Stacey Park Milbern: Google doodle celebrates 35th birthday of Korean-American disability justice activist

Stacey Park Milbern was a queer Korean-American disability rights activist who co-founded the movement and dedicated her life to working for oppressed people. Today’s Doodle, created by San Francisco, CA-based guest artist Art Twink in recognition of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, honours Stacey Park Milbern’s legacy on her 35th birthday.

Milbern was born in Seoul, South Korea, in 1987. She grew up on Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and started working for disability justice when she was 16 years old. She formed disability justice with other activists in 2005 after noticing a lack of advocacy for disabled LGBTQ+ and people of colour in the disability community. Disability justice is a framework dedicated to ensuring that the perspectives of traditionally marginalised groups within the disabled community are not left out of the fight for disability rights.

Milbern relocated to the Bay Area, California, when she was 24 years old, where she worked relentlessly to organise, write, and speak for the movement, eventually becoming Director of Programs at the Center of Independent Living. Milbern worked as an advisor to the national administration after being named to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities in 2014.

“I want to leave a legacy of disabled people knowing we are powerful and beautiful because of who we are, not despite of it.” – Stacey Park Milbern

Stacey Milbern always dreamed big and lived up to her ideals, whether it was advocating for national legislation or establishing community through the Disability Justice Culture Club.

Happy 35th birthday, Stacey Park Milbern.