Navigating the intersection of racism, ableism, and economic inequality poses significant challenges for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals with disabilities. These challenges compound vulnerability, leading to higher poverty rates, limited educational attainment, and economic instability.
Intersectionality, a framework by Kimberlé Crenshaw, examines how overlapping forms of discrimination exacerbate systemic inequalities. The original brief from the National Disability Institute explores the economic disparities faced by BIPOC individuals with disabilities and highlights strategies to address these inequities in further depth.
Poverty and financial disparities are stark. Individuals with disabilities, regardless of race or ethnicity, are more likely to live in poverty. BIPOC individuals with disabilities face the highest poverty rates. Historical practices like redlining and employment discrimination, coupled with ableism, have left Black and Latinx individuals with disabilities significantly disadvantaged in savings and net worth.
For instance, households with a disabled working-age householder have an average net worth of $14,180, compared to $83,985 for other households. Black and Latinx households with disabilities are more likely to be “cost burdened,” spending over 30% of their income on housing.
Employment disparities are also evident. BIPOC individuals with disabilities, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, face significant challenges in finding employment.
- Black individuals with disabilities experienced the highest job losses during the pandemic.
- Telecommuting offers new opportunities but requires targeted employer outreach for accessibility.
- Lower educational attainment further compounds economic challenges for BIPOC individuals with disabilities, reducing job opportunities and earning potential.
- Housing cost burdens and limited healthcare access disproportionately affect BIPOC individuals with disabilities, especially in low-income neighborhoods, exacerbated by the pandemic.
Addressing the crisis:
- Leverage intersectionality in disability advocacy to address compounded discrimination.
- Policymakers should increase investment in community development, affordable housing, and workforce development programs.
- Strengthen enforcement of anti-discrimination laws.
- Implement financial inclusion initiatives.
Financial inclusion and employer collaboration are crucial in addressing economic inequality and disparities faced by BIPOC individuals with disabilities. ABLE accounts and recent updates to the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) provide pathways to financial stability and economic empowerment.
Employers can play a key role by partnering with disability advocacy organizations, ensuring accessible workplace policies and technologies, and promoting telecommuting opportunities. Investments in accessible, high-quality education for individuals with disabilities, especially in underserved communities, can create pathways out of poverty.
By implementing targeted and intersectional approaches to economic empowerment, we can dismantle the barriers faced by BIPOC individuals with disabilities and ensure economic self-sufficiency and dignity for everyone.
Read the brief from National Disability Institute, August 2020.
