DISrupt West Virginia

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

“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

Thank you for amplifying ❤️

I would encourage people to attend if they can! More than ever, we need cross struggle solidarity.

NEW: Trump is dismantling Social Security. Here's what’s at risk for West Virginians.

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.

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

Use this link to register: secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/...

This is just the beginning, we’re building a movement rooted in justice, solidarity, and the power of disabled voices. Let's make our first town hall a powerful one!

You can meet the team, get updates on all things 504, and hear from expert guest panelists. Before you leave the call, we will provide you tools to ‘Join the DISruption,’ and you will leave empowered to take action for disability justice in the Mountain State.

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.

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

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.

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

"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”.

“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

We had at least 10 around the state today! 💙

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

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.

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

Join our conversation! What’s an affirmation you would share with the community? #Disability #DisabilityCommunity

Dark blue background reads: stating "Disabled Lives are Valuable With or Without Productivity, Performance, or Proof." Includes a teal graffiti-styled exclamation mark.

Disabled lives are valuable with or without productivity, performance, or proof.

Period.

#AffirmDisabledLives #DisabilityJusice

Dark blue background reads: "The Disability Community is a Wellspring of Creativity, Brilliance, and Resistance." Includes a teal graffiti-styled exclamation mark.

The disability community is a wellspring of creativity, brilliance, and resistance.

We do not have to prove ourselves to anyone.

Dark blue background featuring a silver spoon with the text "Rest is Resistance.”

Rest is Resistance.

Rest says: I am enough as I am. My existence is not up for negotiation.

Dark blue background with the text "Affirmations for the Disability Community," a blue heart, and an arrow.

You are not broken. You are not a burden. You are powerful.

#DisabilityJustice #AffirmDisabledLives #RestIsResistance #DISruptWV #DISrupt #SoftAndRadical #DisabilityPride

Age will also disable many of us.
So will illness and/or injuries.

Centering disability justice takes care of all of us.

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

“RFK Jr. pointing out that the preamble isn’t law isn’t news,” the group also said, “it’s exactly why we’ve been calling on attorneys general to drop this performative lawsuit before it causes real harm.”

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.

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.”

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)

You’ve probably seen people mention the 3.5% Rule. But do you know what it really means? 1/

The full quote from RFK, Jr. is truly disgusting and this is 100% him calling for institutionalization of autistic people. This is horrifying.

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…

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.

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.

See you there. #DISruptors