Laura Haney, Policy Apprentice

Laura Haney Sep 17, 2018 Bio – Apprentice – Past Apprentices 0 comments

National Leadership Program, Fall 2018

Laura Haney

Laura Haney was a Policy Apprentice in RespectAbility’s National Leadership Program for Fall 2018. RespectAbility is a nonprofit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities for people with disabilities. Haney is excited to do hands-on advocacy work related to public policy and to begin making a difference in the disability circle. Her connection to the organization’s central mission to fight stigmas and advance opportunities for people with disabilities stems from her relationship with her older brother who has Down syndrome. As a young girl, Haney began to see the ways her brother was treated differently in schools and affected differently by the law, so this sparked an interest and a passion for becoming an ally for people with disabilities.

Haney has been involved with the disability community for as long as she can remember. Working with her brother at Special Olympics, she became aware and interested in the issues that face people with disabilities from a young age. Beginning in seventh grade, Haney ran her own r-word campaigns that eventually turned into inspiration for her to start her own club in high school. However, this was only the beginning of Haney’s passion and interest within the field of disability.

As a senior at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Haney is pursuing a degree in Political Science. In her time as an intern for the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities, she learned about the specific policies that affect people with disabilities and honed in on her interest in public policy. At St. Joe’s, Haney is a director of an organization that plans a yearly carnival for more than 300 community members with disabilities and hundreds of St. Joe’s students.

Haney is thrilled to be in Washington, D.C., during a time that is sure to make history. While not working at RespectAbility, Haney can be found exploring the city or out reading a book somewhere on a nice day. Her favorite books include the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling and East of Eden by John Steinbeck. In the future, Haney hopes to continue to travel the United States and the world at large as she settles into a career related to public policy and disability issues.

Haney wrote 12 pieces during the Fall 2018 Apprenticeship. Check them out on our website:

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson Makes New Commitments on Jobs for People with Disabilities
(October 4, 2018)
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant Makes New Commitments on Jobs for People with Disabilities
(October 4, 2018)
Missouri Gov. Michael Parson Makes New Commitments on Jobs for People with Disabilities
(October 4, 2018)
Montana Gov. Steve Bullock Affirms Continuing Commitment to Jobs for People with Disabilities
(October 8, 2018)
Hawaii Gov. David Ige Makes New Commitments on Jobs for People with Disabilities
(October 12, 2018)
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan Makes New Commitments on Jobs for People with Disabilities
(October 12, 2018)
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam Makes New Commitments on Jobs for People with Disabilities
(October 12, 2018)
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey Affirms Continuing Commitment to Jobs for People with Disabilities
(October 12, 2018)
Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead Affirms Continuing Commitment to Jobs for People with Disabilities
(October 12, 2018)
Gov. Walker’s Commitment on Jobs for Alaskans with Disabilities (October 18, 2018)
Gov. Sununu Confirms Commitment to Jobs for People with Disabilities in New Hampshire
(October 30, 2018)

She also wrote one piece for The RespectAbility Report:

The Power of Women in Politics (November 13, 2018)

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RespectAbility is a nonprofit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities for and with people with disabilities. Learn more about the National Leadership Program and apply for the next cohort! Contact [email protected] for more information.