Disability Health, Intersectionality + All of Us

The American Association on Health and Disability is proud to share the second conversation in our 2023-2024 Disability & Health Webinar Series! This panel features disability community members in conversation about the health needs of diverse communities. Learn more about the All of Us Research Program and how more intersectional research might support better health for all: https://bit.ly/DisabilityHealth-Webin... Meet the Panel: Dr. Kara Ayers is an Associate Professor and the Associate Director of the University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. She is trained as a psychologist and leads the National Center for Disability, Equity, and Intersectionality. Dr. Ayers' research interests include health equity, disability in media, disability ethics, and parenting with a disability. Dr. Ayers experiences as a proud disabled woman and parent to children with and without disabilities also informs her work. Theo W. Braddy is a distinguished advocate and leader in the field of disability rights. He holds his MSW from Temple University and a BSW from Edinboro University. His journey in advocacy and leadership began at an early age when, at 15, he acquired a disability due to a high school football accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down. Over the course of four decades, Mr. Braddy has consistently championed the rights and well-being of individuals with disabilities. In 2022, President Biden appointed Mr. Braddy to the National Council on Disability (NCD), an independent federal agency responsible for advising the President, Congress, and other federal agencies on policies, programs, practices, and procedures affecting people with disabilities. In February 2023, Mr. Braddy was appointed as the Executive Director of the National Council for Independent Living (NCIL). Kiana Jackson is a dedicated advocate and seasoned professional, currently holding the position of Director of Data & Research at New Disabled South. Kiana has dedicated her career to enhancing grassroots organizations' capacity and empowering communities, especially those in rural and minority areas. Throughout her journey in community advocacy, she has made numerous contributions as a Data Consultant and Data Strategist for local political campaigns and nonprofit organizations in South Georgia. Kiana's perspective is informed by her unique lived experience as a disabled black woman residing in rural Georgia. This firsthand understanding of the challenges and opportunities within these communities has fueled her dedication to breaking down barriers and promoting inclusivity. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Albany State University and a Masters of Science in Data Analytics and Policy from Johns Hopkins University, to drive her mission of creating a more equitable and just society for all. Keith Jones is the President and CEO of SoulTouchin’ Experiences. As an African American community activist and entrepreneur with cerebral palsy, he is a strong advocate for independent quality living in the community. Mr. Jones has participated actively in various issues that face people with disabilities, including housing, education, and voting access. Mr. Jones is also extremely active in multi-cultural, cross-disability education and outreach efforts and has performed trainings with the purpose of strengthening outreach efforts to provide services and information to people with disabilities. He works to not only educate the disability community about enhanced community living, but also the community at large. He has been recognized for his emerging leadership by the state of Massachusetts and President’s Commission for Employment for People with Disabilities. Shane Lamba (he/him) is a Research Assistant with Stanford University's The Population Research in Identity and Disparities for Equality (PRIDE) Study, where he serves as a co-investigator for his research project entitled, "Understanding Disability and Health among LGBTQ+ People''. Previously, he was a researcher at the VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, Spinal Cord Injuries/Disorders (SCI/D) Center where he worked on several projects evaluating quality of life and access to healthcare services for veterans with SCI/D. Now, he works at the Veterans Health Administration, Office of Health Equity as a Health System Specialist, tackling several data, research and evaluation projects centered on LGBTQ+ health equity, social determinants of health, and patient-centered care. He has a background in public health, specifically community health promotion and education is interested in bridging the gaps between patient-provider education to advance culturally competent care.