Center for Racial and Disability Justice

The Northwestern Pritzker Law Center for Racial and Disability Justice (CRDJ) is a first-of-its-kind center dedicated to promoting justice for people of color, people with disabilities, and individuals at the intersection of race and disability. 

CRDJ was founded in Fall 2022 by Professor Jamelia Morgan, who recognized a critical issue: race and disability become pathways to police violence in America. At the core of the Center's agenda is the goal of preventing a confluence of racism and ableism from impacting the day-to-day lives of people, especially people of color with disabilities. 

Tackle Social Problems Through Intersectionality

CRDJ focuses on pressing social justice issues affecting the lives of people of color, women with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ disabled people, and low-income disabled people.

The Center uses the framework of intersectionality as a way of looking at social problems at the intersection of racial and disability justice, which allows us to recognize that people have intersectional identities and experience overlapping forms of oppression.

Collaborative Approach

CRDJ's work is collaborative and interdisciplinary, drawing on connections across Northwestern, the greater Chicago community, and beyond. We are collaborating with racial and disability justice organizations and advocates to promote and implement transformative change policies and initiatives that address and improve the material and social conditions affecting the lives of people with disabilities.

CRDJ strategically works alongside over two dozen racial and disability justice community-based organizations and provides research support, trainings, education, and technical assistance. In addition, we focus on producing interdisciplinary research on pressing legal topics and offer programming and events related to our mission. 

To connect with us, send us an email at: crdj@law.northwestern.edu

Promote the Rights of All People with Disabilities

The Center's overarching mission is to promote the human and civil rights of all people with disabilities. Currently, this mission is embodied across three areas of study:

  1. The criminalization of disability
  2. Ableism and disability-based discrimination in healthcare settings
  3. Access to courts

However, our mission is intentionally broad so the Center can grow as needs change.

Sign up for CRDJ's Newsletter

Each month, you will receive the Center for Racial and Disability Justice's newsletter. The newsletter will include information about what we have been up to, recent publications, upcoming events, and more!
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Interested in Supporting Our Work?

The Center for Racial and Disability Justice is completely supported through private donations and Northwestern Law alumni. Your contribution allows us to continue our important work and promote justice for all people with disabilities. We greatly appreciate all donations!

When you make a gift to support the Center for Racial and Disability Justice, your philanthropic leadership will help impact this important research and enable Northwestern Pritzker Law to stay at the forefront of this important work.