Network

Attorney Anthony (“Tony”) M. Abou Ezzi is the Founder of Ezzi Law, a premier law firm in the heart of downtown Chicago that provides legal services in the area of Estate Planning (Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Special Needs Trusts). He represents families in Probate court in cases of Adult Guardianship, Disability Law, and when a loved one passes. Tony founded Ezzi Law in 2014 after being selected by the Chicago Bar Association’s Justice Entrepreneurs Project.

Kyle was born and raised in Chicago’s northwest suburbs. He attended college at the Rochester Institute of Technology and graduated with a degree in finance. Upon graduation, Kyle moved to Seattle, Washington and worked for Starbucks in their finance program before relocating back to Chicago in 2020. Currently he is a Senior Finance Analyst at Walgreens.

Tara is the Project Director for The IL Self Advocacy Alliance. She is a 2020 AAPD Hearne Leadership Awardee and a graduate of New York University (B.A) & DePaul University (M.S). Besides working in non-profit, she is an accomplished photographer and artist.

Azeema Akram is an Administrative Law Judge at the Illinois Human Rights Commission (“IHRC”), where she presides over claims of unlawful discrimination pursuant to the Illinois Human Rights Act. Prior to joining the IHRC, she was an Administrative Law Judge at the Illinois Commerce Commission, adjudicating matters involving railroad safety, motor carrier licensing and regulatory violations affecting intrastate trucking, relocation towing, safety towing, collateral recovery, and household goods moving companies. She previously served the Commission as a Special Assistant Attorney General. In December 2019, Azeema became one of 34 members of the national Deaf & Hard of Hearing Bar Association to be sworn in the United Supreme Court Bar. She is also a member of the South Asian Bar Association of Chicago.  As a deaf/hard-of-hearing attorney, Azeema is passionate about accessibility in legal proceedings. She regularly presents to attorneys and judges on accommodating people with disabilities in court. Azeema has been published in the American Bar Association Journal and was awarded the University of Missouri-Columbia College of Arts & Science 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award in recognition of her accomplishments. She is a Community Representative on the Regional Transportation Authority’s Paratransit Certification Formal Appeals Program Eligibility Review Board. Azeema is the Secretary on the Board of Directors of Red Clay Dance Company, Chicago’s premier Afro-contemporary dance company. She was a 2018 Fellow with Disability Lead. Azeema’s history of leadership in public service includes in-house and legislative experience. Azeema served as an Assistant General Counsel at the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation, where she provided legal counsel to the Director of the Division of Professional Regulation, Department staff, and professional boards (e.g., Medical Licensing and Disciplinary Boards) on legal and policy matters including final agency action. She also drafted and negotiated legislation and administrative rules with various professional industries and members of the General Assembly. Azeema also served as legal counsel for the Department’s statutorily-created Music Therapy Task Force and drafted its final Report, which was reviewed by the Governor and General Assembly leaders to determine whether to require State licensure for the Music Therapy profession. Azeema earned her B.A. in International Studies with a Multicultural Studies Certificate from the University of Missouri-Columbia and studied abroad in London.  Since graduating from DePaul University College of Law with her J.D. and Health Law Certificate, Azeema continues to mentor law students and serve as a guest judge for multiple law school moot court teams in Chicago.

Former Deputy Commissioner City of Chicago Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities, Joe served in various capacities at MOPD from 1994-2021 and as Deputy Commissioner for the last 15 years. At MOPD, Joe oversaw Employment Services, Training Services, and Deaf and Hard of Hearing Programs. Joe was a member of the Mayoral Task Force on Employment and Economic Opportunities for People with Disabilities, and the Financial Advisory Council for the Empowerment of People with Disabilities. Joe is a graduate of Florida State University.

Sergio N. Alfaro is a disabled veteran of the U.S. Army who trains employees in Health Information Systems for the Healthcare Revenue Cycle. He also volunteers with the Wounded Warrior Project as a public speaker as part of their National Campaign Team to spread awareness on mental health and veteran issues. By speaking emotionally and with vulnerability he hopes to assist others to find a life worth living.

D. Erick Allen is devoted to increasing disability diversity in the workplace. Erick is a former Director of Inclusion Consulting & Training at Access Living. Erick serves on the Chicago Jobs Council Board of Directors and previously served on the Board of Commissioners for the Chicago Commission on Human Relations. Erick received a B.A. and M.S. from Loyola University of Chicago.

Zully JF Alvarado is an educator, trainer, public speaker, entrepreneur and international leader and advocate on the rights of children, women, and persons with disabilities. Zully currently lives in Gary, Indiana and raises awareness on the importance of accessibility in infrastructure, transportation and outdoor recreation. Zully earned an M.Ed. from the Erikson Institute.

Stephanie Anderson brings commitment and drive to ensure that all Vaughn High School students have opportunities to engage within the community. Prior roles include Diverse Learner Supporter at Chicago Public Schools and an Intervention Specialist/School Psychologist for Northern Suburban Special Education District. Stephanie founded Friends of Vaughan. Stephanie earned a B.A. from Western Michigan University and an M.A. from Concordia University.

Corryn Antonizio is the Sustainability and Social Responsibility Champion at RTC Industries, a leading global design and manufacturing firm that specializes in creating retail experiences. RTC is headquartered in Rolling Meadows and has a presence in 13 countries with over 900 employees. As Sustainability and Social Responsibility Champion, she leads RTC’s efforts in reducing their impact on the global environment as well as supporting the overall diversity and inclusion program.

Rachel Arfa was appointed Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) by Mayor Lori Lightfoot in July 2020. Rachel comes to MOPD with years of experience as a disability and civil rights attorney. As MOPD Commissioner, Rachel leads the City of Chicago’s efforts to make Chicago a more accessible city. MOPD provides services including in the areas of independent living services (information and referral, home-delivered meals, and homemaker services), employment and youth transition services, home modifications, assistive technology, accessible housing and architectural accessibility. MOPD also creates policies on disability accessibility, accessible transportation, and emergency preparedness. Her extensive professional, and civic leadership experience has prepared her for this role. Rachel previously was employed as a Staff Attorney at Equip for Equality, Illinois’ governor-designated protection and legal advocacy agency which advocates for the civil and human rights of people with disabilities. Her work focused on representing people with disabilities in employment discrimination cases and civil rights violations. In this role, she managed the PABSS Project and served as the Chair of the Illinois ADA Project Steering Committee. Rachel is the President of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Bar Association and in December, 2019, made the motion using spoken language and ASL for 10 deaf and hard of hearing attorneys to be admitted to the United States Supreme Court Bar. Rachel served as the Accessibility Lead for the Women’s March Chicago, developing expansive accessibility for large scale outdoor gatherings. Rachel served on the Board of Directors for the Chicago Cultural Accessibility Consortium and the Board of Directors for 3Arts, which supports artists of color, women artists, and artists with disabilities. She is a Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow (2016), Member of Disability Lead, and a past Fellow of the Illinois Women’s Institute for Leadership (2017) and the New Leaders Council (2013). She is a graduate of the University of Michigan (B.A., American Culture) and the University of Wisconsin School of Law (J.D.).

