The reality for people with disabilities is a life with poorer outcomes than those that live without the need for additional support. As recently as February 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has collected data that shows the barriers these individuals still face in a modern capitalist society. People with disabilities have over double the unemployment rate (7.6%) of those without disabilities (3.5%). The discrepancy is widened when considering race, where jobless rates for Black and Hispanic individuals with disabilities was even higher.
Equity for individuals with disabilities extends far beyond employment opportunities, however. This population faces discrimination and limited resources, especially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Advocates and social justice activists are utilizing a variety of principles and frameworks to push against these injustices and incorporate disability rights into significant movements for change.