Congratulations to Dr. Josie Badger, Disability Activist and Hall of Famer!

We know Dr. Josie Badger is a star activist, and so does the National Disability Mentoring Coalition (NDMC)! We are thrilled to celebrate Dr. Badger’s induction into the NDMC’s Susan Daniels Disability Mentoring Hall of Fame. The NDMC named 52 individuals and 4 organizations as Class of 2020 inductees.

The Disability Mentoring Hall of Fame was established in 2015 to carry on the legacy of disability champion and lifelong mentor, Susan Daniels, and to spotlight individuals and groups around the country who are making a significant difference in the lives of youth and adults with disabilities through mentoring. This year, the celebration of mentoring will recognize the Class of 2020 as mentors and organizations who support disability justice, racial justice, and COVID-19 related issues impacting the disability community.

Dr. Badger works with our Pennsylvania anchor partner, Women and Girls Foundation, and is the coordinator for the TRAIL project in Pennsylvania. Through the TRAIL Initiative, people with disabilities train as advocates on the issue of paid family and medical leave. TRAIL is wrapping up its first 10-month virtual training program, which welcomed nearly 50 people with disabilities from across Pennsylvania. Everyone on the team, from training developers to regional facilitators, are individuals with disabilities. 

Dr. Badger believes strongly in the importance of near peer mentoring. “I have had the privilege of running disability advocacy trainings for a couple of decades,” she said. “It is truly one of my passions. When I heard about potential funding, I jumped at the opportunity to train more people with disabilities.”

The induction into the Hall of Fame placed Dr. Badger among an impressive cohort of disability advocates and leaders, but came as a complete surprise to her. “I was totally shocked,” she said. “I had no idea that I had been nominated for this honor. As I looked through previous Hall of Fame members, I was in awe of the group of disability ‘superstars’ that I was joining.”

Dr. Badger has been a disability mentor and advocate all of her life. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Geneva College in Disability Law and Advocacy, a Master’s of Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Doctorate of Healthcare Ethics (DHCE) from Duquesne University.  

While in college, she was a founding member of the Pennsylvania Youth Leadership Network (PYLN). This network has provided inclusive youth development and leadership support throughout the state of Pennsylvania since 2003 for over 10,000 youth and young adults. PYLN was modeled after the National Youth Leadership Network, where she served as president for two terms.

In 2012, Dr. Badger was crowned Ms. Wheelchair America and used this national platform to share her message of youth engagement throughout the country. During her year-long reign, she had the opportunity to travel from New England to Alaska, sharing her message of empowerment.

In 2014, she founded J Badger Consulting Inc., which provides consulting services to organizations in the state and across the country on disability-related issues. She is the Director of the National RSA-Parent Technical Assistance Center, RAISE, which is a program of SPAN Parent Advocacy Network. Dr. Badger is also Campaign Manager of the United Way of Southwestern PA’s #IWantToWork Campaign, which works to improve the employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The #IWantToWork campaign has had two state bills unanimously passed and is working on a third bill which will allow employees with disabilities to continue receiving Medicaid, regardless of their income or assets. She is also a Field Organizer with the Women and Girls Foundation for the Pennsylvania Family Care Act and future federal paid family and medical leave legislation. 

Through every job or work experience, Dr. Badger has ensured that other people with disabilities are given opportunities to learn, grow, and work. We are proud to work with her and commend her on her deserved recognition.