[News from Diversability] Tuesday, May 12: Virtual event on learning while laughing
We're opening one of our Diversability Leadership Collective (DLC) events to the broader Diversability community: Using Humor to Unlock Understanding
Newsletter contents:
[Virtual] We’re opening up one of our Diversability Leadership Collective events: Tuesday, May 12: Learning While Laughing: Using Humor to Unlock Understanding with Danielle Connolly
Nominations are now open for the 7th annual D-30 Disability Impact List through May 19, 2026.
Updates from the Diversability® Leadership Collective.
Other things we wanted to include in this newsletter:
Earn your Be There Certificate to better support the mental health of yourself and others.
Get paid $120/hour for research studies/surveys with Rare Patient Voice.
Take our self-paced online course on disability inclusion geared toward allies, employers, and organizations.
We are excited to open up one of our Diversability Leadership Collective (our members-only space to advance disability leadership, advocacy, and influence) events to the public. All events are free for DLC members to attend.
{Virtual} Tuesday, May 12: Learning While Laughing: Using Humor to Unlock Understanding with Danielle Connolly
Drawing from her own lived experience as a person with a physical disability, Danielle Connolly shares unique situations that she’s encountered and how humor can transform stigma into understanding. Using a mockumentary style inspired by The Office, she has recreated real-life moments on social media to “break the fourth wall” and make complex or uncomfortable topics more accessible while encouraging reflection and self-awareness. This session explores how humor resonates with disabled audiences while inviting non-disabled audiences to examine intent versus impact, embrace accountability, and commit to daily inclusion. Through personal stories and pop culture examples, we unpack common misconceptions, stereotypes, and language, and discuss how small moments can have larger systemic consequences in the workplace, healthcare, and everyday life. Participants will learn how to stop the scroll and capture attention, ease anxiety around conversations about health and disability, and build meaningful connections through the shared power of laughter, demonstrating how humor can become a powerful tool for education, inclusion, and change.
Danielle Connolly is a disability advocate, content creator, speaker, and business and marketing professional. Born with a rare, still-undiagnosed muscle disease, Danielle has navigated unique life experiences that have shaped her passions and purpose. She shares her perspective through Daniellevates - a platform dedicated to elevating conversations about disability, rare disease, and chronic illness with a mix of humor, storytelling, education, and real-life adventures.
When: Tuesday, May 12 | 6:00PM ET / 3:00PM PT
Where: A Zoom link will be emailed to you 10 mins before the event begins.
This event will also be recorded and the recording will be shared with registered attendees after the event.
Tickets: FREE for Diversability Leadership Collective members, sliding scale tickets for non-members
Nominations are now open for the 2026 D-30 Disability Impact List (deadline May 19, 2026)
Nominations are now open for our 7th annual D-30 Disability Impact List, the global list honoring 30 disabled leaders in the community who are making a difference!
Anyone who identifies as disabled (including chronic illnesses and mental health conditions) is eligible to be nominated, and nominators do not need to identify as disabled. To celebrate the spirit of community and interdependence, self-nominations are not accepted.
Nominations close on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
Nominate a disabled leader at http://mydiversability.com/d30.
Updates from the Diversability Leadership Collective (DLC)
Since launching in 2021, our members have made over $37k in opportunities shared through the DLC!
The Diversability® Leadership Collective (DLC) is our members-only space to advance disability leadership, influence, and advocacy. Join over 170+ members for curated paid & visibility opportunities, members-only events, and community.
Our Facebook Group (7,400+ members) will continue to be a free, loosely moderated space for peer support, resources, and community.
Member Updates:
Alvaro Silberstein spoke on a panel at the MMGY Global Mojo Summit.
Catarina Rivera was quoted in The New York Times.
Neil Hughes was showcased on Great Day Houston.
Jennifer Gasner wrote a blog post about using AI as assistive technology.
Abbie Hills is screening a short film she produced at Cannes.
Sarah Todd Hammer received the Spangenberg-Chappell Memorial Award.
Preorder Tiffany Yu’s The Anti-Ableist Manifesto in paperback, available October 13, 2026.
Recent opportunities curated for DLC members:
Apply for a women’s leadership program.
Sign up to present at a convention.
Apply for a residency program exploring the intersection of AI and disability.
Apply for a $60k technology fellowship.
Sign up for a fellowship for artists with disabilities.
Submit your Pride story.
Los Angeles for Mandarin / Cantonese speakers: Earn $5750 for a voiceover AI project.