This panel aimed to discuss in more depth some of the issues facing Deaf/disabled people in the criminal justice system as experienced by the protagonist in the feature length documentary film, Being Michelle. The panel brought together Deaf leaders and advocates as well as individuals who have experienced human rights abuses in the criminal justice system. [continue reading…]
Washington, D.C., Feb. 1 – As we celebrate Black History Month, which takes place every February, RespectAbility recognizes the contributions made and the important presence of African Americans in the United States. It is important to note this includes more than 5.5 million African Americans living with a disability.
Some celebrities and business leaders are using their voice to share their stories, educating people about both visible and nonvisible disabilities. They are defying the statistics and have remained highly successful with their disabilities. These role models make a big difference in setting high expectations for youth with disabilities. People with disabilities of all backgrounds can be amongst the highest achievers on earth. Harriet Tubman had Epilepsy, actress Halle Berry lives with diabetes, business leader and Shark Tank superstar Daymond John is dyslexic and Stevie Wonder is blind. Poet laureate Amanda Gorman, who had a speech impediment, shared her genius both at the 2021 inauguration and at the Super Bowl. Each of them is a positive role model for success. They are perfect candidates for RespectAbility’s #RespectTheAbility campaign, which is shining a light on individuals with disabilities who are succeeding in their chosen careers. [continue reading…]
Courtney Munnings is from Springfield, Massachusetts. She studied Chemistry and Spanish at Temple University and received her J.D. from the Rutgers School of Law in Camden, New Jersey.
Courtney spent 8 years practicing as an attorney at the Philadelphia and Princeton offices of Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP, where she defended companies in complex civil litigation. She also maintained a substantial pro bono practice, representing clients regarding home ownership in “tangled title” cases, legal name changes for transgender and non-binary persons, breach of contract claims, prisoner civil rights, and veterans’ and social security benefits.
Now, Courtney works for Diversity Lab and is passionate about boosting diversity in the legal profession. Additionally, she serves on RespectAbility’s Disability Training and Speakers Bureau and is Of Counsel at Life & Legacy Counselors of The Griffin Firm PLLC, where she provides guidance and information in estate and business succession planning for individuals, families and businesses in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She is also certified in life coaching.
Courtney is autistic with sociability, learning, attention, and mood differences and is especially committed to celebrating neurodiversity and advocating for the rights, participation, and inclusion of autistic people and all people with disabilities.
Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi
Washington, D.C., December 2 – RespectAbility Founder and CEO Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, a serial social-impact entrepreneur who is a pioneer in the area of disability advocacy and impactful leadership, announced publicly today she will transition from the organization she co-founded. The hope is to identify her successor by early 2022, with Mizrahi staying up until June 2022 to support a successful transition.
Mizrahi officially informed RespectAbility’s Board of Directors in July, and the board convened a search committee co-chaired by RespectAbility’s Vice-Chair Randall Duchesneau and Treasurer Linda Burger. On the committee’s recommendation, the Board hired David Hinsley Cheng of DHC Search to launch a nationwide search for Mizrahi’s successor.
RespectAbility is a diverse, disability-led nonprofit that works to create systemic change in how society views and values people with disabilities, and advances policies and practices that empower people with disabilities to have a better future. RespectAbility shifts narratives and creates progress by centering people with lived disability experience in leadership roles, ensuring authentic representation in entertainment and news media, advancing successful public policy, and pushing for faith-based and other inclusion. [continue reading…]
RespectAbility customizes sessions to meet your unique needs, issues and audiences. All of our trainers have disabilities and offer specific relatable stories and easy solutions. Many of our expert trainers are members of BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+ communities and reflect on intersectional experiences. We are happy to customize a session for you! We also offer a variety of specific topics, including: [continue reading…]
Aaron Seglin is a full-time musician and educator in Portland, Maine. Blind from birth and the son of an artist and psychotherapist (and now a synagogue administrator), Aaron has been sharing his passion for music with the world since he picked up an instrument at two years old. Seglin was raised by Jewish parents, who were very involved in the synagogue and Jewish community where he grew up (in Montclair and South Orange, NJ). Seglin is quoted as saying, “We were always the last out after Friday’s onegs!”)
