Accessible Voting: Session Information

Voting is a civil right for all Michigan citizens. Unfortunately, individuals with disabilities face additional barriers when it comes to participating in the democratic process. This session will dive into voting accessibility, barriers to participation, and more. 

Accessible Voting: Speaker Information

Eric Welsby  
Detroit Disability Power 

Accessible Social Media: Session Information

People are turning to social media for news and information now more than ever before. This panel discussion will equip organizations, agencies, and individuals with best practices for creating accessible social media content that broadens reach and improves access. 

Accessible Social Media: Speaker Information

David O’Keefe  
U.S. Access Board 

Kenya Lowe  
Division of Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing, Michigan Department of Civil Rights   

Pat Love  
Michigan Department of Education 

Tiara McKenzie, Moderator
Michigan Department of Civil Rights 

Accessible Healthcare: Session Information

Barriers to healthcare access can pose life-threatening challenges to the people of Michigan. This dynamic discussion will emphasize the importance of the reasonable accommodation process for patients with disabilities, highlight the soft skills that strengthen patient-centered care grounded in dignity and respect, and examine the risks and benefits of using video remote interpreting as a primary tool for communication access. 

Accessible Healthcare: Speaker Information 

Emma Heisey 
Division of Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing, Michigan Department of Civil Rights 

James Cech 
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs   

Addressing Access Barriers in Michigan: Session Information

This session will highlight the ADA as the federal landmark civil rights law designed to prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life and provide education on MDCR Enforcement services pertaining to disability discrimination.  

Addressing Access Barriers in Michigan: Speaker Information

Alannah Buford-Kammerman 
Office of Legal Affairs, Michigan Department of Civil Rights 

Alannah M. Buford-Kamerman

Alannah M. Buford-Kamerman is the Director for the Office of Legal Affairs for the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. Alannah obtained her Bachelors degree with honors in anthropology and political science from Bard College at Simons Rock in 2012. She then graduated magna cumme laude from Michigan State University College of Law and passed the bar in 2016. Before becoming a civil servant, Alannah was a distinguished civil litigator in both state and federal courts. She joined the State of Michigan in April 2021 as a Staff Attorney at MDCR where she advised enforcement teams on cases as they progressed through investigation, conciliated resolutions between parties, and prosecuted cases in the administrative process on behalf of the Department.  

James Cech

James Cech began his career as a freelance certified ASL/English interpreter, and upon achieving his master interpreter certification became a full-time staff interpreter for the University of Michigan Health system. A trainer and presenter, he works nationally to promote skill building and interpreter ethics, and specializes in medical, mental health, and DeafBlind interpreting. He has also held various volunteer leadership positions within the Michigan Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf including: chair of the Professional Development Committee, Vice President, and President, and he was appointed by Governor Whitmer to the State of Michigan Board of Interpreters. He is currently a resource developer for the State Licensing Consultative Section of the Health Facility Licensing, Permits and Support Division within the Bureau of Community and Health Systems. 

Emma Heisey

I have a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Gallaudet University, the world’s only university dedicated to deaf and hard of hearing students, and a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Texas Tech University Health Science Center. I am currently working toward full licensure as an LPC in Michigan. 
I serve as a DDBHH liaison at MDCR–DODDBHH, where my role focuses on strengthening connections between the deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing community and the state agencies and programs that serve them, including schools, hospitals, and other service systems. 
 
My professional background includes work in education, mental health, and program coordination. I have experience supporting individuals across the DDBHH community, including youth and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. I identify as a Deaf individual and am a fluent ASL user. I also bring both lived and professional experience in healthcare settings for this event. 

Pat Love

Pat Love-Sypho is a Blind and Low Vision (BL), Education Consultant with the Michigan Department of Education – Resource for Blind Low Vision (MDE RBLV). She began her career in 1983 as a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments and brings over 40 years of experience supporting students, families, and professionals in the field of blindness and low vision. 

In her current role, Pat coordinates initiatives in assistive technology, social skills, and health education. She has extensive experience teaching components of the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC), including compensatory skills, independent living skills, career education, assistive technology, and social interaction.  

Since beginning her career, she has supported students, families, and professionals through instruction, program development, and statewide initiatives. 