Gary Arnold is the Program Director for Progress Center for Independent Living. Previously, Gary worked as the Public Affairs Manager for Access Living. Gary is the co-chair of the Board of Directors for Crossroads Fund. He is the immediate past president of Little People of America, and has served on the Board of Directors for Public Narrative (previously known as the Community Media Workshop). Gary is a 2013 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow. Gary earned a B.A. from Beloit College and an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2018.

Ally Bain is a Staff Attorney at the Roger Baldwin Foundation of ACLU, Inc., where she advocates on behalf of individuals with disabilities. Ally also is the Ally behind “Ally’s Law” or the Restroom Access Act. She earned her JD from Northwestern and BA from Lake Forest College.

Adam Ballard has a demonstrated career history in advocating for housing choice and transportation access for individuals with disabilities and older adults. He spent 11 years of his career at Access Living leading the organization’s work in housing and transportation through community organizing and policy advocacy, and currently serves as an Associate State Director at AARP Illinois. He is instrumental in developing legislation and policy by partnering with government offices, grass roots community organizations, and other stakeholder groups to set both long-term and short-term agendas in housing and transportation policy, regional planning, and other issues impacting livable communities for all. Adam also works with AARP volunteers and staff to develop campaigns and events related to advancing the organization’s advocacy agenda across northern Illinois. Adam also serves on several committees and advisory boards aimed at advancing racial equity, disability justice, wealth building, public health, and climate resilience within the city, region, and state. He is also co-chair of The Disabilities Fund of The Chicago Community Trust and serves as the Vice Chair of the Land Use and Housing Committee within the Chicago Metropolitan Agency on Planning. Adam is constantly finding ways to involve the community in his work and wants to center decision-making power in the hands of the communities that are the most affected by inequity and power imbalances. He seeks to build relationships that allow change to happen – from grass roots leaders and those who are most affected by broader policy decisions, all the way up to partnerships with stakeholders and decision makers who can help implement those changes on a widespread level.

Steph Ban is a Communications Assistant at AUCD as part of the COVID vaccine confidence initiative. Prior to joining AUCD, she was a housing and financial counselor at Great Lakes Credit Union, where her main passion was making counseling as widely accessible as possible. Steph also interned at the disability rights organization Access Living. She brings a wealth of personal, activist, and academic experience with disability rights, as well as a deep passion for cross-disability inclusion, to her work. Steph is an independent scholar of U.S. disability history, with additional research interests in disability and musicology, and the Enlightenment.

Linda Bannon founded Look Ma, No Hands to educate the community and advocate for people with disabilities. Linda is a peer mentor for children with limb differences and their families. Linda is a former teacher for the Bellwood Schoold District. Linda received a B.A. from Elmhurst College and an M.B.A. from Benedictine University.

Bianca is the Vice President of Institutional Giving at Envision Unlimited, handling the organization’s public and private grants. Previously, Bianca was the Manager of Grants and Planned Giving at Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago. Bianca earned her Bachelor of Arts from Oberlin College, her Juris Doctor from Loyola University Chicago.

Bri is an artist, activist, and community mental health counselor. She considers herself to have a social art practice and combines her fine art, design, and work as a helping professional to change individual and societal insight. Bri is committed to utilizing the arts to show the varied, beautiful, and complex story of disability, as well as creating an avenue for other disabled folks to do the same.

Francine Bell started The Hilliard Foundation to honor her parents and support families of children with disabilities. Francine is a writer and consultant on disability issues and serves on the Pace Paratransit – Chicago ADA Advisory Committee, Access Living Program Committee, State of Illinois Rehabilitation Council, and the Chicago Disability Coalition, a faith-based effort advancing the inclusion of people with disabilities in churches in Chicago.

Peter Berg coordinates and provides technical assistance, and trains on various aspects of the ADA at Great Lakes ADA Center. Peter serves as a member of the Illinois Attorney General’s Illinois Accessibility Code Task Force. Peter chaired the Mayor’s Advisory Commission on Disability for the City of Naperville and the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Chancellor’s Committee on the Status of Persons with Disabilities. Peter is a graduate of North Central College.

Juan Bernal is actively involved in the Deaf community nationally and internationally. Juan is the Vice President of the Illinois Latino Association. Juan has modeled ASL with a few different hospitals in their Deaf Outreach videos. Juan possesses an ASL Mentor certification and has eighteen years of experience as a Deaf Interpreter. Juan earned IDHHC Intermediate License, and is currently working to obtain the Advanced License. Juan is the winner of the Deaf Illinois Award, 2013.

Mike Blight is Sprout Social's Senior Market Research and Insights Manager focused on social media trends, research, and data-driven content. Outside of work, Mike's love language is sharing TikToks, the NBA, and spending time with his kids. Mike volunteers as a youth baseball and basketball coach in his community.

Emily Blum was named Executive Director of Disability Lead in 2019 when the organization was established as an independent 501C3. Believing disability leadership is essential to creating an inclusive and equitable Chicago region, she directs the organization’s efforts to develop and build and network of leaders with disabilities who lead with power and influence. A seasoned nonprofit leader, Emily has more than 20 years’ experience bringing stakeholders together to create and implement effective communications strategies around complex social and political issues. Prior to joining Disability Lead, Emily held senior positions at some of Chicago’s leading nonprofits, including Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC), Chicago Humanities Festival (CHF), and Heartland Alliance. At all three organizations, she drove branding and strategic messaging campaigns that created new kinds of conversations with a wide variety of audiences. Emily serves on the City of Chicago’s Mayor’s Advisory Council for Women, Fair Fight’s Action Disability Council, Senator Duckworth’s Independent Review Board and the Board of Directors for Inspiration Corporation. She was named a 2022 Leader for a New Chicago by the Field and MacArthur Foundations, was featured in The Chicago Tribune, and has op-eds published in The Chicago Sun-Times, and Crain’s Chicago Business.

Bill Bogdan is responsible for the coordination, development, and implementation of programs and services for persons with disabilities for the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office. In 2010, Bill was appointed by the Governor of Illinois to Chair the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities. In addition, Bill serves on the Illinois Elevator Safety Advisory Board, the Illinois State Library Talking Books and Braille Service Advisory Council, the Board of Directors for the Spinal Cord Injury Association of Illinois and the Diveheart Foundation. Bill graduated with honors from DePaul University, and is active in many sport and recreational programs offered through Adaptive Adventures and the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Adaptive Sports & Fitness Program.

Jen Bokoff is the director of development for the Disability Rights Fund and is also an independent consultant. Jen's career in philanthropy is dedicated to elevating marginalized voices, supporting community-centered solutions, and shifting power. Jen is a globally-respected expert on participatory grantmaking and serves on the Tufts University Alumni Council and the Rhize board. In her spare time, Jen enjoys traveling, playing games, and spending time with her dog Bowser.

Becky Brasfield is a Member of Disability Lead and a mental health professional. Becky joined Disability Lead as an inaugural 2015 Institute Fellow, a competitively selected opportunity for emerging leaders from all walks of life and with diverse disabilities who unite for an immersive, transformative experience exploring their leadership skills. Brasfield has also assumed community leadership positions including Secretary of NAMI Illinois' Alliance of Peer Professionals; the People's Liberty Project; the International Association of Peer Specialists’ State Representatives Advisory Council; the State of Illinois Division of Mental Health Regional Recovery Trainings for Certified Recovery Support Specialists and Wellness Recovery Action Plan facilitators. She is currently serving as Recovery Support Specialist with Community Counseling Centers of Chicago and is a NAMI IL Alliance of Peer Professionals Board Member.

