DISrupt West Virginia
LightNews LightNews
banner
disruptwv.bsky.social
DISrupt West Virginia
@disruptwv.bsky.social
150 followers 650 following 21 posts
A state cohort of the @TheDISruption.bsky.social. Advocating for disability rights in the mountain state. #DISruptWV #304for504

https://wvprotectsection504.carrd.co/
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
disruptwv.bsky.social
DISrupt West Virginia @disruptwv.bsky.social · Apr 14
#DISruptWV is a grassroots advocacy group. It operates as a state cohort of the national DISrupt Coalition, focusing on amplifying the voices of disabled individuals and promoting systemic change in West Virginia. #DISruptors
disruptwv.bsky.social
“The governor is saying, ‘No, I’m going to do this because this is what I want,’” she said, noting that elected lawmakers declined to loosen the state’s vaccination requirements. “[Morrisey] is not representing the people of West Virginia.”

#DISruptors #Vaccines
Morrisey’s vaccine mandate met with fractured, confused response as state law remains unchanged • West Virginia Watch
Morrisey’s vaccine mandate met with fractured, confused response as state law remains unchanged
westvirginiawatch.com
May 7, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Reposted by DISrupt West Virginia
alli.gay
I would encourage people to attend if they can! More than ever, we need cross struggle solidarity.
disruptwv.bsky.social DISrupt West Virginia @disruptwv.bsky.social · Apr 28
Join us for 5/4 for 504: A Virtual Town Hall on Sunday, May 4th at 8:30 PM EST as we come together to fight for disability rights and defend Section 504.

#DisabilityJustice #Section504
Flyer for a virtual town hall titled "5/4 for 504: A Virtual Town Hall" hosted by DISrupt West Virginia and MomsRising. Event is on Sunday, May 4th, 2025, starting at 8:30 PM EST. Two people are smiling and holding protest signs supporting disability rights. A QR code is included to join the movement.
May 4, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Reposted by DISrupt West Virginia
mtnstspotlight.bsky.social
NEW: Trump is dismantling Social Security. Here's what’s at risk for West Virginians.
mountainstatespotlight.org
May 3, 2025 at 10:15 AM
disruptwv.bsky.social
5/4 for 504: A Virtual Town Hall
8:30 - 9:30 PM EST

We are just two days away! 🤩

Have you registered? If not, here's that link: secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/...

Check out our awesome panelists who will be joining us on Sunday!

#DisabilityJustice #DISrupt
The image is an informational poster featuring a panelist named Aubrey Sparks. It has a dark teal background with subtle, small dot patterns and several light blue accent lines in the upper right corner. The main text is in a bold, large sans-serif font with varying sizes for emphasis. It introduces Aubrey Sparks as a panelist, noting her role as the ACLU West Virginia Legal Director with pronouns listed as She/Her. There is a small color photograph of the panelist on the left side, depicting a person with long dark hair, wearing a red top and smiling at the camera in front of a brick wall. Next to the image is a block of text that reads: Aubrey will join the town hall as a panelist to update us on the Texas v. Kennedy case and the concerns that still remain. She will also speak to the intersectional impacts, especially how this case could affect trans rights and broader civil rights protections. The image features a promotional poster for a panelist named Seth DiStefano. The background is a dark blue with light blue and white dotted patterns. At the top, large white and teal letters display the words "Panelist Seth DiStefano." Below, white text indicates his position as the Senior Policy Outreach Director at the WV Center on Budget and Policy, along with his pronouns "He/Him" in teal. The left side of the image includes a photograph of Seth, who is wearing a dark suit and glasses, with a neutral expression. To the right of the photo, white text reads: Seth will join the town hall as a panelist to help us unpack the current and potential impacts of dismantling the Department of Education. He'll focus on how these changes could directly affect disabled students in West Virginia.
May 2, 2025 at 8:19 PM
disruptwv.bsky.social
Join us for 5/4 for 504: A Virtual Town Hall on Sunday, May 4th at 8:30 PM EST as we come together to fight for disability rights and defend Section 504.

#DisabilityJustice #Section504
Flyer for a virtual town hall titled "5/4 for 504: A Virtual Town Hall" hosted by DISrupt West Virginia and MomsRising. Event is on Sunday, May 4th, 2025, starting at 8:30 PM EST. Two people are smiling and holding protest signs supporting disability rights. A QR code is included to join the movement.
April 28, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Reposted by DISrupt West Virginia
designermae.bsky.social
In 5th grade, I gave my first presentation on narcolepsy out of fear and desperation in an attempt to be understood by my current classmates and future teachers.

