Advisory Board on Disability
We aim to make Delta the carrier of choice for all customers with disabilities. Our Advisory Board on Disability promotes accessibility for all by providing recommendations to Delta related to customer experiences, training, policies, procedures and anything that impacts people with disabilities when they travel by air. All Advisory Board members are individuals with different disabilities who are Delta frequent flyers.
We’re proud to count the following leaders among the members of our Advisory Board:
Zainab Alkebsi leads Deaf Equality’s strategic policy efforts for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, and Late-Deafened communities, focusing on systemic changes to ensure greater accessibility and equity for the communities it serves. She regularly interfaces with government agencies, Congress, coalitions, and businesses on behalf of Deaf Equality. Zainab holds a B.A. from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (2009) and a J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law (2012). She is admitted to the bar in Maryland and the U.S. Supreme Court. Zainab lives in the Washington D.C. area with her husband, Joe, and their two children.
With over 30 years of experience in Complex Rehabilitation Technology (CRT), Josh Anderson has made significant strides in the field of manual wheelchairs. He began his career as a provider in Miami, Florida, quickly earning a reputation for his innovative approach to fitting clients with high-end manual wheelchairs. Josh emphasizes not only improving performance and functional outcomes but also ensuring that the aesthetics of each chair reflect the individuality of the rider.
In 1998, he played a key role in developing the first Spinergy® wheels for wheelchairs and established their dedicated wheelchair division. Josh continued to shape the industry in 2004 when he joined TiLite®, where he led the launch and marketing of their manual wheelchair portfolio. His contributions were pivotal in evolving the TiLite brand, which was acquired by Permobil in May 2014.
Currently, at Sunrise Medical, Josh leads the introduction of the groundbreaking RGK manual wheelchair portfolio in North America, specializing in ultra-lightweight, made-to-measure solutions for wheelchair riders.
A sought-after speaker, Josh shares his expertise at seating and mobility conferences worldwide, including the International Seating Symposium, HCR, Exposanità, Arab Health, Canadian Seating and Mobility Conference, ATSA, CR Expo, RehaCare, and Medtrade. As a manual wheelchair user himself, he is passionate about advocacy and has served as President of the Board of Directors for the Users First Alliance, which promotes the use of appropriate equipment to enhance functional outcomes.
Josh resides in Washington State with his wife, Abby, their two children, and their two pugs.
Catherine is an avid traveler, along with her husband, and enjoys immersing herself in each community and culture that she encounters around the world. She and her husband both utilize manual wheelchairs throughout their travels. For the past decade, scuba diving has been her passion, and she continues to encourage people with various disabilities to experience the wonders of the world below the water’s surface.
Prior to her recent state retirement, Catherine was the Executive Director of the Spinal Cord Injury Research Fund in South Carolina, a Rehabilitation Engineering consultant to USC Arnold School of Public Health as well as the Rehabilitation Engineer/Project Manager for USC School of Medicine. She instructed medical students/PT/OT and other allied health professionals on providing healthcare to people with disabilities and performed ADA accessibility assessments to healthcare,fitness, and recreation facilities.
She has presented her work nationally to the CDC, AAFP (American Academy of Family Physicians), APHA (American Public Health Association), Congress Government Meeting Planners. She is a Past President of the SC SCI Association, a Founding Member of the Alliance for Disability in Healthcare Education, and a former member of the National Advisory Panel at the University of Kansas Research and Training Center on Community Living as well as NHCPAD (National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability).
Catherine continues her private Rehabilitation Engineering consulting group, established in 1993, performing ADA assessments for hotels, hospitals, schools and retail; instruction and consultation to architects and building code officials to ensure ADA compliance; as well as expert witness testimony.
Teaching Faculty, College of Business, Florida State University, and Disability Consultant
Dr. Harding is a ‘go-to’ leader within the disability space from both personal and professional experience. He has contributed for over 38 years in national, state and community public policy that advances the independence and self-sufficiency of persons with disabilities. He is a former 2x U.S. Presidential Appointee, 7x Florida Gubernatorial Appointee, and Author of 2 five-star books (Now What? & ADA Adventure). He has spoken to thousands of people worldwide and has assisted numerous businesses exceed minimum accessibility standards within the business practices. As a 2x quadriplegic he strives to lead by example that life is full of possibilities.
