Day Al-Mohamed (born 1974-1975,[1] 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.[1]
Day Al-Mohamed | |
|---|---|
| Alma mater | University of Missouri |
| Website | dayalmohamed |
Early life and education
editAl-Mohamed grew up in Bahrain and moved to the United States to attend college.[1] She became blind as the result of a brain injury in 1995, while she was studying social work at the University of Missouri.[1] She fenced at a college level with foil, placing third in the 1997 state fencing championship.[2] After finishing her undergraduate degree, she continued at the University of Missouri as a law student.[1]
Lobbying career
editAs of 2020, Al-Mohamed works for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration under the US Department of Labor.[3] 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.[3] She also serves in the US Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Montgomery County Commission on People with Disabilities.[3][4]
In the past, Al-Mohamed worked with the American Psychological Association and the American Council of the Blind.[3]
In 2022, Al-Mohamed was detailed for 1 year to the White House as Director of Disability Policy.[5]
Writing and filmmaking
editAl-Mohamed is a founding member of FWD-Doc,[3] 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.[6]
She has written the young adult novel Baba Ali and the Clockwork Djinn, and has published short stories in various magazines.[3]
Filmmaking
editShe directed the Civil War documentary The Invalid Corps, about the contributions of disabled veterans.[3][7] The Invalid Corps was accepted to the American Presidents Film and Literary Festival in 2019.[8]
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.[4][9]
Recognition
edit- 2021 Documentary New Leader (FWD-Doc)
- 2022 Original Voices Fellowship member (NBC)
- 2023 D-30 Disability Impact List (Diversability)
Personal life
editAs of 2024, Al-Mohamed lives in Silver Spring, Maryland with her wife, daughter, and guide dog.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e 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.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Day Al-Mohamed". Ability Magazine. October 2020. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
- ^ a b c "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.
