Protecting the Vulnerable, Strengthening Us All: Disability-Informed Policies as Templates for Justice Reform
Introduction In every society, the measure of justice begins at its margins. The way we safeguard those most at risk, people living with disabilities, often overlooked or excluded, reveals not only our compassion but our capacity to build systems that serve everyone. Policies born from protecting the vulnerable are not acts of charity; they are architectural blueprints for resilience. When governments legislate for accessibility, when courts uphold the dignity of those with limited capacity, when communities design safeguards against hate crime, they are not only defending a minority; they are laying foundations for a safer, more inclusive society. From the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to the UK’s Equality Act of 2010, disability-focused reforms have consistently rippled outward, reshaping the broader landscape of justice. What begins as a ramp for one becomes a pathway for all; what starts as protection against targeted violence becomes a framework for universal victim support. T...