Youth as Self-Advocates
Board of Directors
Elisabeth Harkins, Co-Chair
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.
Luke Byram, Co-Chair
Age: 25
Years working with YASA: 2017-Present
Hometown: Tacoma, Washington
About Luke:
Luke is a young adult with Cerebral Palsy who is an advocate for himself and others. Luke is a member of the YASA Board for five years. In addition to his work with YASA, Luke served on the Board of Directors of Center for Independence in Lakewood, Washington for five years. He has served as a member of the Tacoma Area Commission on Disabilities since 2014. He also is a member of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL). Luke lives in Tacoma, Washington and studies law and public policy at the University of Washington-Tacoma.
Atif Deen, Co-Chair
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.
Wednesday Eanes, Board Member
Age: 26
Hometown: Alamogordo New Mexico
About Wednesday:
Wednesday is currently studying as a full time student at St John’s College in Santa Fe. She hopes to earn a degree in counseling to offer support to others like herself who have spent a large part of their lives navigating a complicated medical history. Wednesday believes wholeheartedly in the inclusion, normalization of disability in American culture. She joined YASA in order to experience different perspectives within the disabled community and to take an active role in positive change.
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.
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.
Shannon O'Hara Wiora, Board Member
Age: 20
Years working with YASA: 2019 -Present
Hometown: Virginia Beach, Virginia
About Shanon:
Shannon was disgnosed with Autism when she was a year old. She spent the summer of 2021 as an intern with the National Institute of Health’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and serves on the Youth Voice Amplified Committee Member at the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, a Consumer Committee Member at Safest Drug, and a Youth Action Council Member at University of Massachusetts Medical School. She loves to learn about new people and promotes acceptance of those who are different by educating people about what it’s like to live with a disability.
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.
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 memeber 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.
Ellis Sardorian (they/them), Board Member
Age: 24
Years working with YASA: 2020 -Present
Hometown: Hampstead, Maryland
About Ellis:
Ellis Sardorian (they/them) is an advocate, story teller, community member, and space holder. They are an Americorps member working in MD. Ellis is a 2021 Dinah Cohen DREAM Fellow with the National Disability Mentoring Coalition, developing a webinar on best practices for inter-abled mentoring relationships. In their free time, Ellis makes their own clothes.
Nic Brown, Board Member
Age: 21
Years working with YASA: 2020-Present
Hometown: Portland, Oregan
About Nic:
Nic is originally from Atlanta Georgia. He currently lives in Portland, Oregon where he is attending his final year at CTP community transition program. He hopes to go to college and study psychology. He is a major advocate for not only himself, but for all of his disability community. He has gone to the state capital to speak to legislators and representatives about how they can support disabled people more, and he volunteers with many nonprofit organizations that support people with disabilities, including United Cerebral Palsy (UCP). Nic is committed to making the world a more equal place for disabled people. He’s excited and ready to work with YASA to work towards this goal.
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.
Danielle Fellguth, Alumni
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Years working with KASA: 2008-2020
About Danielle:
Danielle is a second year law student at USC Gould School of Law pursuing entertainment law. Danielle has been part of the disability rights community in one way or another since elementary school and is passionate about supporting people with disabilities in fields where we are underrepresented, especially the entertainment industry. In her free time, Danielle enjoys traveling, finding the best restaurants and coffee shops, and spending time with family and friends.
Hamza Jaka, Alumni Coordinator
Hometown: Fontana, Wisconsin
Years working with KASA: 2007-2019
About Hamza:
Hamza Jaka is an attorney, who identifies as a disabled man of color. Hamza has been part of the disability rights community since his teenage years and is particularly passionate about supporting disabled people from multiply marginalized groups. He is proud to have travelled the world and embarked on his journey with friends and family in tow.
Emily Ball, Alumni
Age: 28
Years working with YASA: 2019-Present
Hometown: Wallingford CT
About Emily:
Emily Ball earned an a A.S. degree as a Disability Specialist and is a public speaker. She joined YASA to share her perspective and learn from others in similar situations or circumstances. She is also a member of Connecticut’s Youth Advisory Board where she learns about other disabled young people’s perspectives and is involved in planning their annual events. She is a graduate of the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities Program and Partners in Policymaking. In her free time, she like to read, participate in various sports, hang out with her two dogs and two cats and listen to music.
Encourage confidence to act