#SleepSky #Narcolepsy #Disability #Advocacy
Slide labeled 1/11 with an accent graphic to add emphasis. The text reads: “How being a Rising Voices Speaker with Project Sleep helped me find my voice again, at a time I needed it most.” The text for the entire carousel is a mix of white and teal on a blue-green gradient background. Slide labeled 2/11 with hand-drawn stars and arrows on a blue-green gradient background. The text reads: “In 5th grade, I gave my first presentation on narcolepsy. I was terrified to go to middle school. I was used to one classroom and one teacher who knew me well.” To the right is a photo of Cass from 2009. She is smiling and has long curly hair, wearing a purple graphic t-shirt, white undershirt, jeans, and gray sneakers, sitting cross-legged on a white floor against a white backdrop. Slide labeled 3/11 with a lightbulb icon and a blue-green gradient background. The text reads: "My first act of advocacy was born out of desperation, fear, and hope. I worked with my parents and teachers to create a presentation about narcolepsy, which I gave to my peers. I wanted them to look out for me. Mostly, I didn’t want to feel so alone in a new system." To the right is a photo of Cass from 2009. She is smiling and has long curly hair, wearing a purple graphic t-shirt, white undershirt, jeans, and gray sneakers, sitting cross-legged on a white floor against a white backdrop.
April 26, 2025 at 11:42 PM
disruptwv.bsky.social
“Abolishing the office would remove centralized oversight for civil rights protections, said Sarah Harris, a spokesperson for DISrupt West Virginia, a disability rights organization.”

#DisabilityJustice
"A slap in the face for working West Virginians": Morrisey admin quietly guts anti-discrimination office
The state’s Office of Equal Opportunity, which protects workers from harassment and discrimination, is Morrisey and the Legislature’s latest anti-DEI “victim”.
mountainstatespotlight.org
April 21, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Reposted by DISrupt West Virginia
broadwaybabyto.bsky.social
If you’re participating in any one of the mass protests happening across the US today… Thank you for rising up & fighting back.

Make sure you’re including disabled comrades. Wear masks, make events accessible, provide bathrooms & transportation. Don’t leave us behind.

#HandsOff #TeslaTakedown
April 19, 2025 at 8:57 PM
disruptwv.bsky.social
Another day, another rally! Whether you are resisting online or in-person, today is a day of unity. We are all in this together, fighting against injustice.

Photos were taken with permission.

#DISruptors #DisabilityJustice #DISruptWV #DISrupt #HandsOff #NoKings #Appalachia #304for504
Two women standing on a grassy area. One woman on the left is wearing a gray cap, sunglasses, black T-shirt, and shorts, holding a sign that reads, "HANDS OFF! SAVE OUR DEMOCRACY FROM FASCISTS" with silhouettes of people marked with red Xs. The woman on the right is wearing sunglasses and a white T-shirt, holding a sign that says, "#304for504 Disability rights are under attack" with the shape of West Virginia depicted. Behind them, a crowd is visible with flags in the background. A woman is holding a large sign while standing on the paved area in front of the building. The sign features a drawing of a skull and wings, with bold text “13 million people will lose health insurance,” underneath. The woman is wearing a sun hat, sunglasses, and a black t-shirt featuring a colorful quote. Behind her, a group of people is gathered, some holding placards with various messages. A woman stands on a riverside walkway, smiling and holding a large cardboard sign. The sign is shaped like a tombstone and features a drawn sun at the top with a small red heart beneath it. The text includes “Resurrect: Empathy, The N.I.H, Intelligence, PBS/NPR, Environmental Justice and National Parks.” In the background, there's a river with a concrete barricade and houses set against a hillside covered with green trees. She is wearing sunglasses, a dark t-shirt, cropped black pants, and gray sneakers. Two women participating in the demonstration. The woman on the left is wearing sunglasses, a black top, and gray pants. She holds a colorful sign that promotes voting for Democrats with emphasis on education, healthcare, climate, civil rights, jobs, women's rights, labor, immigrant rights, and reproductive rights. The woman on the right, wearing a striped top and blue jeans, holds a sign stating "President Not King." In the background, more people with signs are visible.
April 19, 2025 at 7:55 PM
disruptwv.bsky.social
You are not broken. You are not a burden. You are powerful.