Garcsa Brooks, a Northwest Indiana native, is currently serving the Chicagoland area through community outreach as a team lead for community support specialists at Thresholds. She also holds her Masters in Counseling Psychology which she uses to provide therapeutic services to those in need.

Kim Brown is a Senior Business Analyst for Commonwealth Edison. Prior to coming to ComEd, Kim worked for Chicago Public Schools as a Teacher and Reading Coach. Kim is Ms. Wheelchair Illinois 2012 where she advocated for persons with disabilities focusing on wheelchair accessibility in the workplace as well as assisted rehab technology legislation. Kim is the former President and current Liaison of the Exelon Resource Group ENABLED which educates employees about disability awareness. Kim has recently been elected to Project A.L.E.X Board of Directors as the Co-Director of Outreach. Project A.L.E.X. is a charitable organization working together to creating a safe living environment for young adults with disabilities and individuals without disabilities, thereby fostering a community atmosphere. Kim earned a B.A. and M.A. at Saint Xavier University and an M.A. from Concordia University.

Since 2006, Justice Anne M. Burke has been a member of the Illinois Supreme Court’s First Judicial District. Prior to joining the Supreme Court, she served the Appellate bench from 1995. Prior to her judicial career, Anne was a physical education teacher with the Chicago Park District, working with children with disabilities. Anne went on to co-found the Chicago Special Olympics in 1968 and later served as director as it grew to become the International Special Olympics. Anne served as interim chair for National Review Board of the United States, Conference of Catholic Bishops and currently sits on the Executive Steering Committee of Kennedy Forum Illinois. Justice Burke earned a B.A. from DePaul University and a J.D. from Chicago Kent College of Law.

Maureen Burns is a Community Health Worker (CHW) with JourneyCare. JourneyCare is a nonprofit provider of hospice and palliative care, serving 13 counties in Illinois. Community health workers are frontline public health workers who live in the communities that they serve; they act as a bridge between community members and healthcare entities, working to build trust and increase accessibility. As CHW, Maureen works in and around her community in Rogers Park and West Ridge, providing free education about terminal illness, end-of-life care, advanced directives, and cultural consideration at end-of-life. The goal of this outreach is to provide culturally affirming education on highly stigmatized subjects, while also increasing awareness and access to quality healthcare at all stages of life. In addition to her work with JourneyCare, Maureen is a student at Northeastern Illinois University’s University Without Walls Program, studying community health, culture, and aging. She is also a devoted mother of one daughter. Maureen is a deaf woman who utilizes a cochlear implant. She seeks to grow her leadership skills and engage in collaborative work to build capacity within the Disabled community.

A theorist, methodologist, and empirical researcher, Dr. Kate Caldwell received her Doctorate in Disability Studies from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Having also received a Masters’ degree from the University of Chicago in interdisciplinary social sciences, she brings this expertise to approaching complex issues where various fields intersect and facilitating dialogue across disciplines.

Felicia is a mother of two daughters and grandmother of three granddaughters. She has BA in a speech at Fisk University, an MA in Media Communications at Governor State University. A Master in Divinity at Lutheran School of Theology, a Doctorate at the Chicago Theological Seminary.

For the past thirty years, Jack Catlin has been involved in creating environments for all people including people with disabilities. Currently, Jack is one of two technical trainers for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST Program. Jack co-chaired the committee that developed Chicago’s first comprehensive accessibility code as part of the revisions to the Chicago Building Code. In 1994, Jack was appointed to the U.S. Access Board by President Clinton. He served on the Executive Committee of the Chicago Community Trust, Co-Chairs it’s Disabilities Fund Advisory Board, and is a current board member of the Metropolitan Planning Council. Jack graduated from the University of Illinois School of Architecture.

Keidra Chaney is currently at the forefront of digital communications and digital strategy in the nonprofit sector. Her goals and motivators are reflected in every stage of her multifaceted career. As a marketing professional, writer, and educator, Keidra endeavors to create equitable, just, and safe spaces for marginalized people. She achieves this goal through understanding via any and all modes of communication, by challenging perspectives, and ultimately providing information and services to those in need. Keidra currently works at National Network of Abortion Funds, and in her tenure, she has cultivated broad, yet overlapping skillsets and established herself as a leader in NFP digital marketing and strategy. A self-described “writer in a complicated relationship with the internet”, Keidra is also a pop culture critic. She is the founding publisher of The Learned Fangirl and founder of the TLF Freelance Emergency Fund for freelance writers. Her work with TLF centers around the goal of driving social change through critique of cultural/social norms in pop culture. Keidra’s writing has been featured in a multitude of publications including The Chicago Sun Times, Time Out, Paste Magazine, Camera Obscura; Facta Ficta: Journal of Theory, Narrative & Media; I/S: A Journal of Law and Policy for the Information Society; New Media & Society; Persona Studies; Suffolk University Law Review; University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform; She is a Disability Lead Fellow for their 2020 Institute, the only program in the country for emerging leaders with disabilities.

Alana Clark has a deep passion for finding ways to empower underserved communities through a holistic educational approach to health, which she believes includes everything from nutritional, physical, mental, and medical health to environmental, financial, cultural, and academic health. She strongly believes this vision will help break cycles of poverty and facilitate languages of justice and equity. Alana’s passion stems from her personal experiences growing up socio-economically disadvantaged in Chicago, receiving a B.A. from Princeton University, working in corporate America, and later being diagnosed with a disability.

Gizelle Clemens’ professional and personal work exhibits her commitment to elevating marginalized voices bringing from the margins to the center. She currently serves as the Director of Alumni and Donor Engagement for National Medical Fellowships.  Gizelle was most recently appointed to serve on the Pace Paratransit- Chicago ADA advisory Commitee. She is a proud philanthropist and Queenmaker with the South Side Giving Circle and a member of Chicago African Americans in Philanthropy, Association of Fundraising Professionals-Chicago,and Women of Color in Philanthropy and Fundraising. Gizelle is a graduate of SEEDS Access and Miss Porter’s School. She graduated summa cum laude with degrees in Sociology and Public/Nonprofit Administration and has an MPA from Rutgers University. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Pi Alpha Alpha.

Brianne Coleman is an administrative professional with a passion for change. As a survivor of domestic violence and sexual assault, Brianne tirelessly advocates for victims/survivors through her public speaking and volunteer work. Brianne is the founder of Dimensions of Intersections, an upcoming nonprofit with a goal to stop the cycle of violence towards women and girls.

Candace Coleman is a black disabled woman from the South Side of Chicago. She works closely with disabled people affected by the justice system to organize around racial justice and disability. This work includes anti-bullying, the school-to-prison pipeline, restorative justice, police brutality, and deinstitutionalization. She is dedicated to teaching disabled youth of color to take pride in all aspects of their identities so they can become leaders themselves. She believes that young people will shape the future by creating a more inclusive world. Coleman has spoken around the country, and her pioneering work has been featured in news stories by the BBC, WBEZ, Newsy, and The Chicago Defender. She was named the ADAPT Woman of the Year in 2018, 35 Under 35 by Chicago Scholars in 2017, and also received the Van Heck award for outstanding leadership and service in the disability community. In 2019 Candace was appointed to the Illinois Council on Women and Girls.

