We had the opportunity to interview Izzy, one of the Spring 2025 fellows from the Dinah F.B. Cohen Fellowship. Izzy, along with other fellowship members, created a blog site that features several resource guides for the disability community. We asked Izzy some questions about her experience with her fellowship and her thoughts on mentoring.
Q: Tell us a little about yourself.
A: My name is Isabelle “Izzy” Bailey, and I am a graduate student at the University of Maine, where I am studying social work with a concentration in disability studies. Outside of school, I stay connected with my community through leadership and volunteer roles. I serve on the board of Maine Organization for Blind Athletics and Leadership Education (MOBALE), the Graduate Council at Guiding Eyes for the Blind, and the Outdoor Equity Working Group with the Nature Based Education Consortium. I am also the co-host of NABS Now, the bi-monthly podcast of the National Association of Blind Students. At the heart of all of these roles is my passion for accessibility, community building, and creating spaces where disabled people can thrive.
Q: What was the project you worked on?
A: As a part of the fellowship, I worked with my group to create a website featuring blog-style resource guides for the disability community. The goal was to build practical, accessible tools that people could use right away, whether they were organizational leaders, community members, or disabled people themselves.
Q: What was your role in the project?
A: I wrote two guides. One focused on how brands and nonprofits can authentically celebrate Disability Pride Month on social media. Instead of tokenizing or performative posts, the guide highlighted ways to uplift disabled voices and show true solidarity. My second guide was written directly for disabled people who are trying to find disability-friendly mental health providers. That resource was especially close to my heart, as I know how difficult it can be to find a therapist who is both competent and affirming when supporting disabled clients.
Q: What were some things you learned from working on this project and the fellowship?
A: This project deepened my understanding of just how vital it is to create resources with disabled people at the center, rather than as an afterthought. I also highly valued the process of collaborating with my group members, as they brought their unique expertise and lived experiences to the table to create a truly robust body of knowledge. On a personal level, I learned how to translate my academic and professional skills into something that is approachable and useful to the broader community.
Q: Are there any words of wisdom you would like to share about mentoring?
A: Mentoring, especially in the disability community, is all about reciprocity! It is not just one person guiding another, but relationships where all involved get the opportunity to learn and build confidence together. My advice is to stay curious, show up authentically, and do not, under any circumstance, undervalue the worth of your own lived experiences. Your story is powerful.
Thank you, Izzy, for sharing your Fellowship experience with us!