5 Fast Facts About Latines with Disabilities

July is National Disability Pride Month, a time to recognize the importance of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a federal law prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities in everyday activities. 

Despite this month's focus on disability culture and community, Latines with disabilities have historically received little attention; a particularly alarming reality, because, as of 2023, 1 in 6 Hispanics live with a disability. In recognition of this gap in policies and representation at the intersection of these communities, here are 5 Fast Facts about disabled Latines in the U.S.

1. There is an empirical relationship between race, ethnicity, and disability.  

Disabilities include a range of physical, sensory, intellectual and mental conditions, all of which may affect how individuals navigate daily life. The impact of a disability on a person’s life can be determined by factors from access to economic resources to cultural influences. These challenges are often further compounded for Latine individuals, who may struggle with intersecting barriers rooted in discrimination, poverty, and marginalization, such as lack of access to healthcare or stigma around disabilities. 

According to a report by the National Disability Institute, the relationship between race, ethnicity, and disability is tightly interwoven. For example, many racial and ethnic minorities live below the poverty line. While children living in poverty are more likely to be born with or develop disabilities later in life, they are also more likely to face hurdles when trying to receive the care they need. Moreover, both Latines in the U.S. and people with disabilities encounter unique obstacles when trying to search for a job, exacerbating the vicious cycle. 

2. Latines with disabilities face distinct challenges and barriers in education. 

While great strides have been made to expand access to K-12 and higher education for Latine students in the United States, Latine students with disabilities continue to lack the tailored support needed to access higher education. As the number of Latine students enrolled in public schools across the country increases, so does the number of Latine students with disabilities. According to a 2020 report by the Office of Special Education Programs, 27.18% of Hispanic and/or Latine students between the ages of 16-21 have been identified as having a disability.

This number is only expected to grow as according to a report by the National Center for Education for Education Statistics, in 2022–23, the number of students served under IDEA reached an all-time high of 7.5 million—3 percent higher than it was in 2019–20—and has continued to grow each year after the pandemic. 

Empirical research has identified flaws in existing programs meant to support Latine students with disabilities in the U.S. They are often lumped together with other minority groups, overlooking the distinct challenges they face. From microaggressions to the impacts of disciplinary practices, these students face systemic exclusion shaped by their identities. The uniqueness of the experiences of disabled Latine students calls for a unique disabled Latine lens to promote awareness and cultural sensitivity. 

3. There has been a rise in employment for Hispanics with disabilities. 

Both members of the Latine community and individuals with a disability often face significant hurdles when seeking and securing employment. These issues intersect and social stigma to inequitable access to resources. Despite this, significant progress been made. According to the National Trends in Disability Employment project from the Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire, 35.5% of U.S. Latinos aged 16 to 64 were employed between April 2022 and March of 2023, compared to 27% between April 2020 and March 2021. While there is still a long road ahead for true equity, this upward trend can be attributed to a push for greater accessibility, remote work options, and flexible hours. 

4. There are a number of organizations that support Latine individuals with disabilities. 

The National Coalition for Latinxs with Disabilities works “toward a society in which the human rights of Latina/o/xs with Disabilities are upheld and all their intersecting identities are embraced.” In collaboration with other organizations, they work on community building, educational advocacy, and research. El Groupo Vida is a network of Hispanic parents that support people with disabilities, as well as their families. The ADA Spanish Language Outreach Project has a range of objectives, working to expand ADA access to Spanish-speaking communities, as well as to develop a deeper understanding of their needs. Many other regional support groups and initiatives exist, all with the goal of uplifting disabled Latines in the country. Some examples in the DMV include GW’s Disabled Students Collective, Community Advocates 4You Incorporated, and the Maryland Community Connection.

5. Disabled Latine advocates are standing up for both themselves and their communities.

Nelly Nieblas is the Manager of Policy, Advocacy and Engagement at Disability Belongs. She is a first-generation Latina with a physical disability, with a mission to make “the outsider the insider” in context of the work she does with social change. 

Nefertiti Matos Olivares is an advocate for individuals with blindless and others living with a disability. She has appeared in various interviews and has been spotlighted for her personal and professional achievements. 

Danny J. Gomez is a Colombian American actor and disability advocate whose work includes powerful representations of characters with disabilities. He has spoken out about the importance of having characters with disabilities being played by actors who share that identity. Gomez has also brought to light the overlap between prejudices made by casting directors when working with actors with disabilities and when working with Latine actors. 

Conchita Hernández Legorreta is an advocate for the rights of blind children and their parents in public-school settings through the lens of intersectionality, she also recently received her PhD in Education from the George Washington University. 

The contributions of Latines living with disabilities is an important response to the needs evidenced in research, but there is more work to be done. Current shifts in polices are fundamentally altering their health and well-being. The Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute, through research projects like Caminos al Bienestar and The Immigrant Youth Project, studies the wellbeing of Latines in the U.S., including those living with disabilities. Research shows that public policies can acutely impact well-being – both physical and mental health leading to disabilities like depression – as exemplified by Latine youth being caught up in the mental health crisis. These findings shed light on the need to consider the intersections between communities. As July comes to a close, we encourage the celebration and inclusion in the policymaking process of Latines with disabilities not only this month, but year-round.