Stephanie Farfan, Policy Fellow

National Leadership Program, Spring 2018

Stephanie Farfan

Stephanie Farfan was a Policy Fellow in the National Leadership Program at RespectAbility. She always has been committed to disability rights, particularly for the dwarfism community as she is a little person. She has experienced firsthand the discrimination many people with disabilities face. This discrimination led to her commitment to fight the stigmas and social barriers that people with disabilities have to contend with to be taken seriously. Farfan has been a part of Little People of America (LPA) since she was 16 years old and volunteers her time as a co-chair for the Hispanic Affairs Committee. Her fluency in Spanish enables her to help Spanish-speaking little people and their families get the resources and support they may otherwise not have access to.

Farfan completed her undergraduate studies with a major in Peace and Conflict Studies and a minor in French at Juniata College in Pennsylvania. While there, she was the only little person on her campus – so naturally, it was quite difficult looking up all the time. Farfan had the opportunity to study abroad in Lille, France while at Juniata. She loved the experience and was grateful that the opportunity allowed her to improve her French. After graduation, Farfan moved back home to Florida. There, she worked at a number of interesting places – most notably a karate studio and a security and detective agency. Unfortunately, she does not know karate and also is not a private investigator, so please do not ask.

Tired of the Florida sun, Farfan came to Washington, DC, hoping to continue her studies. She was accepted to American University’s School of International Service, where she is studying International Peace and Conflict Resolution. She hopes to combine the experience she has working with the Latino community and her academic work in peace studies into a career that can help the international disability community. Eventually, she aspires to earn a Ph.D. in the peace field and hopes to open doors in academia for people with disabilities and foster intersectional inclusivity through her social activism.

In her spare time, Farfan loves to cook and always is looking to expand her repertoire of recipes. She also loves comic books: the X-Men and Birds of Prey are among her favorite superhero teams because they both provide examples of intelligent and heroic people with disabilities fighting evil. Farfan always is willing to chat about comics.

Farfan wrote 22 pieces during the Spring 2018 Fellowship for the main website and The RespectAbility Report:

• Donna Meltzer: An Advocate for Community-Living (February 6, 2018)
• South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard Makes New Commitments on Jobs for People with Disabilities
  (October 4, 2018)
• Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Makes New Commitments on Jobs for People with Disabilities
  (October 4, 2018)
• West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice Makes New Commitments on Jobs for People with Disabilities
  (October 4, 2018)
• Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker Affirms Continuing Commitment to Jobs for People with Disabilities
  (October 4, 2018)

She also wrote 17 pieces for the RespectAbility Report:

• 5,531 people with disabilities lose jobs in Alabama as State Ranked 49th in America
  (March 9, 2018)
• 2,305 new jobs for people with disabilities in Maine (March 9, 2018)
• 19,978 new jobs for people with disabilities in Michigan (March 9, 2018)
• 8,349 new jobs for people with disabilities in Kentucky (March 9, 2018)
• 12,662 new jobs for people with disabilities in Massachusetts (March 9, 2018)
• 715 new jobs for people with disabilities in Hawaii (March 9, 2018)
• 28,642 new jobs for people with disabilities in Georgia (March 9, 2018)
• 7,198 new jobs for people with disabilities in Connecticut (March 9, 2018)
• 931 new jobs for people with disabilities in Vermont (March 13, 2018)
• 6,707 new jobs for people with disabilities in Ohio (March 13, 2018)
• Iowa Lost 2,975 Jobs for People with Disabilities but Still Leads Most States (March 15, 2018)
• 4,966 new jobs for people with disabilities in Idaho (March 15, 2018)
• 945 new jobs for people with disabilities in New Mexico (March 15, 2018)
• 9,550 new jobs for people with disabilities in Illinois (March 19, 2018)
• 5,944 New Jobs for Marylanders with Disabilities (March 27, 2018)
• 3,838 New Jobs for People with Disabilities in Nebraska (March 27, 2018)
• National Voter Registration Day 2018 – Reflections from a Voter with a Disability
  (September 25, 2018)

Join Our Team

RespectAbility is a nonprofit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities so people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community. Learn more about the National Leadership Program and apply for the next cohort! Contact BenS@RespectAbility.org for more information.