The disability community is mourning the loss of Alice Wong, the celebrated activist and author whose powerful work championed the rights and visibility of disabled people. She was 51 years old.
A Life Dedicated to Advocacy
Alice Wong passed away on Friday in a San Francisco hospital after battling an infection, a close friend confirmed. Sandy Ho, who had been in contact with Wong's family, shared the news and paid tribute to her friend's immense impact, describing her as a "luminary of the disability justice movement."
The daughter of immigrants from Hong Kong, Wong was diagnosed with a progressive neuromuscular disability as a child. She used a powered wheelchair and a breathing assistive device throughout her life. Her personal experiences fuelled a profound vision for a world where disabled individuals, especially those from marginalised groups like people of colour, LGBTQ communities, and immigrants, could live with complete autonomy and freedom.
Amplifying Voices and Sharing Stories
Before her death, Wong wrote a statement shared by Ho on social media. In it, she reflected on her unexpected path into activism and writing. "It was thanks to friendships and some great teachers who believed in me that I was able to fight my way out of miserable situations into a place where I finally felt comfortable in my skin," Wong wrote. She powerfully asserted that "We need more stories about us and our culture," a principle that guided her work.
Ho emphasised that Wong was a staunch advocate for "getting people out of institutions and remaining in the community." This mission was realised through her prolific output, which included books she authored and edited, as well as the influential Disability Visibility Project blog she founded. This platform was instrumental in sharing her own writing and amplifying the diverse voices and perspectives of others within the disability community.
A Lasting Legacy of Empowerment
Beyond her activism, Wong was remembered for her sharp wit. Ho noted that Wong was a genuinely funny person and a hilarious writer, a skill she masterfully wove into her work. Her memoir, Year of the Tiger: An Activist's Life, is filled with humorous snippets but also serves to humanise the experience of disability.
The core of Wong's enduring legacy, as articulated by Ho, is the empowerment of disabled people to "speak for themselves and that nobody speaks for us." Her remarkable contributions were nationally recognised when she was named among the 2024 class of fellows for the prestigious John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, often referred to as the "genius grant."
