We love activists with a local connection, so we are particularly proud to spotlight Dr. Angel Love Miles in our celebration of Black trailblazers in the disability rights community. Dr. Miles was born and raised in Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood. As a Black woman who is disabled—Dr. Miles has Spina Bifida—she has spent her life navigating and writing about the intersection of inequality encompassing race, gender, and disability.

Dr. Miles works for Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago, where she works to break down barriers of discrimination for people with disabilities. In her role there as a policy analyst, she helps facilitate healthcare advocacy efforts for people with disabilities in home and community-based services. Central to her approach is an intersectional lens informed by her experience in the world as a Black woman with a disability.

In the article linked here, Dr. Miles shares the story of her upbringing and how she came to be where she is today. We love this piece for its nuanced examination of race, disability, and gender, and her insights into institutional and environmental inequality. We also love Dr. Miles’ story for the way it reminds us that systemic change begins with our work as individuals.

Check it out, and click through our blog for more stories of Black trailblazers fighting for people with disabilities.