Alice Wong has passed away and the disability community has lost a leader. I lost a mentor and a friend. The Disabled Ginger wouldn't exist without Alice and everything she taught me.
My condolences to all the disabled community - Alice was a force to be reckoned with and her legacy ensures that she will continue thus! May she rest in peace.
Like Alice, your writing is ‘a comfort in difficult times.’ Thank you for passing on her message and insights. My heartfelt condolences to you and the community.
Wow. I didn’t know of Alice Wong, but now I want to read all I can find by her. I had to fight antivaxer/anti-masker family members to protect my elderly Mom in her last years, during COVID, and could never understand why anyone would be so vehemently selfish as to see it only in terms of their own rights, and not the rights/wellbeing of others. I continue to mask in large indoor gatherings and whenever I have a sniffle. I don’t care about the stares. People need to grow up.
Thank you for reading Karen! I’m still reeling from the news but I am grateful I was able to pay tribute to her in some small way. Hopefully a few people find her work who didn’t otherwise know her, and hopefully it comforts and inspires them the way it did for me.
I’m sorry for the passing of your friend and send condolences to you, her family and the community she had served so well. May her memory always be a blessing.
My condolences, K. I’m very sorry for your loss and the community’s loss. Alice was only known to me by her formidable reputation. She was such a fighter. I’m grateful for her advocacy and for inspiring you to tell your story and take up advocacy of your own.
This bit articulates a struggle I’ve faced too: « My fear was that I would alienate my friends and loved ones by identifying as disabled, and then be rejected by the disability community for not being disabled enough. » (Although the disability community has been pretty warm and generous in my experience)
Please go extra - gently with yourself in your grief. It takes such a physical toll and can make all our usual things worse besides. That’s ok and normal. Take all the time you need. 🫂💙🫂💙🫂
I really didn’t expect the physical toll to come on so strong, not helped by the fact that I’m facing some housing related struggles at the same time.
I’m so glad I was able to get this article done as a way of honouring her, and now I will try and rest and recover because that was another lesson she tried to teach all of us! Slow down when you need to!
“I went from being ashamed of being disabled to seeing myself as an oracle.”👏👏👏
I did not know you were previously a theatre critic - no wonder you’ve been so great on here. I’m so glad you’ve brought your voice to life in this way.
Also, thank for introducing me to Alice. I’d love to read her book (and include it in the reading list I’ve recently added to the book I’m publishing next year). What an incredible being. It sounds like her work will long live on. 🌈❣️
Thank you for reading and I'm so glad you will get to discover Alice's work! She was a fiercely talented writer and I'm so honoured to have been mentored by her.
And yes, I was a theatre critic for almost a decade, that's why my handle is 'broadwaybabyto' lol. I couldn't let that part of my identity go. For ten years I basically ate, slept and breathed social media. I miss it every day, but I'm so glad to have found a way to turn that skill into advocacy.
I love that we get to pick and choose what part of our old identity we take with us.
Not in the way we might always imagine of course. But Ive never had to let anything go that was meant for me. (Hard and painful as it was to have to let so much of it go.)
You are an incredible advocate. And I love to witness all you’ve overcome to get here. And hearing of who mentored you along the way is just beautiful💛🌈
My condolences to all the disabled community - Alice was a force to be reckoned with and her legacy ensures that she will continue thus! May she rest in peace.
Thank you Bob! She absolutely was a force and her work and message will live on!
In her honor let, the fight be a zeroing in on Universal Healthcare.
No one can argue against the simple fact that all Americans deserve free care.
Make it THE primary issue.
Millionaires, billionaires..we are all subject to the fickleness of fate.
Absolutely! You know she was fighting for that too, and many of us will keep up the fight.
Healthcare is a basic human right!
YES!
Like Alice, your writing is ‘a comfort in difficult times.’ Thank you for passing on her message and insights. My heartfelt condolences to you and the community.
Thank you so much Anita. I can’t tell you what this means to me.
Condolences to the disabled community & all those who have been aided by Alice. Beautifully written article.
Wow. I didn’t know of Alice Wong, but now I want to read all I can find by her. I had to fight antivaxer/anti-masker family members to protect my elderly Mom in her last years, during COVID, and could never understand why anyone would be so vehemently selfish as to see it only in terms of their own rights, and not the rights/wellbeing of others. I continue to mask in large indoor gatherings and whenever I have a sniffle. I don’t care about the stares. People need to grow up.
I highly recommend her work! She’s been on some podcasts as well. The Year of the Tiger is a great place to start.
And thank you for masking!
Thank you for writing about her. What a hero, what a warrior.
Thank you for reading Karen! I’m still reeling from the news but I am grateful I was able to pay tribute to her in some small way. Hopefully a few people find her work who didn’t otherwise know her, and hopefully it comforts and inspires them the way it did for me.
Rest in peace
So sad to hear of Alice’s passing. Thank you for sharing your story and her impact in your life.
And thank you for always being a strong voice for so many people too often ignored or cast aside.
Thank you Michael. I wouldn’t be this strong of a voice without her, and it feels hard to continue without her in the world.
I know we must continue though, because this world needs strong voices who speak up for those that society has forgotten.
My condolences to her family, friends and followers.
Thank you Alessandra.
I’m sorry for the passing of your friend and send condolences to you, her family and the community she had served so well. May her memory always be a blessing.
Thank you so much Pamela.
I am so sorry for your loss, and my heart goes out to you and all who loved her.💜
Thank you.
My condolences, K. I’m very sorry for your loss and the community’s loss. Alice was only known to me by her formidable reputation. She was such a fighter. I’m grateful for her advocacy and for inspiring you to tell your story and take up advocacy of your own.
This bit articulates a struggle I’ve faced too: « My fear was that I would alienate my friends and loved ones by identifying as disabled, and then be rejected by the disability community for not being disabled enough. » (Although the disability community has been pretty warm and generous in my experience)
Please go extra - gently with yourself in your grief. It takes such a physical toll and can make all our usual things worse besides. That’s ok and normal. Take all the time you need. 🫂💙🫂💙🫂
Thank you so much Christina.
I really didn’t expect the physical toll to come on so strong, not helped by the fact that I’m facing some housing related struggles at the same time.
I’m so glad I was able to get this article done as a way of honouring her, and now I will try and rest and recover because that was another lesson she tried to teach all of us! Slow down when you need to!
A beautiful tribute
“I went from being ashamed of being disabled to seeing myself as an oracle.”👏👏👏
I did not know you were previously a theatre critic - no wonder you’ve been so great on here. I’m so glad you’ve brought your voice to life in this way.
Also, thank for introducing me to Alice. I’d love to read her book (and include it in the reading list I’ve recently added to the book I’m publishing next year). What an incredible being. It sounds like her work will long live on. 🌈❣️
Thank you for reading and I'm so glad you will get to discover Alice's work! She was a fiercely talented writer and I'm so honoured to have been mentored by her.
And yes, I was a theatre critic for almost a decade, that's why my handle is 'broadwaybabyto' lol. I couldn't let that part of my identity go. For ten years I basically ate, slept and breathed social media. I miss it every day, but I'm so glad to have found a way to turn that skill into advocacy.
I love that we get to pick and choose what part of our old identity we take with us.
Not in the way we might always imagine of course. But Ive never had to let anything go that was meant for me. (Hard and painful as it was to have to let so much of it go.)
You are an incredible advocate. And I love to witness all you’ve overcome to get here. And hearing of who mentored you along the way is just beautiful💛🌈
Condolences. I'm sure Alice will be missed! American needs many more people cut from her cloth. Especially right now!! Adios amiga
Wonderful tribute. I wish you strength.