Disability Rights Activist and Author Alice Wong Dies at 51

The disability rights community and literary world are grieving the loss of Alice Wong, the groundbreaking activist, author, and founder of the Disability Visibility Project, who passed away at age 51. Wong’s lifelong advocacy centered disabled voices, challenged systemic ableism, and redefined cultural representation.

A Visionary in Disability Justice

Born in 1973 in Indianapolis, Indiana, Wong navigated life with a neuromuscular disability that fueled her passion for accessibility and inclusion. After earning a Master’s in medical sociology from UCSF, she pivoted from academia to activism, emerging as a leading voice in disability justice.

Her crowning achievement was founding the Disability Visibility Project (DVP) in 2014, a digital archive preserving disabled people’s oral histories in partnership with StoryCorps. The DVP became a cornerstone for intersectional disability discourse, uplifting marginalized communities, including disabled people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals.

Literary Impact and Bestselling Works

Wong’s 2020 anthology, Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century, became a seminal text in disability studies, showcasing diverse, unfiltered narratives. Her 2022 memoir, Year of the Tiger: An Activist’s Life, blended personal storytelling with incisive critiques of ableism, solidifying her literary influence.

Activism Beyond the Page

Wong tirelessly fought against policies harming disabled communities, from healthcare cuts to inaccessible spaces. She collaborated with groups like the Center for Disability Rights and Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence, ensuring disability justice was integrated into broader social movements.

Even amid health challenges, she remained a vocal advocate on social media (notably Twitter @SFdirewolf), where her humor and insights galvanized followers.

Tributes Honor Her Legacy

• Imani Barbarin (Activist): “Alice Wong taught us our stories matter. She created space when the world denied it.”
• Disability Visibility Project: “Alice believed fiercely in celebrating disabled lives. Her work lives on through collective storytelling.”

Carrying the Torch Forward

Though Wong’s passing leaves a void, her foundational work ensures the fight for equity continues. As she wrote: “Disability is not a monolith, and neither is liberation.”

Rest in power, Alice Wong (1973–2024).