Member Story

Leading With An Invisible Disability

Get To Know Our Newest Members

We're highlighting our newest Members from this past year so you can welcome and get to know them. Please give it up for:‍ Jess Westbrook, Associate Professor, DePaul University; Safiya Eshe Gyasi James, Founder and CEO, Blaq Gurl Fya; Tina Lowry, Director of Quality, Aspire; Rebecca Williford, President and CEO, Disability Rights Advocates; Amanda Walsh, Director, Illinois Children's Mental Health Partnership; and Carly Englander, Career Placement Counselor, Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities.

Disability Lead Members Collaborate on Disability and Reproductive Justice Advocacy

There may not be many people organizing at the intersection of disability and reproductive justice, but two Disability Lead members are working to highlight just how much these movements can—and must —learn from each other.

Disabled Women We're Honored To Know

As we close out Women's History Month, we dipped back into the Disability Lead archives to highlight a few disabled women in our Network that we're honored to know. Here are their stories.

Member Highlight: Azeema Akram

Disability Lead Member Azeema Akram stepped into a new role as an Administrative Law Judge at the Illinois Human Rights Commission (HRC) this past year. In the position, she not only presides over claims of unlawful discrimination but leads with her full self as a disabled woman of color. Azeema attributes her career advancements to opportunities to connect and be mentored by other attorneys with disabilities.

COVID-19 Hits Disabled Community Harder but May Provide New Opportunities for Inclusiveness

Disability Lead Member Kevin Irvine talks about the impacts of COVID-19 on the disability community.