35 Best Thought Leaders in Disability Service Globally (2026)

Finding the people who are genuinely shaping disability services globally is one of the most important research tasks facing anyone working in this sector in 2026. Whether you lead a disability service organisation, sit on a government advisory panel, organise conferences for the sector, or simply want to understand who is driving the future of disability inclusion, this directory is your starting point.

The global disability landscape has never been more dynamic. The World Health Organisation estimates that 1.3 billion people, roughly 16 per cent of the global population, experience significant disability. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has been ratified by 190 countries. Australia's National Disability Insurance Scheme, the largest disability reform in the country's history, is undergoing its most significant legislative changes since inception. The European Accessibility Act reached its compliance deadline in 2025. And the Global Disability Summit in Berlin in 2025 attracted more than 4,700 participants from over 160 countries and generated 800 new commitments.

Behind every one of these shifts are thought leaders who are pushing the conversation forward. They are the CEOs transforming service delivery models, the advocates ensuring people with disability have a voice in every policy room, the researchers producing evidence that changes clinical and organisational practice, the entrepreneurs building technology that removes barriers, and the corporate inclusion leaders convincing boards that disability confidence is a business imperative.

This directory profiles 35 of the most influential thought leaders in disability service globally in 2026. It spans service delivery leaders, policy architects, rights advocates, corporate inclusion pioneers, accessibility innovators, researchers, and intersectional voices whose work crosses borders and disciplines.

Jonno White, Certified Working Genius Facilitator and bestselling author of Step Up or Step Out with over 10,000 copies sold globally, works with organisations around the world to build high performing leadership teams. While disability service is not Jonno's core specialism, the leadership dynamics that disability service organisations navigate, including trust, communication, team alignment, staff retention, and culture, are universal. Disability service providers, peak bodies, and government agencies consistently tell us that their biggest challenges are not technical. They are leadership challenges. To discuss how Jonno might support your disability service leadership team through a keynote, workshop, or executive team offsite, email jonno@consultclarity.org.

For more on building high performing leadership teams, check out Jonno White's blog post '50 Essential HR Thought Leaders to Follow in 2026' at https://www.consultclarity.org/post/hr-thought-leaders.

How We Built This Directory

This directory was built through a rigorous cross referencing process. We analysed the top ranking competitor articles, extracted names from multiple AI research tools, verified each person's current role and activity through web search, and cross referenced against conference speaker lists, award recipients, peak body leadership teams, and LinkedIn activity. We prioritised thought leaders who meet three criteria. First, they are currently active. Second, their work has genuine global or significant national influence. Third, they are respected by practitioners and people with lived experience.

1. Edward Amey, Jay Nolan Community Services

Edward Amey is the Chief Executive Officer of Jay Nolan Community Services, one of the most pioneering disability service organisations in the United States. Based in Southern California, Jay Nolan Community Services was founded in 1975 by members of the Autism Society of Los Angeles and has spent five decades innovating person centred support for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. In 2025, the organisation celebrated its 50th anniversary, a milestone that reflects both its longevity and its continued relevance in a sector that has undergone enormous transformation.

What makes Edward's leadership particularly significant is the model he champions. Jay Nolan Community Services made history in the 1990s by becoming the first service provider in California to transition individuals from residential group homes into their own individual homes through Supported Living Services. This was not a cosmetic change. It was a fundamental disruption of the institutional model that had dominated disability services for decades. Under Edward's leadership since 2019, the organisation has continued to innovate, expanding its Circle of Support model, opening new offices across California, and building capacity for multilingual and culturally specific services for Spanish speaking, Korean speaking, and Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities.

Edward holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology from UC Santa Barbara and a master's degree in Educational Psychology and Counseling from California State University, Northridge. He also holds a Certificate in Transformational Leadership. Before joining Jay Nolan, he held leadership and program administration roles at the Institute for the Redesign of Learning, Children's Bureau of Southern California, and the California Association of Private Special Education Schools. He brings over 20 years of executive leadership experience in social services and education.

Today, Jay Nolan Community Services has more than 700 staff supporting over 400 individuals across Los Angeles, Ventura, Kern, and Santa Clara Counties. Edward is active on LinkedIn, regularly attends and speaks at industry events including the OPEN MINDS Circle Service Excellence Institute, and is a consistent voice for person centred, community based disability support that prioritises dignity, independence, and genuine inclusion. His leadership of an organisation that has been at the forefront of deinstitutionalisation and community living for half a century makes him one of the most important voices in disability service globally.

Best For: Service delivery innovation, person centred planning, supported living models, autism services, community based disability support, workforce development for neurodiverse individuals.

