Announcing the 2023 D-30 Disability Impact List #D30DisList During Disability Pride Month
Today, Tuesday, July 25, 2023 — ahead of the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 2023 — Diversability announced the 2023 D-30 Disability Impact List, honoring the accomplishments of 30 disability leaders across 12 countries. Launched in 2020, the D-30 Disability Impact List is Diversability’s annual list honoring 30 disabled leaders globally.
In April 2023, we made an open call for nominations to the 4th annual D-30 list. After receiving more than 270 nominations for 168 disability leaders, our D-30 Selection Committee helped us finalize our list to 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.
A square graphic with a teal gradient background. At the top in navy blue text, “2023 D-30 By The Numbers.” Below, 4 icons in circles with the text below them “30* Honorees +1 In Memoriam Honoree Judy Heumann. 12 Countries Represented. 100% Disabled. 73% Non-Apparent Disabilities.” Below, three sections. The first section is labeled “Other Demographics.” Below, text, “ 13-77 Age Range. 40 Median Age. 25% LGBTQIA+.” The second section is labeled “Gender Identity.” Below, a pie chart with 30% Man, 60% Woman, 10% Nonbinary.” The third section is labeled “Racial Identity.” Below, “20% Black, 37% Non-Black people of color.” At the bottom, the Diversability logo in navy blue and #D30DisList in the bottom right.
2023 D-30 Disability Impact List honorees by the numbers:
Age range: 13-77 (median age: 40)
Number of countries represented: 12
Gender identity: 60% Woman, 30% Man, 10% nonbinary
Black: 20%, non-Black people of color: 37%, LGBTQIA+: 25%
Disability status: 100% disabled, 73% with non-apparent disabilities
A teal gradient background with navy text has a Diversability logo centered at the top above the words “The D-30 Disability Impact List”. “2023 Honorees” is below the words in between two navy laurels. 31 headshots fill the bottom half of the graphic in several rows
Meet the 2023 D-30 Disability Impact List:
Bakhtawar Barzan Abdalla, CEO and Founder of Bakhtawary Group, Iraq
Bogui Jean Christian Polneau, President and Founder of the Association of Disabled People of Adiake, Ivory Coast
Darian Sarellano, DEI advocate, United States
Day Abdulla Mohsin Al-Mohamed, Author, Filmmaker, Disability Policy Advisor, United States
Dr. Jitender Aggarwal, Disability Advocate, India
Joshua Loebner, PhD, Global Head of Inclusive Design at Wunderman Thompson, United States
Julia Betancourt, Disability Advocate, United States
Julianna Johnson-Yates, Disability Advocate, United States
Katherine Yoder, Executive Director & Founder, Adult Advocacy Centers, United States
Lois Auta, Disability Rights Advocate, Founder/CEO Network of Women with Disabilities, Nigeria
Lorin MacDonald, Human Rights Lawyer & Disability Advocate, Canada
Mahantesh Ghathivalappa Kivadasannavar, Chairperson, Founder and Managing Trustee of Samarthanam International, India
Malebogo Molefhe, Gender-based Violence and Disability Rights Advocate, Botswana
Matthew McCann, CEO & Co-founder of Access Earth, Ireland
Meshack Kisendi Masanja, Co-founder and CEO of Mzeituni Foundation, Tanzania
Muhammad Atif Sheikh, Disability Rights Activist, Pakistan
Rachel Barcellona, Autism self-advocate, Founder of Ability Beyond Disabilities, United States
Raymond Hahn, II, Veteran Disability Program Consultant, United States
Rebecca Williford, President and Chief Executive Officer of Disability Rights Advocates, United States
Rev. Christopher Wylie, Disability Advocate and Co-Founder Rolling Nation Network, United States
Rose Perry, CEO & Founder, Historicons; Executive Director & Founder, Social Creatures, United States
Rupmani Chhetri, SignAble Communications: Bridging the Communication Gap for the Deaf Community, India
Sally Virginia Krueger-Wyman, Co-President & Co-Founder, Los Angeles Dysautonomia Network, United States
Sarah Elizabeth Kirwan, Founder & CEO, Eye Level Communications, United States
Sarah Jael E. Cortez, Founder & CEO, TERPCAP, Philippines
Shiri Dori-Hacohen, Assistant Professor, University of Connecticut, United States
Sofia Robison, Social Media Disability Advocate, United States
Sowmya Simhan, Founder Trustee, Sukriti Social Foundation, India
Susan Jean Golubock, Founder and Training Developer for Making Sense of Autism, LLC, United States
Thato Mphuthi, Disability Justice Advocate and Founder, Enabled Enlightenment, South Africa
We also recognized Judy Heumann (1947-2023) as an in memoriam honoree. Learn more about Judy and her legacy at https://judithheumann.com/
Check out the “Lift Me Up” single, a tribute to Judy Heumann, from 2022 D-30 Honoree Lachi and James Ian, featuring Gaelynn Lea https://lachimusic.com/liftmeup.html
A special thank you to our D-30 Selection Committee Members who are also former D-30 Honorees (in order of first name):
Ahouty Kouakou (he/him)—Executive Director of Action et Humanisme | Cote d'Ivoire
Helena Donato-Sapp (she/her)—8th-grade Student | USA
Luciana Viegas (she/her)—Activist and Educator | Brazil
Vashkar Bhattacharjee (he/him)—National Consultant Accessibility | Bangladesh
Puneet Singh Singhal (he/him)—Founder/Director, ssstart | India
Winfred Wanja Kirumia (she/her)—Community based trainer | Kenya
Zane Landin (he/him)—Internal Communications Specialist | USA
Learn more about the 2023 #D30DisList and D-30 honorees at http://mydiversability.com/2023-d30-honorees
About Diversability LLC: Diversability® is an award-winning entirely disabled-led and disabled-run community business to elevate disability pride, build disability power, and advance disability leadership. Since our founding in 2009 as a campus club by Tiffany Yu, Diversability® has grown its digital ecosystem to over 80,000, hosted over 150 events to move the conversation forward in disability inclusion, and helped disabled people get paid over $130,000.