Announcing the 2026 D-30 Disability Impact List #D30DisList During Disability Pride Month
Today, Saturday, July 25, 2026 — ahead of the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 2026 — Diversability announced the 2026 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 2026, we made an open call for nominations to the 7th annual D-30 list. After receiving almost 500 nominations for more than 160 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 light orange gradient background. At the top in blue text, “2026 D-30 By The Numbers.” Below, four icons in circles with stats below: 30 honorees, 12 countries, 100% disabled, 86% non-apparent disabilities. Below, 3 columns with stats. Text, “Other Demographics. 24-63 age range. 38 median age. 23% LGBTQIA+.” In the center, text, “Gender identity.” In a pie chart, 7% nonbinary, 33% man, 60% woman.” On the right, text, “Racial identity. 43% Black. 40% Non-Black people of color.”
2026 D-30 Disability Impact List honorees by the numbers:
Age range: 24-63 (median age: 38)
Number of countries represented: 12
Gender identity: 60% Woman, 33% Man, 7% nonbinary
Black: 43%, non-Black people of color: 40%, LGBTQIA+: 23%
Disability status: 100% disabled, 86% with non-apparent disabilities
Meet the 2026 D-30 Disability Impact List:
Ar. Kavya Poornima Balajepalli, She/her/hers, Architect, Researcher & Advocate for Universal Accessibility | Founder & Curator, Poornamidam and IIH Warriors India, India
Cassidy Dimon, She/they, Executive Director, FWD-Doc, USA
Cienna Ditri, She/her/hers, Rare Disease Advocate, Speaker, Consultant & Digital Creator | Executive Director, Periodic Paralysis Association, USA
Dannie Lynn Fountain (Murphy), She/her/hers, Leave Manager & Leave/Accommodations Expert, USA
Dorothy Mwende Mueni, She/her/hers, Rotarian, Athlete, Human Resources Professional & Disability Inclusion Advocate, Kenya
Frankson Musukwa, He/him/his, Director General, Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities, Zambia
Gerry Langan, She/her/hers, Health Advocacy Speaker & Patient Advocate, USA
Jody O'Neill, She/her/hers, Writer, Producer & Advocate, Ireland
Kibra Kebede Aregawi, She/her/hers, Founder & Advisor | Disability Advocate, Ethiopia
Lydia Gratis, She/her/hers, Founder & CEO, Saved By The Sign, Ireland
Matisse Hamel-Nelis, She/her/hers, CEO & Founder, Matisse Nelis Consulting Inc., Canada
Matthew Shifrin, He/him/his, Founder & CEO, Bricks for the Blind, USA
Michael Sayo, He/him/his, Founder & Director, Kenya
Monica Quimby, She/her/hers, Vice President, Women's Para Ice Hockey Foundation | U.S. Women's Sled Hockey Team Athlete | Backbones Leaders Program Coordinator | Co-Founder, Wheel Together Retreats | Captain, Tampa Bay Lightning Sled Hockey Team, USA
Nader Bahu, He/him/his, Filmmaker, Disability Advocate & Competitive Gamer, USA
Nandan Kumar Singh, He/him/his, Founder, National Computer Institute (NCI) | Accessibility Leader & Digital Inclusion Advocate, India
Natalie Diana Busari, She/her/hers, CEO, The Nerve of My Multiple Sclerosis CIC, United Kingdom
Nieta M. Greene, They/them/theirs, She/her/hers, CEO & Founder, Disability Community for Democracy, Inc., USA
Patricia Welch Saleeby, She/her/hers, Global Health, Disability & Functioning Leader, USA
Pelemo Nyajo, She/her/hers, Founder, Movement Beyond Walls, Nigeria
Raja Imran Hussain, He/him/his, CEO, SPRING Association | Disability Rights Advocate, Social Entrepreneur & Founder of Disability Cricket Initiatives in South Asia, Pakistan
Shamsiyyah Umar, She/her/hers, Founder & Executive Director, We Are Special Foundation, Nigeria
Sofia Pantel del Cueto, She/her/hers, Disability Advocate & Access Consultant | NCIL Region 2 Representative | Founder, Abre Tus Ojos, Puerto Rico
Solomon Olakunle Okelola, He/him/his, Disability Rights Advocate | Founding Executive Director, Lionheart Ability Leaders International Foundation | Pioneer National President, Deafblind Inclusion & Advocacy Network–Nigeria, Nigeria
Taha Haaziq, He/him/his, Secretary, Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, India
Tinkesh, He/him/his, Founder & Director, Tinkesh Ability Foundation (TAF) | Disability Advocate, India
Vinayana Khurana, She/her/hers, Disability Advocate & Guest Lecturer, NCWEB, University of Delhi, India
Prof. Wisdom Kwadwo Mprah, He/him/his, Educator, Lecturer & Disability Advocate, Ghana
Zahra Noorullhaq, She/her/hers, Founder & Director, Afghanistan Humanitarian Development and Disability Organization, Afghanistan
Zipporah Syombua Mwangangi, She/her/hers, Director, Zipcare Women Initiative | Disability Advocate, Kenya
A special thank you to our D-30 Selection Committee Members who are also former D-30 Honorees (in order of first name):
Abbie Hills (She/Her), Founder & Talent Agent, Dazey Talent, Access Coordinator, Disability Representation Advocate in Entertainment | United Kingdom
Fabiola Amaya (She/Her), Social Worker | United States
Timothy (Tim) Harte (They/Them), Graduate Researcher | Australia
Garrison Redd (He/Him), Athlete | United States
Abhishek Kumar (He/Him), Lawyer, Environmental Researcher, and Disability Rights Advocate | India
Fenel Bellegarde (He/Him), Executive Director | Haiti
Atif Sheikh (He/Him), Disability Inclusion Specialist | Pakistan
Learn more about the 2026 #D30DisList and D-30 honorees at https://mydiversability.com/2026-d30-honorees
About Diversability
Diversability® is an award-winning, entirely disabled-led and disabled-run community business that elevates disability pride, builds disability power, and advances disability leadership. Founded in 2009 by Tiffany Yu, Diversability has grown a digital ecosystem of over 80,000 members, hosted 150+ events, and helped disabled people earn over $130,000.