Queerness, at least within queer theory, is the breaking of social norms. Disability breaks the norms of ability, gender, and sexuality. Therefore, Disability is queer. 

According to the social model of disability, social constructs of ability created the label of disability. As society evolves and changes, the requirements for ability changes. When these requirements change, more people are deemed disabled because they can no longer reach the norm of ability. When looked at through an intersectional lens, changes in the social norms of gender and sexuality can also change who is deemed “more” disabled. Society is structured to assume everyone is an able bodied, cisgender, heterosexual young, thin, man. This idea is similar to how feminist scholars like Adrienne Rich discuss compulsory heterosexuality, (the idea that the world pushes women to be in relationships with men) and how the world was built for cis heterosexual relationships. The world was also built for able bodied individuals. Many believe that being a disabled man means that you have lost part of your masculinity because you cannot fulfill the gender roles of a provider. Many individuals with disabilities rely on social assistance/benefits in order to survive. There is major controversy surrounding the idea that if social assistance benefits for disabled individuals earned the same amount as the rest of the workforce, that nobody would work anymore. This idea also applies to welfare queens. Welfare queens are single women with multiple children whom many believe are taking advantage of the system.These two groups who receive financial assistance violate the social norms of gender. Welfare queens reject having a husband, women with disabilities are seen as a burden within relationships and men with disabilities may not be able to fulfill their gendered role as a provider. These identities are queer. They go against the gendered societal norms

I definitely recommend reading “Punks, Bulldaggers, and Welfare Queens” by Cathy Cohen and “Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence.” by Adrienne Rich which helped me make these connections!