Be sure to explore our Reproductive Justice Toolkit for more at CRDJustice.org/repro.
And, make sure to follow @blackmamasmatter.bsky.social and support the Black-led orgs carrying #BMHW26 forward all year!
#BlackMaternalHealth #BlackMaternalHealthWeek #DisabilityJustice #ReproductiveJustice
A mauve and navy gradient background with illustrated white blossoms in the top left and a pink tulip in the top right. Large white text reads “LEARN MORE: REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE TOOLKIT” with the URL “CRDJustice.org/repro” below. Three policy brief covers are displayed in a staggered layout, titled “Reproductive Justice Policy & Disability,” “Maternal Medicaid Matters: Expanding Coverage and Access for Black Disabled Mothers,” and “Reproductive Justice in Maternal Deserts: Confronting Racism and Ableism in Obstetric Care.” Text on the left reads: “+ Video Resources, + Reproductive Justice Briefs, + Related Blogs …and more!” The Center for Racial & Disability Justice logo sits in the bottom left.
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A navy and mauve gradient background with illustrated pale dried flowers in the top left, pink blossoms along the left side, and small purple wildflowers on the right. Small white text at the top reads “IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY.” A large white heading reads “WHAT WE’RE CALLING FOR.” A bulleted list below reads: Black-led, disability-informed doula and perinatal care; Expanded Medicaid coverage before, during, and after pregnancy; Provider training in disability and racial justice; Abolishing forced sterilization and protecting reproductive autonomy; Building accountability through intersectional oversight and disability data justice.
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A navy-to-mauve gradient background with illustrated dried Queen Anne’s lace along the right side and small pink blossoms along the bottom. A large white quotation mark sits in the upper left. White text reads: “Where are the voices of Black disabled women in these critical conversations about maternal health?” Attribution below reads: “— Kyanda Bailey, CRDJ Fellow.” A citation at the bottom reads: “Bailey, K. (2025, January 10). Breaking the silence: Maternal health and Black disabled women. Center for Racial and Disability Justice, Medium.”
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A navy and mauve gradient background with illustrated white blossoms in the top left and pink wildflowers along the right side. Small white text at the top reads “For Black disabled women, these risks compound.” Larger white text below reads “Black disabled women face rates of severe maternal morbidity over 6 TIMES HIGHER than White nondisabled women,” with “6 TIMES HIGHER” highlighted in a pink block. Smaller text below reads: “Yet, disability is often overlooked or treated as a secondary consideration in maternal health policy.” A citation at the bottom reads: “Horner-Johnson, W., Garg, B., Snowden, J. M., Caughey, A. B., Slaughter-Acey, J., Akobirshoev, I., & Mitra, M. (2024). Severe Maternal Morbidity and Other Perinatal Complications Among Black, Hispanic, and White Birthing Persons With and Without Physical Disabilities. Journal of Women’s Health.”
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A navy-to-mauve gradient background with illustrated blue-white blossoms branching down the right side and pale dried flowers at the bottom left. Large white text reads: “More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable.” A citation at the bottom reads: “Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Working together to reduce Black maternal mortality.”
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A mauve and navy gradient background with illustrated white blossoms draping from the top and a large pink cosmos flower in the bottom left. White and pink text reads: “In 2023, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was 50.3 per 100,000 live births, nearly 3.5 times the rate for White women.” The key figures “50.3 per 100,000” and “3.5 times” are highlighted in pink. A citation at the bottom reads: “Hoyert, D. L. (2025). Maternal mortality rates in the United States, 2023. National Center for Health Statistics.”
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A vertical graphic with a dusky blue-to-mauve gradient background, scattered with illustrated pink and white blossoms and branches in the corners. Large white text reads “BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH WEEK 2026.” The Center for Racial & Disability Justice logo sits in the bottom left. Body text in the bottom right reads: “Black Maternal Health Week is founded and led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance. Swipe through to learn about why this work matters.”
