Within the disability community, the 1^st of March is the day we observe the Disability Day of Mourning (DDoM). This day commemorates disabled people who were murdered by their caregivers. DDoM was first observed in 2012 and aims to bring attention to the issue of filicide (the murder of one’s child) of disabled children and adults. Vigils held in memory of murdered disabled people originated in the early 2000s.[1] DDoM has now become a significant part of the disability rights movement.

In the disability community, ‘filicide’ is used to refer to disability-related murders by family members and/or caregivers, through either their action or inaction. The Autistic Self Advocacy Network asserts that in the past 5 years, over 500 people with disabilities, ranging from infants to elderly relatives, have been killed by family members or caregivers.[2]

In many societies today it still remains that disabled people are seen as less than non-disabled people, even subhuman. In the case of those who have been murdered, media coverage often portrays how caring for the now-deceased disabled person was such a burden that the caregiver or family member was driven to commit murder, and therefore is not fully to blame for their actions. The portrayal of disabilities by the media is often as an affliction that is much worse than death. DDoM vigils aim to draw attention to these injustices, commemorating the lives of victims, and demanding justice and equal protection under the law for all people with disabilities.

Disabilities may be present at birth, or may occur later in life. Disabilities include intellectual, mental and physical disabilities, as well as chronic health conditions or diseases. Some disabilities may occur from cognitive decline, mobility impairment, aging, frailty and many more.

Disabled people’s lives are often seen as something to be suffered, not as gifts of the same value, beauty and importance as everyone else’s.

DDoM vigils often include reading the names of those murdered. The Disability Memorial website collects the names of those believed to have been murdered, going as far back as 1980. In February 2024 there are over 1,900 names on the Disability Day of Mourning list, with over 130 names having been added in that year. In the last week of February 2025, around 20 new names have been added. This is not an exhaustive list; the actual number of deaths could be much higher. Those murdered are from all over the world, including over 100 people from Australia.

Vigils may also feature disabled survivors of abuse, including survivors of institutions, talking about their experiences. Vigils may include be a period of silence, lighting of candles, poetry, readings, music written by disabled individuals as well as the celebration of those living with disabilities.

Since the origin of the DDoM in 2012, media coverage associated with disabled people has become more positive, and now includes much more self-advocacy, with disabled writers discussing the disabled experience form an inside view.

DDoM gives us a time and space to mourn for those murdered. It also gives us an opportunity to hear from the disabled community, to really understand their struggles. DDoM seeks to inspire us to work towards creating a world that is accessible, where everyone is included, respected, and truly protected. Every life matters! We are called to stand up and oppose all forms of violence, injustice and neglect.

Here at LMNHealth, we strive to promote awareness, understanding, and inclusivity for all. We understand that good health is not just about our physical self, it involves all areas of our self; mental, emotional and spiritual.

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[1] Disability Day of Mourning – Remembering the Disabled Murdered by Caregivers

[2] Disability Community Day of Mourning – Autistic Self Advocacy Network