While brainstorming ways to complete community service hours, DISRUPT founder and CSUN alumna Alyssa Avila learned that disability advocacy clubs were being formed on other college campuses, and decided that creating one for our own campus is necessary as it is important we have inclusive spaces for all students.
Founded in Spring 2023, Disabled Individuals Rising Up for Systemic Transformation (DISRUPT) brings together disabled students and allies to advocate for social justice on campus. As the club gears up for another year of activities, it invites all students passionate about equality and systemic change to join their movement.
“As a disabled person, especially because I sort of became disabled over lockdown, I really didn’t have a chance to ever connect in person with community. Like, I have that space online, and having it on campus I felt would be really beneficial for a lot of people. That is what fueled me to establish this organization,” said Avila.
For some new students, it can often be intimidating to begin their college journey. For many disabled students especially, the transition can feel extra stressful. Disability advocacy clubs are an opportunity to find community and a sense of belonging, and supporting one on our own campus can help encourage our disabled students to continue their education at CSUN with confidence and pride.
A typical DISRUPT meeting sees members coming together and discussing their experiences, both positive and negative, and sharing ways and ideas to support one another and make the overall campus experience better. Together, members discuss and confront any injustices happening on campus to make the college experience at CSUN as accessible and enjoyable as possible.
“Although intersectionality is brought up more often, disabled folks [are] still the most marginalized and overlooked community in the US, if not the world,” said Avila. “I want people to know that it’s okay to advocate for themselves.”
DISRUPT is open to all CSUN students and community members. Meetings are typically held on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. on zoom. Links to DISRUPT meetings can be found on the club’s Instagram page.
“Whenever we’re doing a meeting, we’ll ask, ‘What has been an obstacle on campus lately? What has been frustrating? What are some good things that have happened?’” said Ryan Whyde, current DISRUPT President.
Avila and Whyde encourage members of the CSUN community to ask questions and listen to the concerns of their disabled peers, as well as doing their part in promoting accessibility on campus. For professors who are looking to improve accessibility in their courses, using universal design in course material to accommodate students of all abilities can promote greater learning overall. “You do not have to identify as disabled or have a disability… In order to have that motion for change, we need everyone to understand these struggles so that everyone can help make a change,” said Avila.
