Today’s Portrait of Empowerment features Michael Besler. Michael shares how he sees himself as a leader now, after completing the AAPD Summer Internship Program: “I always saw myself as a leader, but now I have even more confidence because I have fully accepted myself and who I am. I am disabled and I’m proud of it. Now I can be a voice, a leader to a new generation of all people who struggle with their disabilities...

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Judy Heumann, known by many as a mentor, friend, and “the mother” of the disability rights movement.

Judy was 75 years old.
aapd.com/press-releases… Judy was at the forefront of major disability rights demonstrations, helped spearhead the passage of disability rights legislation, founded national and international disability advocacy organizations, and held senior federal government positions.

From the Pledge of Allegiance being signed & spoken simultaneously to the presence of the powerful Amanda Gorman to the President himself, both people with speech disabilities, disability was represented as a part of American culture & politics during #InaugurationDay Thread 1/7 Andrea Hall was the 1st Black woman hired and assigned to a station at the City of Albany Fire Department, & then the 1st Black woman to serve as fire captain at Fulton County Fire Rescue. She presented the Pledge of Allegiance in ASL & spoken English npr.org/sections/inaug… 2/7