He also serves on several national, state and community boards. In addition to being a long-time member of the Delta Advisory Board on Disability, Dr. Harding works with Florida Network on Disabilities (FND), Evergreen Life Services (ELS), Toni J Mason Foundation and he serves as the Faculty Advisor to the FSU University of Choice (UoC) Initiative. He teaches the 2022 Association for American Colleges and Schools of Business (AACSB) internationally recognized Workforce Inclusion course at FSU, alongside other courses.
Some of his past contributions include but are not limited to the 2002 James Patrick Memorial Program, co-authoring the 2004 National Accessibility Guidelines, the 2006 Volunteer Voting Accessibility Guidelines, the 2008 Outdoor Accessibility Guidelines, the 2014 Refueling Assistance Act and the 2015 Florida Able Act. Additionally, he serves as a grant reviewer for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) and the Christopher and Dana Reeves Foundation.
He and his wife Erika live and work in Tallahassee, Florida.
Minna is a mixed medium artist. She's a jewelry designer, a painter and a food artist. She is committed to creating a community where all are welcome at the table. Minna is a community partner to New Mobility Magazine, a magazine for active wheelchair users, which includes resources for participating fully in life and articles concerning disability lifestyle. She is a teaching artist to Synergies Works, an organization supporting entrepreneurs with disabilities and a community partner to One Bread, food outreach program to end food scarcity.
Prior to her recent retirement, she was the SCI (Spinal Cord Injury) Peer Support Manager at Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia. She was also a Board Member of Disability Resource Group and distribution committee member for Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund, Georgia.
John D. Kemp, Esq., is an accomplished executive widely respected for his many achievements in the corporate and nonprofit worlds. He has decades of experience in the disability movement as a disabled leader. His previous leadership roles include serving as the National Executive Director of United Cerebral Palsy Associations, President and CEO of VAS Arts and VSA Arts International and as General Counsel and Vice President of Development for the National Easter Seal Society, among others. In 1995, he co-founded the American Association of People with Disabilities. He recently served as president and CEO of the Viscardi Center and Henry Viscardi School.
John is a recipient of the Henry B. Betts Award, widely regarded as America’s highest honor for disability leadership and service, and the Dole Leadership Prize from the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas, whose recipients include Nelson Mandela and former U.S. Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
As board chair/member or partner, John has supported numerous leading disability and nonprofit organizations. In 2001, he became a partner in the Washington, DC law firm of Powers, Pyles, Sutter & Verville, P.C., where he developed an active federal legislative and lobbying practice. A much sought-after global speaker, in 2019 John spoke at the inaugural Symposium on Disability Rights, co-sponsored by Lakeshore and the UAB Institute for Human Rights.
His latest book, Disability Friendly: How to Move from Clueless to Inclusive, is a clarion call to businesses around the world to realize the opportunities presented by employing people with disabilities. It explains the potential of disabled employees, how to create a culture of inclusion, and, in the process, help people with disabilities become proud contributors.
John graduated from Georgetown University and Washburn University School of Law. He has received two Honorary Doctorate degrees, the first an Honorary Doctorate of Law from Washburn University School of Law, and the second, an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Connecticut, while serving as the Graduate School Commencement Speaker.
Aaron Lanou (he/him) is an educational consultant supporting schools and organizations to reach all kids with inclusive, strengths-based practices. Through the lens of Universal Design for Learning, Aaron coaches teachers and others to teach and support autistic and neurodivergent students—and all kids—with a variety of academic, executive functioning, and social support needs. A member of Carol Gray’s Team Social Stories, Aaron also provides Social Stories workshops and collaborates with Carol and the team to continually update and refine the Social Stories philosophy and approach. Aaron was previously a special education teacher in the New York City Public Schools, adjunct faculty at Hunter College and New York University, and Executive Director of the Nest Program at NYU, leading the nation’s largest inclusion program for autistic students. Aaron lives in Brooklyn, NY, with his husband.