As Black Maternal Health Week wraps up, we’re sitting with the data & the stakes. Black women face maternal mortality rates 3.5x higher than White women, despite 80%+ of pregnancy-related deaths being preventable. For Black disabled women, the risks only compound.
Learn more in this thread! [1/7]
And a huge thanks to our co-hosts: the Institute for Policy Integrity at @nyulaw.bsky.social, the Environmental & Climate Justice Initiative at @nyulaw.bsky.social, & @ndrnadvocates.bsky.social for making this day happen. More to come! [3/3]
#DisabilityJustice #ClimateJustice #EnvironmentalJustice
A few key takeaways: definitions of disability are not neutral and shape whose experiences get recognized; disability is produced through environmental & climate injustice, not just a pre-existing vulnerable group; and climate & environmental justice work is disability justice work. [2/3]
A white NYU flag with the purple torch logo hangs from a building on a clear, sunny day. Tall buildings line the street under a bright blue sky.
Two photos stacked vertically. On top, four people stand together smiling in front of a white wall, wearing name tags. From left to right: Dimitri Nesbitt, Kyanda Bailey, Kate Caldwell, and Jordyn Jensen. On bottom, a panel presentation in progress. Dimitri Nesbitt speaks into a microphone on the left, with Kate Caldwell seated beside him and Jordyn Jensen further right. Behind them, a large screen displays a Zoom view with an ASL interpreter on the left, a second video feed on the right, and live captions along the bottom.
We're still thinking about last week's incredible convening at NYU on disability justice and environmental & climate justice. Our team led a session unpacking how definitions of disability shape decisionmaking, naming eco-ableism, and grounding it in disability justice. [1/3]
A social media graphic set against a photograph of a burned-out home with charred brick walls, debris, and a person in a knit hat sitting among the rubble. The Center for Racial & Disability Justice logo sits at the top. A blue banner reads "Public Comment Letter" and a red tag reads "April 3, 2026." White text announces: "RE: Creation of a State, Local, Territory & Tribal (SLTT) Emergency Management Toolkit." A white card below reads: "National Council on Disability. CRDJ submitted recommendations to NCD on building a disability-inclusive emergency management toolkit, centering the leadership of disabled people, particularly disabled people of color and Indigenous disabled people, in disaster planning, response, and recovery." The card links to CRDJustice.org.
A black graphic titled "Recommendations," dated April 3, 2026. White text lists five bulleted recommendations: Center disabled leadership in SLTT emergency planning. Build accessibility in from the start across shelters, evacuation routes, and communication. Ground tribal planning in sovereignty and Indigenous data governance. Prevent forced institutionalization by maintaining community-based services, personal care, and medical equipment during and after disasters. Address intersecting harms by ensuring plans account for how race, poverty, housing instability, immigration status, and language access compound disaster vulnerability. At the bottom: "Learn How At CRDJustice.org."
Disaster response & emergency management fail disabled people by design.
We submitted a letter to the National Council on Disability urging them to ground their new toolkit in disability justice, tribal sovereignty, & the leadership of disabled people.
Read at crdjustice.org/public-comment-letters
When Black mothers seek out prenatal care, they first have to ask: Where is going to be safe for me?
Black women are under-represented, under-served, and under-protected in our health care system—and they deserve better.
The National Action Network is speaking up. We must too. #BlackMaternalHealth
Here's a short, succinct alt text description for the image: "Newsweek headline about Donald Trump's statement on redirecting government funds from Medicare and daycare to military spending. Includes a 'Thanks, I hate it' emoji."
A screenshot of a meme features two sections. The top displays text about President Trump discussing states funding care programs with a military focus. The bottom shows a person, appearing unimpressed, alongside the caption, "Very uninterested in that option.
An excited individual pointing and shouting, with a caption quoting President Trump about challenges in handling programs like day care, Medicaid, and Medicare, followed by "THE LIES! THE LIES!" written at the bottom.
