Local disability activists lead Abilities Expo’s community outreach efforts through ambassador program
Abilities Expo has appointed Ambassadors—members of the local community of people with disabilities and their families—to spearhead community outreach initiatives. These individuals will meet face-to-face with rehab institutions, independent living centers, local manufacturers, service providers and local associations to generate excitement and increase attendance at each event.
Meet the impressive individuals who have chosen to represent Abilities Expo to the Community.
Leslie Farin
My top-rated online senior lifestyle magazine, 50PlusToday, is a business that happily pulls together a lifetime of passions and skills for me. It provides accurate, insightful and inspiring information for the ever-growing 50+ population and their families. Growing older is a privilege, though unfortunately many of us fail to see it that way.
Decreased mobility is a frequent issue for many of us as we age. This was the case for my mom who spent the last 8 years of her life in a wheelchair. As a result, I am particularly dedicated to helping create a safe and equally accessible world for all. We need to find ways to remove barriers that decrease participation and increase isolation for those with disabilities; a problem especially for the elderly. I try to do my part; in 2016 I designed and built a mostly accessible vacation rental in Hill country, Texas to encourage intergenerational travel. Check it out here if you're interested.
When I entered the 50 Plus age group myself, I became overwhelmed by the many changes, both in body and spirit, which accompanied this new phase of life; I knew others must feel similarly. It made sense at this point in my journey to combine my healthcare background and marketing skills with my desire to help others live the second half of their lives as well, if not better than the first.
.Gina Jenkins McWilliams
Gina lost her right leg below the knee as the result of a car accident 16 years ago. As she delved into the world of adaptive sports, she was continually in search of volleyball opportunities for women with disabilities. She finally found them when asked to attend the first ever women’s sitting volleyball camp, held at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO, in February 2003.
Gina has been a member of the U.S. Paralympics Women’s Sitting Volleyball National Team ever since, winning Gold, Silver and Broze medals. She is a mother of two, a healthcare advocate and a certified peer visitor & trainer at Amputee Coalition.
Dylan Rafaty
Dylan Rafaty of Plano serves as the Vice Chair of the Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities. Dylan is currently Director of Business Development & Partnerships for C-Hear, Inc., a company that developed a way to make images accessible and heard. He is Founder / Chief Navigation Officer for DylanListed, LLC, a transition and support services provider for people with disabilities and veterans. Dylan also proudly sits on seven boards/committees benefiting local school districts, nonprofits and community organizations.
Dylan is a self-published author, national public speaker, diversity and inclusion trainer and advocate on important legislative matters in Texas and across the United States. He cares about a variety of issues affecting people with disabilities, such as accessibility, affordable housing, education, emergency preparedness, transportation, workforce, etc. Dylan received his associate degree at Collin College in Frisco and Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology at University of Phoenix online.
Stephanie Woodward
National Disability Law Ambassador
Stephanie Woodward is a passionate Disability Rights activist and proud disabled person. She is the Director of Advocacy at the Center for Disability Rights, Inc. (CDR) a disability led, not-for-profit Corporation that works for national, state, and local systemic change to advance the rights of people with disabilities. Stephanie is also a member of ADAPT, a national grass-roots community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in nonviolent direct action, including civil disobedience, to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom. Stephanie has been arrested multiple times while advocating for Disability Rights.
Prior to joining CDR Stephanie worked as a litigator in Miami, Florida focusing on Disability Rights. Stephanie attended Syracuse University College of Law where she earned her J.D. with a certificate in Disability Law and Policy and her M.S.Ed. in Disability Studies. Stephanie previously worked for Senator Tom Harkin (IA) and assisted his Disability Counsel on the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions by researching, drafting legislation, and making recommendations for legislative action in regards to disability rights issues. Most recently, Stephanie, along with fellow members of ADAPT, assisted in drafting the Disability Integration Act (DIA) – a piece of legislation that, if passed, would affirm the rights of people with disabilities to receive long-term services in their homes, rather than nursing facilities and other institutions.
While Stephanie’s work spans across all areas of Disability Rights, she is particularly interested in deinstitutionalization, community living, ending violence against people with disabilities, and improving access in the community. She loves talking about legislation that will impact the Disability Community and helping others to become activists for Disability Rights. When Stephanie is not doing Disability Rights work, she can be found playing with her adorable nieces, taking care of her four cats, and eating copious amounts of cheeseburgers and onion rings.
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