Vilissa Thompson, a Licensed Master Social Worker, was born in 1985, Winnsboro, South Carolina. Growing up as a Black woman with a disability, she experienced firsthand the intersectionality challenges that many women face. Vilissa promotes self-advocacy and empowerment amongst disabled black women, making her a prominent leader and educator. In her early twenties, Vilissa delved into the world of women's activism where she began focusing on issues affecting women of color, especially black women and femme with disabilities. Vilissa founded the organization "Ramp Your Voice" in 2013 to address issues like racism, intersectionality, and politics. Through Ramp Your Voice, she provided resources, and support to assist disabled women of color navigate societal barriers and discrimination. Vilissa has spoken at conferences, wrote countless of articles and engaged in advocacy efforts to raise awareness of the unique challenges faced by many marginalized women. One of Vilissa's most impactful contribution was her advocacy for the rights of disabled women in the 2016 #DisabilityTooWhite movement. She started this hashtag as a confutation to an article about disability that did not feature a single disabled person of color. With this hashtag, the media coverage, public policies and community leaderships that centered on whiteness was vitally examined. This initiative sparked conversations of why the experiences of those affected by the intersections of racism, sexism, homophobia, and ableism was not discussed! Furthermore, Thompson created an online resource titled the "Black Disabled Women Syllabus," to emphasize and accentuate critical topics like women’s health, carceral reform, body positivity, and mental health. Through her tireless efforts, Vilissa Thompson became a respected individual in the fight for women's rights and intersectional feminism. Her commitment to amplify marginalized voices and dismantle systemic barriers has inspired many disabled leaders to find their voices in the fight for women's rights. Today, Ms. Thompson continues to address and educate the public and politicians about the predicament of disabled women.

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