Originally from the rural Midwest, Kiah Amara is an New York City based filmmaker, interdisciplinary artist, consultant and activist. Her work focuses on identity, fluidity, commonality, misconception and all things that deviate from “normal.” As a Queer, Chronically Ill, Neurodiverse Womxn with a need for ASL, Amara draws on interconnected experience yet leads with allyship for Deaf and Disabled artistry and activism. [continue reading…]
Kristen Lopez is the TV Editor at IndieWire and a disabled entertainment writer whose work has been published in Variety, Forbes, and Roger Ebert. As a disabled film buff, her writing often deconstructs the issues regarding disability and gender in entertainment. She has a Masters in English from Sacramento State University. In her free time she enjoys reading, podcasting, and watching TCM.
Kym Eisner is the Executive Director of the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation. The foundation’s vision is that individuals with spinal cord injuries, and those who care for them, live full and productive lives as active participants in their communities. Their work includes spinal cord injury research, creating opportunity and independence, psychosocial research, scholarships and fellowships, assistive technology, education, employment, independent living, rehabilitation, and arts, sports and recreation. Prior to her work in the scientific and disability communities, she worked with both emerging and established non-profits as well as serving on numerous boards focusing on education, social services, health system infrastructure development and the arts.
Lachi is an award nominated recording artist and songwriter with releases on SONY, Universal Music Group (UMG) and Warner Music. Lachi is a voting member of the Recording Academy and member of the Grammy Advocacy committee. Her songs have aired on TV, radio and feature film. She is prolific in Pop EDM and Soul, with songs featured on Oprah Radio, Huffpost, YourEDM, CBS, NPR, MTV, CW, Oxygen and more. [continue reading…]
Lauren Appelbaum is the Senior Vice President, Entertainment & News Media, of RespectAbility, a nonprofit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities for and with people with disabilities. She brings more than 15 years of experience in strategic and crisis communications, writing, video and web production, news gathering and social media to the disability agenda. Previously she was a digital researcher with the NBC News political unit, where she worked with Chuck Todd and Andrea Mitchell. [continue reading…]
Lauren Arena is Ms. Wheelchair NY 2020 and an accomplished Wheelchair Ballroom Dancer, and a certified dance therapy teacher. In 2021, Arena plans to compete for Ms. Wheelchair America. Her platform as Ms. Wheelchair NY is to encourage others to hold tight to never give up on their dreams; to share her passion for wheelchair ballroom dancing; and to raise awareness and funds for MEAK (Myoclonic Epilepsy and Ataxia). [continue reading…]
Lolo is a disability lifestyle influencer, a Film Independent Spirit Award nominated actress, model, public speaker, and content creator with a YouTube channel titled “Sitting Pretty.” “Sitting Pretty” is a series she created to showcase her life as a woman in a wheelchair. Her vlogs showcase a range of topics from disability fashion tutorials, everyday challenges dealing with society, dating, and her new diagnosis journey. [continue reading…]
Governor Lawrence J. Hogan, Jr. was sworn in as the 62nd governor of the State of Maryland on January 21, 2015. In 2018, he was overwhelmingly re-elected to a second four-year term, receiving the most votes of any Maryland gubernatorial candidate and becoming only the second Republican governor to be re-elected in the 242 year history of the state. [continue reading…]
Leah Romond is an attorney, producer and advocate for full disability inclusion in film and television production. Romond’s recent project, Best Summer Ever, is a feature-length original musical created entirely by an integrated cast and crew of talent with and without disabilities. The film was slated to begin its festival run with a SXSW 2020 World Premiere, and was awarded the SXSW Final Draft Screenwriters Award. While the festival run has been halted indefinitely due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Romond continues to work toward authentic disability representation in front of and behind the camera.
Lex Frieden is Professor of Health Informatics and Professor of Rehabilitation at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and he is adjunct Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Baylor College of Medicine. Mr. Frieden also directs the ILRU – Independent Living Research Utilization Program at TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston. ILRU is a research, training and technical assistance program on independent living for people with disabilities and older adults. [continue reading…]