Rashad Morgan currently serves as the Director and ADA Compliance Officer for the Emory University Department of Accessibility Services, where he plays a key role in overseeing the university's compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and other critical disability law mandates, policies, and regulations.
In his role, Rashad serves as a leader, collaborator, and advocate within Emory’s administrative structure, working closely with colleagues across the institution to support the university’s commitment to accessibility. He leads multiple university initiatives and services aimed at compliance, removing barriers and promoting inclusion for students, faculty and staff with disabilities.
Before joining Emory, Rashad spent over a decade leading accessibility and compliance efforts in higher education, holding leadership roles in Disability Services offices at Florida State University, the Georgia Institute of Technology, and Agnes Scott College. Rashad is actively engaged in the broader disability rights community, contributing to local and national organizations. Rashad holds a Master's degree in Higher Education & Student Affairs and a Master's degree in Social Work, from Florida State University.
David works in the Oregon Department of Transportation, Office of Civil Rights, where he manages civil rights programs including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Environmental Justice program. David is the former Executive Director of the U.S. International Council on Disabilities (2009-2017). He holds a Master of Public Service degree from the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Washburn University. David currently serves on the board of directors of the Reach Another Foundation, whose mission is serving babies born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus through surgical care, community aftercare and maternal nutrition. He is a former board member of the Spina Bifida Association of America and his local center for independent living. In 2011, he served as private sector advisor to the United States' official delegation to the United Nations' periodic review of the U.S. human rights record. David has worked on projects or studied in over a dozen countries and he is a proponent of social inclusion, physical activity, and political participation for all people with disabilities.
David is the Passenger Accessibility Manager in the Accessibility Office of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak). David is responsible for providing accessibility information to internal and external stakeholders, managing outreach activities by Amtrak to the disability community, ensuring ADA compliance, participating in efforts around upcoming train fleet replacements, coordinating review of train mockups by representatives from national disability organizations and overseeing internal projects to ensure accessibility compliance.
David previously worked for the Honorable Tony Coelho (D-CA), who was one of the authors of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). David has also served as president of the D.C. Association of the Deaf and the Florida School for the Deaf Alumni Association (FSDAA), a board member of the NTID Advisory Group and has been with the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) since 1978. He has represented NAD on issues concerning telecommunications and transportation.
He holds a bachelor's degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), as well as degrees from the National Technical Institute of the Deaf (NTID). David attended high school at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. In addition, he has received the National Association of the Deaf’s most prestigious award, the Fred C. Schreiber Distinguished Service Award, the Dr. Rosalyn Simon Award from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority presented during its first annual Accessibility Excellence Awards, and the RIT 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award for the NTID. David hails from Miami and currently resides in Washington, D.C.
Thomas Panek is the president and CEO of Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a New York-based nonprofit organization that provides service dogs to individuals with vision loss, helping them achieve their health and wellness goals. Under Panek’s leadership since 2014, Guiding Eyes continues to be an international leader and pioneer in the service animal field, including the first-of-its-kind “Running Guides” program.
Panek was previously appointed to the United States Foreign Commercial Service as a senior international trade specialist. He served as liaison to the World Bank and worked with American embassies to expand business opportunities for U.S. aerospace, technology and engineering companies. He is an expert in trade agreements and negotiating international business transactions.
Panek graduated with a master’s degree from American University School of International Service, with a focus on International Trade Law. An avid runner, Panek has completed more than 20 marathons, including five Boston Marathons. In 2019, he became the first runner to compete in the New York City Half Marathon guided by dogs. He lives in New York with his wife Melissa and their four children.
Jessica Pelasky (she/her) is a disability inclusion strategist, speaker, and culture transformation leader with more than a decade of experience across Learning & Development, workforce enablement, and inclusive leadership. Born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (brittle bone disease) and as a little person, Jessica brings both professional expertise and lived experience to conversations surrounding accessibility, disability inclusion, and the travel experience for people with disabilities.
