Change-Making in Disability, Peace, and Development: Lessons from the Life and Legacy of Steven Estey

In this chapter, we celebrate the life and work of Steven Estey—a prominent Canadian and transnational disability activist who spent his adult life making change at the nexus of human rights, peacebuilding, and development. In doing so we highlight two sets of lessons. First, we reflect on the distinctive characteristics that made Steve such an impactful activist, drawing on his extensive networks, deep empathy, and inimitable humour to advance the cause of people with disabilities in the domains of rights, development, and post-conflict reconstruction. Second, we reflect on the ways Steve’s advocacy reflected broader patterns of transnational disability advocacy and activism. These included strategic opportunism, inveterate boundary crossing—between institutions, jurisdictions, and communities—and an unwavering commitment to self-representation and agency for people with disabilities.