Disabled people/people with disabilities — terms that I alternate throughout this blog post, recognizing that some disabled people such as myself prefer identity-first language, while other people with disabilities prefer person-first language — have disproportionately faced the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Not only have we been more likely to die from COVID-19, but our deaths have also been largely dismissed, as we hear the common refrain, “Don’t worry, only disabled and elderly people are dying.” Medical ableism has resulted in us being given do-not-resuscitate orders (DNR) against our will and denied medical care. We have had challenges obtaining personal protective equipment (PPE) and COVID-19 vaccines.

Many of us who are able to work have been laid off during the pandemic. And those of us who are not able to work have struggled to live on the poverty-level income that is provided through Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), if we are even lucky enough to receive it.

Additionally, every issue that impacts disabled people is made even harder for disabled people of color due to the intersection of ableism and racism (in addition to the white supremacy that exists within the disability community itself).

Despite the heavy toll that COVID-19 has taken on disabled people, few foundations have increased their support for us. And perhaps relatedly, representation of people with disabilities in foundations and nonprofits is lacking.

Read the full article about foundations ignoring disability by Hannah Martin at The Center for Effective Philanthropy.