The Disability Lead Board of Directors ended 2024 with changes to the executive leadership team. During the final meeting of the year on December 12, the Board confirmed Chad Turner as the new Board Chair and Azeema Akram as Vice Chair. Chad joined the Disability Lead network as a Fellow in 2017. He joined the Board of Directors in 2021. Azeema joined the Disability Lead network as a Fellow in 2018 and joined the Board in August 2022. Their collective experience and passion for disabled leadership play a vital part in moving our ambitious vision forward. Chad and Azeema’s bios are available at the end of the story.
Executive Director Emily Blum looks forward to working closely with Chad and Azeema as we continue to realize our vision that people with disabilities will lead as a vital part of the civic fabric of this nation. “I am thrilled that Chad and Azeema, both incredible leaders with disabilities who have strong and varied professional and civic experiences, are stepping into these roles. I can’t wait to get to work as we have big plans and vision for 2025 and beyond,” said Emily. “Our previous chair, Ann Manikas, played a pivotal part in guiding the expansion of Disability Lead, and we are grateful that she will remain on our Board still bringing energy, ideas, and leadership.”
Chad Turner shares his thoughts on being a part of the Disability Lead Network, “My passion for supporting the disability community comes through my personal experiences — both as an ally in the workplace and as someone with a disability. Disability Lead has allowed me to develop deep friendships with individuals who gave me a greater understanding of who I am. These relationships have helped me foster a greater knowledge of the history of the disability rights movement and the need for more education and resources to support the ever-growing populations of people with disabilities, and develop the tools and skills needed to nurture both my career and service to the community.”
Azeema Akram shares, “Because of the role Disability Lead has played in my professional journey, I am committed to ensuring that future leaders with disabilities are present in spaces where their perspectives will shape, influence, and impact all aspects of our communities.”
Meet Our New Board Member, Arnesa Omeragic
The Board of Directors also welcomed Arnesa Omeragic. Arnesa is an experienced financial services professional and is currently a Vice President at JP Morgan Chase Chicago.
“To come together in common purpose of respect and empathy is the ultimate power and acknowledgment of our shared humanity,” said Arnesa.
Introducing the Strategic Growth Committee
The celebratory end of the year meeting had a full agenda, including establishing a new committee. The Strategic Growth Committee is responsible for Disability Lead’s programmatic strategic growth and will help ensure it is aligned with the mission and vision of the organization. This new committee will be chaired by Rebecca Williford, an experienced attorney and the President & CEO of Disability Rights Advocates.
“It’s an honor to serve on the Board of Disability Lead, especially as the organization builds on its success in Chicago and begins an expansion into Southwest Pennsylvania, in concert with the local disability community,” said Rebecca. “Cultivating disabled leaders, the way Disability Lead does is key to increasing representation of our community in all aspects of modern life.”
Chad Turner Bio
Chad E. Turner is a Managing Director at Bank of America (BofA) in Chicago, leading the global analysis billing product team for BofAGlobal Payments Solutions. Chad also currently services on as the global finance chair for the BofA Disability Action Network employee resource group.
Chad began his career at Price Waterhouse (now PwC) auditing& consulting multiple Fortune 100, small business & non-profit clients. In 2000, Chad joined then-Bank One (now JPMorgan Chase) and spent 20 years in various audit, accounting and finance managerial roles for Wholesale Banking Operations finance and business management in the USA and Asia-Pacific. While at JPM, Chad also served in several leadership roles for the Access Ability employee resource group including Illinois Co-Chair and Midwest liaison on the global leadership council.
Chad is a 2017 Fellow for Disability Lead (formerly ADA25Advancing Leadership) and now serves as the Chair of the board of directors. Chad is also an executive committee member of the board of directors and chairs the Finance & HR committee for Access Living, a non-profit center for independent living in Chicago. Previously, Chad was a governing member ambassador for the Chicago Zoological Society, and a member of the Museum of Science & Industry's Mission Accessible Task Force.
Chad received both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Accounting from Bradley University, where he currently serves as Vice Chair of their Department of Accounting Advisory Council. He lives in suburban Chicago with his wife and two children.