Website: jaynolan.org

2. Kurt Fearnley, National Disability Insurance Agency

Kurt Fearnley is the Chair of the National Disability Insurance Agency in Australia, the body administering the NDIS, one of the largest disability support schemes in the world. A three time Paralympic gold medallist, Fearnley brings lived experience of disability into the top governance position of an agency supporting over 600,000 Australians. The NDIS is a $44.6 billion programme, and the reforms Fearnley oversees, including new legislation commencing October 2024 and a new framework planning model beginning mid 2026, will reshape disability services in Australia for decades.

Best For: NDIS policy and reform, disability governance, public advocacy, sport and disability leadership.

3. Stephen King, National Disability Services

Stephen King is the CEO of National Disability Services, Australia's peak industry body representing over 1,000 disability service organisations. NDS advocates on workforce challenges, NDIS pricing, provider sustainability, and quality safeguarding. The annual State of the Disability Sector Report is one of the most cited sources on Australian disability provider challenges.

Best For: Disability provider leadership, workforce strategy, NDIS reform advocacy, sector sustainability.

4. Paula Tesoriero, Whaikaha, Ministry of Disabled People

Paula Tesoriero is the Chief Executive of Whaikaha, New Zealand's first dedicated disability ministry established in 2022. Her leadership represents a structural shift from disability being spread across multiple agencies to having a single, accountable ministry. Paula's work on system reform and ensuring disabled people have a voice in policy design positions her as one of the most influential disability service leaders in the Asia Pacific region.

Best For: Government disability policy, system reform, disability ministry leadership, New Zealand services.

5. Mary Sayers, Children and Young People with Disability Australia

Mary Sayers is the CEO of CYDA, the national representative organisation for children and young people with disability and their families. CYDA's advocacy on inclusive education, the NDIS for children, and family support systems has directly influenced national policy discussions. Mary's leadership is particularly important because early intervention and educational experiences shape outcomes for decades.

Best For: Youth disability policy, inclusive education, family systems, NDIS for children.

6. Nawaf Kabbara, International Disability Alliance

Nawaf Kabbara is the President of the International Disability Alliance, the global umbrella organisation representing over one billion people with disabilities. Based in Lebanon, Kabbara leads IDA's engagement with the UN system, government delegations, and organisations of persons with disabilities across every continent. IDA's role in coordinating global advocacy and shaping the Global Disability Summit agenda makes Kabbara one of the most consequential figures in global disability governance.

Best For: Global disability rights, UN advocacy, OPD leadership, international policy coordination.

7. Heba Hagrass, UN Special Rapporteur on Disability Rights

Heba Hagrass is the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, appointed from Egypt. The role carries significant authority to investigate and report on disability rights in any country. Hagrass brings both academic expertise and advocacy experience, and her reports shape international standards and hold governments accountable. Her appointment reflects growing recognition of Global South disability voices.

Best For: International disability law, human rights, government accountability, Global South disability policy.

8. Rosemary Kayess, UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Rosemary Kayess is an Australian human rights lawyer who has served as Vice Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Her research on legal capacity, access to justice, and disability discrimination has influenced the CRPD's implementation globally. She is widely regarded as one of Australia's most important voices on disability and human rights law.

Best For: Human rights law, UN CRPD implementation, legal capacity, disability discrimination.

9. Yannis Vardakastanis, European Disability Forum

Yannis Vardakastanis is the President of the European Disability Forum, defending the interests of over 100 million Europeans with disabilities. He leads EDF's engagement with the European Commission and Parliament on disability strategy, the European Accessibility Act, and the EU Disability Rights Strategy 2021 to 2030. His decades of advocacy have made him one of the most effective disability rights leaders at the EU level.

Best For: European disability policy, EU strategy, political advocacy, accessibility legislation.

10. Maria Town, American Association of People with Disabilities

Maria Town is the President and CEO of AAPD, the largest disability rights organisation in the United States. AAPD leads on research, coalition building, and leadership initiatives aimed at increasing the political and economic power of people with disabilities. Under Maria's leadership, AAPD continues to shape US disability policy, voter engagement, and corporate inclusion strategy.

Best For: US disability rights, public policy, civic inclusion, disability employment.

11. Graeme Innes AM

Graeme Innes AM is one of Australia's most recognised disability advocates. A former Disability Discrimination Commissioner and Human Rights Commissioner, Innes has spent decades shaping Australian disability law and policy. He serves on multiple boards and continues to be a prominent public voice on accessibility, employment, and the rights of people who are blind or have low vision.

Best For: Disability rights law, accessibility, Australian disability policy, public advocacy.

