Callen-Lorde Community Health Center

A singular and highly influential figure in the history of disability justice, May Darrach's lasting impact is still felt today. Born in New Jersey in 1869, she was diagnosed at a young age with spinal tuberculosis (known as Pott's Disease). Before more modern treatments, this usually resulted in long-term physical disability and often early death.

Darrach was privileged to be born into a family of forward-thinking and innovative physicians and inventors who made sure to get her access to the best possible care for the time. They created devices, such as painless restraining jackets and an early version of a walker, to better care for her body and mobility. Their support allowed her to pursue her passion as an educator and later a physician herself, she graduated from New York's Women’s Medical College in 1904.

Her experience inspired her to advocated for further social progress around disability justice. She helped found the Guild for Crippled Children of the Poor, focusing on finding and providing care to children with disabilities who were often disenfranchised at the time. After lobbying the Children’s Aid Society, Darrach was able to create the nation’s very first educational program for children with disabilities. In time she founded the Darrach Settlement Home for Crippled Children, which provided medical care, education, training, and shelter to children with disabilities in New York City. Out of her and her community's work came a new movement of charitable works, organizations and resources, some of which continue to this day.

In 1910 she started to experience health issues that prevented her from continuing her work, but in just fifteen years she made a massive impact on the movement not only in NYC, but across our world and history.

You can read a complete exploration of her life by Warren Shaw here: https://www.disabilityhistorynyc.com/explore/may-darrach