This image is an infographic with the headline: "Reminder: this war costs taxpayers $1 billion dollars a day." It highlights that this money could alternatively fund: 160.67 million people receiving SNAP Benefits, 21.85 million people receiving paid parental leave, and 67.92 million adults receiving Medicaid. The bottom reads, "Our public dollars should fund our care." The logo of "Caring Across" is at the bottom.
📢 Our public dollars should fund our care.
www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-us-governme...
#ProtectMedicaid #Breaking
Excited to see our report with @hrw.org & @nylpi.bsky.social in @nyamnews.bsky.social, covering its rights-based approach to non-police mental health crisis response and the racial & disability disparities that make these alternatives necessary.
Full report: crdjustice.org/crisis-response-report
Two brilliant civil rights lawyers - one Asian American; one Black American. Both women. @aclu.org’s Cecellia Wang & @legaldefensefund.bsky.social’s @janainelson.bsky.social. They argued two of the most consequential cases in SCOTUS this year. This embrace is one of my favorite moments of the day.
I'm live-posting about the #SCOTUS birthright citizenship argument with my CNN colleagues over at CNN.com:
www.cnn.com/2026/04/01/p...
A graphic with a soft, multicolored gradient background in pastel tones. At the top left is the DREDF logo. Large, bold black text centered on the image reads: “International Day of Transgender Visibility.” Along the bottom is an illustration of a diverse group of people standing together, shown as simple line drawings with varied hairstyles, clothing, and body types, representing community and inclusion.
Today is Trans Day of Visibility.
Visibility is not enough.
Congress is advancing bills that would restrict gender-affirming care for trans youth.
Care saves lives. Decisions belong with patients, families, and providers.
Take action: https://tinyurl.com/ProtectTransCare
I will always recommend this article by @bethhawkins.bsky.social www.the74million.org/article/amer...
Tired: Medicaid cuts will impact ABA therapy for autistic kids
Wired: Why does Medicaid basically only cover ABA therapy for autistic kids, when many autistic adults speak about the trauma they've experienced for it?
Having police as the primary or default responders to people experiencing mental health crises is ineffective and sometimes lethal. Fortunately, there are alternate approaches.
Read more: bit.ly/3PF3Ykf
As governments across the country push toward expanding coercive and carceral mental health interventions, our new report with @hrw.org and @nylpi.bsky.social documents that non-police, rights-respecting crisis response alternatives exist. We must invest in and support them.
The white and orange event title for "At the Intersection of Disability Justice and Environmental and Climate Justice" is centered at the top of a red, teal, and black halftone gradient. Bolded white text reads "Session" with icons for American Sign Language interpreting, Closed Captioning, and masking, with more text reading, "Where Do We Go From Here? Promising Practices." Headshots for panelists Eugene Massey, Daphne Frias, and moderator Anakaren Santana, alongside descriptions, frame the center of the image. At the bottom, white text reads "April 7, 2026 NYU Wagner" with the event's hyperlink underneath.
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The white and orange event title for "At the Intersection of Disability Justice and Environmental and Climate Justice" is centered at the top of a red, orange, and black halftone gradient. Bolded white text reads "Session" with icons for American Sign Language interpreting, Closed Captioning, and masking, with more text reading, "Considering Impacts on People with Disabilities in Rulemaking." Headshots for panelists Andy Stawasz, Cary LaCheen, Rick Keigwin, and moderator Al Huang, alongside descriptions, frame much of the center of the image. At the bottom, white text reads "April 7, 2026 NYU Wagner" with the event's hyperlink underneath.
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The white and orange event title for "At the Intersection of Disability Justice and Environmental and Climate Justice" is centered at the top of an indigo, maroon, and black halftone gradient. Bolded white text reads "Session" with icons for American Sign Language interpreting, Closed Captioning, and masking, with more text reading, "Considering Impacts on People with Disabilities in Emergency Planning & Response." Headshots for panelists L. Vance Taylor, Ranie Thompson, and moderator Marlene Sallo, alongside descriptions, frame the center of the image. At the bottom, white text reads "April 7, 2026 NYU Wagner" with the event's hyperlink underneath.