Pat has played a key role in developing statewide projects focused on assistive technology, braille literacy, and independent living skills, providing instruction, resources, and professional development across Michigan. She has also designed curricula and instructional materials for students who are blind and have low vision. 

She is a co-author of several key resources, including the Michigan Assistive Technology Guidelines and Apps List, the Michigan Independent Living Skills Guide, and the Michigan Independent Living Skills Checklist. Pat has presented extensively at state and national conferences, including Getting in Touch with Literacy (GITWL), MAER, NAER, the CSUN Assistive Technology Conference, and ATIA Assistive Technology conference. 

Her collaborative work includes partnerships with school districts and organizations such as the Michigan Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP), the National Federation of the Blind, and the Michigan Braille and Talking Book Library. She currently serves on the Blind Information Technology and Multicultural Affairs committees and is committed to advancing access, literacy, and independence for individuals who are blind or have low vision. 

Kenya Lowe

Kenya Lowe is the Director of Michigan’s Division on Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing (DODDBHH), where she leads statewide efforts to strengthen access, inclusion, and community connection for Michigan’s DDBHH residents. With a career that spans telecommunications access, outreach, higher education, and advocacy, Kenya brings a strong focus on removing barriers and expanding opportunity. Her work is informed by lived experience, grassroots leadership, and a passion for amplifying underrepresented voices. 
 
Before joining DODDBHH, Kenya managed outreach initiatives for the Michigan Relay Center and supported access programming at AT&T, where she worked to improve telecommunications access for Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing people. She has also taught at the college level and continues to advocate as a parent, educator, and community builder. Kenya is committed to honoring the legacy of the Americans with Disabilities Act while helping design a future where inclusion is not an afterthought- but the foundation. 

Tiara McKenzie

Tiara McKenzie serves as a member of the Executive Team at the Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) where she leads the work of the ADA Compliance Unit. In her role, Tiara is charged with ensuring accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities in all programs, services, activities, hiring, and recruitment. Additionally, Tiara provides leadership and guidance to the State of Michigan’s network of Title II ADA Coordinators to promote compliance with state and federal disability rights laws.  With a passion for public speaking, Tiara regularly develops and hosts public forums to educate the community on disability rights and compliance, garnering the interest of hundreds of attendees each session.

Tiara began her civil service career in 2009 at the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Davenport University.  Her undergraduate studies were completed at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a concentration in Social Inequality: Race, Class, and Gender. 

David O’Keefe

David O’Keefe serves as the Communications Specialist in the Office of Executive Director at the U.S. Access Board. His work involves planning and coordinating logistics for virtual and in-person public events, as well as managing the Board’s social media content and engagement. He previously served as a Team Leader for FEMA Corps (AmeriCorps NCCC) and as the Cultural Affairs Assistant for the State University of New York (SUNY) at Orange County Community College. O’Keefe holds an M.A. in Technical and Professional Writing from Middle Georgia State University and a B.A. in Digital Media Production from SUNY New Paltz. 

Eric Welsby

Eric Welsby has spent over two decades working at the intersection of disability rights, electoral access, and community power. As Advocacy Director at Detroit Disability Power, he oversees policy and government relations and directs the nation's largest accessible polling place audit program. He also serves as Founding Advocacy Director of Disability Action, DDP's sister 501(c)(4) organization, and is the Founder and Principal Consultant at Welsby Consulting, specializing in campaign finance compliance and strategy. 

Eric's career spans political campaigns, nonprofit leadership, and education. He has led labor-focused electoral campaigns for the Michigan AFL-CIO, managed community empowerment programs at Focus:HOPE, and taught political science and philosophy at Saginaw Valley State University and Delta College. 

Eric serves on the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council, the Workforce Development Institute’s Access for All Accessibility Committee and the Michigan AFL-CIO's Disability Rights Working Group, and advises the Michigan Bureau of Elections on accessible voting systems and next-generation voting equipment procurement. 

He holds a B.S. from Central Michigan University and has completed certificates in Disability Inclusion & Accessible Design, Labor Leadership, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. 

An Eagle Scout, Eric volunteers with the Michigan Crossroads Council of Scouting America, and with SciAccess and AstroAccess — opening space exploration and STEM to disabled scientists and adventurers worldwide.