Program Manager for the AAPD’s Internship Programs

Neil Purohit is the Program Manager for the AAPD’s Internship Programs, and Disability Advocacy Certificate Program. Prior to joining AAPD, Neil served as a Disability Rights Advocate for Disability Rights DC, the District of Columbia’s Protection and Advocacy agency for people with disabilities. In this role he monitored conditions in residential and institutional settings, advocated for community-based services and person-centered discharge and treatment plans, and presented on a range of topics related to disability rights.

Neil has extensive experience in disability advocacy, program development, and youth development. He is passionate about advocating for the full inclusion of disabled people in education and the workforce. Prior to DRDC, Neil worked as a Program Coordinator for INCLUDEnyc, a nonprofit organization in New York which advocates for the rights of young people with disabilities in the education system.

Neil earned a Master of Science in Social Work with a specialization in Leadership, Management, and Entrepreneurship from Columbia University. He also holds a Human Services Management Certificate from The Network for Social Work Management, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the City University of New York, Queens College. Outside of work, Neil can be found journaling, spending time in nature, and building community.

Programs and Operations Assistant

Johileny Merán (She/Her) is the Programs and Operations Assistant at AAPD, where she supports the organization’s internship programs and the work of the Chief Operating Officer. A Disabled Afro-Dominican immigrant raised in New York City, Johileny is deeply committed to advocacy, education, and empowering young people to reach their full potential. She champions a disability-inclusive and intersectional approach to all social justice work.

Prior to AAPD, she served as the Restorative Justice Program Assistant at SchoolTalk’s RestorativeDC, where she provided logistical, communications, and operational support for restorative programming in DC schools. In this role, she also maintained relationships with program stakeholders, and supported the RestorativeDC implementation team.

Johileny is a member of the Mobility International USA (MIUSA) Advisory Committee and previously worked as a Program Coordinator for MIUSA’s National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE), advancing disability inclusion in international exchange. She has worked with various organizations to promote disability inclusion in study abroad programs, higher education, emergency preparedness, and more.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Global Public Health and Sociology with a minor in Disability Studies from New York University (NYU). She also serves on the boards of Disability EmpowHer Network and Cerebral Palsy Positive (CPP).

Programs Director

Sarah Shaw is the Programs Director at the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). Sarah is a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, with a deep commitment to uplifting historically marginalized communities, particularly those with chronic illness and disabilities.

As the former Associate Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Community Outreach at the Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF), Sarah created and led transformative programs for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and LGBTQIA+ communities that provided dedicated spaces and programs for patients to share their experiences, help them advocate for their health as well as find support. Her work ensured that patient voices were centered in policy discussions, industry events, and organizational content, focusing on intersectionality and accessibility. Throughout her career, Sarah has managed cross-functional teams, overseen programs and events, developed impactful advocacy campaigns across multiple disease areas, and secured long-term funding through multi-year sponsorship proposals. 

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Sarah is a dedicated patient advocate, leveraging her lived experience with multiple chronic illnesses to inform her work and advocacy efforts. She is very involved in patient advocacy events; Sarah has been featured in various advocacy campaigns, including the Speak Your Migraine Campaign, WebMD’s “In Their Own Words: Moving Beyond Migraine” segment with Robin Roberts, and BBC’s “The Conversation”. She is an avid advocate at the lobbying event Headache on the Hill in Washington, D.C. In addition to serving on various industry patient councils and advisory boards, she has been a prominent panelist and speaker for major healthcare organizations.

Sarah is a graduate of Rutgers University, where she earned her BA in Journalism and Media Studies and a minor in Labor Studies with a concentration in Diversity in the Workplace. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys reading, listening to music, game and movie nights, bird watching, enjoying nature, and going on traveling adventures whenever she can with her wife.

Technology Policy Director

Maitreya Shah (he/him) is the Technology Policy Director at American Association of People with Disabilities. He is a lawyer and researcher with extensive experience working at the intersection of technology regulation and disability justice. Most recently, he was a fellow at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University.

He has previously worked with the European Network on Independent Living, Regulatory Genome at the University of Cambridge, the Prime Minister’s Office of India, and legislators in the Indian Parliament, among others. His work encompasses the fields of digital accessibility, AI governance, disability law, and regulatory technologies. He is also currently an affiliate at the Berkman Klein Center and a tech policy fellow at UC Berkeley. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in arts and law (JD equivalent) from Gujarat National Law University, and LLM from the University of Pennsylvania Law School where he was a Dean’s Merit Scholar.

Program Manager

Gabi Reyes-Acosta (she/they/ella/elle) is a Program Manager at AAPD, managing the Alumni Network, Disability Mentoring Day, and the NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarship. Gabi’s career has been focused on providing young people and their families who hold intersecting marginalized identities access to the resources and experiences that they deserve to live healthy and fulfilling lives. Gabi has spent time with young people in a variety of settings: from leading outdoor experiences in Spanish to building supports for young people to organizing campaigns to advocate for policy changes at the local level.

