National Leadership Program, Fall 2021
Ari Katz
Ari Katz (she/her) was one of the inaugural Philanthropy Fellows in RespectAbility’s National Leadership Program for Fall 2021, a paid internship funded by the MacArthur Foundation for people with disabilities who are interested in bringing their experience with disability to the philanthropic sector. RespectAbility is a nonprofit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities so that people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community.
Katz is originally from Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in the northern suburbs. On an eternal quest to escape suburban life, Katz currently lives in Montréal, Québec with her partner, Declan, and Borador puppy, Charlie.
Katz attended Haverford College for her undergraduate degree, where she double majored in Geology and Environmental Studies. She is currently working toward her MA in Disability Studies online at the CUNY School of Professional Studies and expects to graduate in May 2023. Afterwards, she aims to get a PhD combining her interests by studying access and ableism in outdoor spaces, hoping to make outdoor education and recreation more welcoming to people with disabilities.
Katz has always loved being outdoors. From trail biking to nature journaling, she’s a fan. It’s only apt that her relationship with disability is tied to the outdoors, too. Due to a rock-climbing fall in 2018, Katz has a mobility disability for which she now wears a leg brace. She is proud to be part of the disability community and is eager to become a better disability advocate through this Fellowship.
When she has to be indoors, Katz watches a lot of TV. A lot. She is also skilled at acquiring more books than she can read and more yarn than she can knit with, but she’s working on it. She is also teaching herself to sew and promises to not buy more fabric than she needs. At least not yet.
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.
