Disability Belongs Expands Leadership Bench with Key Board and Advisory Appointments to Advance National Inclusion Standards
On September 2nd, the nonprofit organization Disability Belongs® officially announced a significant expansion of its leadership infrastructure, welcoming three new members to its Board of Directors and eleven new experts to its Advisory Council. This strategic broadening of the organization’s governance and advisory capabilities signals a shift toward a more multi-disciplinary approach to addressing the systemic barriers that continue to impede accessibility and inclusion for the disability community. By integrating professionals from the fields of municipal development, corporate technology, and talent equity, the organization aims to bridge the gap between policy advocacy and practical implementation.
The Evolution of Disability Belongs: A Strategic Timeline
The appointments announced in early September represent the culmination of a broader strategic initiative that gained momentum earlier this summer. To understand the current trajectory of Disability Belongs®, it is necessary to examine the organizational timeline leading up to this point:
- July 2026: During Disability Pride Month, the organization hosted its 5th Annual Disability Impact Awards. This event served as the public backdrop for initial discussions regarding the organization’s scale-up plans.
- August 2026: Throughout the month, the organization finalized the vetting processes for its new governance tiers, focusing on candidates who possess both personal dedication to the disability community and high-level professional experience in systemic change.
- September 2, 2026: The formal announcement of the three new Board Directors—Herman Lehman, Kiara Stohlman, and Jevon Thoresen—and the eleven-member Advisory Council was released to the public.
This sequence of events highlights a deliberate transition from a growth-oriented phase during the summer to an operational-strengthening phase as the organization heads into the final quarter of the year.
Profiles in Leadership: The New Board Members
The newly appointed Board members bring a wealth of cross-sector experience that aligns with the organization’s mission to foster environments where individuals with disabilities can thrive.
Herman Lehman joins the board with over three decades of experience in community and economic development. His background in municipal government, including his tenure as a city councilmember and treasurer in Alabama, provides the Board with critical insight into local policy-making and public-private partnerships. His role as co-founder of Keys to the City Community Coaching, LLC, suggests an emphasis on sustainable, grassroots growth strategies, which are essential for driving local accessibility initiatives.
Kiara Stohlman represents the technology sector’s growing focus on neurodiversity and accessibility. As the Senior Lead of Belonging and Well-being for Kyndryl, Stohlman’s work focuses on the integration of inclusive technologies. Her expertise is particularly relevant in the current digital landscape, where the enforcement of WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) and the development of assistive technologies are no longer optional "add-ons" but core components of digital corporate responsibility.
Jevon Thoresen contributes an extensive background in talent acquisition and organizational culture. His nine-year tenure at LinkedIn, specifically within the Equity product team, positions him as a subject matter expert in bias reduction and skills-based hiring. By focusing on the removal of barriers in the labor market, Thoresen’s appointment aligns with the broader organizational goal of ensuring that economic opportunity is not limited by a person’s disability status.
The Advisory Council: Strengthening Strategic Capacity
Beyond the Board, the addition of eleven new Advisory Council members marks a significant boost in the organization’s intellectual capital. The cohort includes Angel Ponce, Carla Anderton, Dr. Cameo Green Coleman, Maura Danehey, Michael Tyler Evola, Craig Foster, Ben McBride, Davina Patterson, John Petrous, Shalanda Pinder, and Allison Roper.
This group has been tasked with providing guidance on policy, cultural change, and partnership development. By diversifying the advisory board, Disability Belongs® is better equipped to navigate the nuances of diverse sectors, ranging from education and healthcare to public policy and corporate governance.
Contextualizing the Need for Inclusive Leadership
The expansion of Disability Belongs® arrives at a critical juncture in the global discourse on disability rights. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 1.3 billion people—approximately 16% of the global population—experience significant disability. Despite this, representation at the board level and within executive leadership remains disproportionately low.
Research from various diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) think tanks indicates that organizations with disability-inclusive leadership are more likely to achieve "innovation premiums." When accessibility is baked into the foundational design of products and services, companies see higher employee retention and broader customer reach. By formalizing these new appointments, Disability Belongs® is positioning itself to lead the conversation on how organizations can shift from passive compliance to proactive inclusion.
Official Responses and Organizational Vision
Khadija Bari, Chair of the Board of Directors, emphasized that these appointments are not merely administrative updates but a "pivotal step" in the organization’s mission. "Together, we are not only advancing conversations, but we are driving action, shaping policy, and creating spaces where every individual is empowered to thrive," Bari noted in her official statement.
Ariel Simms, President and Chief Executive Officer, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the caliber of the new members. "Their leadership reflects our commitment to excellence and innovation as we continue to advance disability inclusion through policy and cultural change," Simms stated. The internal enthusiasm suggests a unified front as the organization moves toward its next set of milestones.
Analysis of Implications
The ripple effects of these appointments are expected to manifest in several key areas over the next fiscal year:
- Policy Advocacy: With Lehman’s municipal expertise, the organization is likely to increase its influence on local and state-level accessibility legislation, pushing for standards that go beyond the minimum requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
- Technological Integration: Stohlman’s influence will likely accelerate the organization’s efforts to advocate for the ethical use of AI in accessibility tools, ensuring that emerging technologies do not inadvertently create new digital barriers.
- Talent Equity: Thoresen’s background suggests that the organization may launch new initiatives aimed at corporate talent pipelines, helping businesses implement skills-based hiring practices that explicitly include candidates with disabilities.
The expansion of the Board and Advisory Council is a calculated effort to institutionalize disability inclusion. By bringing in experts who understand the mechanics of city government, corporate HR, and technology, Disability Belongs® is signaling that it intends to be a permanent fixture in the strategic planning of institutions across the United States.
Conclusion
The infusion of new talent into the Disability Belongs® leadership structure represents a sophisticated maturation of the organization. As the nonprofit sector faces increasing pressure to demonstrate measurable outcomes, the reliance on high-level expertise in policy and systems design is a logical and necessary evolution. As the new Directors and Advisors begin their tenures, the focus will likely remain on translating high-level vision into actionable, scalable policy that improves the daily lives of the millions of people the organization aims to serve. The coming months will be a crucial test for the organization to demonstrate how this enhanced leadership team can successfully navigate the complexities of modern-day accessibility challenges.