#DisabilityJustice #AffirmDisabledLives #RestIsResistance #DISruptWV #DISrupt #SoftAndRadical #DisabilityPride
Dark blue background with the text "Affirmations for the Disability Community," a blue heart, and an arrow.
April 19, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Reposted by DISrupt West Virginia
moira.bsky.social
Age will also disable many of us.
So will illness and/or injuries.

Centering disability justice takes care of all of us.
bilboyaga.bsky.social Bilbo Yaga @bilboyaga.bsky.social · Nov 6
Ableism teaches us to abandon each other.

Racism will disable you.
Transphobia will disable you.
Long COVID will disable you.
Genocide will disable you.
Climate change will disable you.

Do not obey when told to abandon the vulnerable.

Resistance & communities must be rooted in disability justice.
April 18, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Reposted by DISrupt West Virginia
broadwaybabyto.bsky.social
Disability is one of the few minority groups you can join at any time.

People believe they will be the exception & have trouble accepting they’re likely to become disabled at some point in their lives.

Work on internalized ableism. Engage in disability justice. It will benefit you in the long run
April 18, 2025 at 4:57 AM
disruptwv.bsky.social
Disability justice collective DISrupt West Virginia added that they are ready to stand up for their community. “504 has protected disabled people for 50 years. If they think we’ll let them gut it without a fight, they haven’t met DISrupt.”
Robert Kennedy Jr assures agencies they can discriminate against trans people - LGBTQ Nation
His latest move is being called out as a threat to protections for all disabled Americans.
www.lgbtqnation.com
April 18, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Reposted by DISrupt West Virginia
50501movement.bsky.social
You’ve probably seen people mention the 3.5% Rule. But do you know what it really means? 1/
White text on black background with a big 50501 logo at the bottom. The 50501 logo is a blue circle within a white circle within a red circle. The blue circle has "50" over another "50" and a big "1" to the right of those 50's. The blue circle also has a ring of white start near its outer edge. Text at the top reads: "What really is the 3.5% Rule?" White text on black background with a small 50501 logo at the bottom. Text reads: What is the 3.5% Rule? Political scientist Erica Chenoweth (they/them) studied over 300 violent and nonviolent campaigns. They found that when 3.5% of a population joins in a “peak” action, movements have been highly likely to succeed at “maximalist” goals, such as removing a national leader. The 3.5% rule helps us imagine what’s possible. In the U.S. that’s about 11.7 million people or about 107 people in every city and town. We don’t need everyone. We just need enough. Source: Erica Chenoweth, “Questions, Answers, and Some Cautionary Updates Regarding the 3.5% Rule” (2020) White text on black background with a small 50501 logo at the bottom. Text reads: The 3.5% Rule; Maximalist Goals; Historically, when 3.5% of a population has joined together in non-violent action, success at achieving “maximalist” goals has often followed. Maximalist goals are the most ambitious demands a movement can make such as removing a national leader from office, ending an occupying force, or achieving territorial independence. These goals seek to change who holds power or control, rather than making policy reforms within the existing system. Source: Erica Chenoweth, “Questions, Answers, and Some Cautionary Updates Regarding the 3.5% Rule” (2020) White text on black background with a small 50501 logo at the bottom. Text reads: The 3.5% Rule; 3.5% is based on peak participation, not cumulative participation; Many people mistakenly think the rule refers to everyone who ever joined the movement. Chenoweth’s statistic is about how many people were involved at the movement’s largest moment of visible, act of resistance. The rule is descriptive, not prescriptive; Chenoweth only noticed the 3.5% pattern after the fact, when asked how many people it takes to win. The number was not part of the original hypothesis or a forecast; it emerged from the data. Source: Erica Chenoweth, “Questions, Answers, and Some Cautionary Updates Regarding the 3.5% Rule” (2020)
April 17, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Reposted by DISrupt West Virginia
gravelinfluencer.bsky.social
The full quote from RFK, Jr. is truly disgusting and this is 100% him calling for institutionalization of autistic people. This is horrifying.
“These are kids who will never pay taxes,” Kennedy declared. “They’ll never hold a job. They’ll never play baseball. They’ll never write a poem. They’ll never go out on a date. Many of them will never use a toilet unassisted. We have to recognize we are doing this to our children.”
April 16, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Reposted by DISrupt West Virginia
westvirginiawatch.com
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Wednesday the department will shift its research into autism toward potential environmental causes, reports @jennifershutt.bsky.social.
RFK Jr. to refocus federal autism research on environmental factors • West Virginia Watch
WASHINGTON — U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Wednesday the department will shift its research into autism toward potential environmental causes, though he…
buff.ly
April 16, 2025 at 11:00 PM
disruptwv.bsky.social
See you there. #DISruptors
Protest flyer with a design that includes a tombstone graphic and various text elements. At the top left, there is a tombstone with the words “RIP Democracy: Protest & Die-in.” To the right, two black rectangular shapes contain the date “April 19, 2025” and time “12:00 PM” in red text. Occupying the central portion, the text declares “West Virginia State Capitol Complex” in bold white letters against a green background. Below, an informative paragraph invites people to join a protest, emphasizing the theme “Dying to See Change in America?” Additional text at the bottom includes several logos: “United West Virginia” with a rainbow and handshake design, the 50501 logo, and an Indivisible logo. There is also a QR code situated in the bottom right corner on a gray background, along with grunge textures enhancing the flyer’s appearance.
April 16, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Reposted by DISrupt West Virginia
mghaigh.bsky.social
Disability justice, environmental justice, climate justice, worker justice, and the fight against fascism are one fight. Our lives and deaths mean nothing to billionaires -- so we better fight like hell for one another.
kimkelly.bsky.social Kim Kelly @kimkelly.bsky.social · Apr 14
BREAKING: The United Mineworkers and United Steelworkers unions are suing the Trump admin over its decision to delay enforcement of a lifesaving new silica rule meant to curb the black lung epidemic in Appalachia.

