“My belief system is a person with a disability shouldn’t be hired to just work with disabled organizations and on disabled issues. That may be the first step, but we should branch out…And that’s the key of success to me – is to see how we bring in other brothers and sisters to work in all capacities.” – Don Galloway

Biography: 

Don Galloway (1938–2011) was a groundbreaking advocate who bridged the disability rights and racial justice movements. At age 13, he became blind after an accident involving a bow and arrow. In 1974, he joined the Center for Independent Living in California, advocating for greater inclusion of people of color in the disability rights movement. Galloway successfully challenged discriminatory laws, including barriers preventing people with disabilities from serving in the U.S. Foreign Service. Appointed as the first blind Peace Corps Director in Jamaica, he oversaw 160 volunteers and later traveled globally, conducting research and providing technical assistance. Galloway held influential positions, including leading the Colorado Governor’s Council on Disability and heading the Center for Independent Living’s D.C. branch. His 1993 legal victory ensured blind individuals could not be excluded from jury service. Throughout his career, Galloway championed full inclusion, believing people with disabilities should work across all sectors of society.

Celebrating Galloway’s Activism and Scholarship: 

Don Galloway (1938–2011) was a transformative figure in disability rights activism, advocating for both racial justice and disability inclusion. After becoming blind at age 13, he engaged in early civil rights activism, serving as vice president of his junior NAACP branch and as a junior member of the National Federation of the Blind. Galloway earned a master’s degree in social work, and in 1974, joined the Center for Independent Living (CIL) in California, where he worked alongside Ed Roberts to press for greater inclusion of people of color within the predominantly white disability rights movement.  

Galloway’s career showcased his commitment to dismantling systemic barriers. He successfully challenged discriminatory laws, securing affirmative action protections for disabled individuals in the U.S. Civil and Foreign Services. Appointed as the first blind Peace Corps Director in Jamaica, he oversaw 160 volunteers and later worked globally on research and technical assistance. Galloway’s leadership roles extended to serving as Executive Director of the Colorado Governor’s Council on Disability, running the Washington, D.C., branch of the CIL, and working in the D.C. Departments of Housing and Community Development and Consumer Affairs.  

His advocacy extended to landmark legal victories. In 1991, after being dismissed from jury duty on the grounds of his blindness, Galloway sued for discrimination. The 1993 ruling deemed the automatic disqualification of blind jurors unconstitutional, reinforcing the principle of full civic participation for disabled individuals.  

Central to Galloway’s philosophy was the belief that disabled people should not be confined to disability-focused roles but should thrive across all sectors. By amplifying Black voices in disability advocacy, challenging exclusionary policies, and promoting independent living, Galloway left an enduring legacy of inclusion and justice.

Galloway’s Impacts: 

Learning about Don Galloway’s life and work at Berkeley profoundly shaped my academic and personal journey. As a Black African scholar with a legally blind mother, his story resonated deeply. Galloway’s bravery in challenging exclusion—whether fighting for blind jurors’ rights or pushing for the inclusion of Black voices in the disability rights movement—reminded me of my mother’s resilience and the need to amplify the struggles of disabled individuals. His legacy inspired me to focus my research on disability politics, despite being the only person doing this work in my department. Galloway’s insistence that disabled people belong in all spheres of life fuels my commitment to creating awareness about inclusion, both in academia and beyond. His example serves as a reminder that justice demands intersectionality, and as I pursue my scholarship, I strive to honor his vision of a world where all identities are valued and represented.

Galloway’s Legacy: 

Don Galloway’s lasting legacy lies in his tireless advocacy at the intersection of racial justice and disability rights. By challenging exclusionary systems—whether fighting discriminatory laws in the Foreign Service, championing Black voices in the disability rights movement, or securing the constitutional right for blind individuals to serve on juries—he reshaped perceptions of inclusion and civic participation. His leadership at the Center for Independent Living and as the first blind Peace Corps Director demonstrated the power of disabled individuals to lead in all spheres. Galloway’s work inspires future generations to build a more just, inclusive, and intersectional world.

To Learn More About Galloway: 

1. “Remembering Disability Activist Don Galloway,” Aspire Living & Learning https://allinc.org/blog/remembering-disability-activist-don-galloway/

2. Ashley H, “The Global Legacy of Black Disabled Activist Don Galloway,” Mobility International USA (2/24/2020): https://miusa.org/blog/galloway/

3. James Gashel, “Donald Galloway: Advocate for Change,” Braille Monitor (11/1985): https://nfb.org/sites/default/files/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm85/bm8511/bm851111.htm

4. “Donald Galloway: Fighting for Full Participation in Society,” The Center for Learner Equity (2/26/2021): https://www.centerforlearnerequity.org/news/donald-galloway-fighting-for-full-participation-in-society/

5. Adam Bernstein, “Donald Galloway, Advocate of Rights of Disabled, Dies at 73,” The Washington Post (11/01/2011): https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/donald-galloway-advocate-of-rights-of-disabled-dies-at-73/2011/10/31/gIQAl93MdM_story.html

This celebration was authored by Jane Mango Angar

About the Author: 

Jane Mango Angar is a PhD candidate in Political Science at UC Berkeley, researching Disability Politics and Political Violence, particularly in the Global South. She also advocates for accessible computational social science. Visit her  website for connections and resources on disability, health, and wellbeing: https://disabilityresearchglobally.squarespace.com/