Presentations

National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Annual Convention 2026: Leading Today, Redefining Tomorrow

Materials & Accessibility:

Definitions of Guiding Principles:

Disability Justice

Disability Justice is a critical, intersectional, cross-movement social justice framework that focuses on the ways in which disability and ableism interact with other social identities and forms of oppression. The disability justice framework was originally developed in 2005 by Patty Berne, Mia Mingus, and Stacey Milbern, members of the Sins Invalid Project, in response to the lack of intersectionality present in the disability rights movement. This framework emphasizes difference as an inherent component of the human experience, and suggests a move toward interdependence and community care in an otherwise individualistic society. Research and action through a disability justice approach centers the lived experiences and priorities of historically excluded and minoritized groups within the disability community, and focuses on the ten principles of disability justice: intersectionality, leadership of those most impacted, anti-capitalist politic, commitment to cross-movement organizing, recognizing wholeness, sustainability, commitment to cross-disability solidarity, interdependence, collective access, and collective liberation (Sins Invalid, n.d.).

Disability Neutrality

Disability neutrality is a perspective on disability and a theoretical framework that challenges common language and stereotypes about disabled identities. Disability neutrality argues that disability as a label, an identity, and a lived experience, is neither positive nor negative, and that the impact of disability and attitudes toward disability are individual, fluid, and context-dependent. Through the disability neutrality framework, disability is not seen as a “tragedy” or a “superpower”, but rather as a natural part of life. Practitioners who work in healthcare, education, and other settings with disabled people are encouraged to use neutral language around disability, and to allow each disabled person to form their own views toward disability, its impact on their lives, and the language they choose to use for themselves.