Youth as Self-Advocates
Board of Directors
Emily Cowen, Board Member
Age: 21
Years working with YASA: 2020-Present
Hometown: Fairfield, CT
About Emily:
Emily has cerebral palsy. She attends Sacred Heart University where she is majoring in psychology. She hopes to become a therapist in the future. She is a member of CT KASA, a youth focused project at PATH Parent to Parent/Family Voices of Connecticut. When she’s not busy with school, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, playing with her dog Bella, listening to music, and watching Netflix. She also loves Starbucks.
Arif Deen, Board Member
Age: 20
Hometown: Valley Stream, New York
About Arif:
Arif was born with Cerebral Palsy. He a friendly, thoughtful, and hardworking person. Arif feels very strongly about advocating for people with disabilities. He decided to join YASA because he wants to help spread awareness about issues that are relevant to us today. He looks forward to working with others to help make changes.
Atif Deen, Board Member
Age: 20
Years working with YASA: 2020-Present
Hometown: Valley Stream, New York
About Atif:
Atif was born and raised in Queens, NY and moved with his family to Valley Stream three years ago. He and his twin brother, Arif were born with Cerebral Palsy. He has been in a wheelchair since he was a child. Although his disability makes many things in life more difficult, it also helps teach him how to become an advocate for himself and others. He loves socializing and getting to know new people. He is a good-natured person, who appreciates a good sense of humor. Atif joined YASA because he wanted to explore and improve his advocacy skills, as well as meet and discuss important issues with others.
Elisabeth Harkins, Board Member
Age: 22
Hometown: North Augusta, South Carolina
About Lis:
Lis recently received her Associates of Arts degree from Aiken Technical College and an Associates in Criminal Justice. She will be transferring to Clemson to get her bachelor’s in psychology with a minor in American Sign Language. She works part time at her local Center for Independent Living doing office support, is an assistant Girl Scout leader, and has been a member of YASA for two years. She is also a member of the National Center for Independent Living Youth Caucus. She has multiple disabilities including scoliosis, ADHD, and a learning disability called dysgraphia. Lis loves volunteering, advocacy, reading, listening to music, playing video games. She also loves to travel and meet new people. She has four cats and a boyfriend of three years. Lis hopes to travel to other countries one day to experience their culture and people.
Ayanda Nnachi, Board Member
Age: 19
Hometown: Hurricane, West Virginia
Ayanda has Cerebral Palsy and is attending Marshall University majoring in Political Science. She plans to become an attorney. Ayanda joined YASA because she felt it was her duty to advocate for other youth with disabilities who can’t advocate for themselves.
Shannon O'Hara Wiora, Board Member
Age: 23
Years working with YASA: 2019 -Present
Hometown: Virginia Beach, Virginia
About Shanon:
Shannon is Autistic and Mental Health Advocate with an interest to increase neurodiversity in STEM. She has spent her summers doing biomedical research at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Norfolk State University, and University of New Mexico’s School of Medicine. Also, Shannon has received national awards on the impact of her research towards the pharmaceutical industry and presented her research at national conferences. Currently, she serves on the Youth of as Self-Advocates (YASA) Committee at Family Voices, Youth Voice Amplified Committee Member at the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP), and as a National Consumer Scholar at Camden Health. Shannon loves to promote the acceptance of those who are different by educating people about on what it is like to live with a disability. Her recent speaking engagements was as a panel speaker at the 2022 Family Voice’s National Conference in Washington D.C. and 2023 AMCHP Conference in New Orleans, LA. In 2024, Shannon’s next goal is to transfer from Tidewater Community College to a 4-year university and major either in Neuroscience or Biology with a concentration in Neurobiology.
Jake Shumbo, Board Member
Age: 22
Years working with YASA: 2020-Present
Hometown: Colchester, Connecticut
About Jake:
At age 13, Jake sustained a traumatic brain injury. He spent the years since his accident in various therapies to help him regain some of what he lost. Being differently abled has opened a whole new world for him. He’s had the opportunity to meet people he may not have had the chance to before. He’s learned to advocate for myself and for others who may not have the voice to do so. Jake put his passion for self-advocacy into a public speaking career which has allowed him to spread his message of self-advocacy, youth voice and being DIFFERENTLY abled to audiences from around the country. Being part of YASA continues to let him connect with people and support them, while continuing to learn and grow. He looks forward to this journey and the positive impact he can make.
YOU, Board Member
Age: 13-26 years old
Hometown: Anywhere, USA
About YOU:
Are you a youth with a disability or chronic health condition between the ages of 13 and 26 who wants to make a difference? Find all the details about becoming a YASA Board Member HERE.
YOU, Board Member
Age: 13-26 years old
Hometown: Anywhere, USA
About YOU:
Are you a youth with a disability or chronic health condition between the ages of 13 and 26 who wants to make a difference? Find all the details about becoming a YASA Board Member HERE.
Encourage confidence to act