Randy D. Colón identifies as a disabled scholar and advocate. He is a PhD student at the University of Illinois at Chicago in the Disability Studies program and a Research Assistant at ADA PARC. His research focuses primarily on disability, housing, and policy. Currently he is working on a tool that communities can use to assess whether and to what extent people with disabilities are attaining affordable, accessible, and integrated housing. Additionally, he is working on expanding the tools and frameworks available to study disability policy in the United States. Randy hopes to increase his involvement in Chicago’s disability community.

Chris Conoboy is the Director of Customer Success at Microsoft in the State and Local Government sector. He has been with the company since 2011. He brings twenty-four years of IT experience to the company. Chris graduated with a BS from Purdue University and a MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. Chris has been married for 23 years and has two children. He is a Chicago Area native having grown up in Schaumburg IL. He has a passion for promoting and supporting those with disabilities in corporate America. Chris himself has a neurological disorder that affects his speaking voice and uses his experience to bring people together in understanding and awareness.

Patrick Corrigan is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Previously, Patrick was a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Chicago where he directed its Center on Psychiatric Rehabilitation. Patrick’s research examines psychiatric disability and the impact of stigma on recovery and rehabilitation. Patrick has written more than 400 peer-reviewed articles and is an editor emeritus of the American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation. Patrick is an editor for a new journal published by the American Psychological Association, Stigma and Health, and is the author of fifteen books. Patrick received a Psy.D. from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology.

Richard currently works as a Board Administrator for Communication Service for the Deaf, an organization that works to create a better world for Deaf and hard of hearing people. In addition, Richard currently serves on the board for the National Theatre of the Deaf, based out of DC, and is a 3Arts Artist Council Member in Chicago. He also volunteers throughout Chicago as an accessibility consultant, leveraging his experiences as a deaf actor of color, to help increase accessibility and representation for theatres throughout the city.

Clark Craig is a Community Organizing Advocate for Progress Center for Independent Living and is responsible for leadership development and organizing people with disabilities and their supporters to create systemic changes. Clark is a lead member of Progress Center’s Membership and Outreach Committee. Clark serves on the Strategy Team for United Power for Action and Justice and as Treasurer for Chicago ADAPT (The Chicago chapter of National ADAPT). Clark received a B.S. from Concordia University and a M.S. from DePaul University.

Kevin is an Office Supervisor at Faithful+Gould. He is also a presentation coach, actor, writer, motivational speaker, storyteller, and teacher. As a storyteller, Kevin is a winner of The Moth StorySLAM. As a teacher: He created a personal narrative storytelling lab for detainees in Cook County Jail; at Piven Theatre, he helped establish a theatre games program for adults with development disabilities. Kevin presents anti-bullying motivational speeches to middle schoolers and high schoolers. He wrote a stageplay, Nobody Talks Nice about the journey of living with a disability. He is a graduate of The ACADEMY at Black Box Acting and is represented by Paonessa Talent. Follow him over social media: @kdaspeaker

Kareem Dale grew up in Chicago and received his BA, JD, and MBA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He currently serves as Director and Senior Counsel with Discover Financial Services. In 2009, he was appointed by President Obama as a Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy, the highest ranking position on disability ever to be created by a President. At the White House, he also led outreach and engagement to the legal community, including coordinating outreach for nomination of two U.S. Supreme Court Justices and numerous federal appellate and district court judges. Before joining the Obama administration, he was the Managing Partner of The Dale Law Group, and a litigation attorney at Winston & Strawn. Kareem was a 2017 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow, a past president of Black Ensemble Theater, a Steering Committee member of ADA 25 Chicago, and a member of the Access Living Board of Directors. He was recently appointed by Governor Pritzker to the University of Illinois Board of Trustees.

Pat Daley has dedicated his professional life to working on behalf of people with disabilities, the less privileged, children and bringing the arts and culture to the people of Chicago. He has over 25 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector and in governmental arenas in the city of Chicago. Most recently, Pat has worked on the numerous projects to advance opportunities for people with disabilities including ADA25 Chicago, and advising and advocating for businesses owned by people with disabilities in Cook County procurement opportunities. Pat has also authored and illustrated six books for children.

Liz Davis is a User Experience Designer with a passion for making technology accessible. She currently works at SPR Consulting and will graduate in 2019 with a Master’s in Human Computer Interaction from DePaul University. She gives talks, workshops and consultations about the accessibility of technology.

Jinny Davis is an autistic self-advocate from Deer Park, Illinois. She received a B.A. in Elementary Education and an M.Ed in Special Education from National-Louis University. Jinny is an unwavering and persevering woman, who speaks her mind, is passionate when advocating, and speaks in her own daring, outspoken way.

Deb Decker is an Assistant General Counsel at Commonwealth Edison Company. Deb avidly supports enhancing diversity and inclusion in business and works on various initiatives supporting that goal. She is a graduate of North Central College (B.A. in Spanish, Psychology and Speech Communications/Theatre) and University of Wisconsin Law School (J.D.).

Megan E. Doherty is a writer and photographer based in Chicago, IL. Megan has been featured in various photography exhibitions, including a solo show in Japan. She received her PhD from the University of Chicago in 2010.

Lindsay Drexler is a lifelong Chicagoan and Co-founder of CaptionPoint, a service that provides captioning for scripted events. CaptionPoint has captioned 50+ plays at several theaters in Chicago, including Steppenwolf, Northlight, and Court. Lindsay is deaf and grew up using Cued Speech. She is currently writing a semiautobiographical horror novel.

Lincoln is an Associate Planner for the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). Originally from Philadelphia, Lincoln obtained his BA in Geography at Millersville University in 2019, and his MS in Planning at the University of Arizona in 2021. His professional passions include urban restoration, community revitalization, and universal design.

Ashley obtained a bachelor’s in organizational communications from North Central College. While at North Central, Ashley competed as the first NCAA triathlete with a disability that required sport-specific accommodations and advocated for the inclusion of people with disabilities in collegiate sports and the fitness and recreation industries.  She currently works as the Disability Inclusion Training Specialist at Access Living. Ashley speaks regularly to groups about topics such as perspective, adversity, performance, and disability. She has given a TEDx talk and continues to advocate for the inclusion and integration of people with disabilities in the fitness world.

Carly is a Career Placement Counselor at the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) Career Center.  The Career Center, which was launched in July 2022, seeks to increase meaningful employment and career opportunities for Chicagoans with disabilities.  As a Career Placement Counselor, Carly works directly with job seekers throughout their job search, including assisting them in identifying their career goals, providing interview preparation, navigating disability disclosure and requesting Reasonable Accommodations.  Prior to joining MOPD, Carly worked at the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind.  There, she worked with clients individually to identify their vocational goals, providing job training and placement services.  Before moving to Chicago, Carly was an Employment Counselor at the Queensborough Public Library in New York.  She developed a staff training on appropriate ways to assist library patrons with disabilities and educated staff on disability laws and policies, improving relations between the library and the public.   Carly uses her knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act to advocate and educate in a friendly and professional manner.  She has strong cultural competency and has worked with individuals with varying disabilities and backgrounds.  She advocates on behalf of clients, ensuring access to services and resources, including benefits from social service and government agencies.  Carly holds her Certification as a Rehabilitation Counselor and License Professional Counselor. She received her Bachelors in Sociology from New Paltz University and her Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling from Hofstra University.  