12. Caroline Casey, The Valuable 500

Caroline Casey is the founder of The Valuable 500, a global business collective of 500 CEOs committed to putting disability on their board agendas. The Valuable 500 has fundamentally shifted the corporate conversation on disability inclusion from compliance to C suite strategic priority. Casey's engagement with companies including Unilever, Microsoft, Google, and Accenture makes her one of the most influential figures in business and disability globally.

Best For: Corporate disability inclusion, CEO engagement, business strategy, global inclusion frameworks.

13. Jill Houghton, Disability:IN

Jill Houghton is the President and CEO of Disability:IN, the leading nonprofit for business disability inclusion worldwide. The Disability Equality Index benchmarks corporate practices across hundreds of Fortune 1000 companies. Houghton's Global Conference and Expo is one of the most important gatherings for business leaders working on disability inclusion.

Best For: Business disability inclusion, corporate benchmarking, supplier diversity, disability employment.

14. Dylan Alcott AO, Dylan Alcott Foundation

Dylan Alcott AO is one of Australia's most recognised disability advocates. A former professional wheelchair tennis player with multiple Grand Slam titles, Alcott's Shift 20 Initiative works with employers to increase disability employment. Named Australian of the Year in 2022, his media presence, corporate partnerships, and direct advocacy make him one of the most visible disability leaders in the world.

Best For: Disability employment, corporate inclusion, media advocacy, youth engagement.

15. Diane Lightfoot, Business Disability Forum

Diane Lightfoot is the CEO of the Business Disability Forum, a key UK organisation working with businesses and government to remove barriers to inclusion. BDF's membership includes major employers across banking, retail, and professional services, and its guidance on workplace adjustments and accessible recruitment is widely used across the UK and internationally.

Best For: UK corporate disability practice, workplace adjustments, accessible recruitment.

16. Shani Dhanda

Shani Dhanda is a UK based disability specialist, broadcaster, and corporate strategist who brings an intersectional lens to disability inclusion. As a South Asian woman with a disability, her work addresses the compound barriers at the intersection of disability, race, gender, and culture. She advises global organisations and has been recognised by the Shaw Trust as one of the UK's most influential disabled people.

Best For: Intersectional disability inclusion, corporate strategy, media advocacy.

17. Haben Girma

Haben Girma is a human rights lawyer, author, and speaker who is the first Deafblind graduate of Harvard Law School. Recognised by President Obama, Chancellor Merkel, and Prime Minister Trudeau, her book Haben has become a global reference for disability leadership. She advises technology companies worldwide on building accessible products from the ground up.

Best For: Deafblind accessibility, technology inclusion, disability rights law, public speaking.

18. Maayan Ziv, AccessNow

Maayan Ziv is the founder and CEO of AccessNow, a Canadian technology company that crowdsources accessibility information about physical locations worldwide. The app allows users to rate and share the accessibility status of venues, creating a real time map of accessibility that helps people with mobility disabilities navigate cities.

Best For: Assistive technology, accessible travel, digital accessibility, place based inclusion.

19. Nipun Malhotra, Nipman Foundation

Nipun Malhotra is the founder of the Nipman Foundation in India, focused on accessibility, technology inclusion, and disability entrepreneurship. As one of India's most prominent disability advocates, Malhotra addresses the unique challenges facing disabled people in developing economies where infrastructure and policy lag behind international standards.

Best For: Accessibility in developing economies, technology inclusion, Indian disability advocacy.

20. Victor Pineda, World Enabled

Victor Pineda is the President of World Enabled, working at the intersection of disability rights, urban development, and inclusive cities. The youngest person to participate in drafting the UN CRPD, Pineda has consulted with over 500 organisations on disability friendly policies and inclusive design.

Best For: Inclusive cities, urban accessibility, universal design, disability policy.

21. Alice Wong, Disability Visibility Project

Alice Wong is the founder of the Disability Visibility Project, amplifying disabled voices through storytelling and media. Her book Disability Visibility has become essential reading for anyone in disability services. She was appointed to the National Council on Disability by President Obama and continues to advocate for disability justice and media representation.

Best For: Disability media, storytelling, intersectional advocacy, disability culture.

22. Carly Findlay OAM

Carly Findlay OAM is an Australian author, speaker, and disability advocate recognised with the Medal of the Order of Australia. Living with ichthyosis, her advocacy focuses on appearance diversity, media representation, and challenging stigma. Her book Say Hello has been widely praised for its honest approach to disability awareness.

Best For: Appearance diversity, media representation, disability awareness, Australian advocacy.

