Migration meets disability. Approaches to intersectionality in the context of a disability rights organization

Despite the proliferation of intersectionality in academic research and political activism, the intersection of disability and migration remains neglected in academic research. With this paper, we contribute to exploring this interlinkage. Drawing on research in a disability rights organization, this paper explores different positions concerning the intersection of disability and migration. Proposing a typology of three different modes, we shed light on individual approaches towards this intersection and thereby explain the reluctance to change of an organization in correspondence with a slowly-moving field. Placing this analysis in a broader context, we contribute to an understanding of the construction of the category of disability and its intersections with other categories, in this case migration within the organizational context of a disability rights organization. We show varying perceptions of this intersection within one organization and highlight their underlying organizational and personal logics. By doing so, we identify forces of organizational inertia and resistance to diversity-related change. Finally, this paper encourages discussions on the incorporation of migrants in the field of disability more widely. This paper studies how a disability rights organisation in Germany deals with the topic of migration. We refer to the concept of intersectionality. In the qualitative interviews with employees and volunteers of the organisation, we identified three different positions.One group expressed that the organisation should only focus on disability-related issues and treat all people alike. Migrants or migration-specific topics should not be specifically addressed.Other people consider it to be the organisation's duty to respond to migrants' needs and to adjust their services.Another group of people expressed that not only migration, but also categories such as gender and age affect the needs and experiences of disabled people. The organisation should be sensitive to specific needs of all kinds.We show that different positions can prevail in one organisation. It is challenging for organisations to deal with this. It is important to better understand the field of disability and migration.