Safiya is an award winning Mental Health, Trauma & Creative Release Advocate, and Speaker who has created a technique of using art and storytelling to create artistic healing experiences for individuals who have experienced trauma.  Safiya is a 16-year+ Traumatic Brain Injury [TBI] Survivor and a Multi-media artist with over ten years’ experience of creating and performing through various mediums including film-making, fiber work, and curating. She is a multi- talented and multi-dimensional Creative Director with proven skills in Event Planning and Project Management, invoking Afro-futurism to create healing experiences for communities. Among being the recipient of various awards, her experience includes working with various organizations including; ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act] 30 Lead On celebration and NDEAM [national disability employment awareness month production]. She has also curated and moderated the panel discussions for NDEAM, and is the Artistic Coordinator and Project Manager for the ADA’s Black Future Month’s production.

Horacio Esparza is the Executive Director of Progress Center for Independent Living, an Independent Living Center serving suburban Cook County. Horacio is also the host of a radio show called Vida Independiente. Horacio is a member of Not Dead Yet and the Illinois Statewide Hispanic Council. Horacio served on the ADA 25 Chicago steering committee. Horacio earned a B.A. from University of Wisconsin Whitewater and a degree in philosophy from Autonomous University of Guadalajara in Jalisco, Mexico.

Bridget Evans is a Patient Safety Consultant at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and is the Founder and CEO of Illini Service Dogs, which aims to provide world class service dogs to individuals who have a physical disability. Bridget is a member of the Disability Lead Program Committee and a Board of Director for Snow City Arts, which inspires and educates children and youth in hospitals through the arts. Bridget is a graduate of the University of Illinois.

Justine Fedak is a self-declared Corporate Hippie and recognized motivational speaker, using her inspiring life story of resilience, her disability (MS), and her well-lived c-suite career experience to bring much needed positivity and to individuals and teams.   She is Chief Marketing & Culture Officer, BIÂN Chicago. She was the former Chief Brand Strategist, Pollara Strategic Insights and a long-time senior, co-founder of Instant Impact, DEI consulting & speaking (with Star Jones) & a senior executive with BMO for over 20 years.   Justine is a very active member of her community and industry. She is the incoming Chair of the Board of Directors, The Magnificent Mile Association, and member Chicago Police Foundation. She is SSA commissioner SSA #16, City of Chicago (Greektown), Chair of Chicago-Toronto Sisters Cities, World Business Chicago, as well as past member of many other prominent boards in Canada and the US.    She is the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s 2013 “Woman on the Move” (Illinois); Dalhousie University Lifetime Achievement Award Winner 2015, Chicago Business Journal’s 2015 Women of influence; Chicago Sky’s 2016 “Redefine Possible” Women’s Leadership Award recipient; and the 2017 Cohn Weil Memorial MS Honoree. She was also recently featured in CS magazine as Chicago Favorite women of inspiration and style and was the Eversight “Woman of Vision” 2021. She is this year’s honoree for the MS Dinner of Champion’s Dinner, September 2022.

Daisy Feidt has worked at Access Living for more than 20 years. She has held a wide variety of management positions and led the organization through multiple strategic planning processes. She has extensive management experience in fundraising, evaluation, and program implementation. Daisy is an alumna of Leadership Greater Chicago, a prestigious and competitive program that provides community awareness and networking opportunities for leaders in Chicago. Daisy is on the board of BPI, a public interest law, and policy center and is the vice president of the Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living, the state association of centers for independent living.

Akeseiah Felton also known as Keys was born here in Chicago and graduated from Kennedy–King College, thereafter she attended culinary art school at National Maritime Union, Treasure Island in San Francisco, CA. Keys is a proud single mother of two amazing children. Keys started her career at CDW in 2014 and is currently a Sales Support Supervisor in the corporate sector. She also holds a leadership role in CDWs Business Resource Group, as Co-Vice chair of ABLE-Alliance for Business Leading Equality

James A. Ferg-Cadima has built a public service career on shaping and enforcing civil rights protections at the federal, state, and local levels. In July 2019, Governor JB Pritzker appointed Ferg-Cadima as Chair of the Illinois Human Rights Commission (Commission), which adjudicates claims of unlawful discrimination under the Illinois Human Rights Act.

Dan currently works with people with primarily physical disabilities as the Adaptive Sport Program & Event Facilitator with the Chicago Park District (CPD) Special Recreation Department. With over thirty years experience utilizing sport as a tool for advocacy, he coordinates and coaches youth and adult teams in wheelchair basketball and wheelchair softball, as well as a network within the Paralympic movement. Mentoring and advocacy is close to Dan’s heart as he was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) and when he discovered sport at the age of fifteen, it forever changed his life. Today he works to share that gift with others.

Noa/h Fields is a Chicago-based artist and poet. You can find their writing in Ghost City Press, Anomaly, Zoeglossia, Tripwire, Electronic Beats, Filthy Dreams, Quarantine Times, and Sixty Inches. They are a recipient of a 3Arts grant for the disability justice musical Always Greener. They work at the Poetry Foundation.

Michelle Friedman is a certified life coach and has served the community in lay leadership positions for 30 years for 10 organizations including schools, camps, and social service agencies. Michelle’s specialty areas are fundraising and board governance. Michelle has published 2 children’s’ books and speaks to school-age children from preschool to high school bringing disability awareness to the classroom. Michelle has a B.A. in human services from Northeastern Illinois University and an M.A. in counseling psychology from the Alfred Adler Institute.

Tanya Friese is a retired U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman, Assistant Professor and Clinical Instructor in the Rush University College of Nursing, and Liaison for Intersectional Identities at Rush University Medical Center. As a nurse researcher, her areas of expertise include veterans and their families, individuals with disabilities, and people who identify as LGBTQ. Dr. Friese is an active member of many professional organizations including Sigma Theta Tau, the American Public Health Association, the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association, the National Organization for Nurses with Disabilities, and American Veterans for Equal Rights. She is a graduate of Central Michigan University, and earned a bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in Nursing and Systems Leadership from Rush University.

Andrés Gallegos is a shareholder with the law firm of Robbins, Salomon & Patt, Ltd. and is the founder and director of its national disability rights practice. Andrés is a frequent speaker and has authored numerous articles on matters relating to the application of disability-related laws to healthcare providers and the disability rights movement. Andrés is a member of the National Council on Disability, an independent federal agency that provides advice to the President, Congress, and federal agencies on matters affecting persons with disabilities nationwide. He serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of Access Living and was a two-time governor appointee to the Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois. Andrés earned a B.S. from the University of Southern Mississippi and a J.D. from the St. Louis University School of Law.

