Alice Wong was one of the most effective people challenging the Whiteness of disability communities and its many flaws, but who believed fiercely in us as a community, in disabled people as oracles.
Alice brought so much to so many of us, it’s hard to measure the kind of gratitude I have for that.
This is a wonderful way to grieve: Alice worked tirelessly to raise awareness about why Palestine was a disability justice issue and to raise funds for Gaza.
I woke up to the news that @sfdirewolf.bsky.social has passed away. I made sure to always give Alice her flowers when we texted or saw each other. I know she knew how much I loved her & appreciated the way she believed in & supported me. But I still wish I could tell her one last time.
Don't let the bastards grind you down.
‘Death remains my intimate shadow partner. It has been with me since birth, always hovering close by. I understand one day we will finally waltz together into the ether. I hope when that time comes, I die with the satisfaction of a life well-lived, unapologetic, joyful, & full of love.’
—Alice Wong
I don't know why the fuck bluesky wouldn't let me rotate the damn picture
A photo of Alice Wong and me from 2019
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I don’t want to formulate words yet, but my friend Alice Wong, @sfdirewolf.bsky.social of the Disability Visibility Project, has passed.
Here are the words she left behind:
www.instagram.com/p/DREMDNBjnq...
Examples:
"I need 2 more bags of groceries by tomorrow in midtown for a family of 4 with a gluten intolerance, DM me for more a list & more details"
"Please call representatives, here's where to find your rep's #, here's a script"
Want to use your social media for SNAP stuff?
Great!
Use it to organize help & to end legislated poverty.
These posts use our poverty for you to feel good. It objectifies our need. It's dehumanizing.
You're helping us eat because the system is starving us. That isn't award-worthy.
I keep seeing, "I saw someone post about being hungry yesterday so I gave them groceries" posts.
Please don't post about keeping us fed for a pat on the back. We see those posts & it reminds us that people may help us & then ask friends for applause.
If you're helping out folks who aren't getting SNAP next month (and possibly beyond), remember:
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Giving people things they don't actually need but things you believe they need can sometimes be worse than doing nothing at all.
One way to start helping is to ask what they're really struggling with, what might make it less of a struggle, and give them time to think about it.
This is a really important thread. Help is vital, but help with thoughtfulness, respect, and dignity makes all the difference for those who need it. These are really important suggestions.
Mini thread. For those wanting to help fill the gap for people they may know who won't get SNAP benefits for November.
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No one, and I mean NO ONE, should ever be hungry, much less starving
A frustrating thing that often arises when it comes to helping people is that often the giver wants control over what the recipient receives.
Do you want people deciding what you eat? We don't either. So let's make sure that however you're helping allows us autonomy, OK?
There are so many more ways to help other than food-centered; right now we are pawns & it's as dehumanizing as not having enough to eat (or be able to afford our safest foods) every month.
Just show us you see us as human in some way or another in addition to tangible help.
Other ways you can help:
- transportation to food banks
- volunteer at food banks
- advocate for food bank accessibility, like curbside service, mask wearing, getting items for different dietary needs
- call your congressmembers
If you're making batch food for strangers, share all the ingredients so people know whether its safe for their diets. If you're making food for individuals, make us something we enjoy AND follow our dietary needs & cooking safety needs to the T, especially for food allergies.
*NOTE* if we receive other public benefits, we may have asset limits that would affect them if we suddenly got more cash that we have to report (eg), so ask folks who are receiving other assistance what food delivery/access method will be safest/not put our benefits at risk.
You can also hand us cash, a gift card (including to grocery stores, restaurants/food delivery apps, or online retailers), or shop from our wishlists, to name a few options.
Most of all, we know what we can eat and how we can eat it.
Allow us to choose our own foods.
If you're taking us to the store, give us your budget for the trip & let us do our own shopping.
- we eat foods that are healthy, just like you
- we eat foods that are not healthy, just like you
- we eat foods that fit our dietary needs/desires, just like you
- some of us cook, some of us can't, just like you
- many of us can't access food banks whether physically or dietary
If you're helping out folks who aren't getting SNAP next month (and possibly beyond), remember:
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There is indeed something about cold weather that can contribute to you getting sick but it's not cold weather itself that makes you sick, folks.
People really still believe cold weather makes you sick.
the audhd experience workshop - starts this november
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