California Disability Community Town Hall: Meet the Speakers

Michelle Uzeta is the Executive Director of the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), a disability-led national non-profit civil rights law and policy center based in Berkeley, California. A civil rights attorney with deep expertise in disability law and fair housing, she has litigated landmark cases, shaped policy at the local, state, and national levels, and spent decades working to ensure that the rights of disabled people are vigorously enforced. Her advocacy is grounded in a commitment to centering multiply-marginalized voices and dismantling systems of oppression that harm disabled people. She holds a B.A. from Stanford University and a J.D. and Certification in Public Interest Law from U.C. Davis School of Law.

Ryan Easterly is a visionary leader dedicated to advancing equity and inclusion. He lives at the intersections of race, class, disability, and sexual orientation. As Executive Director of the WITH Foundation, he champions comprehensive healthcare for adults with developmental disabilities and advances systemic change within the U.S. healthcare landscape. His prior leadership includes managing the National Youth Transitions Initiative at The HSC Foundation and his work at the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy. Ryan serves on the board of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations. He is also a 2024-2025 Obama Leader-USA and was appointed by President Biden to the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars.

Sarita A. Mohanty, MD, MPH, MBA, is President and CEO of The SCAN Foundation (TSF), where she leads one of the nation’s largest philanthropic organizations dedicated to improving health, independence, and quality of life for older adults. Under her leadership, TSF advances equitable aging through grantmaking, partnerships, and mission-aligned investments focused on helping older adults age safely and with dignity in their communities. Previously, Dr. Mohanty held leadership roles at Kaiser Permanente, COPE Health Solutions, and L.A. Care Health Plan. A practicing internal medicine physician, she is nationally recognized for her work in aging, health equity, and care for vulnerable populations.

Commissioner Héctor Manuel Ramírez (they/them/el) is a California public policy professional, disability rights advocate, and SEIU 721 labor leader. They serve on the California Commission on Disability Access and the LA County Commission on Disabilities. Grounded in their lived experiences as an Autistic, hard-of-hearing individual and Apache/Mexican heritage, Héctor champions communication access and language justice. They work at 211 LA, notably serving as a 2025 LA wildfire front-line responder and negotiating a historic 2026 union contract. Héctor advises multiple state health committees, including DHCS and CDPH, and holds emeritus board roles with the National Disability Rights Network.