Intersectional Disability Justice (IDJ) – the Network for Anti-Racism, Anti-Ableism, Diversity and Empowerment

What is Disability Justice?

Disability Justice is an emancipatory global movement for social justice which focuses on the profound interconnectedness of disability and ableism with other systems of oppression based on race, gender, class, queerness etc., as such interlocking dimensions of discrimination and exclusion may potentially reinforce one another at specific intersections. Disability Justice was developed in 2005 by Patty Berne, Mia Mingus, Stacey Milbern, Leroy F. (Disability Justice Collective): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cJkUazW-jw

Intersektionalitäty Signpost with signs for Racism, Sexism, Heterosexism, Classism, Colonialism, Ableism

Why Intersectional Disability Justice?

Intersectional Disability Justice (IDJ) was founded by Robel Afeworki Abay and Constanze Schwärzer-Dutta in 2022, to establish Disability Justice in Germany with a strong focus on intersectionality. Intersectionality can be understood as a critical feminist perspective for understanding and examining interlocking forms of discrimination such as disability, gender, race, class, etc. This means that analyzing social relations is complex and many forms of oppression like ableism, racism, sexism, and classism might be present and active at the same time in a person’s life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1islM0ytkE&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR0IYl2-LC04JQ4jwMBotKX_J2zn5jbny_OgoW-WooJa6IrK0CMzNa-rVrA

Using the anti-bias approach, the IDJ network aims to promote for anti-discrimination and diversity in organizations such as universities, federal and state authorities, foundations and NGOs. More information on anti-bias approach you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoBvzI-YZf4

Consisting of 10 trainers, the IDJ network aims to draw attention to the profound interconnectedness of intersectional systems of oppression especially between Disability, race, Gender and Queerness, as well as to the specific forms of racialized and gendered Ableism. The trainers have various expertise on these intersectional topics and offer corresponding consultations, workshops and trainings on Anti-Racism, Anti-Ableism, Diversity and Empowerment. The network has been cooperating with Gender|Queer e.V. Berlin since 2020.

For more information about our services, please contact our executive director, Robel Afeworki Abay. E-Mail: intersectional-disability-justice@gmx.de


„There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.“
(Audre Lorde, Sisters Outsider)