Fighting Back Against Institutionalization + Finding Flow
Courtesy of No Kings
There’s no doubt about it: We’re witnessing a rise in eugenics and fascism in real time. With increasing pushes for institutionalizing disabled people, restricting healthcare access, and more, we find ourselves at a critical tipping point.
This National Suicide Prevention Month, we must fight back against institutionalization, the criminalization of disabled people, and violent occupation at home and abroad, old and new. Disabled people deserve to thrive, now.
Below, you'll find updates about social services, mental health resources, calls to action, job and media opportunities, disabled rage, and events for reflection and regulation. We must live unapologetically and fight for our collective futures. We must affirm this promise to ourselves every day.
What We’re Reading, Watching + Listening To This Week
Supreme Court Blesses Racial Profiling by ICE
by Pema Levy
In a 6-3 decision on Monday, September 8, 2025, the Supreme Court lifted previous restrictions put into place by a federal judge that prevented racial profiling for “roving” immigration raids. “‘The Fourth Amendment protects every individual’s constitutional right to be ‘free from arbitrary interference by law officers,'’ Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in her dissent, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson. ‘After today, that may no longer be true for those who happen to look a certain way, speak a certain way, and appear to work a certain type of legitimate job that pays very little.’” (H/T Mother Jones)
Map Shows Where 400K Americans Could See SSI Benefits Cut
by Aliss Higham
In another attack on social services, “the Trump administration is preparing a rule change that could reduce or eliminate Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for hundreds of thousands of low-income older adults and people with disabilities.” Click through for a map of the “Number of SSI Beneficiaries [Who] Would Undergo Benefit Cut or Lose Eligibility Under the Trump Administration's Anticipated Rule.” (H/T Newsweek)
“Still A Locked Door”: Mental Health Peer Advocates Remember Those Living in Disability Institutions
by Jess Whatcott
On September 15, 2025, community members will attend the California Memorial Project Remembrance Day ceremony to honor those who have lived, died, and are currently living in institutions. “As both California state and federal policy undermines self-help programs in favor of carceral solutions, reinforcing narratives about the disposability of people with mental health disabilities, this Remembrance Day on September 15, 2025 is more important than ever.” (H/T Disability Visibility Project)
Trump’s Mental Health Plan: Defund, Incarcerate, Disappear
by Julianne McShane + Julia Métraux
Trump has long used ableist and sanist language to further his agenda of eugenics, such as pushing for institutionalization, criminalization of disability and houselessness, and cutting health research and services. “Wesolowski, of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, said that Trump’s order is not the way forward. ‘If we want to both reduce the burden of chronic conditions in this country and reduce homelessness,’ she said, ‘the solution to that is to help people sooner.’” (H/T Mother Jones)
Why Lil Nas X's Arrest Is More Proof Police Have No Business Treating the Mentally Ill
by Lex McMenamin
Calling the police on someone who is dealing with a mental health crisis is often one of the worst choices to make — yet many people don’t know that alternatives exist. “Police aren’t trained or qualified to respond to mental health crises, and can often further activate the person in need of care, even making them distrustful of those offering support, including their own family or medical team.” Importantly, “as we saw with the death of Jordan Neely, racism and ableism — that is, discrimination based on disability — against those we perceive as visibly mentally ill can even result in politicians and media outlets celebrating your death at the hands of a vigilante.” (H/T Teen Vogue)
Plug In, Take Action, Be In Community
Tell the CDC We Need Universal Vaccine Access now!
From People’s CDC: “Speak up to demand universal access to vaccines. We need tens of thousands of comments, flooding the CDC with our voices in support of vaccines and to protect the future of public health and medicine. We are facing one of the largest public crises in decades and on multiple fronts.” Click below to access a template to submit a public comment for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting by September 13, 2025.
Host Your Own Event for No Kings Day
The next No Kings National Day of Mobilization is October 18, 2025. Click here to find an event near you. If you are interested in hosting a No Kings event in your city, complete the form below.
Protect Housing for Disabled People: Understanding National Threats and Calls to Action
From Autistic Self Advocacy Network, National Council on Independent Living, Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, New Disabled South, and The Kelsey: “Are you concerned about the national housing crisis and its impact on disabled people? Join us and our partners to learn about what is happening at the federal level and how to take action to protect housing access for people with disabilities!”
Monday, September 22, 2025, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. ET | Virtual | ASL + Captions | Free
Apply to be Digital + Influencer Marketing Lead for Inevitable Foundation
From Inevitable Foundation: “We are looking for a highly-capable, data-driven marketer who thrives at the intersection of entertainment and audience-based marketing. Someone who is entrepreneurial and excited to build out a new category of disability-specific marketing. Someone who lives on social media and knows their way around KPIs. This is a rare opportunity to create the premier agency for engaging the powerful Global Disability Audience and help raise Inevitable Foundation’s profile as part of a dynamic team.”
Call for Submissions for Crushing Colonialism’s “The Magazine: Changemakers!”
From Crushing Colonialism: “#HireIndigenous. The Magazine is seeking pitches for our next edition about Indigenous changemakers in 2025. We invite thought-provoking stories, insightful articles, and powerful narratives that embody this topic. Whether it's a personal anecdote, cultural analysis, or artwork — we want your unique voice to be heard! Submit to our Editor-in-Chief, Isabel Riofrío: iriofrio@crushingcolonialism.org.”
Deadline: September 30, 2025
MEAction Network Launches the Minnesota Home Help Navigation Program
From MEAction Network: “Our navigator provides one-on-one support applying for in-home help through Minnesota's Medical Assistance (Medicaid) program. It's free for Minnesotans living with Long COVID, ME/CFS, and related energy-limiting illness.”
Apply for the Culture Push’s Disability Arts + Dreaming Fellowship
From Culture Push: “Our open call invites self identifying disabled artists, organizers, creative thinkers, collectives, beginners, and dreamers to submit any kind of disability centered project in its very beginning stage.”
Find Joy + Community
Inclusive Media: Accessibility in TV and Film with Ade Rawcliffe and Bella Roberts
From Tilting The Lens: “In our latest webinar, Sinéad Burke, CEO at Tilting the Lens, spoke with two women making an impact on the UK TV and film industry. She talked with Ade Rawcliffe and Bella Roberts about what change looks like in this industry, the positive progress achieved, and why many barriers still exist for roles in media.”
Infinite Flow Dance: Wheelchair Dance Skills Class
From Infinite Flow Dance: “We will guide you through basic wheelchair dance skills we’ve found useful regardless of the genre of dance. Whether you are a partner or solo dancer, a beginner or an advanced dancer, there will be something useful for you here.”
Saturday, September 13, 1:30 – 2:45 p.m. ET | Virtual | Sliding scale: $10 to $30
KnoxRoxs: Autistic Joy — A Photozine Retrospective Exhibition by Jen White-Johnson
From Jen White-Johnson (she/they): “My journey as an artist is deeply intertwined with my role as a parent. It wasn't until my son was diagnosed as autistic at age three that I began to fully embrace my own neurodivergence. I recognize my art and design practice as a critical tool for redefining my role as a disabled parent raising a disabled child. This perspective informs a framework I call ‘Disabled Mothering as an Act of Resistance.’”
The exhibition runs September 8 through October 10, 2025, at Julio Fine Arts Gallery in Baltimore, Maryland. There is also an Artist Talk on September 18, 2025, and a Disability Zine Making Workshop on October 8, 2025.
Have news, tips, joy, or actions to share? Drop us a line at Hello@DisabilityCultureLab.org. We’d love to hear from you!
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