Erin Ryan Heyneman
they / them / any
I provide disability inclusion awareness education and professional development to K-12 and higher education faculty and staff groups. My approach is centered in storytelling, audience engagement, my Iived experience, and disability studies theory. I educate groups on the unfamiliar topic of disability inclusion from a place of caring and curiosity. Because we don’t know what we don’t know! My newsletter, Rising and Gliding, is leader in the disability space where I and guest authors discuss the intersection of disability and culture.
Education and Licensure
Northwestern University Graduate Certificate: Leadership For Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 2022
The George Washington University M.ED Secondary Education | BA English |
Teaching License | Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, English (5-12)
Honors, Awards, and Memberships
Mass Creative Arts and advocacy Fellow 2024 - 2025
Paul W. Spooner Generational Leadership Summit | 2023 - 2024
Winthrop Elementary School REACH Awardee, 2022
Melrose Commission on Disability | Commissioner, 2021 - Present
Melrose Cultural Council | Board Member, 2022 - Present
Selection of Past Speaking Engagements
Understanding Disability History & Culture - Virtual Panel Discussion
The Consortium of Western Mass, Panelist
October 2024Bed In: Disability Led Rally
Disability Community for Democracy, Panelist
March 2025NYU Steinhardt College of Culture, Education, and Human Development
Department of occupational therapy
Talk: Cognition and Curiosity in Multiple sclerosis, a Patient Perspective
April 2025Disability is Diversity: Snapshots of Disabled Life
Disabled Stories Collective, Producer and Host
April 20252025 Mass Creative Creative Sector Summit
Panel: At the Intersection of Disability and Culture - A Conversation with Disabled Artists
Moderator and Host
June 2025
Organizations I’ve Worked With
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Science
Tufts University School of Occupational Therapy
Understanding Our Differences - Newton, MA
City of Melrose, MA Elections Commission
Follow Your Art Community Studios
Braaains Podcast
Let’s Talk, Melrose! Podcast
Testimonials
Erin’s work and life experiences have left a lasting impact on our students and faculty.
— MCPHS Faculty
Erin has a strong ability to crystalize her message in both writing and speaking. Her sense of humor keeps things positive even when [discussing] adversity.
— Becky Curran Kekula, TedX Speaker
Erin’s talk will help our students to develop the knowledge and competency they need to become outstanding occupational therapy practitioners.
— The Department of Occupational Therapy at Tufts University