that Black autistic individuals are perceived as particularly aggressive and untrustworthy compared with White autistic individuals and Black non-autistic individuals, further underscoring the reality of double-stigmatization. Limon, Bogart, Fischer, and Voss examined the psychosocial experiences of adults of color with Fanconi Anemia, providing a nuanced view on intersectional stigma in the specific context of living with a rare disability. Taken together, these talks highlighted the importance of adopting an intersectional perspective when understanding and addressing the impact of ableism, racism, and other forms of systematic oppression.

DARN’s interactive discussion focused on disability inclusion in psychology. Despite the prevalence of disability, disabled psychologists are severely underrepresented. In 2006-2012, only 2% of faculty and 3% of students in APA-accredited programs reported a disability. This long-standing marginalization creates unique barriers to entry and success in psychological research, including a lack of accessibility in research, training, and conferences, and a lack of visibility, mentorship, research funding, and professional development opportunities.

We were thrilled by the interest and engagement in our interactive discussion, with nearly 30 people joining our discussion! We are heartened by the SPSSI community’s interest in moving the needle for disability justice.

If you would like to learn more about DARN or join our community, visit darndisability.org.