Disability Day of Mourning (March 1st)

Quick facts
When is it?	Every March 1st
Tagged as:	Attitudes & Emotions Life & Living
What's the hashtag?	#DisabilityDayofMourning
When was it founded?	2012
Who founded it?	Zoe Gross
We first published this page on:	Jul 18th, 2025
We last updated this page:	Jul 18th, 2025

Contents

Disability Day of Mourning honors disabled individuals killed by those who should have protected them. It brings voices together in shared grief. Families, friends, advocates, and allies gather in silence.

They speak names with care. Communities embrace gentle candlelight to mark each life. Through this ritual, people break through isolation. They resist the idea that some lives matter less.

Journalists often frame these killings as tragic but unavoidable burdens. That framing leaves victims invisible. Disability Day of Mourning challenges that by centering the lost.

It reminds us that prejudice and neglect kill. People listen as grief unfolds into resolve. This event gives each person a moment to reflect, mourn, and vow to change how society values disabled lives.

How to Observe Disability Day of Mourning

Here are some ideas to mark Disability Day of Mourning with care and attention:

Light a Candle and Read Names

Gather a small group. Invite people to speak aloud the names of those lost to violence. Hold candles as each name is read. A pause follows each one.

This act honors lives through memory and respect.

Host a Moment of Silence

Set aside time for quiet reflection. Ask everyone to close their eyes and breathe deeply. No talking or distractions allowed. This space gives room for shared grief and focus.

Share Stories and Reflections

Invite speakers to tell brief personal stories or thoughts. Keep each tale short yet heartfelt. This builds empathy and connects listeners to real human experience.

Use Virtual Spaces to Gather

Offer an online vigil for folks who can’t attend in person. Choose a video or call platform that feels safe. Read names, light digital candles, or text names in chat. This opens inclusion.

Support Advocacy and Justice

Post about the vigils on social media. Link to trusted anti-filicide toolkits. Encourage others to listen and learn. Sharing trusted resources helps shift attitudes and values.

History of Disability Day of Mourning

Disability Day of Mourning began in 2012. Zoe Gross, a disability rights advocate, organized the first event. She worked with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network.

The idea grew after the killing of George Hodgins, a young autistic man from California.

His mother took his life, then her own. News outlets focused more on her pain than his death. That deeply upset Zoe and others in the community.

The first vigil happened outside Sunnyvale City Hall. Friends and supporters gathered there to speak George’s name and honor his life. That small event sparked a much larger movement. Each year, on March 1, people across the world come together.

They speak the names of disabled people killed by family or caregivers. These vigils remind everyone that disabled lives matter.

Over time, the event spread. More cities joined in. Some held in-person gatherings. Others moved online. In 2014, activists built a memorial website. That space now lists hundreds of names going back to the 1980s. It keeps the memory of each person alive.

Disability Day of Mourning pushes back against stories that excuse violence. It calls out injustice with clarity and care. Most of all, it refuses to let the victims be forgotten.

Disability Day of Mourning