We fight stigmas and advance opportunities so people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community.

Who We Are

Disability Belongs™ is a diverse, disability-led nonprofit that works to create systemic change in how society views and values people with disabilities, and that advances policies and practices that empower people with disabilities to have a better future. Our mission is to fight stigmas and advance opportunities so people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community.

Disability Belongs™ Staff

Disability Belongs™ knows that most people with disabilities can and want to fully participate in – and contribute to – all aspects of society. Disability Belongs™ shifts narratives and creates progress by centering people with lived disability experience in leadership roles, ensuring authentic representation in entertainment and news media, advancing successful public policy, and pushing for faith-based and other inclusion. The following are Disability Belongs™’ core programmatic areas:

• Entertainment and Media – Increase diverse and authentic representation of disabled people in media so people with disabilities are seen for what they can do, instead of what they cannot.
• Leadership and Workforce Development – Enable diverse people with disabilities to participate fully in decision-making.
• Policy and Civic Engagement – Promote best practices in education, employment, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and access.
• Faith and Spirituality – Ensure the inclusion of people with disabilities in faith-based communities.

Theory of Change

Disability Belongs™’ theory of change captures how our core programmatic activities intersect to drive long-term impact.

Redefining Narratives: We challenge stigma and amplify authentic narratives on disability – nothing about us, without us!

Developing Leaders: We model training and empowering the next generation of leaders in disability advocacy across our pillars.

Driving Opportunity: We take down barriers to education, employment, and civic life to enable disabled individuals to lead lives of their choosing.