23. Emily Ladau

Emily Ladau is an American author and disability rights advocate whose book Demystifying Disability has become one of the most recommended introductory texts on disability allyship. She co hosts The Accessible Stall podcast and writes extensively on ableism and disability culture. Her ability to make disability rights accessible to wide audiences makes her an important gateway voice.

Best For: Disability allyship education, communications, public speaking, disability culture.

24. Tiffany Yu, Diversability

Tiffany Yu is the CEO and Founder of Diversability, an award winning social enterprise elevating disability pride. Author of The Anti Ableist Manifesto, her TED Talk on helping employees with disabilities thrive has over one million views. She serves on the NIH National Advisory Board and was a Co Chair of the World Economic Forum Sustainable Development Impact Summit.

Best For: Anti ableism, community building, corporate inclusion, disability pride.

25. Sophie Morgan, Rights on Flights

Sophie Morgan is a British broadcaster and disability advocate who founded the Rights on Flights campaign, driving significant progress on accessible air travel. Her media profile, including presenting Channel 4's Paralympic coverage, gives her a platform reaching millions. Her advocacy has pushed airlines and airports to improve accessibility practices.

Best For: Accessible travel, media advocacy, disability representation, transport accessibility.

26. Yetnebersh Nigussie, Light for the World

Yetnebersh Nigussie is a Senior Inclusion Advisor based in Ethiopia, one of the most prominent disability rights voices from the African continent. Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and recipient of the Right Livelihood Award, she advocates for inclusive education, gender and disability, and development policy. Her work bridges the Global North and South.

Best For: Inclusive education, disability rights in Africa, gender and disability, development policy.

27. Pratima Gurung, Indigenous Persons with Disabilities Global Network

Pratima Gurung is the President of the National Indigenous Disabled Women Association Nepal and General Secretary of the Indigenous Persons with Disabilities Global Network. Her work at the intersection of indigenous identity, gender, and disability ensures that frameworks account for cultural context rather than assuming Western models.

Best For: Indigenous disability rights, gender and disability, intersectional advocacy, Global South.

28. Rebecca Cokley, Ford Foundation

Rebecca Cokley is a Program Officer for Disability Rights at the Ford Foundation. Having served in the Obama White House as Executive Director of the National Council on Disability, her role influences which disability rights initiatives receive philanthropic funding globally. She is helping shift philanthropic investment toward disability led organisations.

Best For: Disability philanthropy, policy influence, disability justice, funding strategy.

29. Arman Ali, NCPEDP

Arman Ali is the Executive Director of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People in India. NCPEDP works on employment, accessibility, and rights across the world's most populous nation. His advocacy on accessible infrastructure and employment quotas has influenced national policy for over 26 million Indians with disability.

Best For: Disability employment in India, accessibility advocacy, inclusive infrastructure.

30. Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo, World Bank

Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo is the Global Disability Advisor at the World Bank, influencing how disability inclusion is integrated into development finance and infrastructure projects worldwide. Her work ensures disability is a core component of project design, not an afterthought. Her influence on billions in development spending makes her consequential for low and middle income countries.

Best For: Development finance, disability inclusive development, global policy.

31. Paul Harpur, University of Queensland

Paul Harpur is a Professor at the University of Queensland and one of Australia's leading disability law scholars. His research spans disability employment law, inclusive higher education, and policy reform. His publications are widely cited in Australian and international disability policy debates.

Best For: Disability law, higher education inclusion, academic research, Australian policy.

32. El Gibbs

El Gibbs is an Australian disability advocate who has become one of the most important independent voices on NDIS reform. Through public commentary and government inquiry submissions, Gibbs provides analysis that cuts through political messaging to focus on what reform means in practice for people with disability.

Best For: NDIS commentary, disability rights analysis, social policy, independent advocacy.

33. Setareki Macanawai, Pacific Disability Forum

Setareki Macanawai is the CEO of the Pacific Disability Forum, the peak regional body for Pacific Islanders with disabilities. The Pacific faces unique challenges including geographic isolation, climate vulnerability, and limited infrastructure. Macanawai ensures Pacific voices are represented in global forums and that disability inclusive disaster response is on the international agenda.

Best For: Pacific region disability rights, disaster response inclusion, regional policy.

34. Krista Carr, Inclusion Canada

Krista Carr is the CEO of Inclusion Canada, the national peak for people with intellectual disabilities and families. Her work on deinstitutionalisation, inclusive education, and supported decision making ensures the specific needs of people with intellectual disabilities are not lost in broader policy discussions.

Best For: Intellectual disability rights, deinstitutionalisation, inclusive education, Canadian policy.

