Disability

Find Your New Authorities

This database features alternative experts who are available to the press. Their authority derives from either lived experience or professional expertise or both. The current categories are Care, Disability, Drugs, Economics, Labor and Military, with more to come. For additional information please visit the About page.

From people on the autism spectrum to disability advocates

Kathleen Bogart

Associate Professor, School of Psychological Science, Oregon State University (OSU), and Director, Disability and Social Interaction Lab

Bogart is a social-health psychologist specializing in disability, ableism and rare disorders such as facial paralysis. She’s also an advocate for people with disabilities, and co-founder of the Disability Advocacy and Research Network (DARN) for social and personality psychologists who are disabled themselves or specialize in the field. Additionally, Bogart is director of the university's Disability and Social Interaction Lab, and the faculty adviser for OSU’s Disabled Students Union.

FOCUS: Disability
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANIZATION: School of Psychological Science, Oregon State University

Kristen Bottema-Beutel

Associate Professor, Lynch School of Education and Human Development, Boston College, and Autistic Communication, Engagement, and Relationships Lab (ACER)

Bottema-Beutel’s research at Lynch School of Education and Human Development uses quantitative and qualitative methods to understand social and language development, and social interaction dynamics in autistic children, youth and adults. She also explores meta-science topics such as researcher ethics and discourse about autism, and the quality of intervention research for autistic people.

FOCUS: Disability
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANIZATION: Autistic Communication, Engagement, and Relationships Lab

Garrett Brumfield

Founder, Overcome Yours

Brumfield is a disability advocate in Roanoke, Va., who was born with cerebral palsy. He uses his platform, Overcome Yours, to educate, empower and advocate for people with disabilities by sharing his struggles and successes and those of others, creating a sense of community through humor and stories. He also speaks with agencies and groups nationwide about accessibility issues and more.

FOCUS: Disability
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANIZATION: Overcome Yours

Michael John Carley

Inclusion Facilitator, Connections Program for Global Autistic Students, New York University

Carley facilitates the Connections Program for Global Students with Autism, a free, optional program for autistic New York University students dedicated to helping them succeed by promoting a culture of acceptance and belonging. He’s also editor-in-chief of Neurodiversity Press and the author of several books. In 2003 Carley founded Global and Regional Autism Spectrum Partnership (GRASP).

FOCUS: Disability
LANGUAGE: English, Spanish
ORGANIZATION: Connections Program for Global Students with Autism

Jacquelyn Fede

Co-founder, Autism Level UP!

"Jac" Fede is a self-described “super fun, super goofy and super-duper nerdy” autistic advocate. As the co-founder of Autism Level UP in Rhode Island, Fede supports autistic individuals and their partners. She works in program evaluation, data and statistics, and app and web development.

FOCUS: Disability
LANGUAGE: English
ORGANIZATION: Autism Level UP!