Erin Ryan Heyneman
they / them
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 2025Paul W. Sooner Generational Leadership Summit
Presenter: Telling Our Stories - Disabled Stories Collective
Lead Presenter
September 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
Paul W. Spooner Generational Leadership Summit
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