Núcleo Disca

Points of interest:

• In 2021, more people with disabilities ran for office in Chile than in previous elections, exercising their right to political participation. We interviewed eighteen of these candidates to understand why they wanted to represent their community in writing the new Constitution.
• The candidates argued that politicians without disabilities cannot fully understand their lives. They believe that having the lived experience of a disability gives them unique knowledge to represent the needs and rights of their group effectively.
• Although the law affirms their right to run for office, becoming a representative was very hard. Candidates faced a lack of money and discrimination. This shows that legal quotas are a good start, but they are not enough to guarantee fair representation.
• Most candidates did not win, but their campaigns were still a success for representation. By simply being present, they showed society that people with disabilities are not just people who need help, but leaders who can make decisions.

Notes:

• This article was originally published in English.

Marshall, P., & Solsona, D. (2026). ‘When you live the problem, it is different’: political representation of people with disabilities in Chile. Disability & Society, 41(9), 2191–2212. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2026.2698942