Marta Russell (December 20, 1951 – December 15, 2013) was an American writer and disability rights activist. Her book, Beyond Ramps: Disability at the End of the Social Contract published in 1998 by Common Courage Press analyzes the relationship between disability, social Darwinism, and economic austerity under capitalism. Her political views, which she described as "left, not liberal," informed her writing on topics such as healthcare, the prison-industrial complex, physician-assisted suicide, poverty, ableism, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.[1][2]
Russell grew up in the Mississippi Delta, born into an old Southern family that lived on their cotton farm.[3] She was diagnosed with Cerebral palsy as an infant. During her childhood, she underwent numerous surgeries attempting to improve her mobility. The surgeries were without positive results.
As a young adult, Russell attended the Memphis College of Art and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Frustrated with the conservative culture of the South, she moved to Los Angeles, California, in her early 20s to pursue a career in film. Marta attended The American Film Institute (AFI) and worked as a graphic artist, cinematic visual effects artist, and a commercial producer.[4] A notable visual effects role was as Background Composite Supervisor for the film "Tron" (1982), working in parallel with her then-husband.
Russell's identity as a writer and journalist emerged as her disability progressed and she had to navigate the disability policy netherworld to survive. She became more involved with disability rights groups such as ADAPT.[3][4] A photographer as well as a producer of audio and visual content, Russell was recognized in 1994 with an award from the City of Los Angeles Commission on Disabilities for her contributions to disability society in the media.[5] Russell was co-producer/correspondent for the KCET Life & Times documentary entitled, Disabled & the Cost of Saying 'I Do' (1995) which was honored with a Golden Mike Award for Journalism.
Russell has one daughter named Georgia Scheele.[3]
