Following the death of disability rights activist Alice Wong in November at age 51, tributes from around the world poured in. The following are among those shared with Able News.
Iowa Senator Tom Harkin (retired), lead author of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), expressed his gratitude for her lifelong work and sadness at the news of her death. “Alice never gave up on the fight for full inclusion for all people with disabilities,” Harkin said. “She was a trailblazer.”
“I was deeply saddened to hear the news of Alice Wong’s death. As a disability activist and writer, she spent her life not only telling her own brilliant stories, but also the stories of so many others with disabilities—spotlighting important accounts that too often are left untold.” – NYC Comptroller, Brad Lander
“Over the years, many have tried to bring more visibility nationally to the collective disability community, but Alice Wong had the creativity to truly leverage social media to make that happen. Her presence will be deeply missed,” – Beth Haller, a Facebook friend and former New Yorker, co-founder of GADIM, the Global Alliance for Disability in Media and Entertainment.
“Alice Wong’s passing is a tremendous loss for the disability community,” says Daniel Van Sant, Director of Disability Policy at The Harkin Institute. “[Wong] was one of the most visible and influential leaders in the disability justice movement. Her books and advocacy have left an indelible mark on me and so many others.”
“As someone who also is a disabled person who was mainstreamed in public school, Alice’s story deeply resonated with me. Her work inspired me to become an advocate and I hope to live up to her legacy in my work to make NYC a more accessible place to live” – Nick Astor, Constituency liaison for People with Disabilities at the NYC Comptroller’s Office.