NARPA
Anupa Iyer Geevarghese
Anupa Iyer Geevarghese works as the Confidential Assistant to E.E.O.C. (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) Commissioner Chai R. Feldblum. She holds a Juris Doctorate degree from Seattle University School of Law and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California Los Angeles. She was awarded the 2011 Seattle University School of Law Leadership for Justice Fellowship to work for the Mental Disability Advocacy Center researching violence and abuse against women and girls with intellectual disabilities in Cape Town, South Africa. Prior to this, Anupa interned for Equal Employment Commissioner Chai Feldblum and was an American Association for Persons with Disabilities intern at the Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. Anupa's passion for disability rights advocacy stems from her lived experiences with a psychiatric disability. She is the founder of Self Advocates Now Empowered, a self-advocacy organization that used legislative advocacy to give a cohesive national voice to, and empower, individuals with psychiatric disabilities, with a focus on youth and young adults. Anupa is a former board member of the National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy (NARPA). She has been profiled by the U.S. Department Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. On July 25th, 2013, the White House honored Ms. Iyer as one of eight “Champions of Change” who embody the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
From The White House Office of Communications (July 2013):
White House Highlights Americans with Disabilities Act “Champions of Change”
This next generation of leaders for the disability community represents the progress that has been made as a result of the ADA and the continued struggle for full equality. They are advocates, role models and true champions for their cause. Already extraordinarily accomplished, they epitomize the type of innovative thinking, optimism and energy of the next generation of civil rights leaders.
“These exceptional individuals being honored as Champions of Change illustrate the continuing disability rights movement's vitality and bright future. They bring a fresh perspective and a new set of experiences that will continue to invigorate the push for full social and economic equality, “said Paulette Aniskoff, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement.
To learn more about the White House Champions of Change program and nominate a Champion, visit www.whitehouse.gov/champions.