About

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Who We Are

Founded by Dr. Paul T. Jaeger and Dr. Stephanie J. Cork in 2016, Including Disability began life as the Including Disability Global Summit (IDGS). IDGS is a forum for dialogue and collaboration about large-scale societal barriers that challenge disabled people. The unique nature of the event brought together researchers, educators, practitioners, advocates, family members, and disabled people from across disciplines, professions, types of disability, and national boundaries.

From IDGS, Including Disability (the journal) was born. A peer-reviewed outlet, the journal provides cross-disciplinary, cross-disability, and cross-sectional examinations of large-scale social, technological, cultural, and legal barriers faced by disabled people and offers innovative approaches to eliminating these barriers.

But, after running the Summit and journal for years, something was still missing: ongoing community. So, we launched the CowCow ComMOOnity Space, an informal, virtual gathering of disabled folks. We converse, co-work, and make merry on a semi-monthly basis. In between CowCow ComMOOnity Spaces, we share the Including Disability Podcast, which highlights disabled voices from all walks of life. We talk to them about their work, their research, their experiences...or anything else that comes up.

Our Team

A man with long, gray hair pulled back wears sunglasses and a green floral patterened shirt. He stands next to a poorly-constructed dog statue, mimicking its expression. The dog seems to be constructed to look intimidating, with wide eyes and mouth pressed together. But one side of the mouth droops, the nose is oddly large, and the ears look like human ears. It wears a thick, black collar. Behind them both, a white-brick academic building.

Paul T. Jaeger

Co-Founder

Paul (he/him) is a lifelong member of the disability community and has spent much of his career writing and teaching about how laws and policies shape the experiences of disabled people, as well as advocating for improvements to those laws and policies. Paul is an unshakable mentor to nontraditional students in higher education. He has won multiple awards, which only begin to scratch the surface of the support he offers students. Paul is also a renowned scholar in the Library and Information Sciences field, bringing Critical Disability Studies and Accessibility to the forefront of conversations around information justice.

White woman with glasses and long hair looking inspiringly into the distance.

Stephanie J. Cork

Co-Founder

Stephanie (she/they) is an intrepid and outdoorsy Canadian with an international, interdisciplinary background. Her work complements her experiences and expertise in qualitative research, public health, community-based advocacy, and years of teaching. Stephanie is a proud co-conspirator with many across the disability community.

A red-haired woman smiles in front of a blue-gray portrait backdrop. She has purple tortoise glasses, a purple sweater, and a purple and white shirt.

Elizabeth Pineo

Director of Strategic and Creative Operations

Elizabeth (she/her) is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Maryland’s College of Information. Her research explores the intersections of disability, music, and archives. She holds a Master’s in Library and Information Science from the University of Maryland, College Park and a B.A. in Music from Dickinson College. Elizabeth is a classically trained pianist, and, in her free time, she enjoys learning languages and caring for her ever-growing plant collection.

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Alexander Pilon

Artistic Director

As a video and graphic design specialist, and communications strategist, Alexander (he/him) has worked on Emmy, Grammy, and Juno winning productions. He has created content and communication plans for healthcare, education, hospitality, and the arts. Alexander is passionate about storytelling, invoking emotion, and provoking discussion. Alexander joins the Summit to further his contributions to publicize patient advocates’ and service workers’ efforts and increase representation for the disability community.

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Alex Peterson

Director of Logistics

Alex (she/her) is a Speech-Language Pathologist turned software developer, aiming to create accessible web platforms and inclusive digital experiences. She received her BA in communicative sciences and disorders from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and her MA in speech-language pathology from the University of Maryland, College Park. She also worked as a Graduate Assistant for UMD President’s Commission on Disability Issues while studying at UMD.

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Nedelina Tchangalova

Director of Digital Initiatives and Fundraising

Nedelina (she/her) is a librarian passionate about teaching students life-long searching skills. She is a strong advocate for open access research and collaborates with faculty on public health-related issues. Her professional work surrounds the IDEA concepts of inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility for all people with different abilities. Originally from Bulgaria, she immigrated to the United States with her family. She loves traveling, being in the parks, and walking in the woods.

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Sara Olsen

Director of Content

Sara (she/her) grew up surrounded by people who dedicated their lives to the service of others despite the challenges or sacrifices involved. The Navy seemed a natural choice to continue the family tradition of service before self. The combination of adventure with the mission to protect personnel and property inherent in the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) community drew her in. After nine years of active duty as an EOD Officer, Sara transitioned to the Reserves, where she has risen to the rank of Captain, having commanded three units and served in multiple staffs. In her civilian life, she co-founded Crossroads Adaptive Athletic Alliance, a nonprofit designed to increase inclusive fitness for all people with disabilities. Working with people with disabilities in fitness opened Sara’s eyes to all the social and environmental barriers to participation. As a result, she pursued a Ph.D. in Public Health from the University of Maryland.

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Ron Padrón

Director of Academic Engagement

Ron (he/him) is a transplant to Maryland from the sweltering swamps of South Florida. He began working in higher education as an academic advisor serving at-risk student populations and, in his current role, centers justice, equity, diversity, inclusion (JEDI), and accessibility more broadly: from course and curriculum development to student services and shared governance. He has previously presented on advocacy in student services and diversity work in higher education, and also serves as a facilitator for social justice education programs on the UMD campus. Ron is an unwavering advocate for those with disabilities and has been a vocal supporter of disability justice and queer history in all facets of his work and life.

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Grace MacDougall

Copyeditor & Digital Media Specialist

Grace (she/her) is a recent graduate of Dickinson College, where she earned her B.A. in Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies and Japanese, graduating summa cum laude. Her research focuses on transnational feminist, crip, and queer theories, and she has presented research on the 'Comfort Women' movement and Japanese internment camps' impact on U.S. citizenship concepts through an interdisciplinary lens. Due to her experience in community organizing and advocacy work centered on social justice and coalition building, she is excited to contribute to disability justice scholarship and advocacy.

Daniel Radvany

Production and Design Associate

Daniel (he/him) is a visual communication graduate of Loyola University Chicago and a current Information Science student at the University of Maryland.

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Shirley Shabnam

Digital Organizing & Communications Associate

Shirley (they/he) is a first-year Master’s student in Human-Computer Interaction. His research is at the intersection of disability and labor justice and he is interested in cripping/queering relationships of technology with systemic, infrastructural and interpersonal harm from a critical and participatory lens. Shirley also works for the Including Disability Global Summit. He holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Georgia Tech and is looking to pursue a PhD in Information, HCI, or STS to continue his sociotechnical research interests.

Esénia Bañuelos

Copyediting Associate

Esénia (she/her) is a linguistics major at Bryn Mawr College. She is also a Mellon Mays undergraduate fellow, STEMLA fellow, HSF scholar, and president of the Student Government Association.

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