Seglin was a student of mainstream public schools and for some time attended Ramapo College, leaving school and joining the workforce. A few years later, he met his lifelong friend and current bandmate, Bill Binford. Together, they started the band called 13 Scotland Road, named after their original shared residence. They have performed in a variety of venues, including several years performing in prisons, wherein they merged their music with their commitment to social justice and tikkun olam. Seglin relocated to Portland, Maine to continue his work. Over the years, Seglin has served as a teacher, a Jewish-music composer, a youth mentor, and a vocalist. His primary instruments are the flute and harmonica, and his primary interests include exploring other cultures through the sound of their drums.
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Danny J. Gomez Speaking Out For A More Inclusive Entertainment Industry [Read More] |
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| Tyler Hoog When Something is Lost, Something is Gained [Read More] |
Rep. James Langevin Paves the Way for the Disability Community in Congress [Read More] |
Lenny Larsen Globetrotting Entertainment Executive Refuses To Be Defined By His Disability [Read More] |
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| Vincenzo Piscopo Lifts Up People with Disabilities at Coca-Cola and Around the World [Read More] |
Krista Ramirez-Villatoro Wants to Create a More Accessible Athletic World [Read More] |
Andrew Reid Award-Winning Director Lifts Up Intersectional Identities Through Film [Read More] |
From Doctor to TV Writer, David Renaud Finds Success in Authentic Storytelling [Read More] |
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| Roque Renteria Uses Comedy and Storytelling to Fight Stigmas Hurting People with Disabilities [Read More] |
Jim Sinocchi Lessons on Disability Inclusion for the Post-COVID World [Read More] |
Washington, D.C., August 3 – RespectAbility recently submitted comments to the National Council on Disability (NCD) discussing ways to improve our education system and expand opportunities in the entertainment industry for people with disabilities.
In the comments, RespectAbility recognizes the gaps in our education system which have been widened by the pandemic. RespectAbility called for a specific focus on black, indigenous and students of color with disabilities, who disproportionally face greater challenges in receiving an education. Additionally, RespectAbility proposed the addition of a 13th year in secondary education to provide a fluid transition for students before entering the workforce. [continue reading…]
Newark, N.J., July 9 – Last month, Governor Phil Murphy (D-NJ) signed Senate Bill 3434 into law after five months of delays. This piece of legislation extends the length of educational and transitional services for eligible students with disabilities, who are slated to age out of the academic system at the age of 21. In New Jersey, the length of service extension is approximately one year.
According to the Disability Compendium Annual Statistics, there are 220,362 students with disabilities served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in New Jersey public schools. Percentage wise, this represents 12.6 percent of all students in New Jersey’s K-12 schools. This might seem like a small percentage; however, every student served deserves an equal right to access resources that they need. [continue reading…]
Washington, D.C., July 7 – This week, RespectAbility responded to a request for information from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) about ideas, insights, and innovations to advance and prioritize equity issues. This dialogue is only the latest example of how the new Biden-Harris Administration is seeking to address the “entrenched disparities in our laws and public policies.”
On his very first day in office, President Biden signed Executive Order 13985 launching an “ambitious whole-of-government equity agenda that matches the scale of the opportunities and challenges that we face.” This is critical news for the 12.8 million Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) with disabilities who have long been harmed by structural racism and who are disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic crisis.
“The impacts of racism and ableism on Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) with disabilities have caused harm to so many,” said Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, President and CEO of RespectAbility. “We must all fight racism and prejudice of all kinds. That work must go well beyond words and move into real systems change so we can create true equity and opportunities. Our society is at its best when all people, including BIPOC people with disabilities, can earn an income and become independent, just like anyone else. Online engagement opportunities like this one offer the chance for policy makers and common citizens to make their voices heard and push our society to become fairer and more inclusive.” [continue reading…]
