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Spring isn’t the only thing blooming this season, so are our Members and their achievements during the first quarter of 2025. From January – March of this year, Disability Lead facilitated 70 connections for our Members, resulting in 18 successful connections and many others that are still in progress.
Here are some achievements and milestones from our Members from January – March 2025.
Professional Positions
Eli Brottman (Fellow, 2024) was recently hired as the Policy Director at CHANGE Illinois.
"I am so excited to transition into the policy world full-time at CHANGE Illinois, advocating for much-needed good government reforms. I saw the need for these reforms firsthand over several years of political work, and I am so excited to utilize my experience to help get them passed. I look forward to bringing my lived experience with disability to advocate for increased voting access for disabled people."
Maureen Burns (Fellow, 2022) joined the Health & Medicine Policy Research Group as an intern.
Tayler Mathews (Fellow, 2024) started her new role as a public policy fellow at the National Disability Institute where she’ll be specializing in state and federal policy research, analysis, and development to advance economic opportunities for disabled people and their families.
“Disability Lead connected me to a supportive community of advocates for disability justice and civil rights. I’m grateful to count myself among such dedicated leaders.”
Civic Positions
Allaina Humphreys (Fellow, 2025) is making history by joining the Illinois Women’s Institute for Leadership Training Academy (IWIL) class of 2025 as the first woman with a disability to participate in the program.
“As the first woman with a disability to join IWIL’s training program, it is an honor to pave the way. I’m excited to bring my perspective and lived experience to bear and to work with IWIL throughout the year to help make it more accessible to people with disabilities in the future. Through IWIL, I’ll gain the knowledge and tools I need to run for elected office, seek public appointments, and govern effectively at every level. I can’t wait to learn, grow, and use these skills to serve my community and advocate for change."
Gizelle Clemens (Fellow, 2023) joined the 7th cohort of Willie’s Warriors Leadership Initiative Cohort, a Chicago Foundation for Women program! In this program, Gizelle will join a dynamic group of Black women and gender nonbinary leaders committed to advancing equity and justice in the Chicago region.
Tekki Lomnicki (Member, 2018) facilitated a class on storytelling at The Morton Arboretum.
“I grew up in the western suburbs and my dad was into gardening. He loved taking us kids and my mom to the Morton Arboretum. As a kid I always thought of it as a fairyland of flowers, trees, and birds. A couple of years ago, I was in a video about their disability accessibility [efforts], so their team knew me. Well, lo and behold, they were searching for someone to teach storytelling to their community partners and spoke to Emily Blum who recommended me. That Saturday morning as I drove through the gate and breathed in the fresh air, my blood pressure lowered, and I was that kid in my fairyland again. Eleven eager people from various outdoor not-for-profits welcomed me as I entered my workshop. I taught them to tell a personal story about why they chose to join their organizations. As participants shared their stories, I saw the power of the outdoors and the magic it holds for them — like it does for me.”
Board Appointments
Dane Hites (Fellow, 2024) was appointed to the Disability Lead’s Finance Committee.
“Disability Lead has been a great opportunity to expand my skills and relationships in the Chicago disability community. I joined as a Fellow in 2024 and learned so much. I will forever treasure the experience from the fellowship as it was a challenging and growing opportunity for me. Earlier this year, I joined the Disability Lead Finance Committee and have enjoyed giving back to the organization after they gave me so much."
Advisory Board Appointments
Michele Lee (Fellow, 2017) was appointed to two new boards. She joined the Disability Rights Advocates Advisory Board as well as the Consumer Technology Association Foundation Board of Trustees.
“I’m excited to combine my passion for accessibility, technology, and advocacy in a meaningful way. In these uncertain times, I am proud to use my voice to continue to advocate for positive change, ensuring that accessibility remains a priority.”
Recognition/Speaking
The National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum named Bernardo Gomez (Fellow, 2024) a 2025 A. Philip Randolph Change Agent honoree!
Kevin Irvine (Member, 2016) spoke at the Deaf Employment Webinar Series in February where he and his co-panelists discussed how to support and recruit Deaf and/or hard-of-hearing jobseekers.
Sadaf Ajani (Fellow, 2024) was moderated our Disability Power Series event with Vesper Moore, where they discussed mental health advocacy.
“We're living in a time of poly-crisis, where multiple global crises are worsening one another. The only way to counter this is by creating more connected, interdependent support systems to rebuild better and more inclusive ways of sustaining communities.”
In February, Kruti Shah (Fellow, 2023) spoke on the Docs With Disabilities panel about women with disabilities in allied health.