Training High School
Resume:
Laura Hershey P.O.
*****@**************.***
phone 303-***-****
fax 303-***-****
www.cripcommentary.com
CONSULTING OTHER EMPLOYMENT ADVOCACY/VOLUNTEER WORK
PUBLISHED WRITING TRAININGS
AND PRESENTATIONS ART EXHIBITS EDUCATION AND AWARDS
Consulting
2004 Focus Group Coordinator, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing.
Organized, facilitated, documented six consumer/family focus groups statewide; recommended
infrastructure improvements for Coloradans with disabilities who use attendant service.
2004
Editor/Writer, Daily Summaries of two-week session of United Nations Ad Hoc
Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention to Promote and Protect
the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities. Coordinated on-site coverage of all
meetings; wrote/edited detailed summaries; supervised team of three writers.
2002 Focus Group Coordinator/Co-Author, evaluation of the Mental Health Ombuds Program of
Colorado. Organized, facilitated, documented 10 consumer/family focus groups statewide.
2001
Researcher/Writer, You re at the Controls! training curriculum, Colorado Assistive
Technology Project.
2001
Consultant/Content Producer, Education for Disability & Gender Equity. Wrote
narrative, self-tests, and exercises for federally-funded high school curriculum website;
organized student focus groups.
2001
Guest Resident/Instructor, Unit One, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.
Designed and presented week-long teaching module on disability rights and culture for
first-year college students.
2001
-PresentInterview Specialist for Fox & Robertson, P.C. Conduct,
document
client/witness interviews.
1998
-99InterimExecutive Director, Disability Center for Independent Living (DCIL).
Managed all aspects of an urban independent living center to revive and stabilize it
during a period of crisis. Hired, trained, supervised staff; developed, oversaw programs;
managed grant/agency budgets; rebuilt consumer base.
1996
Principal Investigator/Author, Varied Voices: A Survey of Denver s Disability
Community for the Denver Foundation.
1996 Materials Producer, AssisTech Advocates. Created factsheets and a video outline
about people with disabilities rights related to assistive technology; provided training
to service providers.
1995
Researcher/Co-Author, Leadership Development Strategies for Women with Disabilities:
A Cross-Cultural Survey, based on research conducted at the NGO Forum on Women, Beijing,
China, funded by IDEAS 2000 Grant from National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research.
1995
Access Consultant/Author/Editor, access brochure for Elitch Gardens Amusement Park,
Denver, CO.
1994
-95Access Consultant, City of Arvada, CO. Organized and facilitated citizen access
committee; helped develop ADA Title II transition plan to guide the city s upgrades in
building and street/sidewalk access.
1994
-95Access Consultant, Arvada Center for the Art and Humanities. Organized and
facilitated access committee; developed access plan.
1994
-95Access Consultant, City of Lakewood, CO. Organized and facilitated citizen access
committee, and developed ADA Title II transition plan to guide the city s curb cut
program.
Other Employment
2003
Co-Instructor, MCOM 3900/4912, Culture, Gender & Global Communication, University of
Denver. For weekly, semester-long graduate/undergraduate course, shared teaching duties
including planning outline and syllabus, lecturing, developing and leading exercises,
facilitating discussions, assigning and grading papers.
2000
-01Advocacy Editor, CanDo.com. Coordinated disability rights coverage for a web
magazine. Monitored issues and events; developed contacts; wrote news, feature and opinion
articles; recruited writers; assigned and edited articles.
1989
-90Director, Denver Commission for People with Disabilities. Advised the Mayor on
disability issues; administered grants; did community education and advocacy; gave
technical assistance to city agencies; administered programs and projects to increase
access and opportunities for citizens with disabilities.
1989 Accessible Housing Specialist, Denver Commission for People with Disabilities.
Designed and implemented programs to locate accessible housing; to educate the public
about accessible housing and Fair Housing laws; to advocate for more accessible housing;
and to provide technical assistance to housing agencies, developers, landlords, and
tenants.
