One of the issues with getting the world to care about climate action is that the crisis is not and has never been equal. For some, the world is burning down faster than it is for others, and when the fire reaches your backyard, there’s little time to act, only react. 

In the United States, many of us find ourselves in such a position. The crisis is at our door, and we need to help others, share resources, and look toward the future while at the same time worrying about our own households. Along with being an editor and writer, I’m a full-time single parent, and I’m one of the millions of Americans who are physically disabled. It’s difficult to report on the danger to communities to which you yourself belong. It’s also imperative. 

Disabled communities are among the first to be impacted by climate issues, and their wisdom and experiences can provide a road map for survival. As many of President Trump’s first executive orders have taken aim at diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, how are disabled people, the largest minority group in the world, being impacted? 

We then look at concrete steps to align a nonprofit’s mission and values with its financial practices, and what institutions and funders lose when they underinvest in or discount the leadership and expertise of people with disabilities. Finally, as the power that comes from disabled people advocating for themselves proves, when the concerns of the most marginalized are addressed, everyone benefits.