February is Black History Month! We celebrate Black leaders, history, and culture. We also honor Black self-advocates. They work hard to make the world better. They fight against the struggles of being Black and having a disability. They speak up for their rights and help others learn about self-advocacy. They show that everyone’s voice matters.

Kate Gainer

Kate Gainer is a powerful Black self-advocate. She has fought for decades for the rights of people with disabilities. She has worked to protect people with IDD from abuse. She makes sure they have the services they need. Kate also led the People First movement in Georgia. She has trained many self-advocates on their rights, voting, and leadership. Kate has helped change laws to make life better for people with disabilities. One of her heroes is Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Her favorite quote from him is:

They called us agitators. But do you know what an agitator is? It’s that thing in the washing machine that gets the dirt out.

Join the Celebration

Want to learn more about Kate and other amazing Black self-advocates? Check out her full video and others on Self-Advocate Network’s Black Voices playlist on YouTube.

Black history is self-advocacy history. Let’s celebrate Black self-advocates and their powerful voices!