ABOUT
PDX DISABLED SUPPORT
Our Beliefs
On Disability.
Disability is a spectrum and is impacted by identity and time. Race, gender, class, housing status, documentation status, and other factors shape each person’s experience of disability. One’s needs and abilities can vary throughout their life as well. We ask that those engaged in this program check in with themselves frequently to assess and communicate what is appropriate for their needs and abilities.
On Care.
Capitalism misunderstands and devalues care work and views disabled people as a commodity to be exploited and discarded. In contrast, we believe care work is not a one-way transaction, but a collaborative and emergent community process. Our support networks are meant to branch out and function in harmony with people’s needs and lifestyles. Though disabled people are the focus of our community care pods, we recognize that mutual support lifts us all up. Joining care work is a radical act. This is vital work we are proud of.
On Abolition.
Institutionalized racism occurs in care settings from private houses to hospitals. Accessing medical or psychiatric care often places black and brown people into oppressive systems and increases the chance of police interactions. The Coronavirus crisis has intensified this dynamic, as do intersecting with trans, queer, houseless, undocumented, formerly incarcerated . We’re committed to building long-lasting relationships with community members, upholding principles of disability, racial and trans justice, and providing tools for accountability within the community. This includes building support structures to take the place of calling the police and not participating in mandatory reporting.
Our History.
This work has been done for generations and continues to be shared by marginalized people everywhere. Mia Mingus, a disability justice activist from the Bay Area Transformative Justice Collective, organized many of these existing practices into a pod model which she published in 2016, and which has heavily influenced this program.
PDX Disabled Support came to fruition during the Coronavirus pandemic.
And through the Portland Community Action Network (PDXCAN). The initial idea and infrastructure began years ago through an organizer in Glitter Squadron PDX in 2016, but lacked support. As collaboration grew, we formed an independent group, PDX Disabled Support. We started as a group of mostly white, disabled, trans and queer, housed organizers. We will always aim to be more inclusive and center BIPOC and homeless people, who are especially targeted through various systems of the prison industrial complex.
Accessibility.
We are currently offering translations in Spanish, French and Russian but hope to expand these options soon. The beauty of our system is that it isn’t rooted in the state or bureaucracy and is anti-capitalistic. We’re fluid and not binary in our organizing structure which facilitates changing and growth based on changing needs.