About Us.
Our Origins.
Disability Power & Pride was founded in 2009 after the first Disability Power & Pride Inaugural Ball to help fill a void: being overtly political. As a 501(c)(4) organization, we helped spearhead presidential campaign fundraising for the disability community and worked closely with the Obama administration to place more political appointees from the disability community than ever before.
About the Ampersand.
The ampersand (“&”) symbolizes our shared identity. Disability is a natural part of life, yet only one part. We have disabilities, and our friends and family have disabilities. We are architects, athletes, entertainers, businesspeople, politicians, artists, lawyers, engineers, citizens, neighbors, friends, parents — and we all have disabilities. The ampersand also symbolizes our multifaceted identities, including diversity of race, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexuality, class, and religion. We are a diverse but interconnected community of people with Power & Pride.
Building Community.
We are committed to building community as the foundation for collective political power. DPoP is dedicated to fostering meaningful connections between members of the disability community and our allies. While the disability community has made significant strides with disability-specific and geographically focused organizing, we recognize that our true strength lies in uniting our voices and broadening our collective reach. By coming together, we amplify our power and drive lasting change.
Through mutual understanding and shared experiences, we can better address the issues that impact our community on a daily basis. This solidarity empowers us to act and tackle challenges both locally and nationally with a unified front.