Gabi has experience in programming topics surrounding college readiness, social justice/advocacy, disability justice, and reproductive justice with a culturally responsive and trauma informed lens. Through all of their work, Gabi values relationships built upon trust and care, and her lived experiences have contributed to a career focused on working towards a world that is just, equitable, and accessible.

State Voting Coalitions Coordinator

Aubrianna Wilson (she/her) is the State Voting Coalitions Coordinator at the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). In this role, she supports the REV UP Network, empowering the disability vote from local to national levels.

Before joining AAPD, Aubrianna served as the Program Coordinator for the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange at Mobility International USA (MIUSA), on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. She advanced disability inclusion in international exchange by providing accessibility consulting, education, and outreach.

As a Thomas J. Watson Fellow, Aubrianna joined disability communities across eight countries, conducting participatory research on disability innovation and empowerment. This work deepened her commitment to intersectional, cross-movement, and cross-disability solidarity.

Aubrianna graduated summa cum laude from Middlebury College as a first-generation Posse Scholar, earning a B.A. in Neuroscience with a focus on Global Health and Disability Studies. On campus, she served in student government, on the Advisory Group on Disability, Access, and Inclusion, and as a 24/7 crisis hotline advocate for survivors of power-based personal violence. Her past work also spans health policy, civic engagement, and political organizing through internships with research institutes and rights organizations such as Be A Hero, as part of the AAPD Summer Internship Program.

Aubrianna is passionate about co-creating a future where no one is left behind.

Digital Director

Dominic “Dom” Swain is the Digital Director at the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), where he leads digital strategy to expand the organization’s reach and impact. With over a decade of experience in mission-driven marketing, he brings a strong belief that empathy and audience awareness are essential to building meaningful connections and driving action.

A proud Washington, D.C. native, Dom approaches each project with curiosity and a deep commitment to understanding what resonates with different key stakeholders. He holds an MBA in Marketing and Global Sustainability from Fordham University and a BS in Psychology from Howard University, a combination that grounds his work in both strategy and human insight. Active in the DC marketing community through the American Marketing Association, Dom is passionate about people and the platforms that connect them.

Dom lives with his wife and their one-year-old son. Outside of work, he enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, playing basketball, and spending time with loved ones.

Director of Economic & Social Impact

Dewayne Johnson serves as the Director of Economic & Social Impact at the American Association of People with Disabilities. In this capacity, he leads strategic efforts to advance disability inclusion, economic opportunity, and accessibility across sectors. He oversees AAPD’s corporate engagement portfolio, applied research initiatives, and cross-sector partnerships to foster sustainable and equitable financial outcomes for the disability community.

With over a decade of experience in research, issue advocacy, public policy, and stakeholder engagement, Dewayne has led initiatives across several national and regional organizations. His senior leadership roles include serving as Field Director at the American Civil Liberties Union’s National Political Advocacy Department, the inaugural Georgia State Director for the Human Rights Campaign, and a Campaign Director at Color Of Change in its Government Affairs and Policy Department. He has also contributed to civil rights and equity efforts through his work with the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Education Not Incarceration Network. In addition to his professional roles, Dewayne has served on multiple nonprofit and advisory boards, bringing strategic insight and a commitment to inclusive leadership.

Dewayne received his Bachelor’s degree in History and his Master’s degree in Political Science from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University. He is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Political Science at Clark Atlanta University as a Ford Foundation Fellow.

Vice President of Policy

Michael has spent over a decade working in disability rights for a variety of organizations. His passion for disability policy advocacy stems from his experience as an individual with cerebral palsy. He grew up in Chapel Hill, NC, receiving his undergraduate degree from the Gillings School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Masters of Arts in Government from Regent University. Michael is a diehard Tar Heels fan and lives with his wife and five children.

Events and Logistics Coordinator

April is the Events and Logistics Coordinator at AAPD. In this role, April works with the Summer Internship Program, Fall Internship Program, Alumni Network, NBCUniversal Tony Coehlo Media Scholarship, Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leaders Award, Fannie Lou Hamer Leadership Program, REV UP Voting Campaign, Technology Forum, Start Access and We Will Ride. Among other responsibilities, April coordinates access services, edits video content and has a passion for catering food that is both accessible and tasty.

April is a veteran of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, where she is honored to have run Operation Diaper Dandy with their Enlisted Council and have been a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator liaison for non-prior service students. April is also a graduate of the Schreyer Honors College through Penn State Harrisburg, where they poured their heart into co-running the WE cARE Food Pantry, interning at the library and having weekly Mental Health Phở at their favorite Vietnamese restaurant.

April loves coordinating events in her sapphic Asian community, coworking with her April’s Fools group chat, taking Tagalog lessons with Tagalog Kids+, carrying their dog through every dog-friendly independent bookstore, identifying native (and invasive!) plants and being tita/auntie to 14 niblings.