Florida's Go To Source for Self-Advocacy News & Information
Jason Hahr
who prefers to be called Jay, moved to Florida in 2014 to be closer to family. He is a FL SAND Fellow and co-founder of Florida's REV-UP chapter, a voting rights and information organization. He is an experienced and passionate self-advocate and blogger and has a master's degree in education. You can read his blog, The Voiceless Minority, here.
Beyssa Buil
is a self-advocate on the autism spectrum living with multiple sclerosis.
She is a public speaker bringing awareness to disability justice and inclusion and a FL SAND Fellow. Beyssa uses social emotional learning, trauma informed care, and somatic (calming) practices to support self-advocates and individuals on their path of self-advocacy. She has a Master's of Divinity degree and is an endorsed chaplain currently completing her Buddhist ecclesiastical endorsement. The nonprofit she founded, Society of the Flora, Fauna & Friend, is involved with organizing and connecting individuals to coalitions engaged in disability and social justice campaigns on the local, state, and national levels.
Michelle Zeman
was diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder-not other specified when she was three years old and was considered “borderline severe.” Despite being told she would never be a functioning member of society, she earned her Master’s Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis with an emphasis in autism and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2016. She discovered the value of self-advocacy and activism through her career in behavior analysis and her time in Partners in Policymaking (as she is a 2023 graduate). She is passionate about policy change in mental health services and disability training for all community workers.
Matthew Waltzer
lives with cerebral palsy, affecting his mobility, vision and dexterity. Matthew is unable to tie his shoes. At 16, aspiring to go away to college he penned #NikeLetter, asking for accessible footwear. Nike collaborated with him, launching FlyEase in 2015. Empowered by FlyEase, Matthew pursued college, graduating from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2018. His story has been featured on major platforms like The Drew Barrymore Show and NPR since 2021. On a personal advocacy level, Matthew aims for change in the education, transportation, and government sectors.
Chatequa Pinkston
has the heart to encourage individuals with disabilities through her life experiences. She was born with cerebral palsy. She earned a master's degree in Computer Science from the University of South Florida. She is an entrepreneur, an ordained minister, an author of several self-published books, and a public speaker. Chatequa is the founder of Hidden Treasures Ministries, which works to empower people with disabilities. She also serves on several other disability-related boards.