My exclusive for @inthesetimesmag.bsky.social: inthesetimes.com/article/trum...
Trump Just Escalated His War on Coal Miners. Their Unions Are Fighting Back.
The Trump administration’s feckless business-first, workers-last approach is leaving the nation’s coal miners to die—and now their unions are taking him to court.
inthesetimes.com
April 14, 2025 at 8:05 PM
disruptwv.bsky.social
“At the heart of Charting My Path was one of the most promising, research-based services: building students' self-determination skills by working with them to set goals, then helping create concrete plans to achieve them.”
DOGE abruptly cut a program for teens with disabilities. This student is 'devastated'
The program, Charting My Path for Future Success, aimed to help teens with disabilities transition from high school to the real world. It abruptly ended when DOGE terminated its federal contract.
www.npr.org
April 15, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Reposted by DISrupt West Virginia
mtnstspotlight.bsky.social
Following Mountain State Spotlight reporting on Meals on Wheels waitlists in West Virginia, a new state official said the issue sprung to the top of her list of job duties. But federal cuts could make solving the problem harder.
IMPACT: Seniors aren’t getting the help they need. State officials are now searching for solutions.
West Virginia seniors can’t get delivered meals as families of those with dementia go without help. A new official is digging into why.
mountainstatespotlight.org
April 14, 2025 at 8:30 PM
disruptwv.bsky.social
RFL Jr. did NOT remove gender dysphoria from #Section504. He simply pointed out a loophole that we knew existed.

Don’t panic. Get precise.
#DisabilityJustice includes trans people. Period.
#50for504
Infographic text clarifies that the Section 504 preamble is not law and this information is not new, referencing a 2022 OCR statement. Includes chat bubble icons and the DISrupt West Virginia logo. Infographic text clarifies there is confliction in the courts and that federal protections may vary. It explains that gender dysphoria often qualifies as a disability, but outdated legal exclusions still block enforcement in some courts. Includes a textured teal push pin and the DISrupt West Virginia logo. The infographic references Williams v. Kincaid, which recognizes gender dysphoria under the ADA. This is within the Fourth Circuit’s jurisdiction, which includes Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and West Virginia. An illustration of a hand writing with a pen appears beside the text. The DISrupt West Virginia logo sits in the lower right corner. Bold message reads “Don’t panic. Get precise. Disability justice includes trans people. Period.” Overlay includes trans pride flags and protest signs reading “TRANS RIGHTS NOW!” and “AMEND THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT.”
April 15, 2025 at 12:28 AM