NAMED Advocates

The National Alliance of Melanin Disabled Advocates (NAMED Advocates) creates spaces for disabled leaders of color and BIPOC allies to gather, learn, connect, and grow around racial and disability justice. Through use of knowledge and empowerment tools, we work to destigmatize the existing outward narrative that currently surrounds the disabled community. We equip community members with the vocabulary to express their authentic selves with confidence and certainty. Our community events are celebrations of solidarity, providing opportunities for collaboration and relationship building.

Our Partners

NAMED Blog

An illustration of a doctor and patients.NAMED AdvocatesThe Rare Disease Community: The Numbers and the Impact
March 3, 2026

The Rare Disease Community: The Numbers and the Impact

There are between 7,000 - 10,000 rare diseases affecting more than 400 million people world wide according to research at the National Institutes of Health. But what precisely classifies a…
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An illustration of a Black disabled wheelchair user who is wearing glassesNAMED AdvocatesBlack Disabled History Is American History
February 27, 2026

Black Disabled History Is American History

February often centers a narrow version of Black history—one that highlights a few names, a few dates, and a few victories, while leaving out the fullness of Black life. Too…
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An image of disabled people protestingNAMED AdvocatesDisability Justice in 2026: What’s at Stake for Black & Brown Disabled Communities
January 26, 2026

Disability Justice in 2026: What’s at Stake for Black & Brown Disabled Communities

January is always a moment of reckoning. The new year brings fresh language about priorities, budgets, reforms, and “resetting.” For many people, that language feels abstract. For Black, brown, queer,…
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A photo of disabled folks laughingNAMED AdvocatesReimagining Disability Inclusion Through a Global Justice Framework
December 17, 2025

Reimagining Disability Inclusion Through a Global Justice Framework

Every year on December 3, the global community observes the International Day of Persons with Disabilities — a day created to honor the rights, dignity, and experiences of disabled people…
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A person typing on a laptop with the words press release.NAMED AdvocatesNAMED Advocates Announces Official 501(c)(3) Status, Marking a Major Milestone for Black and Brown Disabled Leadership
December 10, 2025

NAMED Advocates Announces Official 501(c)(3) Status, Marking a Major Milestone for Black and Brown Disabled Leadership

NAMED Advocates is proud to announce that the organization has officially been recognized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit. This milestone affirms what the community has long known to be true:…
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An image pf scientific things and lettersNAMED AdvocatesRethinking Language in Science
December 8, 2025

Rethinking Language in Science

In 2024, The NAMED Advocates received a grant to launch Rethinking Language in Science, a multi-year project designed to critically examine how scientific and biomedical language shapes the lives of…
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A graphic with the panelists on itNAMED AdvocatesAbleism & Democracy Speaker Series
December 8, 2025

Ableism & Democracy Speaker Series

When a few are gathered, power shows up. Out of that gathering, we created a space to center the brilliance, the struggle, and the leadership of Black Disabled people —…
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An image of a person handing another a can of food,NAMED AdvocatesHunger Is a Policy Choice: Food Insecurity and the Cost of SNAP Cuts on Disabled Communities
November 24, 2025

Hunger Is a Policy Choice: Food Insecurity and the Cost of SNAP Cuts on Disabled Communities

Food insecurity isn’t just about an empty pantry. It’s about systemic inequities that limit access to nutrition, safety, and dignity. Across the United States, millions of people are facing growing…
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