Upcoming Events
Disability Dialogues: Elucidating Lived Healthcare Experiences Using Qualitative and Community Engaged Research Approaches
November 12th from 12:00 - 1:00 pm EST
Join the third and final talk in a series of three free virtual seminars hosted by the UMSOM Center for Disability Justice(CDJ) to hear from Dr. Jasmine Cooper, the Director of qualitative research for the PATIENTS Program in the School of Pharmacy. Dr.Cooper is the Community Engagement Core Lead for the CDJ and will present on community-engaged research that emphasizes the value of lived experience.
This seminar will be held via Zoom. Please register to attend.
Disability Dialogues: Strategies for Improving Nutrition Among Individuals Living with a Disability
October 16th from 11:00 - 12:30 pm EST
Join the second in a series of three free seminars hosted by the Center for Disability Justice(CDJ) to hear from Dr. Elizabeth Dennis, an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science in the School of Medicine. Dr. Dennis is the Disability Research Education and Training Core Lead for the CDJ and will present on strategies for improving nutrition for individuals living with a disability.
This seminar will be held via Zoom. Please register to attend.
CDJ Lunch and Learn: Memory Cafes
October 9th from 12:00 - 1:00 pm EST
Memory Cafes are social gatherings for individuals experiencing changes in their memory or cognitive function, as well as the caregivers who support them. How can clinicians, social workers, caregivers, and community members support, promote, and utilize this service? How can these same communities improve the care they provide to their patients, clients, loved ones, and neighbors experiencing dementia?
Join us on October 9th to hear from Ilene Rosenthal, the Program Director for Alzheimer's Association Greater Maryland Chapter, and Matthew Ruth, who organizes the Baltimore County Memory Cafe.
Please register for this free online event.
Disability Dialogues: Genetic, Epigenetic, and Environmental Influences on Central Nervous System Resilience and Recovery
September 18th from 12:00 - 1:00 pm EST
Join the first in a series of three free online seminars hosted by the Center for Disability Justice(CDJ) to hear from Dr. Robynne Braun, an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology in the School of Medicine. Dr. Braun is the Translational Research Core Lead for the CDJ and will present on factors influencing the central nervous system's resilience and recovery.
This seminar will be held via Zoom. Please register to attend.
Accessible Yoga
September 5th, 12th, and 26th from 6:30 - 7:30 pm EST
The Center for Disability Justice is partnering with the UMB Office of Community and Civic Engagement and Dee Satterfield with Blissful Body Yoga to offer three chair yoga classes this September! Dee is a local yoga teacher dedicated to creating safe and inclusive spaces where individuals in Baltimore City and the DMV can breathe, meditate, and reconnect with themselves. She regularly teaches accessible yoga classes at the League for People with Disabilities and beginner vinyasa yoga classes around Baltimore city.
Join us and try chair yoga with Dee! All materials will be provided.
To attend, please register for this class. If you need assistance with signing up for a CommunityPass account or registering for a class, please email community@umaryland.edu or call 410-706-5522.
Past Events
CDJ Networking Hour
Thank you to everyone who came out to our Networking Hour! It was great to connect with you to enjoy some food and great conversation.
If you're interested in affiliating with our Center as a faculty or research trainee, please complete this short survey to submit your information.
Didn't get a chance to attend, but still want to connect? Please reach out to Lily Robin Stevens at li.stevens@som.umaryland.edu.
July 2025 Community Advisory Board(CAB) Meeting
On July 22nd our Community Advisory Board convened and had rich conversations around Medicaid, neighborhood impact on home rehabilitation outcomes, and the development of the Center’s pilot grant funding for researchers that will become available in the fall of 2025. Thank you to Brian Gutierrez and Dr. Lindsey Mathis for sharing their work at this meeting!
CDJ Workshops for Research and Mentoring Program (RAMP) Students
The CDJ team facilitated two workshops for students in the RAMP program on July 17th and 18th. These workshops explored themes around disability, rehabilitation, and community engagement in research. In one activity, we got to expose the students firsthand to how inaccessible urban environments can be for those with mobility disability and discuss clinical and advocacy opportunities to help improve community access.
In the other workshop students got to meet with members of our Community Advisory Board to learn about careers related to supporting older adults and the role of community in research. Special thanks to two of our CAB members, Wilistine Dargan and Michelle Zarren, for joining us!
Dance Performance Screening
On Tuesday May 6th we held an in-person screening of “Intersections V4” a performance of dance, movement, and storytelling that honored BIPOC and deaf/disabled artists and activists from Abilities Dance Boston. The performance company was founded in 2017 in response to the lack of professional opportunities in the greater Boston area for dancers with disabilities. Their Executive Director, Founder, and Artistic Director, Ellice Patterson, was a guest speaker for one of our lunch-and-learns earlier this year. Attendees enjoyed popcorn, movie snacks, and rich discussion during the intermission!