1985
-87Home Health Program Coordinator, H.A.I.L., Inc. Developed programs to support
disabled individuals in managing services; did advocacy around support services and civil
rights; supervised home care workers.
Advocacy/Volunteer Work
2003
-04Co-Producer, Disabled Women s Section, Feminist International Radio Endeavor
(FIRE). Produce, collect and organize audio and text content for Internet-based broadcast
project at http://www.fire.or.cr/disabilities/notas/dis-home.htm covering disabled women s
issues and activism.
2003
-04Outreach Assistant, Denver Film Society. Helped develop database of community
organizations.
2002 Co-organizer, Queer Disability Conference, the first-ever national gathering of
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and intersexed people and their allies. Worked on
fundraising, publicity and promotion; oversaw registration; helped coordinate housing and
logistics.
2001 Website Owner/Editor, PushTheSystem.com. Created multi-functional website to support
consumers management and self-advocacy related to employment and benefits.
1998
-Present Board Member/Activist, Not Dead Yet, national grassroots organization
opposed to medical discrimination and assisted suicide. Play active leadership role in
preparing and presenting educational sessions; advising organizational leadership on
policy and strategy; participating in media campaigns; organizing demonstrations,
including action at the White House to protest starvation of a Florida disabled woman.
2000 Panel Reviewer, Health Care Financing Administration. Evaluated competitive grant
proposals under the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999.
1999 Panel Reviewer, U.S. Department of Education. Evaluated discretionary grant
proposals for recreation programs for people with disabilities.
1998
-2000Board Member, PEAK Parent Center.
1998 Co-organizer, Claiming Our Bodies Conference for disabled women. Helped develop
agenda, recruit speakers, coordinate publicity, and manage logistics.
1997 Co-organizer, Changing Borders Conference for disabled women.Helped develop agenda,
recruit speakers, coordinate publicity, and manage logistics.
1997 Organizer, PASS Participants' Rights Campaign, a grassroots movement of disabled
people whose dreams had been thwarted by the Social Security Administration's policies and
procedures regarding work rules. Recruited participants; coordinated and led protests;
developed press releases; held news conferences; negotiated with SSA officials;
participated in meetings and public forums. As a result of this strong and vocal
grassroots movement, SSA was forced to issue new, more user-friendly rules.
1997 Panel Reviewer, U.S. Department of Education. Evaluated discretionary grant
proposals for recreation programs for people with disabilities.
1996 Panel Reviewer, U.S. Department of Education. Evaluated competitive grant proposals
for independent living programs for people with disabilities.
1996 Judge, New Mobility s Disability Film Festival.
1995
Active participant in the Non-Governmental Organizations Forum on Women, Beijing,
China.
1993 Panel Reviewer, U.S. Department of Education
. Evaluated competitive grant proposals
for demonstration projects to increase client choice in independent living programs.
1991
-2003 Ongoing leadership in organizing annual protests against the Jerry Lewis
Telethon, which presents negative stereotypes of disabled people to raise money for the
Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Developed press releases, flyers and posters; held
news conferences; coordinated recruitment and logistics for demonstrations; and launched
successful 2001 cyber-protest of Jerry Lewis' remark - You're a cripple in a wheelchair
and don't want pity Stay in your house! (See
www.cripcommentary.com/LewisVsDisabilityRights.html . After receiving hundreds of letters,
MDA rebuked Lewis and issued an apology.)
1990
-Present Member, Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition. Participated in and helped
organize community meetings and actions; testified at the state legislature; took active
leadership role in advocating for consumer-controlled attendant services under
Medicaid/Medicare; coordinated activist responses to businesses violating the Americans
with Disabilities Act.
1989
-91Board Member, Denver Center for Independent Living. Served one term as board
president.
1985 Active participant in the Non-Governmental Organizations Forum on Women, Nairobi,
Kenya.
