Derek I. Schmitz

The University of Alabama at Birmingham

• Honors College Personalized Pathway Enrollee

Gadsden State Community College

• Served as Class Representative to the Gadsden State Paralegal Association for Academic Year 2023 - 2024
• Served as President of the Gadsden State Paralegal Association for Academic Year 2024 - 2025

Jacksonville State University

• Earned 9 hours of collegiate-level credit in English, Speech, and Psychology while enrolled in high school.

American Public Health Association

• Advisory Board members support the APHA Center for Public Health Policy on grant activities in the following ways during a term from November 2025 - June 2026:
• Provide suggestions for event speakers and topics
• Provide guidance and feedback on materials to increase understanding of Disability justice and IDD within public health professionals, such as webinars, case studies, and other communications materials (fact sheets, social media, etc.)
• Identify promising models, practices and lessons learned for integrating or embedding considerations of accessibility, inclusion and disability justice into public health practice
• Recommend and/or connect the APHA team with partner organizations in the disability and health space
• Dissemination of materials developed throughout the project
• Provide guidance and insights to accompany an internal accessibility policy at APHA
• Sharing insights to help APHA navigate the current sociopolitical climate
• Served as a discussion facilitator for the APHA webinar "From Awareness to Action: Disability Justice as an Everyday Practice." Guided participants to reflect on Disability Justice Practices, Co-Struggle & Power-Sharing, and Practical Applications of disability justice principles related to youth and students in public health.
• Spoke at APHA's 2026 Policy Action Institute as a co-panelist on Organizing in the Community.

Derek Schmitz: Advocacy

• Offer in-person and virtual speaking engagements, disability and LGBTQ+ inclusivity consulting, and individual advocacy services
• Advocate for and uplift other disabled voices regarding healthcare, health equity, accessibility, and federal disability programs
• Advocate for LGBTQIA+ people regarding the intersectionality of disability and queerness
• Produce engaging content for my personal website, including sharing long-form advocacy posts
• Participate in interviews by the press and media outlets to discuss advocacy and pressing issues in the disability community
• Attend webinars and phone calls with both governmental and non-governmental organizations related to disability

Derek Schmitz

• Facilitate creation of press release templates
• Write, edit, and distribute accessible press releases
• Leverage connections for effective dissemination.
• Serve as the designated press contact for duration of employment
• Represent organizations in press communications and interviews

Disability Rights Maryland

• Served 130 hours of paralegal duties to support the cases and systemic advocacy efforts of the Developmental Disabilities/Healthcare team for academic credit.
• Observed three legislative hearings regarding developmental disability-related issues and reported important findings to colleagues
• Supported client work and advocacy by handling of ten individual cases, providing information/referral and basic technical assistance
• Assisted with case development and investigation.
• Assisted with schedule management and other administrative duties as assigned.

State of Alabama, Governor's Office

• Participated in an active, educated, informed network of consumers with disabilities across the state of Alabama to advocate for laws, programs and services for people with disabilities and their families.
• Provided advisory support to Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) on various issues as they arise
• Advocated for Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) especially in times of tight budgets
• Assisted State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) on various projects like statewide needs assessment and representation at Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS) public hearings
• Served as local public forums for the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program
• Served as a point of communication for local issues in the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program
• Recruited for State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) and other Agency advisory committees

Neighborhood Access

• Oversaw a mailing list for project updates and fundraising
• Crafted digital fundraising strategies
• Collaborated on client engagement
• Spearheaded COVID-19 assistance initiatives
• Provided advisory support to the board
• Managed LinkedIn presence
• Represented the organization at conferences
• Assisted with press releases
• Facilitated networking for growth opportunities with other organizations

Autoimmune Community Institute

• Conducted outreach to generate new volunteers, including through the use of VolunteerMatch and email platforms
• Assisted the Research Committee in developing studies and surveys, as well as identifying potential funding sources for research
• Conducted outreach and screening for studies and research
• Created study consent forms
• Posted to Twitter and responded to direct messages
• Worked with the other marketing team members to create relevant tweets and graphics
• Hosted Twitter Chats
• Managed and reported Twitter analytics to the Marketing Committee via nightly updated spreadsheet
• Networked with other organizations to create opportunities for growth
• Prepared press releases and statements
• Served as the secondary contact point for press and other inquiries
• Managed YouTube channel
• Assisted in projects with our sister organization, Public Health Podcast and Media Network.

U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy

• Collaborated with adult partners within The Council of State Governments and the K. Lisa Yang and Hock E. Tan Institute on Employment and Disability at Cornell University, as well as other fellows.
• Received training and education on presentation delivery.
• Co-developed and delivered educational workshops and presentations for national and local events, particularly focused on youth engagement, special education, and intersectionality.
• Developed and delivered a presentation on a specific policy issue to a diverse group of stakeholders.
• Engaged with state leaders and other policymakers regarding self-advocacy and general policy topics to improve the transition of disabled youth from high school to employment or college.
• Traveled to conferences across the United States to work with other members and leadership.
• Discussed ideas for addressing issues that disabled youth face in their communities.
• Led a group of policymakers, including state legislators, and youth in a pilot testing activity designed to identify and elevate common interests and connections among a highly diverse stakeholder group.
• Offered valuable input for a policy brief on intersectionality.
• Delivered a presentation to stakeholders in the education, legislative, and Tribal sectors emphasizing the importance of disability benefit retention through transition.
• Attended and participated in a symposium at the Frances Perkins Building in the Department of Labor main headquarters in Washington, D.C.