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Your disability and mental health advocates

The Disability Rights Iowa team is experienced, knowledgeable, and passionate about fighting for the rights of Iowans with disabilities or mental illness. We work together to promote safety, opportunity, access, and self-determination for all Iowans with disabilities and mental illness. As attorneys, paralegals, and advocates, it is our duty to defend the rights of Iowans with disabilities through legal and non-legal advocacy.

Meet Our Team

Management Team

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Catherine Johnson

Executive Director

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A blonde white woman stands with hair cut below her ears. She is wearing a black blazer and blouse. She is smiling widely for the camera

Cyndy Miller

Legal Director

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tall white man stands in front of a grey wall with a white button up with a grey box pattern on it. He has dark brown hair cropped short and is smiling.

Jim Kain

Financial Director

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Katie VandeVorde

Operations Manager

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Attorneys

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Elizabeth Estey

Staff Attorney

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a white bald man with a dark black beard stands in front of a grey wall. He is wearing a kind expression and a light grey button up.

Scott Lyon

Staff Attorney

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Emily is seated in front of a grey wall wearing a dark blue suit and grey shirt underneath. She has a pearl necklace around her neck and her hair is light brown and curled past her shoulders. She is a white woman and smiling up at the camera

Emily Ehlers

Staff Attorney

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A white woman stands in front of a grey wall wearing a floral print blouse and pink blazer. She wears glasses and her brown hair is cut to her chin.

Stephanie Smith

Staff Attorney

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a white man stands in front of a white wall wearing a red sweater over a button up. The man is bald and has a goatee.

Nathan Kirstein

Staff Attorney

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a white woman sits on a green chair in front of a brick wall. She is resting her arm on her knee wearing a white blouse. Her dark brown hair is curled and very long. She is smiling kindly at the camera

Whitney Driscoll

Investigations and Intake Coordinator

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Advocates and ADMINISTRATIVE Staff

A young white woman with blonde curly hair pushed out of her face stands in front of a wall. She is wearing round plastic glasses and a black t-shirt. She is smiling wide.

Amber Wallingford

Intake Specialist

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white woman stands in front of a white wall wearing a black cardigan and blue blouse. She has bright blonde hair cut just below her ears and wears glasses.

Charlene Joens

Senior Advocate

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a white woman in her mid 20's stands in front of a dark grey wall. She is wearing big plastic glasses and pink plastic earrings. Her long dark brown hair is pulled into a high ponytail. She wears a grey cardigan and brown turtle neck sweater.

Katelynn Schultz

Communications Coordinator

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Danielle stands in front of a white wall. Her hair is straigtened down to her shoulder, she is wearing a greyish purple cardigan and peach undershirt. Her bangs are pulled back from her smiling face.

Danielle Workman

Public Health Advocate

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A white presenting woman stands in front of a greenish brown wall. She has bright red hair slightly curled and down past her shoulders. She is wearing a light purple shirt and a pleasant smile.

Jami Johns

Advocate

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white woman with dark brown shoulder length hair stands in front of a skyscraper. She is wearing bright red glasses, a black jacket, and a teal blouse. She is smiling at the camera.

Lacee Be

Intake Specialist and Voting Rights Advocate

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Emily sits in front of concrete walls with her elbow resting on her knee and chin resting on the same arm's hand. She is wearing a black shirt and grey sweater tied around her shoulders. Her hair is pulled into a ponytail. She looks at the camera with a kind expression.

Emily Van Kirk

Paralegal

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Jen is a white woman with brown shoulder length straight hair that has blonde highlights in her bangs. She is wearing a pink v neck blouse and is standing in front of a white wall.

Jen Winchell

Advocate

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WIPA

white woman with dark brown hair that is chin length sits in front of a white and grey striped backdrop. She is smiling and wearing a blue and white striped blouse.

Jenny Lynes

WIPA Coordinator

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White woman with blonde chin length hair stands in front of a white house. She is wearing brown glasses , a necklace, and a patterned yellow shirt.

Mistie Johnson

WIPA Project Director

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a white woman with light brown curly hair cut just below her chin stands smiling in front of a white wall. She is wearing a red blouse.

Tammy Crouch

WIPA Coordinator

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