She has been working for Access Living as the Latino Community Organizer since 2009 in which she took a personal interest, particularly that of educating and collaborating with the Latino community about disability rights and services. Through her work she has had the opportunity to collaborate with other Latino groups and organizations that work within the Latino Community which has helped expand their knowledge about disability related issues. She is the coordinator of a Latinxs and immigrant advocacy group called Cambiando Vidas, whose mission is to create social change within the immigrant Community. As of 2017 she became the Latinxs and Immigration Community Organizer, role in which she is still responsible for increasing the number of Latinxs and immigrant leaders with disabilities; as well as to raise awareness of disability issues such as: Immigration, Healthcare, Disability Rights, within the Latinxs and other immigrant communities; thru her work she has participated in planning numerous educational forums and events in different areas of the city, to educate Latinxs and immigrants with disabilities about disability rights and services. As part of her work, Michelle has been involved with the National Coalition of Latinxs with Disabilities where she was involved in planning several National conferences on the issues that impact Latinxs with disabilities. She was also involved in planning a Disability and Immigration Summit out to which Disability and Immigration advocates came together to have a better understanding of the intersection of these issue areas. Most recently, she has been involved in supporting the Disability and Immigration Taskforce. She currently, serves as the representative of the 7th district Commission on Women’s Issues; as such she is responsible on supporting any events or bring insight to any issues that impact women including immigrant and disabled women.

David Gayes is an activist, currently pursuing a graduate degree in Intercultural Studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. David works to connect, expose, and challenge people of faith to respond intentionally to disability rights issues thereby cultivating consistent positive action and activism.

At KPMG, Valerie Gilles brings over seven years of experience working on national and global transformations, and specializes in strategic planning, acquisition integration, and process improvement. In her role as Manager, her key responsibilities are managing targeted strategic projects to help determine business and/or operating model changes required to stay competitive across our network, including financial forecasting, public trust strategy development, etc., managing the organization and developing the content of leadership meetings (e.g. Board meetings, wider international leadership conferences, etc.) to leverage them as channels for strategy approval or dissemination, and identifying opportunities for improvement in our team’s ways of working and internal processes. She also is involved in recruiting and onboarding of new team members and continuous mentoring at KPMG. She serves as the Chair KPMG Chicago’s business resource group for employees with disabilities and caregivers and is responsible for developing our local vision for the next 3-5 years and its associated strategy and managing our local team and collaborating with our national team. Valerie earned a B.S. in Biology at Iowa State University, accompanied by minors in Chemistry, General Business and Spanish.

Ericca Glasgow is a wife, mother of two and the Information Risk Manager at CDW where she’s worked for 21 years. Ericca was diagnosed with MS in 2002 and serves as a Team Captain to raise money for Walk MS annually. She is passionate about advocating for people with disabilities.

Lori Goddard has over 20 years of experience developing sound marketing strategies and guiding diverse, integrated teams through this fast-paced, ever-changing environment. She is a strategically-minded marketing leader with vision and passion for developing innovative solutions that make a difference to consumers and businesses.

Timotheus “T.J.” Gordon Jr. is an African-American male autistic writer and researcher-activist in Chicago, IL. As researcher at UIC’s Institute on Disability and Human Development, he creates trainings, webinars, guides, and campaigns on inclusion in communities of color, COVID-19 and the intersections of race and disability, autism in communities of color, and inclusion of people with disabilities in the U.S. Census. Gordon is one of the co-founders of Chicagoland Disabled People of Color Coalition, also known as Chicagoland DPOCC. Supported by the Institute on Disability and Human Development, Chicagoland DPOCC promotes disability acceptance and self-advocacy in communities of color throughout the Chicagoland area. As a member of Advance Your Leadership Power (AYLP), a racial/disability justice group within Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago, Gordon supports and helps lead campaigns on combating police violence and mental health within the Chicagoland disability community. Gordon is the creator of the Black Autist, a blog and social media outlet that promotes autism and disability acceptance in the African Diaspora. He uses writing and social media to discuss topics on disability in media, disability pride in marginalized communities, and caregiver violence against people with disabilities.

Nakia J. Green is the founder of Culture Solutions and Culture Solutions In Action, for-profit and not-for-profit organizations designed to decrease unemployment and underemployment amongst minority and disabled college graduates. She also founded Nakia J Consulting, a consulting firm with specialized capabilities in Leadership Development, Organizational Development, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Nakia hopes to further the conversation on invisible disabilities in the workplace and its impact on minorities.

Robert Green has worked for 3 years at the University of Illinois as a Peer Health Navigator. The program helps people with disabilities effectively advocate for themselves in order to achieve quality healthcare outcomes. Prior to this, he was the drummer for Chicago Lights for more than 10 years, writing, recording and touring with the band. He is a graduate from Loyola University in Chemistry, and the University of Chicago in Biochemistry/medicine.

LaShon Gurrola is currently a Registered Nurse Care Manager for the Ambulatory Care Management department at Rush University Medical Center, joining December 2016 Shortly after receiving her Associate Degree in Nursing, LaShon began her career as an Inpatient Surgical Nurse at Edward Elmhurst Hospital, building her career at Edward Elmhurst Hospital for over 19 years. LaShon has since received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Purdue University. With experience ranging from Home Health Nursing to inpatient surgery and outpatient care, LaShon has developed a strong clinical background, including experience within Ortho/Neuro/Spine units, Home Health Nursing, and Transitional Care Nursing. With a passion for helping support those with Lupus, LaShon started the first-ever Lupus Support Group at Rush University Medical Center in 2018, with the support of the Rheumatology and Social Work Departments. This support group not only provides a space for those suffering with Lupus to come together monthly and share experiences, but it is open to their families and significant others to learn more about Lupus and how to better support those diagnosed with it. LaShon also serves on the Associate Board of the Lupus Society of Illinois to fundraise and advocate for efforts supporting the Lupus community.

Cheryl R. Hahn is a Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) and is the Lead Recovery Support Specialist for Northwestern Medicine Ben Gordon Center Living Room Program. Cheryl has more than 10 years of experience as a recovery support specialist and has held positions in this field with Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare, the University of Illinois at Chicago and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. Cheryl is a recognized leader in the mental health recovery movement and is a sought after speaker for statewide meetings, trainings and conferences. Cheryl is a certified Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) facilitator, a trained Whole Health Action Management (WHAM) leader and is also trained in Emotional CPR. Cheryl has a background in nonprofit administration, development and fundraising, and has served on the Board of Directors for Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare, as a committee member for DHS’ Statewide WRAP Steering Committee, and as a member of an advisory board for Equip for Equality. As a result of her experience with Disability Lead, Mrs. Hahn was able to volunteer as the Director of Accessibility for Red Theater from 2017 – 2019. Cheryl is currently serving on the NAMI Illinois Alliance of Peer Professionals (NIAPP) Board of Directors. Mrs. Hahn holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre and Classical Studies from the College of Wooster in Ohio and a Masters Certificate in Women’s Studies and Gender Studies from Loyola University Chicago.  

Vanessa Harris brings to companies and governmental organizations a strong foundation in environmental and energy engineering, chemistry and business that allows her to consistently and creatively tackle complex initiatives and create award-winning, original and profitable yet sustainable solutions. Currently Harris has a brand, fun4thedisabled.com which is a website showing short documentaries that she has produced about people, products, events activities, organizations for the disabled and their friends and families so that they can enjoy life.

