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“Listening to the perspectives of those with lived experience is key to understanding that disability is not a problem to solve but part of the total human experience to embrace.” —Keith Jones

So how can we improve disability inclusion in social justice and overcome ableism? Jones explains, “As our movement seeks anti-racist legal reform, access to economic sustainability and employment, quality education, reproductive rights and bodily autonomy, we must include people with disabilities—who cut across all intersecting demographics. And we must be intentional in that inclusion.”

In the latest issue of Learning for Justice magazine, LFJ Director Jalaya Liles Dunn points out that “The battleground for racial justice remains in the South, and the victories for justice must be fought for and by ordinary people in the South together with allies from other parts of the nation.” The first feature story, “The Power of Place: Art as a Tool for Social Justice,” highlights how artists in Alabama are depicting honest history and reshaping public narratives of justice in their communities. These articles and the One World poster—including a quotation from Ida B.

This year, as we honor the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we want to reflect upon the reality of his mission and share with young people the complexity of both the man and the civil rights movement. In recent years, King’s legacy has been used in attacks on critical race theory and attempts to undermine social justice education. These LFJ resources—including words of wisdom from the late Rep. John Lewis—can aid in understanding the contemporary significance of the civil rights movement in countering policies that attempt to limit teaching honest history.

How much better could our communities and schools be if we designed our spaces and curricula with diverse needs and abilities in mind? How can we support the learning and well-being of children from immigrant families? And how can educators recognize the signs of trauma and take steps to establish social and emotional safety for all children?