1985 Co-Founder, Domestic Violence Initiative for Women with Disabilities.
1984 Co-Founder, Handicapped Organized Women, Denver chapter.
Published Writings
Books, Anthologies, Encyclopedias
Overseas Living Strategies for People with Disabilities. Eugene, OR: Mobility
International USA, 2005.
Personal Care Workers and Self-Sufficiency, in Encyclopedia of Disability, Sage
Publications, 2005.
Rights, Realities, and Issues of Women with Disabilities, in Sisterhood Is Forever: The
Women's Anthology for a New Millennium, edited by Robin Morgan. New York: Washington
Square Press, 2003.
Disability, Disabled People, and Disability Movements, in Encyclopedia of Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, and Transgender History in America, Charles Scribner s Sons, 2003.
Women with Disabilities: Health, Reproduction, and Sexuality, in International
Encyclopedia of Women: Global Women's Issues and Knowledge, 4 volumes. London: Routledge
Press, 2000.
Magazines, Journals, Periodicals
Disabled Women Organized Worldwide and Caregiver Advocates Miss the Point, off our
backs, January 2003.
International Leadership Forum for Women with Disabilities, New Mobility, December
1997.
Beyond Barriers: Disabled Women's Organizing at the NGO Forum on Women, Women's Studies
Quarterly, July 1996.
China Diary: My Trip to Beijing for the NGO Forum on Women, New Mobility, January 1996.
The Disabled Left Challenges from a Disability Rights Activist, RESIST Newsletter,
September 1996.
False Advertising, Ms. magazine, March 1995.
Choosing Disability, Ms. magazine, July 1994.
PASS Hits a Wall, New Mobility, April 1998.
Supreme Indecision, POZ, January 1998.
"Exit the Nursing Home," Progressive, August 1992.
Monthly opinion/editorial column focusing on disability-rights issues, Denver Post,
December 1991
through March 1995.
Webzines
Ongoing, Crip Commentary, web column discussing disability-rights issues, at
http://www.cripcommentary.com
"Killed by Prejudice," thenation.com, April 14, 2005.
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20050502/hershey
An Interview with Dr. Anita Ghai, One of India's Advocates for Rights of Disabled
Women, DisabilityWorld.com.com, Sept./Oct. 2001. http://www.DisabilityWorld.com.org/09-
10_01/women/ghai.shtml
Tanzania: Researcher Explores Lives of Disabled Women & Girls, DisabilityWorld.com.com,
Sept./Oct. 2001. http://www.DisabilityWorld.com.org/09-10_01/women/tanzania.shtml
Politics, Poetry & Performance: Trinidad's Disabled Women Organize & Educate,
DisabilityWorld.com.com, Sept./Oct. 2001.
http://www.DisabilityWorld.com.org/09-10_01/women/trinidad.shtml
Interview with Tia Nelis: U.S. Self-Advocacy Leader, DisabilityWorld.com.com, May/June,
2001. http://www.DisabilityWorld.com.org/05-06_01/il/nelisinterview.shtml
http://www.DisabilityWorld.com.org/09-10_01/women/trinidad.shtml
Interview with Tia Nelis: U.S. Self-Advocacy Leader, DisabilityWorld.com.com, May/June,
2001. http://www.DisabilityWorld.com.org/05-06_01/il/nelisinterview.shtml
Papers and Reports
The Effectiveness of Assistive Technology in Accessing Health, Wellness, and Medical
Care: What We Know Now, an issue paper for the California Foundation for Independent
Living Centers. Report online at http://www.atnet.org/CR4AT/PositionPapers/Health.html
Trainings and Presentations
5/21
-23/04 Getting Proud by Practicing, facilitated weekend retreat for disability
activists and allies, The Leaven Center, Lyons, MI.
4/14/04 Media and Disability Issues guest lecture, Culture, Gender and Global
Communication class, University of Denver, Denver, CO.
