As the days grew longer and the temperatures warmed, our Members’ achievements heated up right alongside the summer sun. From April 1, 2025 through June 30, 2025, Disability Lead facilitated 102 impactful connections, resulting in 32 successful collaborations.
With summer in full swing, we’re excited to celebrate the milestones our Members reached during this season of growth and opportunity. Here are some of the highlights from April through June 2025.
Professional Positions
Maureen Burns (Fellow, 2022) completed an internship with the HAP Foundation’s Health & Medicine Policy Research Group.
“During my career at The HAP Foundation, I have been lucky to engage in several collaborative efforts led by Health & Medicine. I was aware of their important role as a public health convener, policy center, and workforce development leader. What appealed to me most is their approach to health equity, their respect for Community Health Workers (CHWs), and their work to impact health systems to improve the health status of all people. My experience at Health & Medicine was wonderful, I felt welcomed and supported by the entire staff. My internship project focused on exploring the landscape of Community Health Worker (CHW) training opportunities for high school students in Cook County.”
Vanessa Harris (Member, 2019) was named Executive Futurist and Eco-Accessibility Strategist at The BEP Group.
Board Appointments
Vanessa Harris (Member, 2019) was appointed as a Board Member to the Chicago Commission on Human Relations.
Civic Positions
Rachel Arfa (Member, 2016) was appointed Co-Chair of the Employer Champions Committee.
Whitney Hill (Fellow, 2020) joined the Chicago Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) as an Advisory Committee member.
“Living a career rooted in purpose, in service to a community I admire, is more than meaningful — it’s everything. To be recognized for my work within the disability community — and to be appointed to key committees in a city I care so deeply about has been a moment of both pride and deep reflection. Disability Lead helped me connect the dots between identity and impact and empowered me to lead with my disability as an integral part of how I show up, support others, and drive change.”
Kevin Irvine (Member, 2016) was appointed as an Employer Champions Committee member.
"I’ve been passionate about disability inclusion in employment for my entire career. Representing Rush University System for Health on the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities’ Employer Champions Committee gets me in the room with other employers and organizations that share our goal of increasing the employment of people with all types of disabilities!"
Recognition / Speaking
Allyson Bain (Member, 2021), Bernardo Gomez (Fellow, 2024), and Ana Monga (Fellow, 2023) participated as part of an oral history project at Northwestern University.
“I am so grateful that Disability Lead connected me with a current Northwestern University journalism student who, for her oral history project, was interested in sharing my story around efforts to pass the Restroom Access Act. What started as an interview turned into a great conversation around our lived experiences, motivations, and interests. Disability Lead always does an amazing job connecting people and building community.” – Allyson Bain
“Working on this project was a powerful reminder that there’s real interest in disability advocacy. It gave me the chance to both share my story and learn more.”- Bernardo Gomez
Linda Bannon (Inaugural Fellow) was a speaker at the EARLY CHOICES Conference.
Mike Blight (Fellow, 2023) spoke at the Illinois State University Career COM-petency program.
Rebecca Brasfield (Inaugural Fellow), Frank Lally (Fellow, 2023), Tayler Matthews (Fellow, 2024), and Ana Monga (Fellow, 2023) spoke during the "Disability Leaders Meet the Moment" Panel.
“Leaders need to know when to climb the mountain versus when to travel around it and Disability Lead Fellows are prepared to know the difference when we share our stories, build on disability principles, and navigate difficult terrain. Disability Lead doesn't simply support me in being a better leader, but in better leading the leaders-and that's what I'm here to do." - Rebecca Brasfield
“In this unprecedented political climate, it is important for policy practitioners to share experiences and build community. I appreciated the opportunity afforded to me by Disability Lead to speak at the Meet the Moment panel to talk about what I am doing to support students with disabilities as the federal government rolls back protections.” – Frank Lally
“It was an honor to speak about disability and employment on the Disability Leaders Meet the Moment panel. My experience as a Member and 2024 Fellow provided me with vital support to make a career transition into disability economic policy.” – Tayler Matthews
Timotheus Gordon, Jr. (Fellow, 2022) spoke at Autistic Pride Day in New York City. He also received the 2024-2025 University of Illinois Chicago College of Applied Sciences Humanitarian Award.
Dr. LaShon Gurrola (Fellow, 2020) spoke at the 5th Annual Lupus Love Event and at an educational event co-sponsored by the Lupus Society of Illinois and Rush University Medical Center.
“The Disability Lead [Institute] has been instrumental in preparing me to step into leadership with confidence, clarity, and authenticity. Through its thoughtful curriculum and supportive community, I developed the skills to speak publicly with purpose, sharing my story and insights with intention. The program empowered me to lead not in spite of my disability, but through it—recognizing lupus as a vital part of my identity that shapes my perspective and strengthens my leadership. I’ve learned to advocate more effectively, connect more deeply, and lead with a sense of responsibility to both myself and the broader disability community. I did speak on behalf of Rush University Medical Center at the annual Lupus Education event co-sponsored by Lupus Society of Illinois. The program helped me build my confidence in public speaking and present my "self. The annual Lupus Love event is very special and meaningful to me and the lupus communities' rally and expects great discussion at this forum.”
Whitney Hill (Fellow, 2020) was nominated for the Crain’s Chicago Business annual Notable Leader in Philanthropy recognition.
Rebecca Williford (Member, 2023) spoke on a panel entitled ‘Justice for Women: Using Legal Activism and Strategic Litigation for Social Change’.
“I was thrilled to join a star-studded panel organized by the Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession in celebration of women's history month - “𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻: 𝗨𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲” - to provide the disability perspective on this topic. As a proud disabled female lawyer, I shared some of the ways impact litigation has secured and advanced the rights of women with disabilities, especially when it comes to healthcare.“
Civic Networking
Eli Brottman (Fellow, 2024) connected with Jessica Olson (Fellow, 2022).
"I always appreciate the opportunity to connect with other disabled professionals with unique shared perspectives. As usual, I left my meeting feeling enriched, understood, and with a lot to think about."