10 amazing disabled leaders and activists you absolutely need to follow on Twitter
Raising awareness about disabilities is important, and these people are here to help.

While social media definitely has its drawbacks, there are definitely good things that come out of it as well. One good thing about social media, particularly Twitter, is that there are many disabled folks who use their platform to raise awareness about their experiences with being disabled. As someone with a chronic illness and has a hearing loss, it can also make me feel less isolated.
A common critique that I hear about social media activism is that it’s inferior to other forms of activism, such as protests. Yet for disabled people like myself, we’re sometimes limited to social media activism.
For example, due to an autoimmune disease flare, I wasn’t able to attend a local Women’s March. That didn’t mean that I despised the Trump presidency any less – it just meant that I had to find other routes to voice dissent, which was done via social media.
If you are disabled and or an ally and want to see what disability activism is happening online, here are a few incredible people you absolutely need to follow:
1. Coffee Spoonie (aka Zipporah Arielle)

Coffee Spoonie (@coffeespoonie) is an “elephant-loving disabled Jewess with ink-stained hands” (according to her Twitter bio), who regularly tweets about chronic illness (she has an autoimmune disease), her journey training a service dog, and politics. She regularly tweets reminders to her followers to take their medication and had an article published by Bustle about Selma Blair becoming a disabled icon overnight.
pssssst gentle reminder to take your fucking meds ?
— coffee spoonie (@coffeespoonie) March 1, 2019
2. Nyle DiMarco
He’s also easy on the eyes.
I want to better 70 million Deaf lives worldwide.
Please RT to spread awareness, thank you. pic.twitter.com/xQC0vpGaGY
— Nyle DiMarco (@NyleDiMarco) August 23, 2017
3. Emily Ladau
We live in a world where inclusion is the “right thing” to do. We “do” inclusion.
Businesses win awards, organizations receive extra funding, social media posts go viral, people get brownie points.
But real inclusion happens when no one is watching. Real inclusion just happens.
— Emily Ladau (@emily_ladau) December 10, 2018
4. s.e. smith
Yes! Disabled kids kept isolated from disability culture. Newly disabled adults confronting huge change. We're not born w/disability pride! https://t.co/PuNWbsRrj4
— s. e. smith (@sesmith) June 24, 2017
5. Alice Wong
Folks who cannot imagine a future with disabled people since technology & cures will be available to everyone and ‘improve’ society #AbledsAreWeird #SuckItAbleism
— Alice Wong (@SFdirewolf) March 17, 2019
6. Vilissa Thompson
This response had me thinking about the erasure of #disability within PoC media outlets & the impact.
I'm going to discuss the problematic nature of this & center Black media outlets because I want to see more disability stories on those platforms. https://t.co/WFng1Ag4uq
— Vilissa Thompson (@VilissaThompson) March 14, 2019
7. Crutches & Spice (aka Imani Barbarin)
I just want to let people know that for many disabled people, becoming a disability advocate is purely incidental.
We spend so much time advocating as to why we deserve a seat at the table, people often don’t wonder what it is we want to do while there.
— Crutches&Spice♿️ (@Imani_Barbarin) March 16, 2019
8. Judy Heumann
Had a great discussion about what APHA, public health and healthcare can achieve in the area of inclusion of disabled people. Looking forward to being a part of the Disability Section Student Mentoring Session and meeting some awesome students!
— Judy Heumann (@judithheumann) November 12, 2018
9. Alexander Hardy
Aaaaand got me a motherfucking Black gay therapist. Had a very encouraging initial meeting & am getting the party started ASAP. Been freeballing since my previous therapist left the practice & the state in July.
Whew shit.
This calls for cake.
— Alexander Hardy (@chrisalexander_) March 11, 2019
10. Sarah Blahovec
If your response to #AbledsAreWeird is "I'm never talking to disabled ppl again," instead of fighting ableism, then you probably shouldn't talk to us.
As @challahwithjam says, it's almost like your belief in our personhood was conditional on pleasant behavior. We deserve better.
— Sarah Blahovec (@Sblahov) March 17, 2019