Day Al-Mohamed | |
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Alma mater | University of Missouri |
Website | dayalmohamed |
Day Al-Mohamed (born 1974-1975, sometimes written De Al-Mohamed) is a Bahrain-born lobbyist, writer and filmmaker based in the United States. She is visually impaired and uses a guide dog to navigate.
Early life and education
Al-Mohamed grew up in Bahrain and moved to the United States to attend college. She became blind as the result of a brain injury in 1995, while she was studying social work at the University of Missouri. She fenced at a college level with foil, placing third in the 1997 state fencing championship. After finishing her undergraduate degree, she continued at the University of Missouri as a law student.
Lobbying career
As of 2020, Al-Mohamed works for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration under the US Department of Labor. One of her major projects with the department has been the Add Us In initiative to increase the employment of disabled individuals through work with small business associations. She also serves in the US Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Montgomery County Commission on People with Disabilities.
In the past, Al-Mohamed worked with the American Psychological Association and the American Council of the Blind.
In 2022, Al-Mohamed was detailed for 1 year to the White House as Director of Disability Policy.
Writing and filmmaking
Al-Mohamed is a founding member of FWD-Doc, a non-profit organization which supports disabled filmmakers and entertainment industry workers. Other co-founders include Jim LeBrecht, Alysa Nahmias and Lindsey Dryden.
Since 2007, she has hosted the Day in Washington podcast about disability policy.
She has written the young adult novel Baba Ali and the Clockwork Djinn, and has published short stories in various magazines.
Filmmaking
She directed the Civil War documentary The Invalid Corps, about the contributions of disabled veterans. The Invalid Corps was accepted to the American Presidents Film and Literary Festival in 2019.
She was a producer of the 2024 UNSEEN. She is also a creator of Renegades, a docu-series about disabled leaders in history, which is set to release on American Masters/PBS digital in October 2024.
Recognition
- 2021 Documentary New Leader (FWD-Doc)
- 2022 Original Voices Fellowship member (NBC)
- 2023 D-30 Disability Impact List (Diversability)
Personal life
As of 2024, Al-Mohamed lives in Silver Spring, Maryland with her wife, daughter, and guide dog.
References
- ^ Soloyvoya, Yulia (March 10, 2002). "She's defying definitions". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. pp. 141, 144. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
- McCann, Tom (October 5, 1997). "Doing it all despite disability". The Kansas City Star. pp. 33, 34. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
- ^ "Day Al-Mohamed". Ability Magazine. October 2020. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
- ^ "Day Al-Mohamed". Ford Foundation. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
- Council for Exceptional Children (15 April 2022). "White House Announces New Director of Disability Policy". Center for Exceptional Children. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- "About". Day in Washington. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
- "Team 1". FWD-DOC: Documentary Filmmakers With Disabilities. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
- "Short film on Civil War accepted to festival". News Herald. 2019-07-25. pp. A2. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
- Chan, Diana (2023-11-02). "American Masters announces Visibility, Inclusion and Accessibility (VIA) Initiative". American Masters. PBS. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
External links
Categories:- Living people
- 1970s births
- 21st-century Bahraini women
- 21st-century Bahraini writers
- 21st-century novelists
- 21st-century United States government officials
- 21st-century women writers
- Activists with disabilities
- Bahraini novelists
- Bahraini short story writers
- Blind writers
- Disability rights activists
- University of Missouri alumni
- Lobbyists
- Writers with disabilities