Why Is Disability Still an Afterthought?

Why Is Disability Still an Afterthought?

From Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams by Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams

June 9, 2026 · 1h 1m · Episode 86

About this episode

Stacey Abrams discusses the challenges facing the disability community with Marlene Sallo and Spencer West, highlighting the importance of disability rights and representation.

What does disability rights and representation really look like? While the Trump administration continues to decimate access to healthcare and dismantle civil rights, disabled Americans are often among those most affected and most overlooked. More than 70 million adults in the United States live with a disability, navigating barriers that extend far beyond health care. This week, Stacey is joined by Marlene Sallo, Executive Director of the National Disability Rights Network, and disability rights advocate and motivational speaker Spencer West. They discuss the challenges facing the disability community, what many people get wrong about disability rights, and why building a more accessible and inclusive society is a social justice issue that impacts us all. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here . For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast, episode title, and episode date Learn & Do More: Be Curious : Follow Spencer West on Instagram (@spencer2thewest) and expand your list of trusted creators, advocates, and journalists covering disability issues. Our guests also recommended The Anti-Ableist…

People in this episode

Host: Stacey Abrams

Guests: Marlene Sallo, Spencer West

Topics covered

  • disability rights
  • healthcare access
  • social justice
  • representation
  • advocacy

Keywords

  • disability rights
  • healthcare
  • civil rights
  • accessibility
  • social justice
  • advocacy
  • inclusion

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: National Disability Rights Network

Books & works: The Anti-Ableist Manifesto: How To Build a Disability-Inclusive World, Crip Camp

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