Meet The Team
Stephanie Woodward (she/her)
Executive Director
An attorney, activist, and organizer, Stephanie is passionate about Disability Rights and empowering people with disabilities. Stephanie has litigated and worked for two U.S. Senators . As a proud disabled woman, Stephanie credits her success to mentoring she received from member of the Disability Community starting in her early twenties and is committed to helping even more girls and young women with disabilities through mentoring.
Sophie Poost (she/her)
Director of Programs
Sophie is a disabled bisexual woman who loves to create spaces where disabled women and girls have the opportunity and support to embrace their leadership potential and follow their passions. Throughout her career she’s been committed to the Disability Community, specifically helping youth and disabled people find their voices. Most recently, Sophie worked at the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) as the Summer Internship Program Coordinator. Previously, Sophie worked in the Office of Student Life at Mars Hill University in rural North Carolina and before that as a Systems Advocate at a disability rights organization. Sophie has long been supported by incredible mentors and supportive communities and she hopes to pay it forward by helping other disabled women see their full worth.
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Lilian Aluri (she/her)
Camp Director
Lilian is a creative and multi-racial disabled artist and advocate, who dreams of radical change towards a more just and kind world in her lifetime. She has a long history with disability and youth mentorship, having mental illnesses herself, being the older sibling of a young man with Down syndrome, and spending her college years as a camp counselor and mentor for youth in South Los Angeles. In 2020, Lilian received her Master of Public Administration from New York University. Most recently, Lilian served as the Civic Engagement Manager at the American Association of People with Disabilities. Her current role as Camp Coordinator with Disability EmpowHer Network brings together her passion and skills for youth mentorship and disability advocacy.
Lavender Nestrick (she/her)
Transitions Coordinator
Lavender is a proud disabled, Neurodivergent, Queer, and Gender-Nonconfirming person. She received her Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh in 2021 and has previously worked in the nonprofit sector helping to create opportunities and safe spaces for trans- and gender-nonconforming children and teenagers. She started embracing her disabled identity in her late teenage years when she met a friend who was very passionate about disability advocacy and who introduced her to a member of Disability EmpowHer Network. With a lifelong experience of disability but previously no one who understood, she discovered the power of community and support amongst others who identify as disabled, which has profoundly shaped her life. Passionate about giving back, Lavender is dedicated to providing support and resources to others on their own disability journeys. In both her professional and personal life, she strives to create a welcoming and empowering environment for all, fostering connection and resilience among disabled individuals.
Meet The Board
Kathryn Carroll (she/her)
Board Chair
Kathryn is a lawyer who has a history of working to advance disability rights and change public policy to support inclusion and accessibility. She works in aging services and volunteers in numerous capacities, including as Vice Chairperson of the State Independent Living Council (NYSILC) and Vice Chairperson of the Accessibility Advisory Committee to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Adirondack Park Agency. She serves as a mentor to a Young Leader graduate of EmpowHer Camp.
Amy Tweedle (she/her)
Vice Chair
Amy began her journey into the world of disability justice as a child of a step-father with a disability. Early on she began noticing the places they could not go as a family because of inaccessibility. Amy began working at her local center for independent living and went to her first national disability civil disobedience event at 19. In her work at the center for independent living, she has held a variety of positions giving her the opportunity to broaden her advocacy skills. After going through a mental health crisis, Amy realized the importance of taking care of your mental health and how many of the preventive mental health services are not available to people with disabilities. Amy went back to school and obtained her certification as a Health and Life Coach and began offering these much-needed services at her center. Amy is excited about the opportunity to use her skills and life experiences to help other young women with disabilities.
Katie Shelley (she/her)
Board Member
Katie Shelley serves as the Conda Family Manager of Access Initiatives at the Toledo Museum of Art. Originally from the Detroit area, Katie is now a proud Toledoan, but will always remain a Michigander at heart. Katie received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Western Michigan University, a Master of Library Science degree from Wayne State University, and a Master of Liberal Studies degree with a focus on Disability Studies from the University of Toledo. Katie is honored to be a Board Member of Disability EmpowHer Network, a natural next step after participating in almost every program DEN has to offer -- from EmpowHer Expressions to being an EmpowHer Camp mentor for the EmpowHer Class of 2024. Additionally, Katie is a member of the Ohio Statewide Independent Living Council, and most importantly, is mom to Petunia, her service dog.
Abby Ritter (she/they)
Board Member
Abby Ritter is a Disabled music therapist and activist from Worcester, MA. They completed both Bachelor’s and their Master’s degrees from Nazareth College in Rochester, NY, and have a passion for working in and with the Disability community. She is the Youth Advisory Specialist at the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living, or APRIL. APRIL is a national grassroots, nonprofit membership organization consisting of over 260 members from center for independent living, their satellites and branch offices, statewide independent living councils, other organizations and individuals concerned with the independent living issues of people with disabilities living in rural America. Outside of their work with APRIL, Abby has been both a mentor and an ally with Disability EmpowHer Network's EmpowHer Camp program.