Alice Wonga prominent disability rights activist and author whose writings have helped transform public understanding of independence and justice for this community, He passed away on Friday In San Francisco due to infection. He was 51 years old.
Wong’s death was confirmed by her close friend Sandy isWho was in contact with the family. Ho described Wong as “a superstar in the disability justice movement,” a pivotal figure who has dedicated her life to imagining and building a world where people with disabilities — especially those who also face other forms of marginalization, such as people of color, immigrants, and members of the LGBTQ+ community — can live with. Complete freedom and control over your own decisions.
The daughter of immigrants from Hong Kong, she was born with muscular atrophy, Wong used an electric wheelchair and a breathing aid. From an early age, A. developed An acute sense of inequality and systemic barriers faced by people with disabilities. He repeatedly stated that this experience, which was also marked by the discrimination and bullying he experienced during his childhood in Indiana, was the driving force behind his activism.
Not only did Wong tell his story, he made it a platform for many others to do the same. His most famous work came in 2014, when he founded… Disability Vision Project, It was initially conceived as an oral history project to collect and preserve the testimonies of people with disabilities. Over time, it has evolved into an influential space for analysis, condemnation, and community building. Wong has edited two books drawn from this effort, Disability Visibility and Disability Intimacy, which collect personal stories and essays by diverse authors, expanding the cultural and political framework around disability.
His voice also resonated widely across his blog and social media, where he addressed topics such as daily life in the voice of JNeuromuscular condition, public policy, accessibility, Asian American identity, and queer experiences. She described herself with humor and pride as a “disabled robot,” a combination of technology, body, and flexibility, which, far from being invisible, she turned into part of her public identity.
In 2022, he published his memoirs, Year of the Tiger: The Life of an Activist, A book that combines biting humor, personal stories, and social criticism. There he recovered from formative events, such as the time when, as a teenager, he strongly opposed an invasive medical procedure. “I knew my body and what I wanted” he said in a recent interview. This personal defense, in her opinion, was the origin of her activism.
Wong insisted that justice for people with disabilities must focus on self-determination: “Get people out of institutions and keep them in communities.”He remembers. His writings, conferences and projects emphasized that no one should speak for people with disabilities and that their voices should be at the heart of any decision-making process.
Her career has received widespread recognition, and in 2024 she was selected as a MacArthur Foundation Fellow, becoming part of the prestigious group known as the MacArthur Foundation. “Genius Grant.” This honor highlighted his tireless work to amplify the experiences of historically silenced communities.
Before his death, Wong left a message that Ho shared on social media. In it, she spoke about the impact of her life and the strength of those who bet on her: “It was thanks to friends and some great teachers who believed in me that I was able to emerge from miserable situations to a place where I finally felt comfortable in my own skin. “We need more stories about ourselves and our culture.”
Although he recognized that political tensions could be frustrating, Wong emphasized that his activist drive was fueled by memory: the injustices he experienced, shared struggles, and the conviction that frustration could be transformed into energy to keep going. “Anger turns into a battery charger, giving me a boost when I need it most,” he wrote.
About The Author