Emily Harris, Executive Director of the Disability & Philanthropy Forum, started her role with the Forum as a consultant to the Presidents’ Council on Disability Inclusion in Philanthropy in late 2019. She led development of and first steps to implement the Theory of Change, and is honored to work with Ford, Robert Wood Johnson and other foundations to build a new organization focused on disability inclusion in philanthropy. Emily was the founding Executive Director of ADA 25 Advancing Leadership (now Disability Lead), the nation’s first disability civic leadership program. As a Senior Director at the Chicago Community Trust, she led ADA 25 Chicago, and engaged more than 200 local organizations in doing one thing to advance disability inclusion in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. At the Trust, she also directed the Disabilities Fund, and facilitated a roundtable multi-sector coalition to advance equity in the construction industry. As Vice President of Metropolis Strategies, Emily focused on regional economic growth, open space conservation, early childhood education policy, and served as Executive Director of the Burnham Plan Centennial. Through her consulting firm, Harris Strategies LLC, Emily helped non-profit organizations, public agencies, businesses and philanthropies to develop strategic plans and move their ideas to action. Emily earned a B.A. from Oberlin College and an M.A. from the University of Chicago. She serves on the Forest Preserves of Cook County Conservation and Policy Council, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation Chicago Advisory Board, and is President of the Board of the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation. A member of Disability Lead, she is proud to be a part of the disability community.

Bridget Hayman specializes in digital, media, and content marketing with 19 years of experience activating cross-channel communication strategies in healthcare, finance, and the nonprofit sector. Before joining Access Living, Bridget was the director of digital content marketing at Easterseals’ national headquarters and served as the associate director of public relations and social media at Valence Health. Prior to that, she built and executed social media strategies from the ground up for both the American Dental Association and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. She began her professional career at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Bridget is a 2018 University of Chicago Civic Leadership Academy Fellow, a 2017 Disability Lead Fellow, and a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar. She holds a master’s degree in visual culture from Lancaster University, England, and a triple bachelor’s in English, journalism, and public relations from the University of Northern Colorado.

Kennedy Dawson Healy is a fat, queer, disabled woman from Omaha, Nebraska. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Women’s and Gender Studies with an individualized concentration in Disability Studies from DePaul University. Kennedy has years of experience with non-profit and consulting work pertaining to disability. She enjoys writing and making media. In 2021, Kennedy founded Crip Crap, a company that creates media about disability, by and for disabled people.

For 37 years I have been actively involved in the independent/disability-rights movement. I helped establish the Will-Grundy Center for Independent Living, serving as its executive director for 27 years. Advocacy is in the core of my being. Those of us with disabilities must be vigilant in making sure that our hard-fought for rights are not weakened in any way. We must also teach our young people about the rich history of the disability-rights movement to ensure that the work that has been conducted for the past 6 decades, carries on well into the future.

Tsehaye Geralyn Hébert is a nationally acclaimed citizen playwright and cultural architect whose work nuances and centers the African American experience (Alliance Kendeda National Graduate Playwright Award winner; Voices Rising Fellow, Vermont Studio Center; The Guild Literary Complex, 30 Writers to Watch; Midwest Black Playwrights Project winner; Native Voices and Visions; RhinoFest; Cultural DC/SourceFest, Frank McCourt Memoir, Sundance Theatre Lab, finalists.) Embracing challenge as opportunity, the new artistic associate at eta creative arts foundation – Chicago’s oldest and historic African American theatre – alongside her team, spearheads the move from ADA compliance, to inspiration for a fully accessible theatre for all. She is a member of Disability Lead, sits on its Program Committee, and serves as one of its ambassadors. She recently joined the Chicago Cultural Accessibility Coalition steering committee and is on the honorary board of Piven Theatre Workshop. A Northwestern University graduate, she earned her MFAW from School of the Art Institute, Chicago, where pygMALI, her disrupture of Shaw’s Pygmalion, won its RhinoFest competition.

 Zhen Heinemann is Director of Visitor Experience with the City of Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. She/They are an audience-focused arts and immersive experience professional whose work centers on creating more accessible interactions and engagements with communities.

At Discover, Sarah Helm is responsible for managing all aspects of the Diversity & Inclusion program corporate-wide, including providing ongoing support to leadership on various diversity and inclusion initiatives, managing ERG strategy and teams, and overseeing related internal and external communications. She serves on the Board for the Center for Enriched Living and as a member of the Disability Lead Program Committee. Sarah graduated with a B.A. from Illinois State University, an M.S. from Bowling Green University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Previously, Diana was a Project Manager at Lurie Children’s Hospital and Grants and Program Evaluation Director for Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association. Diana serves on the Board of Directors of Dare2Tri, the Chicago Rowing Foundation, and Friends of the Forest Preserves. Diana is a member of the ADA Advisory Committee for the Cook County Forest Preserves. Diana graduated from Slippery Rock University and received her Project Management Certificate from Loyola University – Chicago. Diana is an M.B.A. candidate (2021) at the University of Illinois.

Brian Heyburn is a Ph.D. candidate in Disability Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago, having first received an M.S. in Disability and Human Development. At UIC, Brian serves as a Graduate Assistant at the Disability Cultural Center assisting with the development disability culture events across campus. Brian earned a B.A. in Religion from Centre College.

Stephen is a very passionate individual who is dedicated to the rights of people with disabilities. Stephen always comes up with solutions for individuals with disabilities, whatever their circumstances, by helping them navigate what is available in the state of Illinois to obtain needed services. He is a Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Associate Board Member.

Whitney Hill is a specialist on accessibility with over a decade of experience in program management and communication. Her background in universal design and public accessibility combined with her personal background of identifying as someone with a disability give her a unique skillset to connect individuals with needed services, while also empowering them to advocate for themselves. Throughout her career, Whitney has aimed to ensure that public and institutional spaces are made readily accessible to all. In her role with LCM Architects and previous position at the Institute for Human Centered Design, Whitney partnered with government and private entities in conjunction with the Americans with Disabilities Act to meet and exceed standards for equal opportunity in accessibility. Prior to these roles, Whitney facilitated services for over 250 clients with the Blind Services Association and implemented new programs monthly to provide an accessible experience for the growing client base. Whitney is the founder and director of SPORK!, a 501 (c) 3 Nonprofit and website that serves as a voice for the disabled community. Named after the quirky utensil that celebrates the merger of two traditional tools, Whitney founded SPORK! as an alternative source to the more rigid representation of non-apparent differences in traditional medical journals. By collecting and sharing different resources for those with cognitive, physical and non-apparent differences/disabilities, Whitney has created a network that welcomes those struggling to find a place within the larger disabled community. Learn more about SPORK! at https://www.sporkability.org/about Additionally, Whitney serves as an elected member of Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) ADA Advisory and as a Chair for the CTA Wayfinding Subcommittee, finding new ways to improve the transportation experience for the disabled community of Chicago. Whitney aims to continue her pattern of advocacy in Illinois as a newly elected member of Governor Pritzker’s Blind Services Planning Council.

