Disability Policy in the Context of Intersectionality, Contemporary Oppressions, and Injustices: Toward a Just Future

Abstract

This article connects the pillars of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to the complexities of living and dying in the United States. Our argument navigates among the emancipatory intent of ADA and the lives of people whose access to power, emancipation, and transformation are compromised by the historical and contemporary divisions of difference that infuse everyday life. The gaps between the possibilities of public policy, missed opportunities, and current realities create a significant, lasting impact on generations of Americans. While we acknowledge the landmark significance of ADA, we also press the imperative to expand and strengthen its impact. This article is framed in intersectionality, the politics of difference, and the potential of social policy.