Summary (tl;dr)

Disability rights activist and author Alice Wong passed away on November 14, 2025, at the age of 51, leading to an outpouring of tributes and renewed attention to her groundbreaking work.

Essential Background

Alice Wong was an American disability rights activist and writer known for her dedication to amplifying the voices and experiences of the disabled community. Born with spinal muscular atrophy, Wong challenged systemic ableism through storytelling, advocacy, and community organizing. She founded the Disability Visibility Project in 2014, an oral history project with StoryCorps, and was a presidential appointee to the National Council on Disability from 2013 to 2015. Wong also authored the memoir "Year of the Tiger: An Activist's Life" (2022) and edited several anthologies, including "Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century" (2020) and "Disability Intimacy: Essays on Love, Care, and Desire" (2024). In 2024, she was recognized as a MacArthur Fellow.

The Full Story

Alice Wong died on November 14, 2025, at the age of 51, in a San Francisco hospital due to an infection. Her passing has led to a significant increase in searches for her name as people mourn her loss and reflect on her impactful legacy. Wong's final message, shared by her friend Sandy Ho, included reflections on her life and hopes for the future of the disability community, concluding with the powerful words: "Don't let the bastards grind you down. I love you all". Her death marks the end of a prolific career dedicated to social justice and equality for disabled individuals.

Why It Matters

Alice Wong's passing is a significant loss for the disability rights movement and broader social justice advocacy. Her work fundamentally shifted perceptions of disability by centering the lived experiences of disabled people and challenging ableist systems. Through her writing, activism, and the Disability Visibility Project, she created platforms for disabled voices, fostering a sense of community and promoting mutual aid and care. Her advocacy during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she highlighted the disproportionate impact on disabled and immunocompromised individuals, further underscored her commitment to equitable policies and social safety nets. The renewed interest in her work following her death serves to cement her legacy and continue her mission of increasing the political and cultural visibility of disabled people.

Geographic Location

San Francisco, California, United States (death) Indianapolis, Indiana, United States (birth)