Disability Lead

Similar Stories

A woman walks down a hallway next to another woman using a wheelchair. They are in an office building and are moving away from the camera.

We Need To Do More To Include Disabled Employees

In an op-ed for Crain's Chicago Business, Disability Lead Executive Director Emily Blum urges companies to move beyond compliance with the minimum, and to commit to more disability-inclusive workplaces.

Emily Blum

Oct 17, 2023

black and white photo of Judy Heumann seated in her wheelchair in front of a microphone. Her hair is short and she's wearing wire-frame glasses and a jacket. A "sign 504" button is on her jacket.

Op Ed

Judy Heumann Was The Kind of Disabled Leader We Want To Be

Legendary disability activist, Judy Heumann, is now a disabled ancestor. Since her death earlier this month, we've been reflecting on how she epitomized what disability leadership can be.

Disability Lead

Mar 28, 2023

stack of folded newspapers on a wooden table

Op Ed

Journalism’s Disability Problem is Everyone’s Problem

Most newsrooms don’t have many disabled writers or editors on staff—or even track "disability" in their broader DEI efforts. The result is a distorted, if not offensive, view of a quarter of the U.S. population. To undo decades of systemic exclusion, the industry needs to proactively seek out, hire, support and promote disabled media professionals.

Megan E. Doherty

Mar 20, 2023

Op Ed

Juneteenth Reflection

A reflection on Juneteenth and our work.

Risa Jaz-Rifkind

Jun 16, 2022

A black and white photograph of Dion McNeal smiling with a gold chain with a tree emblem over a pink and blue graphic with a lower third graphic that says, "Communications and Engagement Coordinator." The graphic is titled "A Black enby person's mental health journey."

Op Ed

A Black enby person's mental health journey

A Black enby person sharing their struggles with mental health and although the world is against them. They continue to exist and take up space, through sharing habits and resources that have helped them.

Dion McNeal

May 31, 2022

A photo of Emily Blum in front of a gradient purple circle with an orange background. Next a title and link to access the full article from The Chicago Sun Times.

Op Ed

#DoneWithCOVID: An Ableist Push That Harms Our Community

With the #DonewithCOVID push to “open up” and “get back to business as usual,” Emily Blum can’t help but consider: At what cost does the push for productivity come, especially for people with disabilities? in her The Chicago Sun Times Op-Ed story.

Emily Blum

May 18, 2022

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