JENNIFER LEE

UNITED STATES, 20

Project: The Asian American with Disabilities Initiative (AADI)
Pronouns: She/Her

After being diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease in June 2020 and learning more about chronic illnesses and invisible diseases, Jennifer realized she was not alone in grappling with her own dual identities of being disabled and Asian American. AADI was founded to dismantle systemic racism and institutional inequities, particularly in the wake of the alarming surge in anti-Asian hate nationwide. The organization fights injustice through their three-pronged vision for igniting change: building solidarity through community storytelling, uplifting the voices of change makers through speaker panels, and equipping the community with informed resources.

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What were some of the social and cultural factors that contributed to the founding of AADI?

The injustices of ableism are fueled by a deep-rooted stigma around disability. Culturally, the ever-present “model minority” myth, coupled with a cultural emphasis on achievement, further complicates what it means to be disabled and Asian. In the U.S., Asians face a particular internalized stigma of disability within families, in part caused by the phenomenon known as the “collectivist mentality”, in which the family unit is considered central to Asian values. 

“AADI not only increases visibility and amplifies the voices of disabled Asian Americans, but also supports those who may not feel comfortable with their disability to show they are not alone.”

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