Disability Lead

Meet the Storyteller: Timotheus “TJ” Gordon Jr.

TJ is a researcher-activist and co-founder of Chicagoland Disabled People of Color Coalition, advancing disability justice in communities of color.

Be there to hear his story—register now for "Our Stories", our popular Member storytelling event, and join us: https://www.disabilitylead.org/events/our-stories-june2026

We believe we are most powerful when we are represented and championed by an intersectional disability voice. A big congratulations to Joyce Ozeh, Governor JB Pritzker announced that she will be serving as a Member of the Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes.

Joyce is bringing a wealth of experience to this commission, from her current role as Supervising Attorney in the Office of the Illinois Attorney General’s Civil Rights Bureau to her time as a staff attorney at Equip for Equality. Her appointment followed confirmation by the Illinois Senate.

To find out more about her appointment you can read this release on Governor Pritzker’s website. https://gov-pritzker-newsroom.prezly.com/gov-pritzker-announces-one-appointment-to-boards-and-commissions-gj5w32.

Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Month!

In 1977, Jeanie Jew advocated for this observance to honor her grandfather’s legacy. In 1990, a congressional resolution established "Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month" to commemorate the arrival of the first Japanese immigrant and the completion of the transcontinental railroad, and acknowledge the history, diverse cultures, and contributions of AAPI communities. At Disability Lead we are proud to support a network of leaders with disabilities, which includes a beautiful community of Asian American and Pacific Islander folks. These leaders are positive disruptors who are working to achieve an equitable, just, and inclusive society.