For Immediate Release
May 8, 2024
BERKELEY, Calif. — The Disability Rights Education and Advocacy Fund (DREDF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Nicole Vaughn as its new Executive Director. Vaughn brings 27 years of experience leading disability organizations and a strong commitment to bringing anti-disability discrimination and disability justice principles to her new role. She will begin her role as Executive Director on June 3, 2024.
Nicole Vaughn possesses an extraordinary combination of professional knowledge, leadership insight, and a lifetime of experience as a person with a disability. Members of the search committee praised Vaughn’s extensive track record of advancing accessibility initiatives, her collaborative approach to driving change, her experience working with multiply marginalized communities, and her unwavering commitment to disability empowerment. Vaughn’s appointment as DREDF’s new Executive Director marks a significant milestone for the organization in its ongoing pursuit of equity and justice for people with disabilities.
Vaughn joins DREDF from the City and County of San Francisco, where he has served as Director of the San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Disability Services since January 2017. In this role, Vaughn served as the General ADA Coordinator for the City and County of San Francisco, overseeing disability compliance and working to improve accessibility for more than 96,000 residents and visitors with disabilities.
During her tenure in the Mayor’s Office of Disability Affairs, Vaughn led numerous initiatives aimed at advancing accessibility and disability rights at both the local, state and federal levels. Some of her notable accomplishments include:
Led the push for the San Francisco Disability Community Cultural Center, the first city-run disability cultural center in the United States. Spearheaded accessibility initiatives including accessible remote public comment, accessibility improvements to the JFK Promenade, and commemoration of the historic disability rights sit-ins calling for enforcement of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Advocated for the safe deployment of accessible transportation and autonomous vehicles in San Francisco. Advised on disability-specific pandemic response activities including mask promotions and COVID vaccine clinics for people with disabilities and seniors. Pandemic and Emergency Response: Serves as a leader and advisor on various committees including the Disability Access Working Group.
Nicole Vaughn talks with community activist Dennis Billups.
Vaughn’s previous experience included serving as Director of the Disability Programs and Resource Center at San Francisco State University, where she managed accommodations and services for students and employees with disabilities. Vaughn holds a Master’s in Counseling Psychology and a Master of Fine Arts in Writing from the University of San Francisco.
DREDF launched a comprehensive search process lasting more than six months to identify the ideal candidate for the executive director position. Led by executive search firm Vetted Solutions, the search committee included four staff members and four board members. Vetted Solutions gathered input from staff, board members and community stakeholders to determine the job description and the board’s goals for the ideal candidate. Through a rigorous vetting process, the committee carefully evaluated the candidates’ qualifications, experience and personal attributes to ensure alignment with DREDF’s vision, values and goals.
In her new role as Executive Director of DREDF, Nicole Vaughn will lead the organization in its mission to advance the civil and human rights of people with disabilities through legal advocacy, training, education, and public policy and legislative development. Vaughn succeeds Susan Henderson, who served as Executive Director of DREDF for 16 years.
“We are thrilled to welcome Nicole Vaughn as DREDF’s new executive director,” said DREDF Board Chair H. Stephen Kaye. “Her extensive experience, proven leadership and commitment to disability rights make her the ideal candidate to lead our organization into the future.”
Media Contact:
Tina Pinedo
Communications Director, DREDF
media
510-225-7726
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About the Disability Rights Education and Advocacy Fund
Disability Rights Education and Advocacy Fund (DREDF) is a national civil rights law and policy center run by individuals with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities. Founded in 1979, DREDF works to advance the civil and human rights of people with disabilities through legal advocacy, training, education, and public policy and legislative development. For more information, visit dredf.org.
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