3/31/04
Disabled Women s Activism speech, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
3/30/04
Medical Discrimination and Assisted Suicide speech, University of Denver Law
School, Denver, CO.
3/24/04
Disabled Women s Activism speech, Auraria Campus, Denver, CO.
3/23/04
Disabled Women s Activism speech, US Department of Agriculture National
Information Technology Center, Fort Collins, CO.
2/19/04
Ethics and Alternative Media panel, University of Denver School of
Communications Summit, Denver, CO.
10/23/03
Empowerment and Advocacy presentation, Ninth International Noninvasive
Ventilation Conference: From ICU to Home, Orlando, FL.
10/18/03 Caregiving Issues workshop and Dykes, Disabilities and Discrimination panel,
NOW/AAPD Women with Disabilities and Allies Forum, Bethesda, MD.
9/23/03
Activism and Leadership workshop, CO Developmental Disabilities Planning
Council retreat, Denver, CO.
8
9/03 Solidarity Not Charity: Organizing for Disability Rights and Queer Liberation
presentation, Communities Against Rape and Abuse, Seattle, WA.
6/18
-22/03 Solidarity Not Charity: Organizing for Disability Rights and Queer
Liberation workshop, LadyFest Out West,
Denver, CO.
3/29/03
Defending Disability Rights: Olmsted and the Fight for In-Home Care panel,
National Lawyers Guild Southwest Regional Conference, Boulder, CO.
2/20/03
Alternative Media panel, University of Denver, Denver CO.
3/03
Rights for the Disabled speech, PFLAG s March meeting, Denver, CO.
1/21
-23/03 Community Organizing for Disability Rights training, California Foundation
for Independent Living Centers, Sacramento and Garden Grove, CA.
11/26/02 Guest lecture, Disabilties in Contemporary American Society class, University of
Colorado, Boulder, CO.
11/6/02 Guest lecture, Disability Studies class, University of Victoria (by phone).
4/8/02 Guest lecture, Culture, Gender & Global Communication class,
University of Denver,
Denver, CO.
3/12/02
The Evolution of the ADA, Work Incentives and Workforce panel, 2002 National
Workforce Inclusion Conference, Los Angeles, CA.
2/11/02
Work Incentives and PushTheSystem.com training, The Legal Center, Denver, CO.
12/11/02 Guest lecture, Disabilties in Contemporary American Society class, University of
Colorado, Boulder, CO.
10/31/01 Alternative Media panel,
University of Denver, Denver, CO.
10/4/01 You Get Proud by Practicing presentation, Creating Community statewide
conference, Colorado Springs, CO.
9/6/01
Keynote speech, Smart, Sexy, Healthy conference, Banff New Media Institute,
Alberta, Canada.
8/22/01 Disability Culture presentation, VSA Accessibility Conference, Arvada, CO.
6/11/01 Consumer Perspectives panel, National Conference on Consumer-Directed Services,
Washington, DC.
5/3/01
Political Activism and Agendas for Social Change presentation, Culture, Gender &
Global Communication course, University of Denver, Denver, CO.
6/00
Not Dead Yet and Community Organizing workshops, Partners in Leadership, Denver,
CO.
5/1/00
What s Your Story Defining Ourselves, Naming and Changing Our World keynote
speech, Syracuse University Facilitated Communication Institute Annual Conference,
Syracuse, NY.
3/1/00 Disability Awareness training, Colorado Assistive Technology Project,
Denver,
CO.
2/28/00
Women s Health panel, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.
2/21/00
Not Dead Yet panel, Channel 58, Denver Community Television, Denver, CO.
2/14/00
Not Dead Yet presentation, Partners in Policymaking, Denver, CO.
1/7/00
Not Dead Yet training, Denver Center for Independent Living, Denver, CO.
1/5/00 Work Incentives Improvement Act training, Colorado Bar Association s Disability
Law Committee, Denver, CO.