35. Sinéad Burke, Tilting the Lens

Sinéad Burke is the CEO of Tilting the Lens, working at the intersection of accessibility, fashion, and inclusive design. She has spoken at the World Economic Forum, appeared on the cover of Vogue, and advises global brands on inclusive product design. Her TED Talk on why design should include everyone has been viewed millions of times.

Best For: Inclusive design, fashion accessibility, global advocacy, consumer product inclusion.

Common Mistakes When Engaging Disability Thought Leaders

The first mistake is treating disability thought leadership as a single category. Disability services span policy, service delivery, rights advocacy, corporate inclusion, technology, research, and community organising. Matching the right thought leader to the right audience is essential.

The second mistake is inviting disability thought leaders only during Disability Awareness Month. Tokenistic engagement signals that disability is a one off topic. Integrate disability perspectives into year round programming.

The third mistake is failing to make your own event accessible when inviting a disability thought leader. Physical accessibility, sign language interpretation, captioning, and accessible documents are non negotiable.

The fourth mistake is confusing inspiration with transformation. If the goal is systemic change, you need someone who brings frameworks, data, and implementation strategies, not just motivation.

Jonno White, bestselling author of Step Up or Step Out and Certified Working Genius Facilitator, works with disability service organisations, schools, corporates, and nonprofits to address leadership and team challenges. Whether virtual or face to face, reach out to jonno@consultclarity.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the most influential thought leaders in disability service globally?

The most influential in 2026 include Edward Amey (Jay Nolan Community Services), Kurt Fearnley (NDIA), Caroline Casey (The Valuable 500), Haben Girma, Heba Hagrass (UN Special Rapporteur), and Nawaf Kabbara (International Disability Alliance). This directory profiles 35 leaders across service delivery, policy, corporate inclusion, technology, advocacy, and research.

What are the biggest trends in disability services in 2026?

Key trends include NDIS legislative reform in Australia with a new framework from mid 2026, the European Accessibility Act enforcement, the shift from sheltered workshops to open employment, AI and assistive technology adoption, disability inclusive disaster response, and the corporate accountability movement led by The Valuable 500 and Disability:IN.

Can I hire someone to help my organisation with disability leadership development?

Jonno White, Certified Working Genius Facilitator and bestselling author of Step Up or Step Out, works with disability service organisations to build high performing leadership teams. Email jonno@consultclarity.org to discuss how Jonno might support your team.

Which disability thought leaders are active on LinkedIn?

Most thought leaders in this directory are active on LinkedIn, including Edward Amey, Caroline Casey, Haben Girma, Dylan Alcott, Tiffany Yu, Carly Findlay, Emily Ladau, Shani Dhanda, Nipun Malhotra, and Graeme Innes.

Final Thoughts

The disability services sector is at a defining moment globally. Legislative reform, corporate accountability, technology innovation, and the growing influence of people with lived experience in leadership roles are converging to create a landscape that looks fundamentally different from even five years ago. The 35 thought leaders profiled in this directory are the people driving that change.

Whether you are a disability service provider, government official, corporate leader, or event organiser, this directory gives you a starting point that is more comprehensive and more globally representative than anything else available.

For more on building high performing leadership teams, check out Jonno White's book Step Up or Step Out at https://www.amazon.com.au/Step-Up-Out-Difficult-Conflict/dp/B097X7B5LD

About the Author

Jonno White is a Certified Working Genius Facilitator, bestselling author, and leadership consultant who has worked with schools, corporates, and nonprofits across the UK, India, Australia, Canada, Mongolia, New Zealand, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, USA, Finland, Namibia, and more. His book Step Up or Step Out has sold over 10,000 copies globally, and his podcast The Leadership Conversations has featured 230+ episodes reaching listeners in 150+ countries. Jonno founded The 7 Questions Movement with 6,000+ participating leaders and achieved a 93.75% satisfaction rating for his Working Genius masterclass at the ASBA 2025 National Conference. Based in Brisbane, Australia, Jonno works globally and regularly travels for speaking and facilitation engagements. Organisations consistently find that international travel is far more affordable than expected.

To book Jonno for your next keynote, workshop, or facilitation session, email jonno@consultclarity.org.

While Jonno is included in this article as a complementary leadership resource, readers should note his authorship in the interest of full transparency.

Next Read: 50 Essential HR Thought Leaders to Follow in 2026

The HR profession has changed more in the last three years than it did in the previous thirty. Artificial intelligence is reshaping workforce planning, skills based hiring is replacing degree based sorting, and pay transparency legislation is rewriting how organisations think about compensation. HR leaders are no longer administrative support. They are strategic operators shaping how millions of people experience work every single day.

Keep reading: https://www.consultclarity.org/post/hr-thought-leaders