April 2025 Community Advisory Board (CAB) Meeting
On April 22nd the Center for Disability Justice CAB convened to share updates with each other. Hillary Edwards joined and presented about the PATIENTS Professors Academy, we discussed workshop opportunities for the CAB, and Gretchen Tucker led a group discussion on her caregiving research. As always, our CAB members provided us with invaluable feedback!
CDJ Lunch and Learn: TALMAR
It was great to see everyone on April 17th and learn from Dr. Rachel Strodel, the volunteer coordinator at TALMAR. TALMAR is a local nonprofit farm focused on creating accessible, therapeutic opportunities for people to engage with agriculture. During the presentation Dr. Strodel shared this video which highlights stroke rehabilitation and adaptive gardening tools. TALMAR welcomes volunteers on their farm! If you are interested in volunteering, please email: volunteering@talmar.org
CDJ Lunch and Learn: Fidos for Freedom
The Center for Disability Justice hosted our second Lunch and Learn on March 25th with Diane Bernier, the Executive Director of Fidos for Freedom an organization that trains hearing dogs, service dogs, combat-related PTSD dogs, and therapy dogs. Attendees learned about the role of service dogs in supporting individuals, the legal landscape around service dogs, and opportunities to volunteer with service dogs in training. Diane’s service dog Noah was also in attendance and shared his business card with us!
CDJ Lunch and Learn: Abilities Dance Boston
Thank you to everyone who joined us on February 18th to hear from Ellice Patterson, the Founder of Abilities Dance Boston. Ellice founded Abilities Dance Boston in 2017 in response to the lack of professional opportunities she encountered in the greater Boston area for dancers with disabilities. Today she serves as both the Artistic and Executive Director for the organization. In her Lunch and Learn Ellice engaged in a dialogue with attendees about disability justice, cultural competency, the role of Physical Therapists in supporting participation in valued life activities.
2025 Diversity Dinner and Celebration: Shaping Inclusive Excellence in Medicine
Members from the Center for Disability Justice team attended the UMB Diversity Dinner and Celebration, a prestigious event dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the rich tapestry of diversity within the University of Maryland School of Medicine. This event reaffirmed our team’s commitment to ensuring that everyone has equal access to their communities without limitations.
It was great to have our research team and community partners together including (from left to right) Jasmine K. Cooper, PhD, Lindsey Mathis, PT, Lily Robin Stevens, MPH, Morgan Fique, BS, Joseph Holmes, PT, DPT, and Jason R. Falvey, PT, DPT, PhD.
January 2025 Community Advisory Board (CAB) Meeting
On January 29th the Center for Disability Justice team, including the Core leads, affiliated trainees and staff, met with the CAB to discuss the Center promotional materials, the community mobility research, CAB member advocacy efforts, and training opportunities.
As a result of this meeting important changes have been made to the Community Mobility Intervention Screener and a list of training topics for CAB members has been generated.
November 2024 Community Advisory Board (CAB) Meeting
The Center for Disability Justice team held their inaugural CAB meeting on November 4th, 2024. At the hybrid meeting members joined to get to know each other, revise the mission for the Center, and provide feedback on proposed research for the ENRICH lab. A total of 15 people were at the meeting, representing researchers, staff, people living with disabilities, community champions, advocates, physical therapists, home modification specialists, and more.
Community Health Fair: Fall Risk Screening
The Center for Disability Justice team members Jason Falvey, PT, DPT, PhD, and Lindsey Mathis, PT, DPT, along with four second-year DPT students conducted fall risk screenings at the PATIENTS Day Community Health Fair. These screenings assessed balance, gait speed and lower extremity strength. After each screening community members were given guidance on mobility device use and sent home with information sheets on fall prevention strategies.
PATIENTS Day
PATIENTS Day, the pinnacle event of the PATIENTS Program at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, invited researchers to present their work to community members, students, and staff. The Center for Disability Justice Team including Jason Falvey, Lindsey Mathis, Morgan Fique, and Joe Holmes presented a research proposal for a pilot trial about community mobility. Community members shared feedback on beneficial strategies for helping individuals reintegrate in their communities following an injury. This feedback has since been incorporated into the intervention protocol.
West Baltimore Community Champions Meeting
The ENRICH study team, including Jason Falvey, Lindsey Mathis, Morgan Fique, and Joe Holmes met with Mr. Calvin Booth, a community champion, to discuss proposed research. Mr. Booth has personal experience of recovering from lower limb injuries, is actively involved in his community, and has expertise as a peer mentor. As a result of this meeting Mr. Booth joined the ENRICH study team as a patient representative and Community Champion.