WASHINGTON, D.C. — Marking the third annual Disabled Women’s Equal Pay Day, the National Partnership for Women & Families (NPWF) and a broad coalition of advocacy partners released a striking new analysis highlighting the severe economic disparities confronting disabled women across the United States. According to the report, disabled women are paid just 56 cents for every dollar paid to nondisabled men, amounting to an annual loss of $24,000 that could otherwise be used to cover everyday expenses and the substantial additional costs associated with living with a disability.
The data reveals that while disabled women who secure full-time, year-round employment fare slightly better—earning 68 cents on the dollar compared to nondisabled men—the wage gap widens significantly when intersecting with race and ethnicity. The National Partnership’s analysis of Census Bureau data underscores that systemic inequities disproportionately impact disabled women of color, compounding the economic challenges they face in an increasingly uncertain labor market.
The commemoration serves as a critical platform for the Disabled Women’s Equal Pay Day Coalition, which is actively calling for comprehensive policy changes to dismantle systemic barriers in the workplace and address the broader economic fallout experienced by the disabled community. Leaders across labor, civil rights, and disability advocacy sectors emphasize that these pay inequities not only threaten individual financial security but also undermine the foundational principles of economic justice.
“Disabled women deserve to be paid fairly for their work, yet persistent inequities and barriers in the workplace continue to undermine their economic security,” said Taryn Williams, Senior Fellow for Disability at the National Partnership for Women & Families. “At a time when so many policies that support disabled people’s ability to work, earn a living, and fully participate in their communities are under attack, we cannot afford to leave disabled women behind. We must advance policies that address these inequities and ensure disabled women have a fair opportunity to thrive.”
The economic burden of the wage gap is further exacerbated by soaring living costs and shifting employment landscapes. Advocates point out that many disabled workers are increasingly pushed into precarious employment models out of necessity.
“Disabled women are doing way more with less, caring for ourselves and our families despite lower pay and soaring costs,” said Kenyon Rankin, Managing Director for the Disability Culture Lab and a disabled parent. “Awareness is a start, but this Disabled Women’s Equal Pay Day, we need action. We need to vote for candidates who will actually close the wage gap by ending subminimum wages and passing a national living wage for all workers, from disabled workers to incarcerated workers to service workers.”
The structural shifts in the contemporary labor market have hit vulnerable populations hardest. Jasmine Williams-Jacobs, Founder and Director at Black Remote She, noted that rising underemployment rates and general economic uncertainty are forcing many disabled women into gig and part-time work, often stripping them of reliable income, health benefits, and long-term financial security.
“We are especially seeing this among Black disabled women and trans workers nationwide who have experienced record layoffs in the last two years,” Williams-Jacobs said. “Disabled women, alongside all other workers, should be compensated with equitable, living wages and policies in place to protect them regardless of work status.”
Business and legal advocates emphasize that the solutions to these entrenched disparities require intentional changes in hiring practices, corporate culture, and institutional support systems. Marlene Sallo, CEO of the National Disability Rights Network, highlighted the vital role that workplace accommodations and comprehensive training play in fostering inclusive environments.
“Women with disabilities bring their talent and leadership to every single sector of our economy,” Sallo said. “Yet, many continue to encounter limited opportunities and unfair pay practices. Providing staff accommodations, removing barriers to hiring processes, and insisting upon disability training for all individuals in the workforce will help fill these gaps.”
Addressing the broader structural framework, Maria Town, President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities, stressed that the current economic ecosystem frequently operates against disabled workers rather than supporting them.
“Through our labor, both paid and unpaid, disabled women contribute significantly to our nation’s economy. Yet, the current economy and the workforce is designed to work against us when it should be working for us and with us,” Town said. “From closing the wage gap to modernizing outdated public benefits standards, to expanding access to home and community-based services, we know the solutions that will create an economy where everyone can thrive. Disabled women are already working to achieve this reality. We need others to join us.”
The National Partnership for Women & Families is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization dedicated to promoting fairness in the workplace, advancing reproductive health and rights, ensuring access to quality and affordable health care, and championing policies that help individuals balance the dual demands of work and family.
The Disabled Women’s Equal Pay Day Coalition comprises a diverse group of organizations, including the American Association of People with Disabilities, Association of People Supporting Employment First, Autistic Self Advocacy Network, Black Remote She, Center for American Progress, Center for Economic and Policy Research, The Center for Law and Social Policy, Collective for Racial and Disability Justice, Crip the Law, Disability Culture Lab, Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Equal Pay Today, Equal Rights Advocates, Ford Foundation, National Academy of Social Insurance, National Disability Institute, National Disability Rights Network, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Women’s Law Center, New Disabled South, The Arc, and The Century Foundation.
