National Leadership Program, Spring 2025
Gina DeRyke
Gina DeRyke (she/they) is an Entertainment and Media Fellow in Disability Belongs™’ National Leadership Program for Spring 2025. Disability Belongs™ is a national nonprofit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities so that people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community.
DeRyke is a passionate advocate for disability representation, inclusive media, and accessible design. With a background in arts, administration, and advocacy, she brings a sharp eye for design, research, and practical solutions for inclusion to create more accessible experiences. Her career spans roles in higher education, nonprofit leadership, and financial counseling, where she developed skills in organizational strategy, stakeholder engagement, and accessibility-focused improvements.
A University of Michigan graduate with a Bachelor of Musical Arts degree in Voice Performance, DeRyke’s creative work includes theatrical performance, visual arts, and digital storytelling, amplifying underrepresented voices across mediums. A two-time Grammy Award winner, she applies her artistic expertise to projects that celebrate diversity and challenge systemic barriers. She also serves as a community organizer, mentor for students in creative problem-solving competitions, and disability justice advocate who uses her lived experience as a neurodivergent individual to drive inclusion. Whether through media, design, or advocacy, she is committed to shaping spaces that foster belonging and accessibility.
