Google Honors “Stacey Park Milbern“, Celebrating Their 35th Birthday during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month on May 19, 2022: Engaging and Entertaining Trivia about the Esteemed Disability Justice and Civil Rights Activist
All Personal Information about Stacey Park Milbern
- Birth date: May 19, 1987
- Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
- Died on: May 19, 2020 (aged 33)
- Death place: Stanford, California
- Father name: Joel
- Mother name: Jean (Park) Milbern
- Nationality: American
- Education:
- Methodist University (BA)
- Mills College (MBA)
- Known as: Disability rights activist
Fascinating Fact of the American Disability Rights Activist Stacey Park Milbern
- Stacey Park Milbern was a prominent disability rights activist who dedicated herself to the disability justice movement and fought for equitable treatment of individuals with disabilities.
- Born on May 19, 1987, at the U.S. Army Hospital in Seoul, Milbern had congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD). As a person of mixed race, her father being white and her mother Korean, she grew up in a military family in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where her father served in the United States Army.
- While relying on her family for support during childhood, Milbern faced additional challenges when she identified as queer. She feared judgment from her evangelical Christian parents and made the decision to move out, which was made more difficult by her reliance on assistance for daily activities.
- Despite her disabilities, Milbern never saw them as limitations but rather as obstacles to overcome. Growing up in North Carolina, she recognized the importance of moving to the San Francisco Bay Area, a region known for its accessibility and vibrant disabilities activism.
- Throughout her life, Milbern held several leadership roles in disability rights, including being the Community Outreach Director for the National Youth Leadership Network and a founder of the North Carolina Youth Leadership Forum and Disabled Young People’s Collective, promoting advocacy and leadership among youth with disabilities.
- Her contributions to disability rights were recognized by the Governor of North Carolina, who appointed her to the North Carolina Commission for the Blind and the Statewide Independent Living Council.
- Milbern played a significant role in establishing the 2007 North Carolina law that designated October as “Disability History and Awareness Month” and mandated the inclusion of disability history in school curricula.
- In 2005, she co-founded the disability justice movement through collaboration with other disabled queer women of color activists.
- After relocating to California, Milbern joined the Center for Independent Living in Berkeley, working on the program management team and advocating for full social and political equality for people with disabilities.
- In addition to her community impact projects, she worked as an Accommodations Management Consultant at Wells Fargo and earned an MBA from Mills College in 2015.
- Milbern actively campaigned for fair healthcare for individuals with disabilities, highlighting access issues and biases within the system. She opposed unnecessary surgeries and emphasized the need for Medicaid support for in-home attendants and nursing services.
- Passionate about the disability justice movement, Milbern was appointed by President Obama to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities in 2014 and co-authored Bernie Sanders’ Disability Rights platform.
- Tragically, Stacey Park Milbern passed away on her 33rd birthday, May 19, 2020, due to surgical complications. However, her legacy continues to inspire and shape the Disability Justice and Disability Rights movements.
- To commemorate Stacey Park Milbern’s birthday and honor their remarkable contributions, Google featured a special Google Doodle on May 19, 2022, created by guest artist Art Twink from San Francisco, CA, as part of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
Stacey Park Milbern Google Doodle
Today, Google commemorates Stacey Park Milbern, a notable advocate for the disability justice movement, in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
In the United States, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is observed throughout May to recognize the significant contributions of Asian and Pacific Islanders to the nation’s history. Stacey Park Milbern exemplifies the profound impact that an individual can make.
As part of the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month festivities, Google dedicates a special Doodle to honor this Korean American activist on her 35th birthday, which also marks the second anniversary of her passing.
Coincidentally, this day is also recognized as Global Accessibility Awareness Day, promoting digital accessibility and inclusivity for people with disabilities.
Google has commissioned artist Art Twink to create the Doodle, which showcases a vibrant and captivating color palette, drawing inspiration from Stacey Park Milbern’s life and activism.
Also Read: Fascinating and Entertaining Fact about “Angelo Moriondo”: Godfather of Espresso Machines