Pitting the need for state and systemic change against individual and community change sets up a false binary. Both are necessary to get out of the pandemic mess we are in, just as both are necessary for any kind of liberation we are fighting for. If transformative justice teaches us anything, it is that systemic change alone is not enough. There are also many changes that must happen at the community and individual levels as well.

(personal note: most of you are here, and you are failing spectacularly.)

This pandemic will create millions more disabled people with chronic illnesses. Are we ready for what is coming next? Are we prepared for how many more disabled people with chronic health conditions there will be? Are we ready for how that will and should necessarily shift our movements and political work? Or are we going to continue to shut out disability and disabled people from movements and communities? Are we going to continue to not include ableism and abled supremacy in our liberation work?

Disabled people are not disposable. We are your feared present and your inevitable future. We are what age and time promise more than anything else, and this is one reason you fear us and why you have continually pushed us away and hidden us.

Nearly four years ago, which itself was two years into this pandemic, and nothing has changed. I'm beginning to think nothing will change. Well, that's wrong. There will be more and more death and maiming while the elephant trumpets on. I would say adapt or die, but my bets are on death winning if the last six (!!) years are any indication. Hope it's worth it.