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The white and orange event title for "At the Intersection of Disability Justice and Environmental and Climate Justice" is centered at the top of a black and blue halftone gradient. Bolded white text reads "Session" with icons for American Sign Language interpreting, Closed Captioning, and masking, with more text reading, "What Data is Available for Use in Decision-Making?" Headshots for panelists Tai Lung, Jayajit Chakraborty, PhD, Bonnielin Swenor, PhD, and moderator Marianne Engelman-Lado, alongside descriptions, make up the center of the image. At the bottom, white text reads "April 7, 2026 NYU Wagner" with the event's hyperlink underneath.
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The white and orange event title for "At the Intersection of Disability Justice and Environmental and Climate Justice" is centered at the top of a green, black, and blue half-tone gradient. Bolded white text reads "Session" with icons for American Sign Language interpreting, Closed Captioning, and masking, with more text reading "Fault Lines: Disability as a Stress Test for Environmental Justice." Headshots for presenters Kate Caldwell, PhD, Jordyn Jensen, and Dimitri Nesbitt, alongside descriptions, take up most of the central image. At the bottom, white text reads "April 7, 2026 NYU Wagner" with the event's hyperlink underneath.
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The white and orange event title for "At the Intersection of Disability Justice and Environmental and Climate Justice" is centered at the top of a teal, black, and blue half-tone gradient. Bolded white text reads "Opening Fireside Chat" with headshots of activist Richard Moore and special counsel Steven J. Schwartz framing the center of the image. White text describes the panelists, with smaller headshots and descriptions for Marianne Engelman-Lado and Al Huang underneath. At the bottom, white text reads "April 7, 2026 NYU Wagner" with the event's hyperlink underneath.
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The white and orange event title for "At the Intersection of Disability Justice and Environmental and Climate Justice" is centered at the top of a green and black half-tone gradient. White uppercase text reads "Next Steps in Considering Impacts on People with Disabilities in Environmental and Climate Decisionmaking." Below on the left, gold text reads "April 7, 2026," "Beginning 9 AM," and "Hybrid Event" with icons for Closed Captioning, American Sign Language interpreting, and masking. The NYU Wagner logo appears in white with "Faculty Seminar Room" and "105 East 17th Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY" in gold text beneath. On the right, an orange "Register Now" button sits above a QR code with the event's hyperlink underneath. A torn paper effect transitions to a light gray bottom section featuring logos for the Institute for Policy Integrity (NYU Law), National Disability Rights Network, Environmental Justice Initiative (NYU Law), and Center for Racial & Disability Justice (UCLA).
The schedule is here! Join us for "At the Intersection of Disability Justice and Environmental & Climate Justice," a convening on environmental & climate decisionmaking for disabled people.
April 7 | 9 AM
NYU Wagner + Zoom
tinyurl.com/yehrtr8x
More on sessions & speakers in this thread. [1/7]
Social media graphic with the Center for Racial & Disability Justice logo in the top left corner. The background is a black-and-white photograph of disabled World War II veterans in wheelchairs holding protest signs including 'Don't Let Us Down,' 'How Dare They,' 'Don't Break Promises,' and 'How About Brooklyn VA Hospital?' Below the photo, the blog title reads 'From Veterans to Wards: The New Guardianship Pipeline' with 'Veterans,' 'Wards,' and 'Guardianship Pipeline' in bold red. The bottom shows 'by Kate Caldwell' and the Medium logo.
A veteran survives service, bureaucracy, housing instability—& the government's answer is guardianship.
In our latest blog, Kate Caldwell breaks down the new DOJ–VA agreement that lets government attorneys initiate guardianship against the very veterans they serve.
Read at tinyurl.com/VeteranBlog
