Sunjay Smith

A blue gradient background with white text has “The D-30 Disability Impact List” at the top centered above “2024 Honoree” which is in between two laurels. Below, text “Sunjay Smith (he/him), USA” is to the left of a picture of Sunjay, which fills the right. Sunjay is a medium-skinned person sitting in a motorized wheelchair. He is wearing a blue t-shirt and smiling. At the bottom left corner is text “Diversability, #D30DisList”.

Sunjay Smith

He/him/his

Founder, CripJustice

USA

Since age 6, Sunjay Smith has had quadriplegia. When he noticed disabled people being disregarded by social justice advocates, he started CripJustice which supports people with disabilities who are in systems or state-impacted. His outreach touches about 2000 people a year. Through community collaborations, his team successfully won a preliminary injunction to stop property seizures of unhoused people with disabilities. Through these efforts, they have successfully stopped expulsions for students with disabilities and provide extensive support for incarcerated people with disabilities. He is working to create a mutual aid center in Riverside for disabled unhoused individuals. Working with Norman First American in Oklahoma, he is creating accessible ceremonies and cultural programs for Native peoples with disabilities. He is on the California Department of Justice advisory group for disability rights.