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Naming Our Power: Rethinking Language in Science Series

Whose Words, Whose Power: Dismantling Deficit Language in Medical Research

Join the National Alliance of Melanin Disabled Advocates (NAMED Advocates) for a transformative conversation centered on some early on-going research findings from our “Rethinking Language in Science” (RLiS) project. This two-year initiative critically examines how scientific and biomedical language such as “cure” or “abnormal” can either humanize or marginalize disabled communities.

Falling within the week of Juneteenth, this webinar serves as a significant time to reflect on what liberation truly looks like for Black individuals with rare diseases and disabilities. We will explore the intersections of race, gender, and geography while talking about cultural gaps within the scientific research community around rare diseases.

Event Details

  • Date: Tuesday, June 30th, 2026
  • Time: 6:00 PM CT/7:00PM ET
  • Location: Virtual
  • Accessibility: This event will feature an ASL interpreter and live captioning (CART).
  • Registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/SpzV9ggOSZyDy-zcwm16Ig#/registration

About NAMED Advocates

The National Alliance of Melanin Disabled Advocates is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to creating a defiant space of belonging that empowers disabled leaders of color to thrive. By organizing across social justice movements, we work to reshape how disability is understood and to challenge systemic ableism through education, advocacy, and coalition-building.

Meet Our Speakers

Panelists:

keri gray
Keri Gray

Keri Gray is the founder and Executive Director of NAMED Advocates. As a nationally recognized disability advocate and cancer survivor, she leads groundbreaking initiatives like the Rethinking Language in Science project to challenge how medical language frames disability. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Teen Vogue, and Time Magazine.

dr. tanya brice
Dr. Tanya Smith Brice

Dr. Smith Brice is the President of Albert Lehmon and Associates, LLC, with over 25 years of experience in organizational leadership. As the research lead for the RLiS project, she brings deep expertise in structural barriers impacting underserved communities. She has been selected as a Fulbright Specialist (2026–2029) and is a Distinguished Scholar Fellow of the National Academies of Practice in Social Work.

lakeia nard
Lakeia Nard

Lakeia Nard is the Founder and CEO of Melanin Children Matter Inc., focused on healthcare equity for medically underserved families. As a member of the RLiS Advisory Council, Lakeia provides critical insights into the experiences of caretakers and the intersectionality of race and rare disease care. She serves on the Community Advisory Board for the LEITH Lab at Yale School of Medicine.

Moderator:

elroy "ej" johnson
Elroy "EJ" Johnson IV, M.A.

EJ serves as the Education & Programs Manager for NAMED Advocates and the Project Manager for Rethinking Language in Science. A former educator, journalist and documentary filmmaker, EJ is dedicated to developing programming that mobilizes advocates for meaningful change. He holds a Masters in Journalism from The University of Alabama.