12/10/99
Political Activism presentation, Culture, Gender & Global Communication
class,
University of Denver, Denver, CO.
10/17/99
Disability Rights Issues presentation, Washington Park United Church Of
Christ, Denver, CO.
7/99
Sex, Desire and Ability workshop, Lesbian Community Project, Portland, OR.
6/28
-30/99 Consumer Empowerment In Service Delivery keynote address and workshop, 13th
Annual Oregon Inservice on Developmental Disabilities, Corvallis, OR.
6
23/99Guest lecture, Marguerite Brodie Memorial Lecture, Portland, OR.
6/19
-20/99Keynote speech, 24th Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Trans Pride Celebrations, Portland, OR.
5/13/99
Guest lecture, Ethics class, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
.
5/7/99
Women s Political Activism presentation, Culture, Gender & Global Communication
class,
University of Denver, Denver, CO.
2/6/99
Clarifying the Roles of Self-Advocates, Parents and Allies in the Public Policy
Arena presentation, Partners in Policymaking,
Denver, CO.
1/8
-9/99Community Organizing workshop, Partners in Leadership, Denver, CO.
12/4/98
The Disappeared keynote speech, TASH Conference, Seattle, WA.
8/1
-2/98 Community Organizing two-day training, Western States Community Strategic
Training Initiative, Portland, OR.
5/9/98
History of the Independent Living Movement presentation, Partners in Leadership,
Denver, CO.
3/19/98
Ethics: The Experience of Patients panel, University Of Colorado Health
Sciences Center, Denver, CO.
2/7/98
Self-Advocacy and History of the Independent Living Movement presentations,
Missouri Partners in Policymaking, Jefferson City, MO.
1/30/98
Community Organizing presentation, Partners in Leadership, Denver, CO.
10/17/97
Physician Assisted Suicide: Many Issues, Many Voices panel discussion,
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO.
9/24/97
Self-Employment as a Vocational Goal Training panel, CO Division of Vocational
Rehabilitation Conference, Breckenridge, CO.
3/97
Disability Culture presentation, Partners in Leadership, Denver, CO.
2
26/97Speech, Annual All School Career Day, West High School, Denver, CO.
11
7/96Disabled Women s International Symposium and NGO Forum in Beijing, China
presentation,
Ralph Waldo Emerson Center Gathering, Denver, CO.
10/7/96
Sexism, Racism and Classism in the Media panel, Women and Communication
conference,
University of Denver, Denver, CO.
7/27/96 Keynote address, Colorado Progressive Coalition s First Organizing Conference,
Greeley, CO.
6/14/96 Leadership Development Strategies for Women with Disabilities Presentation,
Conference of the Society of Disability Studies, Oakland, CA.
3/25/96
Women with Disabilities: Beijing and Beyond presentation, Ms. Foundation for
Women, New York City, New York
.
3/18/96
Disabled Women s International Symposium and NGO Forum in Beijing, China
presentation, First Annual Disability Culture Forum, Boulder, CO.
2/19/96 Adapting to Disability: How to be Your Own Advocate for Choice and Independence
workshop, South Carolina Independent Living Council and The Disability Action Center,
Charleston, SC.
2/17/96 Building Alliances Among Diverse Communities workshop, Fifth Annual Lesbian,
Gay and Bisexual College Conference of the Southeastern US, Tuscaloosa, AL.
2/16/96 Voices of Diversity: Living Out in the South keynote address, Fifth Annual
Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual College Conference of the Southeastern US,
Tuscaloosa, AL.
12
8/95Presentation, Cherry Creek High School Human Rights Awareness Day, Greenwood
Village, CO.
11
29/95Panel, Beijing and Beyond: Colorado Perspectives on the Global Woman
conference, Denver, CO.
11/6/95
Connecting Across Barriers at Beijing presentation and discussion, American
Friends Service Committee, Denver, CO.
11/4/95
What Really Happened Another View: UN Fourth World Conference on Women Beijing,
1995
" presentation, US-China Peoples Friendship Association, Aurora, CO.
