
Author: Leah Smith
Community of Practice- About Us

The National Center for Disability, Equity, and Intersectionality
Who We Are
We are a group of people with disabilities, family members of people with disabilities, professionals, and collaborators committed to learning and teaching about the interests, needs, and wants of people with marginalized identities and lived experiences of disabilities. Five partner organizations founded our Center.
What We Do
The National Center for Disability, Equity, and Intersectionality identifies and works together to reduce inequities in healthcare, community living, and justice for people with disabilities. The Center: (1) amplifies the voices of people with disabilities, (2) creates materials to impact positive change, and (2) shares information with people with disabilities, their families, their communities, and policymakers.
How We Work
We convene a Community of Practice (CoP), which is a group of people collaborating to dismantle systems of ableism, racism, cisgenderism, and other forms of oppression. The Community of Practice will meet monthly and may work between some meetings to develop resources and tools. The Center is also home to the Changemakers Coalition, which supports the diversity of youth with disabilities working for a more equitable future.
How Can You Join
If you are interested in joining the CoP, e-mail Leah Smith at leah.smith@cchmc.org. To find out more about the Center, visit our website and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Join Our Community of Practice


An Attempt at Reparations: California’s Forced or Involuntary Sterilization Program
On January 1, 2022, the State of California launched a reparations program in an attempt to respond to its history of operating the largest eugenics/sterilization program in the country. From 1909 – 1979, 20,000 people were forcibly or involuntarily sterilized in the state of California.[1] However, providing reparations in the form of monetary compensation (approximately $25,000) to survivors has been complicated as the state tries to reconcile its past.
Continue readingNIDILRR Awards Field Initiative Project Grant To the University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
For Immediate Release:
December 7, 2022
Contact: Leah Smith, Project Director
Leah.Smith@cchmc.org
The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) has awarded the University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCCEDD) at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) a Field Initiative (FI) Project Grant to study the impacts of internalized, interpersonal, and systemic ableism in healthcare services and systems.
Continue readingDisability Led Coalition Awarded ACL Grant to Identify and Reduce Life-Limiting Inequities in Healthcare, Community Living, and Justice for People with Disabilities
For Immediate Release:
October 18, 2022.
Contact: Leah Smith, Associate Director
Center for Disability, Equity, and Intersectionality

Organization Aims to Address the Double Burden of Racism and Ableism within the Health Care System
For Immediate Release:
August 29, 2022
Contact:
Leah Smith, Project Coordinator
Organization Aims to Address the Double Burden of Racism and Ableism Within the Health Care System
Thanks to generous support from WITH Foundation, The Center for Dignity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities will expand upon its existing work by addressing racism and ableism within the U.S. healthcare system.
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September Webinars
In Response to the Reversal of Roe v. Wade and Its Impact on People With Disabilities
The Center for Dignity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities is deeply concerned about the overturning of Roe v Wade and what it means for the control people with disabilities have over their reproductive health. As an organization that is dedicated to addressing healthcare inequities faced by people with disabilities, we know that a more reproductively just system would reduce healthcare inequities among this population.
Continue readingThe Center for Dignity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities Comments to Communications Equality Advocates Petition for Reconsideration
The Center for Dignity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities (CDHPD) submits the following comments to Communications Equality Advocates Petition for Reconsideration. CDHPD aims to reduce healthcare inequities faced by people with disabilities and is composed of partners from multiple University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), medical and advocacy organizations. One of our four focus areas includes reducing healthcare inequities in mental health and suicide prevention. Thus, we are committed to ensuring that any system aimed at addressing suicide is accessible for all.
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