Throughout her career, Jessica has led enterprise learning, culture, and employee experience initiatives within global corporate organizations. Her work has focused on leadership development, accessible learning design, employee engagement, and creating environments where individuals feel valued, supported, and empowered to fully participate.
Jessica is especially passionate about bridging the gap between policy and real-world experience. She understands the importance of operational consistency, dignity, empathy, and accessibility across every stage of the customer journey. She has spoken on topics including disability inclusion, accessibility, psychological safety, allyship, and inclusive workplace culture, with a focus on creating practical and human-centered change.
She is the founder of Coffee, Kindness, & Inclusion, a disability consulting firm dedicated to helping organizations turn empathy into action through authentic dialogue and inclusive leadership.
Outside of her professional work, Jessica is a proud daughter, sister, aunt, and dog mom who runs on iced coffee and has a well-known love for all things related to The Grinch.
A lifelong advocate for people with hearing loss, David Rosenthal’s personal and professional life provided him with the opportunity to impact public policy and services that benefit their lives. Although now retired, he continues to be an advocate for greater communications accessibility for all.
David holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Kansas School of Public Affairs and Administration and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Rochester Institute of Technology/The National Technical Institute for the Deaf. Throughout his 40-year career, David was fortunate to be in leadership positions in various organizations which enabled him to break down communication barriers for people with hearing loss.
Among the many accomplishments in David’s career are the establishment of the Kansas Relay Center in conjunction with the Kansas Governor’s office and the Kansas Corporation Commission prior to the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act; and working with the National Emergency Number Association to help Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) improve their communications accessibility in order to respond effectively to people with hearing loss when they call 9-1-1 for assistance. David currently is serving as Chair of the North Carolina Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
He lives in North Carolina with his wife, Rebecca.
Peter Thomas is Managing Partner at Powers, a health care law firm in Washington, DC. He has a federal law and legislative practice in the areas of healthcare and disability policy; Medicare coverage and reimbursement policy; access to medical rehabilitation services; coverage, coding and payment of orthotics, prosthetics, and assistive devices and technologies; and appropriations and policy advocacy involving rehabilitation and disability research and development. Peter has served on the President's Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Health Care Industry, the National Advisory Board for the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR) at NIH, the National Advisory Council of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and the Institute of Medicine’s Committee on Improving the Disability Decision Process. He also served as a Co-Principal Investigator for a PCORI-funded research project on peer support for trauma survivors.
Peter’s board service on non-profit and investor-owned boards of directors includes InnovAge Holding Corporation, a Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), Global Partners for Rehabilitation, the Lakeshore Foundation, the Foundation for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the American Trauma Society, the Viscardi Center, and the Center for International Rehabilitation/Physicians Against Land Mines. He served as a Trustee for the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). Peter has served as general counsel to the National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics (NAAOP) and counsel to the Orthotic & Prosthetic Alliance since 2008. He coordinates several coalitions that seek to enact policy change to increase access to assistive devices and technologies as well as rehabilitation services for people with injuries, illnesses, disabilities and chronic conditions. Peter has walked with two prosthetic limbs since age 10 and is a co-author of The Americans with Disabilities Act: A Guidebook for Management and People with Disabilities (Quorum Books, 1993).
Peter graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in 1989, Boston College in 1986, and is licensed to practice law in New York State and the District of Columbia. He lives in Maryland with his wife Beth and his three sons, Jeffrey, Andrew, and Teddy.
Carden is a certified professional in web accessibility (CPWA), Atlanta native, disability advocate, wheelchair roller, transit rider and change maker. She has 15 years of customer service experience and is known for bringing strategy to organizations which she does this by being able to come up with innovative ideas which leads to creating efficiencies.
Giving back is a core value of hers and she currently serves on the Board of Directors for MARTA Army, and New Disabled South. She’s the a disability advisor for Midtown Alliance’s Development Review Committee, the Midtown Neighbor’s Transportation Committee, and works for Salesforce as a principal digital accessibility engineer.