Emily Blum

Man and woman conversing, facing each other, she is smiling. More people are facing away in the background.

Also by the Author

A diverse group of people is around a table. Most are blurred out, and the top right is in focus showing a Black woman speaking and gesturing forward.

Hope for Disability Employment

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and for once in a long time, the state of disability employment is hopeful.

Emily Blum

Oct 20, 2022

Rachel Arfa meeting with Lori Lightfoot in a conference room at a wooden table with 8-feet spacing between them. Rachel is looking at her laptop screen while Lori Lightfoot looks through her glasses at the camera person.

Interview

Celebrating ADA's 32nd Anniversary the Accessible Way!

A set of questions for City of Chicago Commissioner, Rachel Arfa, about her department's growth, her impact on the administration, and of course, the upcoming Mural display.

Emily Blum

Jul 26, 2022

Announcement

Field and MacArthur Foundations name Emily Blum a 2022 Leader for a New Chicago

A brief summary of Emily's recognition for the Field and MacArthur Foundations name Emily Blum a 2022 Leader for a New Chicago. An award that empowers disability work in Chicago.

Emily Blum

Jun 7, 2022

The Disability Lead plus sign in orange, pinks, and purple is behind a clenched Black fist with the words "Black Disabled Lives Matter." The image was created by Jen White-Johnson.

Announcement

Our Continued Commitment

As an organization committed to both disability leadership and disability justice, Disability Lead’s work is inextricably connected to racial justice. It is imperative if we envision a world in which people with disabilities lead with power and influence, and work to ensure that all of us are able to show up and lead with our whole selves. The path forward acknowledges and addresses the ways in which white supremacy and other oppressive systems are inclusive of ableism and impact our culture, structures, and programs.

Emily Blum

Feb 25, 2022

16 headshots in two rows of 8 of smiling people with various disabilities in candids and posed photos.

Announcement

Building Disability Leadership into 2022

We are thrilled to welcome the 2022 Fellows and new Members to Disability Lead and our network of positive disruptors. Their disruption, which we define as their ability to question how things are done, innovate, lead the charge and create something entirely new, is needed.

Emily Blum

Dec 8, 2021

A Black woman peers out from her red cat-eye glasses, smiling at an out-of-focus group of people. Her dark brown hair is in shoulder-length twists.

Collab

Introducing Collab, A Space for Racial and Disability Justice

Today we launch the Collab, a space for people who work on and care about racial equity and for people who work on and care about disability justice to think and work together. Our goal is to provide a platform and community where members can build relationships, learn from each other, and collectively tackle problems and issues that face our communities.

Emily Blum

Oct 12, 2021