Recent Supreme Court decisions on affirmative action in college and university admissions and on student debt forgiveness highlight difficult issues regarding race and economic access in higher education.
When we discuss issues of race and economic access, we are talking about disability too. The ability to obtain an education and have financial stability should not depend on the color of your skin, your current economic status, or disability. Disability Rights Florida believes that these recent decisions will further marginalize people that deserve the autonomy and opportunity to thrive.
Disability is a marginalized identity that anyone can acquire at any time. Adverse life experiences, discrimination, and trauma can cause disability. People of color disproportionately have higher rates of disability due to social, medical, environmental, and historical racism. On average, 25% of Black people experience disability compared to 20% of white people; Indigenous peoples experience disability at even higher rates, at approximately 33% (CDC, Adults with Disabilities). Therefore, when discussing who is impacted by affirmative action being overturned in college admissions, the experiences of disabled Black, Indigenous, and all students of color must be centered and considered. Academia is largely still inaccessible and predominately white, and acknowledging our history with race and disablement is essential to the wellbeing of disabled students of color.
The Court’s denial of student loan forgiveness speaks to another barrier to higher education for people with disabilities: student debt. The United States is one of the only countries in the world that requires students to make an exorbitant investment to attend higher education. People with disabilities experience poverty at more than double the rate of those without disabilities: 27% versus 12% respectively (National Disability Institute). We believe it’s time for reform in the educational system to be more accessible, affordable, and diverse.
Diversity is an important element of higher education. It creates opportunities for all students to learn about different backgrounds, perspectives, and ideologies that they will encounter throughout the rest of their work and personal lives. We call upon Congress to address the student debt crisis and swiftly act to ensure that millions of Americans can access college without going into life-long debt.
It is disappointing to watch two important means to make higher education more accessible and diverse be taken away. As Florida's dedicated Protection and Advocacy Agency, we remain committed to the fight to advance the rights and economic equity of people with disabilities.