Sydney is a Principal at Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies. She most recently worked with J.B. Pritzker, the governor of Illinois, as deputy director of legislative affairs and house liaison of legislative affairs. She has also served as the legislative coordinator for state legislative affairs for the Office of the President – Cook County Board in Chicago and as a research and appropriations analyst for the Office of the Speaker, Illinois House of Representatives. Sydney earned her bachelor’s degree from Columbia College Chicago and is an MBA candidate at UIUC.

In April 2022, Chris Huff became the Diversion and Reentry Policy Analyst at Access Living, a Chicago-based service and nonprofit advocacy organization for people with disabilities. Chris leads policy efforts in this role to support people with disabilities impacted by the criminal legal system. Before joining Access Living, Chris led citywide community organizing efforts for Heartland Alliance’s READI Chicago, which aims to reduce gun violence through cognitive behavioral interventions, employment, and wrap-around social services for high-risk individuals. In addition, Chris helped lead student civic engagement efforts at the University of Chicago’s University Community Service Center, where he designed and developed social justice-based cohort programs for undergraduate and graduate students. Through his work at the Vera Institute of Justice, Chris also led formerly incarcerated youth in developing policy and program recommendations for the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice. Last but certainly not least, Chris worked with the University of Chicago – Institute of Politics, advising UChicago students on ways to use their educational experiences to engage in social justice efforts on Chicago’s Southside meaningfully. Chris has served on the board of Chicago Votes, a nonprofit organization committed to empowering young people and engaging them in the political process, and on the Cook County Detention Center board, where he supported efforts to eliminate solitary confinement. Chris has a bachelor’s degree in political communication and economic development from Oglethorpe University and a master’s in social work from the University of Chicago.

Brittney works at Anixter Center, a nonprofit that serves people with disabilities in many ways. Brittney works in the employment department on the project Inclusive Pathways with UChicago Medicine, the project was originally funded by the Kessler Foundation and has continued to exist as a permanent hiring program. Brittney’s role as the Disability Inclusion Coordinator is to assist disabled job seekers interested in opportunities at UCM navigate their job search and provide support throughout the application process. She acts as a go-to resource for employees with disabilities and serves as a subject matter expert.

Kevin Irvine works at Rush University Medical Center as its Senior Talent Acquisition Consultant, Individuals with Disabilities, and is Co-Chair of the Rush ADA Task Force. Since 2012, Kevin has served on the Board of Directors for the Chicago Transit Authority. Kevin is also a Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow (2006) and a graduate of Purchase College, State University of New York.

Laura Isaacs has 20+ years of experience as an Executive Assistant and is a Sr. Executive Assistant on the Corporate Responsibility team at JPMorgan Chase. In addition to her prior roles as an Executive Assistant, Laura served as the National Coordinator for the Diverse Abilities & Allies BRG, works as a lived experience volunteer with NAMIChicago and has mentored high school students from underserved areas. Laura speaks regularly on the topics of non-apparent disabilities, mental health and the intersection of disability and being a member of an underrepresented group.

Paulette Jagers is responsible for BMO’s enterprise careers and leadership strategy, leadership planning and development programs, enterprise learning facilitation, and supporting workplace transformation. Paulette is an Executive Committee member of Disability Lead and serves on the Chicago Business Leadership Network Board of Directors. Paulette is a graduate of Northwestern University and has completed the Advanced Human Resource Executive Program from the University of Michigan Business School.

Kenneth Jennings, is a founder and CEO of the Gridiron Alliance Foundation, a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization in Illinois. He was injured in a high school football game while playing for Simeon in Chicago in 1988. As a result, the injury rendered him as a quadriplegic and paralyzed from the neck down. Despite the impact that a football game had on his life, he lives by the motto “I Am Blessed To Be Able”. Kenneth Jennings is a very active citizen to say the least. He has successfully help worked to get the Rocky Clark Law passed in the state of Illinois. His tenacity will not allow him to stop with the victory in Illinois, he wants mandatory catastrophic injury insurance for all high school athletes across our great country. He won the 2015 Governor’s Volunteer Service Award, he Coach high school football, a Peer Mentor at the Lifecenter at The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, a Motivational Speaker, he’s is a Co-host of a sports talk show titled Coach’s Corner, and host his own show A Man’s View. Kenneth is soon to be an Author of his book titled Kenneth Jennings How 8 Seconds Change My Life, and also working on his second book The Life Of A Old (Quad) Quadriplegic. Kenneth has been coaching high school football for the past 20 years, he has chosen to Semi-retire to pursue other interests. He still has an undying love for the game of football and is dedicated to the safety of our young athletes. He is a Motivational Speaker who speak to patients, students, business men and women, and people in the medical field. As a Peer Mentor at Lifecenter at The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, he mentors those who have been catastrophically injured, and other disabilities, as well as support with transition for their families. In the past, he sat on the local school council board at Gwendolyn Brooks High School, The Board of Directors for Increase The Peace Foundation, Daryl Stingley Youth Foundation, and No Dope Express Foundation.

Michelle Johnson is a passionate advocate and educator on holistic care for people with chronic diseases, specifically endometriosis. Driven by her own diagnosis, She created Fighting Fiercely, a movement designed to empower people to become proactive participants in their health and wellness management. A leader in the endometriosis and chronic illness community, her passion for raising awareness feeds her efforts to improve the legal understanding of disability. Michelle has been featured in many different publications to speak about her expertise and experience, including Prevention Magazine, The Chronic Disease Coalition Blog, The Chronic Illness Podcast, Eighty-Six the Endo, and WVON Radio. 

Andre Johnson is the Founder and CEO of LiveEquipd. LiveEquipd is a Chicago-based, health tech platform headquartered in the 1871 incubator space. LiveEquipd is a multi-sided platform that empowers people with paralysis related disabilities and their support system to quickly and efficiently navigate the product landscape to find the equipment and assistive technology they need. Andre recently earned a Certificate from Northwestern’s University Kellogg Executive Education Program in Advanced Management. Andre is an Electronics Engineering professional and earned a B.S. from DeVry University. Andre Johnson was a 2018 Fellow of Disability Lead. He also holds the role of Client Success at Kaizen Health, a fast-rising startup solving SDOH (Social Determinants of Health) issues via transportation.

Amy Johnson is a Product Designer at Sprout Social in Chicago, IL. She is also a late-diagnosed autistic female. She is a Neurodiversity and product accessibility advocate. Amy has experienced several different types of tech work environments throughout her career and has a unique perspective on what it means to design and work with others while being autistic. She was diagnosed at the age of 27 and has since been on a journey of self-discovery that has led her to speak out about Neurodiversity in creative workplaces.

Earl Jordan is an Admin. Assist. with the US Treasury’s Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Prior to working for the OCC Earl has worked for the Lighthouse for the Blind and with the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce’s DRC Initiative. Earl has been with the OCC for 8 years.

Stephanie Kanter is the Deputy Director of IL ABLE, a savings and investment program for people with disabilities, at the State of Illinois Treasurer’s Office. She is currently serving on the board of the Erie Neighborhood House. Stephanie previously served on the Board of Commissioners for the City of Chicago’s Commission on Human Relations. Stephanie is an alum of the US State Department’s Professional Fellows Program and has served as a delegate on three international exchanges supporting sport diplomacy, disability awareness, and economic inclusion. Stephanie graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago and is currently completing her MA in Liberal Studies at DePaul University.