UCLA

The UCLA Leadership Academy for Emerging Disability Rights Leaders was developed to address the gap between advocacy training and systems-level leadership opportunities for disabled people. Rooted in the principles of co-production, accessibility, and relevance, the Leadership Academy equips participants with advocacy, storytelling, and testimony skills through a structured, interactive curriculum supported by coaches and program graduates with lived experience. This paper presents findings from two phases of evaluation: (1) a pilot study with the first cohort, examining the program's feasibility and acceptability through retention, attendance, and participant satisfaction data; and (2) interviews with program graduates who returned in a mentorship role as “Senior Fellows” for the second cohort. Results from the pilot study indicated that the Leadership Academy is both feasible and highly acceptable to participants, who reported growth in leadership capacity, confidence, and professional development. Senior Fellows emphasized the value of mentorship, peer support, and belonging, highlighting the importance of centering lived experience in leadership training. This pilot study offers a scalable model that can be used by University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs), Developmental Disabilities (DD) Network partners, and other organizations seeking to build inclusive leadership pipelines. The findings affirm the critical role of disability-led programs in advancing equity, belonging, and self-determination.