9/93
Panel, Interfaith Conference on Children Who Have Special Needs in Religious School
Settings, Denver, CO.
5/20
-21/93 Violence Against Women with Disabilities presentation, Relationship Violence
in Oppressed Populations Conference, Denver, CO.
10/11/90
Recruiting and Employing People with Disabilities presentation, ColoradoPublic Personnel Association, Denver, CO.
5/4/90 Panel, Consumer Responsiveness Session sponsored by RESNA Technical Assistance
Project, Washington D.C.
4/12/90 Guest lecture, Curriculum Planning for Students with Special Education Needs,
University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
3/15/90 Disability Rights presentation, Affirmative Action Committee meeting, Aurora,
CO.
2/26/90 What Is Attitudinal Accessibility The Unseen Barriers, How to Recognize Them,
and What to Do About Them
speech, Denver Center for Independent Living, Denver, CO.
1/25
-26/90 From Service to Empowerment: Roles and Responsibilities of Provider and
Consumer presentation, Colorado Interagency Conference, Colorado Springs, CO.
10/24/89 Speech, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development s commemoration of
National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Denver, CO.
10/89 Speech, First Annual Symposium on Accessibility and Outdoor Recreation,
Denver, CO.
9/23/89
Power in the Independent Living Center keynote speech, Colorado State-Wide
Conference on Independent Living, Greeley, CO.
9/13
-15/89 Disability Awareness speech/panel, Association of HUD Management Agents
Seventh Annual Seminar and Trade Show, Denver, CO.
8
29/89Guest appearance, Gary Tessler Show on KBX 710, Denver, CO.
6/20/89
History of the Independent Living Movement presentation, University of Colorado
Health Services Center, Denver, CO.
6/8/89 Training, AARP s Guardianship Program Training,
Denver, CO.
5/24/89
Training, City and County of Denver s Police Recruit Training, Denver, CO.
4/29/89 Training, ESP s Disability Awareness Training Program,
Denver, CO.
3/29/89
Guest lecture, Curriculum Planning for Students with Special Education Needs,
University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.
Art Exhibits
2004 Two visual art pieces, VSA International Arts Festival. Washington, D.C.
2004 Three visual art pieces, Welcome to Summer exhibit, VSA Access Gallery, Denver,
CO.
2003 Two visual art pieces, Welcome to the Machine: Computer Generated Art exhibit, VSA
Access Gallery, Denver, CO.
1998
Two visual art pieces, Disability: Reclaiming Self Through Art exhibit, Arvada
Center for the Arts and Humanities, Arvada, CO; Smokebrush Center for Arts and Theater,
Colorado Springs, CO; and University of Southern Colorado Fine Art Gallery, Pueblo, CO.
Education and Awards
10/99
Extraordinary Woman Award from the Colorado Domestic Violence Initiative.
6/98 President s Award from President Clinton and the President s Committee on Employment
of People with Disabilities.
9/97 Kathy Vincent Leadership Award from the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition.
11/96 EDI Award in Print Journalism from National Easter Seals Society for article China
Diary (see above).
6/95 Other Voices seminar. Selected for two-week-long workshop to create a full-length
playscript.
6/95, 6/93, 7/92 Flight of the Mind. Selected to study poetry, journalism, & memoir at
week-long workshops.
5/93 Women on the Move award from the League of Women Voters of Denver.
9/92 Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Colorado College. Recognized for published
writing and advocacy.
5/89 Outstanding Disabled Professional Woman national runner-up, Pilot Club
International.
7/83
-4/84 Thomas J. Watson Fellowship. Awarded grant to research England's disability
rights movement.
5/83
Bachelor of Arts in History, Colorado College. Graduated cum laude, Colorado
College. Named Phi Beta Kappa and Outstanding History graduate. Extracurricular activities
included editing campus newspaper.
** References and writing samples available upon request
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