Born to Hong Kong immigrant parents in Indianapolis and diagnosed with spinal muscular dystrophy at birth, she used a powered wheelchair and assistive ventilator, channeling her experiences into writing and organizing.

Her educational path included a BA in English and sociology from Earlham College and IU Bloomington, followed by an MS in medical sociology from UCSF.

Her advocacy centered on intersectional justice, elevating voices of disabled people of color, supporting Long COVID campaigns, and challenging systemic barriers in healthcare and media.

She co-founded and championed online movements like #CripTheVote and #CripTheVote-related campaigns to foster disability-related political dialogue and push back on ableism.

She served on the National Council on Disability after being appointed by President Obama in 2013 and worked at UCSF’s Center for Personal Assistance Services.

Alice Wong, a prominent disability rights advocate and founder of the Disability Visibility Project, died at 51 in San Francisco from an infection at UCSF Hospital, leaving behind a legacy of storytelling, advocacy, and community-based living.

Wong championed deinstitutionalization and community-based living while amplifying disability voices through essays, The Disability Visibility Project, and influential books and blogs.

Wong actively built online communities through social media, promoting disabled writers with hashtags like #criplit and #cripthevote to empower visibility and advocacy.

Her supporters highlighted her determination to live in the community rather than in institutions, a fight she carried into policy critique.

Her #CripTheVote initiative mobilized disabled voters and helped prioritize COVID-19 vaccine access for high-risk disabled Californians during the pandemic.

Wong wrote for major outlets including The New York Times and Teen Vogue, using a candid voice to advocate for disability rights and healthcare access, and she described Medicaid as a life-giving program.

Her death prompted widespread tributes from friends, colleagues, and public figures, with fundraising and support efforts continuing through GoFundMe and other mutual aid channels.