Azeema Akram Bio
Hon. Azeema Akram is the Deputy Chief Administrative Law Judge at the Illinois Human Rights Commission (IHRC), where she presides overclaims of unlawful discrimination pursuant to the Illinois Human Rights Act. Her history of public service at various State agencies includes roles as a regulatory prosecutor, Special Assistant Attorney General, assistant general counsel, along with legislative and rulemaking experience. Being deaf/hard-of-hearing, Azeema is passionate about accessibility in legal proceedings and presents regularly to attorneys adjudges on accommodating people with disabilities in legal proceedings and employment. She previously served as a Community Representative on the Regional Transportation Authority’s Paratransit Certification Formal Appeals Program Eligibility Review Board and as Board Secretary for Red Clay Dance Company.
In 2024, Azeema received the Diversity Leadership Award from the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) for her significant contributions to the advancement of diversity within the Illinois legal community and its judiciary. She was also recognized as the 2024 Outstanding Employee of the Year by the Illinois Interagency Committee on Employees with Disabilities (ICED) and received the Women’s Leadership Award from the South Asian Bar Association of Chicago (SABA). 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.
Azeema earned her B.A. in International Studies with a Multicultural Studies Certificate from the University of Missouri-Columbia, anther J.D from DePaul University College of Law with a Health Law Certificate.
Arnesa Omeragic Bio
Arnesa Omeragic is a seasoned professional in the financial services industry, currently a Vice President, Digital Treasury Product Manager at JPMorgan Chase in Chicago. With two decades of progressive experience, Arnesa developed expertise by holding positions in Relationship and Business Management, Program and Technical Project Management and Strategic Product Management.
Arnesa is an innovative leader driven by a strong sense of purpose, with a heart for service.
Arnesa is actively involved in promoting accessibility and disability inclusion as the Co-Chair of the Leadership team of the JPMorgan’s Access Ability, the business resource chapter for Illinois. She previously served as a board member on the Eurasian Advisory Economic Council for the City of Chicago, United Way Worldwide and Rotary International.
Arnesa holds an undergraduate degree in Organizational Psych (minor Economics) from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Concordia University.
Rebecca Williford Bio
Rebecca S. Williford is a globally recognized disability community leader and attorney with extensive experience litigating class action lawsuits on behalf of people with disabilities. As President & CEO of Disability Rights Advocates, she leads the organization’s work from its Chicago, New York City, and Berkeley offices.
As an ardent disability rights litigator, she has achieved multiple precedents on matters of first impression, advancing the rights of people with disabilities throughout the country. For example, in Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled v. Bloomberg, she litigated a class action to a successful trial verdict, on behalf of more than 900,000 people with disabilities in a challenge to New York City’s failure to address their needs in its disaster plans. In Legal Services for Prisoners with Children v. Ahern, she litigated a taxpayer action that resulted in a court-enforceable settlement agreement that will ensure dramatic improvements to basic accessibility for people with disabilities housed in one of the largest county jails in the United States. In American Council of the Blind v. Hulu, she represented people who are blind and have low vision, resulting in Hulu’s agreement to make its website and software applications accessible via screen readers and to increase audio description tracks for streaming content.
A steadfast leader and mentor in the disability community for the last two decades, Rebecca speaks frequently at national legal and disability conferences. In 2023, she was named to Diversability’s D-30Disability Impact List, alongside disability community leaders worldwide for her accomplishments as a global disability leader. She is a member of Disability Lead and serves on Disability Lead's Board of Directors. She is also a member of the National Disabled Legal Professionals Association. She is a co-editor of Lawyers, Lead On: Lawyers with Disabilities Share Their Insights (ABA Press 2011), a past Commissioner of the American Bar Association Commission on Disability Rights, and a past Board Member of the Disability Rights Bar Association. From 2006 to 2009, she served as a Governor appointment on the North Carolina Statewide Independent Living Council. As a law student, she co-founded and served as president of the National Association of Law Students with Disabilities.
Rebecca earned her B.A. in political science with highest honors and her J.D. as a Jack Kent Cooke Scholar, both from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her lived experience as a wheelchair-user since adolescence informs and motivates her career.