March 1st, 2024 – 8 PM EST
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Over 700 disabled people have been murdered by their caregivers in the past 5 years. We must stand together to condemn these acts and change the way disabled life is regarded as disposable.
Each year on March 1st, the Pittsburgh disability community comes together to mourn and call for justice for the dozens of disabled people murdered by their parents and caregivers. As we come together for the eleventh year in Pittsburgh, we embrace our community and reject narratives that dehumanize us and cast our deaths as good or justified.
People with disabilities are twice as likely as non-disabled people to be victims of violent crime. Every year, the national media covers dozens of stories about murders of people with disabilities by family members or caregivers, and many more go unnoticed. Too often, the coverage focuses on sympathy for the murderer, because they had to live with or care for a person with a disability. The message to the public is that our lives—not our deaths—are the tragedy.
Program Order
Opening by Opal Middleton
Speakers
- Elaine Houston
- Dr. Bethany Ziss
- Alisa Grishman
- Sarah Selvaggi Hernandez
Remembrance
- Michael James remembers Ricky Pascoe
Reading of Names
Closing
Speakers
Opal Middleton (they/them) is trans and nonbinary, Autistic and multiply disabled and parents Autistic and Disabled young people. Opal is PCAA’s co-pilot. They work for a world that is just, equitable, and joyful.
Elaine Houston (she/her) is a multiply disabled Pittsburgh transplant, volunteer patient advocate, and disability rights advocate. She can frequently be spotted in the community with her service dog, Oak III, from Canine Companions.
Bethany Ziss (she/her) is a disabled person and a doctor, who believes the two are not mutually exclusive.
Alisa Grishman (she/her) is a disability activist, a self-described shameless agitator, and has been arrested multiple times fighting for disability rights. She founded Access Mob Pittsburgh and co-runs Ballots for Patients and Care to Vote.
Sarah Selvaggi Hernandez (she/they) is a Deaf.Autistic author, educator, occupational therapist, and international speaker. She was also the first openly Autistic person elected to serve in the United States government. She runs the popular social media site The Autistic OT and is currently joining the autistic community’s effort to #StopTheShock at the Judge Rotenberg Center in Canton, MA.
Michael James (he/him) is a queer disabled designer, facilitator, and leader. He has learned about what the Pittsburgh healthcare system is like for disabled people as a patient, peer, and advocate.
Production
Video production and streaming support is generously provided by GenderMeowster.
GenderMeowster (they/them) is a multiply disabled, non-binary, AuDHD streamer who often collaborates with their friends on stream and hosts shows like Genderful Podcast (most Mondays), Doing the Work (every other Tuesday), Shenanigans (every other Tuesday), In The Meme Time (first Thursday of the month), Contributor Appreciation Day/ small mutual aid stream (second Thursday of the month), and Tarot 4 Trans (third Thursday of the month). Their friends do a week-long Clowder Takeover roughly the 4th week of every month.
They also started Gender Federation, a group of streamers and organizers that organize (roughly quarterly) 4-day long mutual aid events benefitting multiply marginalized folks with surgery, housing, or access needs. Their content is comfy, cozy, and wholesome with a focus on intersectional justice and there is a large group of neuro-wonderful gender-diverse folks in their community.
What’s Next?
Crisis Resources
The vigil can bring up many different kinds of feelings. It is okay not to be okay. If you are in crisis please do not hesitate to reach out.
- Re:solve Crisis Network: 1-888-796-8226
- Trans LifeLine: 877-565-8860
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
- Center for Victims Hotline: 866-644-2882
- Deaf Crisis Line: VP: 321-800-3323
Help with Self-Care
- Everything Is Awful and I’m Not Okay: questions to ask before giving up
- You feel like shit: an interactive self-care flow chart
Access Information
Automatic live captioning and ASL interpretation will be provided. For additional access needs or questions, please email info@autisticpgh.org.
If you believe a person with a disability is in danger or being abused call:
Childline: 1-800-932-0313
Adult Protective Services: 1-800-490-8505
PCAA extends our special thanks to the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, our interpreters and captioner, and PCAA’s amazing team of volunteers for their roles in making this event possible.
