About

The Beginning

The Nebraska Spoonie Initiative was created by two disabled individuals with personal experience inside and leaving institutions. They have experience advocating against oppressive state regulations, caregiver abuse, and neglect within disability agencies, which reinforced their firm values rooted in disability justice.

During their time in support work, they witnessed how easily disabled people are forced into abusive systems, silenced by agencies, and controlled by the state. Disabled people within these agencies and programs are systematically discouraged, and even denied access to, the ability to self advocate. 

Both founders quickly recognized that this wasn't just an issue with poor staffing and circumstance, but a systemic issue. Disabled people are greatly disenfranchised and the ability to escape institutions is nearly impossible for many individuals who rely on daily support. They chose to build this organization so that the people who are placed in these systems are able to find a community to thrive in, rather than just exist in. 

As The Nebraska Spoonie Initiative grows, our organization will offer programming to assist The Disabled People of Nebraska through community lead peer support, and better equip agencies to provide person-centered care that is guided by the individuals they serve rather than quotas, state restriction, and their personal belief of what “independence” should look like.

Why "The Nebraska SPOONIE Initiative"?

Many disabled people refer to the "spoon theory" to describe the amount of physical, emotional, or social energy that they have to exert in a day. "Spoonies" refers to those in the disabled community who align with this model. Our mission respects the energy our community expels every day into our self-advocacy and navigating the world while also navigating their disability. We chose this name to represent our respect for your time shared into participating in our mission and acknowledging that we all have the ability to honor our own needs while still being a valuable part of our community. 

Our Mission

The Nebraska Spoonie Initiative is a grassroots organization located in Omaha, Nebraska. 

We're an anti-institutional organization that advocates through the framework of Disability Justice to oppose institutions and systems that encourage disability paternalism. We stand by the truth that every person, regardless of their needs, has the right to ethical care that provides safety, integrity, and encouragement to find themselves. 

Many people who receive daily support are limited to activities that are chosen by agencies, support staff, or caregivers. 

The Nebraska Spoonie Initiative advocates for safe inclusive spaces for our community to explore their identities, lifestyles, interests and beliefs. Every person within our community deserves to have social lives without expectations to conform to standards that are not that of their own.

Our Values