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Disability Inclusion: Required – Episode 29 – Black Disabled Excellence

In honor of the 100-year commemoration of Negro History Week, now celebrated as Black History Month, Disability Inclusion: Required is passing the mic over to Black Disabled leaders.

This episode features Marq Mitchell, Heather Watkins, Natasha Nelson, and Mel Brown. Each of them share a 5-minute story about the power of your work, or a 5-minute reflection on what it means to lead liberatory projects while Black and disabled.  

Our podcast theme music is by Andre Louis and Precious Perez. Thank you to Recording Artists And Music Professionals With Disabilities (RAMPD) for connecting these talented disabled musicians with the Disability & Philanthropy Forum.

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Featured Guests

Marq Mitchell

Before the age of 22, Marq had spent seven years incarcerated in juvenile and adult facilities. As the child of formerly incarcerated parents, he entered the foster care system at an early age. His life’s trajectory was forever impacted by the school-to-prison pipeline, the child welfare system, and ultimately, the criminal legal system.

Because of his experiences, Marq developed a deep understanding of the challenges faced by justice-involved people. Post-incarceration, Marq encountered difficulties re-transitioning into society due to stigma, collateral consequences, and a lack of resources available to returning citizens. Most individuals exiting incarceration struggle to access employment, housing, and education. Although he overcame these barriers and created a second chance at life, he is driven by the reality that, for many, there is simply no ‘second chance.’ This is why Marq created Chainless Change, a community of recovery, advocacy, and support for those affected by the justice system.

Heather Watkins

is a Boston-based disability rights activist, author, mother, peer researcher, consultant, born with a form of muscular dystrophy. She loves reading, daydreaming, documentaries, and chocolate. Her site SlowWalkersSeeMore details reflections and insight from her life with disability. 

Natasha Nelson

Natasha Nelson is the Founder and CEO of Supernova Parenting Foundation, a nationally recognized nonprofit advancing disability social justice and empowering caregivers in communities of color. A highly decorated U.S. Army veteran and credentialed educator, Natasha is known for her neuro-affirming, solution-focused approach and her work with leading institutions like Marcus Autism Center and Emory School of Medicine. As a neurodivergent individual and mother of two autistic daughters, she brings both personal insight and professional expertise to her advocacy for disability, neurodiversity, and mental health nationwide.

Mel Brown

Mel Brown is a practicing artist and Black social worker, who co-founded Deep Space

Mind 215 (DSM.215) which is a Black queer led, Philadelphia-based mental health and wellness co-op that seeks to invest in creating local responsive community-grown meta systems, revisioning Black psycho education, reconstitution of ancestral and Indigenous knowledge as common knowledge while centering the genius of mad Black people.