Announcing the 2021 D-30 Disability Impact List #D30DisList During Disability Pride Month

Earlier this week, Diversability released the 2021 D-30 Disability List, honoring the unique accomplishments of 30 disability leaders globally.

In May 2021, we made an open call for nominations to this 2nd list and after receiving almost 300 nominations for more than 125 disability leaders, the D-30 Selection Committee helped us highlight the work of 30 individuals with disabilities. We know that this list is not comprehensive of all the disabled people doing great work, but we hope that this can be a catalyst for continuing to advance disability inclusion, leadership, and representation at all levels.

The 2021 D-30 By the Numbers Demographic.png

2021 D-30 Disability Impact List honorees by the numbers:

  • Age range: 23-62 (median age: 38)

  • Number of countries represented: 13

  • Gender identity: 57% female, 37% male, 6% nonbinary

  • Black: 41%, non-Black people of color: 38%, LGBTQIA+: 29%

  • Disability status: 100% disabled, 83% with non-visible disabilities

On a blue gradient graphic, headshots of 30 people. In the middle, hashtag with Diversability’s logo. Below, text, “The D-30 Disability Impact List 2021 Honorees”

Meet the 2021 D-30 Disability Impact List (in alphabetical order by first name):

  1. Akii Ngo, Australia

  2. Bhoj Raj Shrestha (he/him/his), Nepal

  3. Brittanie Richardson (she/her/hers), Kenya

  4. Chimére L. Smith (she/her/hers), USA

  5. Dena L. Gassner (she/her/hers), USA

  6. Dom Kelly (he/him/his), USA

  7. Haley Moss (she/her/hers), USA

  8. Hendawitharana Kishara Manique Gunaratne (she/her/hers), Sri Lanka

  9. Iregi Mwenja (he/him/his), Kenya

  10. Ismail Ahmed Ali (he/him/his), Somalia

  11. John Kubai M'akwalu (he/him/his), Kenya

  12. Jwana Mustafa (she/her/hers), Iraq

  13. Keely Cat-Wells (she/her/hers), USA

  14. Krishna Gautam (he/him/his), Nepal

  15. Kudakwashe Dube (Mr) (he/him/his), South Africa

  16. Marta Elena Cortez-Neavel (she/her/hers), USA

  17. Mary Fashik (she/her/hers), USA

  18. Maselina Iuta (she/her/hers), Samoa

  19. Merlyna Valentine (she/her/hers), USA

  20. Nafisa Baboo (she/her/hers), South Africa

  21. Natasha Graves (she/her/hers), USA

  22. Nkosinathi Freddy Ndlovu (he/him/his), South Africa

  23. Paul Mpofunamba (he/him/his), Kenya

  24. Pauline Castres (she/her/hers), United Kingdom

  25. Rachel M. Arfa (she/her/hers), USA

  26. Roslyn Yvette Hurley (she/her/hers), Barbados

  27. Sai Kaustuv Dasgupta (Dr) (he/him/his), India

  28. Sara M. Acevedo (Dr) (she/her/hers), USA

  29. Suzanne ZAN Thornton (they/them/theirs), USA

  30. Vashkar Bhattacharjee (he/him/his), Bangladesh

A special thank you to our D-30 Selection Committee Members (in order of first name):

  1. Brenda Mudzimu (she/her) - Executive Director of the Miss Albinism Zimbabwe Trust, Project Coordinator of African Union For Persons With Albinism | Zimbabwe

  2. Esther Namulinda (she/her) - Founder of Support Organization of Parents with Disabilities | Uganda

  3. Jennison Asuncion (he/him) - Co-Founder, Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Vice Chair, GAAD Foundation | Canada

  4. Kenny Fries (he/him) - Writer | Germany

  5. Leslie Irby (she/her) - Trailblazer: Paraplegic Aviator | USA

  6. Stefanie Lyn Kaufman-Mthimkhulu (they/she) - Executive Director, Project LETS | USA

  7. Zach Hom (he/him) - Community Manager at Diversability | USA

Learn more about the #D30DisList and D-30 honorees here.

Diversability