Celebrating Disability Justice: The 2025 Stacey Park Milbern Quarter from an IDD Lens

At Northwest Mental Health Management Services, we’re committed to embracing and elevating disability justice in all we do. That’s why we're thrilled to highlight the 2025 release of the American Women Quarter honoring the late Stacey Park Milbern—a trailblazer whose legacy speaks directly to the heart of IDD advocacy.

A Groundbreaking Tribute on U.S. Currency

On August 12, 2025, the U.S. Mint released the Stacey Park Milbern quarter, the 19th coin in the American Women Quarters Program, featuring circulating-quality coins available in two- and three-roll sets, and 100-coin bags. More info. >>> PCGS

More Than a Portrait: Symbolism Rooted in Advocacy

The reverse design portrays Stacey in mid-speech—one hand near her trach, the other lifted palm up—symbolizing “a genuine exchange of ideas” and building allyship. More info. >>> US State Quarters This is deeply resonant from an IDD perspective: it affirms voice, visibility, and community—not pity or detachment.

Her title “Disability Justice” beneath her name reinforces a movement-centered lens, not focused on individual disability. Stacey was instrumental in forging the modern Disability Justice movement: queer, disabled women of color shaping a liberatory, intersectional framework. More info. >>> Disability Scoop

Why This Quarter Matters to the IDD Community

• Voice and Embodiment: The coin centralizes Stacey’s trach and wheelchair—honoring disability as identity, not deficit. More Info >>> The Coin Shop

• Intersectional Justice: As a queer, Korean‑American woman with a disability, Stacey’s inclusion on U.S. currency breaks barriers and amplifies historically underrepresented narratives. More info. >>> Village Coin

• Movement Legacy: Her leadership—from policy advising under Obama’s administration to community mutual aid—embodies the empowering, collective spirit IDD services aim to foster. More info. >>> Wikipedia

  
  

How You Can Participate

• Be among the first to add this quarter to your collection—whether as a single coin, roll set, or 100‑coin bag.

• Use it as an educational touchstone in group sessions or workshops: let this coin spark conversations about inclusion, justice, and representation.

• Share its story on your social media or newsletter—guide others to understand disability pride beyond stereotypes.

  
  

More on the American Women Quarters Program

This program runs from 2022 to 2025, issuing five new designs each year featuring women who have significantly shaped U.S. history across fields like civil rights, science, government, and the arts—including Stacey Park Milbern among the 2025 honorees. More info. >>> American Women Quarters.

Closing Thoughts

This quarter isn’t just metal—it’s a powerful emblem of representation, justice, and collective pride. At Northwest MHMS, we’re honored to spotlight a symbol that aligns so closely with our IDD values: elevating voices, fostering inclusion, and celebrating transformative advocacy.