Washington, D.C. — The Center for American Progress welcomes Rebecca Cokley as a senior fellow focusing on disability policy. Most recently, Cokley served as the executive director of the National Council on Disability, an independent agency charged with advising Congress and the White House on issues of national disability public policy. Previously, Cokley served in the Obama administration for four years, including at the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as at the White House, where she oversaw diversity and inclusion efforts.
“Rebecca is hands-down one of the most effective leaders within the disability community,” said Neera Tanden, CAP president and CEO. “We are thrilled to welcome her to the Center for American Progress.”
“For too long, disability has lived in a silo, separate and apart from broader conversations about progressive policy. With Rebecca on board, CAP is excited to further grow our disability policy work and bring inclusive policies to the forefront of the progressive agenda,” said Rebecca Vallas, managing director of CAP’s Poverty to Prosperity Program.
Cokley got her feet wet in advocacy while working at the Institute for Educational Leadership, where she built a number of tools and resources designed to empower and educate youth with disabilities and their adult allies. Since then, she has spent the last 15 years helping make stronger and deeper connections across civil rights communities and continues to see cross-movement solidarity as the only means of surviving these next four years. She is also currently working on her first book.
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Devon Kearns at [email protected] or 202.741.6290.