Derek Schmitz Email & Phone Number

Derek Schmitz (they/them) is a young, queer, chronically ill, and disabled advocate, primarily focused on disability accessibility and LGBTQ+ rights through their firm, Derek Schmitz: Advocacy (previously "Derek Schmitz") since January 2018. They are currently pursuing an Associate's degree in Paralegal Studies.Derek has been an avid advocate for disability rights since they were in third grade, developing presentations to share with classmates regarding their use of mobility aids. In the years since, they have continued to commit themself to education and awareness of disability issues, especially in the special education space. Since they came out as queer and nonbinary in 2020, they have expanded their focus on queer issues and the intersectionality between queerness and disability.Derek served as a Fellow and Working Group Member for the Center for Advancing Policy on Employment for Youth, advising states on transition initiatives and presenting on intersectionality, disability supports, special education, and transition services. In this role, they developed valuable connections with leaders throughout all fifty states and assisted in the writing and publication of multiple policy briefs. Before their contract expired, they were recognized by the United States Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) for their commitment to this work.They previously worked as a Consultant & Client Outreach Co-Manager at Neighborhood Access, where they primarily focused on client and donor relations, but were also able to expand their independent services to include physical and digital accessibility evaluations.They also served as the Outreach Coordinator at the Autoimmune Community Institute and later joined ACI’s parent company, the Public Health Podcast and Media Network, as their Marketing & Public Relations Communication Consultant.Overall, Derek Schmitz is a committed and passionate individual who has demonstrated their ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders and drive initiatives forward. Their work in advocacy and education has helped bring awareness to disability issues and intersectionality with other social justice issues.

Listed skills include Writing, Camera Operation, Video, Video Production, and 16 others.